FRIDAY
JULY 22, 7:45PM
PROGRAM 8
SHORTLIST

We're Here Because We Love You
USA / Comedy / 12 minutes
Director: Chris Johnson
Writer: Chris Johnson, Colin Ryan
Producer: Matt Daniell, Chris Johnson, Jim Manning, Colin Ryan
Cast: Matt Daniell, Beverly Leech, Langley McArol, Taylor Foster
A self-described filmmaker shows up for a creative session, but gets a rude awakening instead.

Fábula
USA / Fantasy / 20 minutes
Director/Writer: Hector Ignacio Serrano
Producer: Annissa Omran, Katherine Aranda, Matt Johnson, Savana Luê Vagueiro da Fonseca
Cast: Olivia Sandoval, Angeline de Jesus Sanchez, Conor O’Sullivan,
Kate Schott
Inspired by Bruno Bettelheim’s “The Uses of Enchantments”, FÁBULA, is a multi-generational love letter to Mexican traditions, magic, and the creatures and monsters that make up its culture. Fabula follows Maria - a young girl processing the trauma of an abusive parent, when she discovers a world of old magic hidden between the pages of a notebook.

First Time
USA / Drama / 10 minutes
Director: Jeremy Stewart
Writer: Erica Mary Wright
Producer: Erica Mary Wright
Cast: Brenna D'Amico, Brielle Barbusca, Joe Seo, Ian Nelson
It’s Melanie’s first time and Taylor, her roommate, couldn’t be more excited. Taylor has been waiting for her friend to “pop” for a while now. Once Melanie says she’s going to, Taylor isn’t going to let her back down. Melanie may be finally ready. She has the boy, he’s HOT, she’s made up her mind, and most importantly she wants to do it.

Discontent
USA / Drama / 8 minutes
Director: Tiffany Kim Stevens
Writer: Daniel Moya, Tiffany Kim Stevens
Producer: Kyle Herman, Daniel Moya
Cast: Kara Wang, Christina Kirkman, Galen Trine-McMahan, Tyler Phillips
Caught on the premiere of Annie Decker’s Wow Sponge commercial, husband George along with friends Gemma and Mikey celebrate the success of Annie’s blooming acting career. Little does she know while Gemma and Mikey bicker about pie, husband George is drowning in debt and is about to crack…

Wailing Wall
USA / Comedy / 9 minutes
Director: Amy French
Writer: Diana Gitelman
Producer: Ross Levine, Diana Gitelman
Cast: Diana Gitelman, Avi Rothman, Irina Dubova
Ella, a first generation Ukrainian-American woman, is forced to move her family back in with her immigrant mother when their lives become unmanageable-- but the stress of tight quarters and emotional triggers begin to blur the lines between reality and fantasy.

Sunny Side Up
USA / Thriller/ 11 minutes
Director/Writer: Tanner Jarman
Producer: Tanner Jarman, Kelvin Lee
Cast: Ezekiel Pacheco, Juan Wood II, Andrea Ellsworth, Christal Chacon
Hired to dispose of dead bodies all over LA, a pair of late-night delivery drivers discover an unforeseen issue with their latest pick up and must find a resolution before sunrise

Blind Stitch
USA / Drama / 17 minutes
Director/Writer: Alexander Bergman
Producer: Alexander Bergman
Cast: Jongman Kim
A Koreatown Tailor struggles to make ends meet, until he takes on a side job as a gang surgeon. Money pours in as blood spills, and he learns the hard way how the American Dream operates.