golden thesis film festival 2023

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Golden thesis film festival june 2023.

WELCOME TO THE 2ND ANNUAL GOLDEN THESIS FILM FESTIVAL “SPOTLIGHT MOVIE NIGHT” TAKING PLACE THURSDAY, JUNE 26TH 2023 The 2nd Annual Golden Thesis Film Festival “Spotlight Movie Night” will take place on Thursday, June 26th at The Los Angeles Film School. The GTFF is a unique ALUMNI/STUDENT showcase of 2020-2023 Thesis & Original Short films with a writer, producer, director, cast, or theme of a diverse voice. This includes creatives of all backgrounds, including ethnicity, culture, women, and members of the LGBTQ community. Hosted by: Isaac Sullivan “THE BOBBY BROWN STORY” Attendees include Calvin Brown Jr. – TV Executive Producer He is known for The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder (2022), Married… with Children (1987) and Da Jammies (2015). Jerome Benton American Music Performer Patric Verrone is an American television writer and labor leader. He served as a writer and producer for several animated television shows, most notably Futurama. Films Scheduled to Screen I N C O N D I C I O N A L Director Alex Meridy SONDER Submitter Davide Picci One Last Wish Director Laurd Milian Facing Fear Director Ivan Garcia Room Service Director Marteverick Shears ME vs. ME Director Montell Bryant Viral Director Kerron Andrews Worthless Director Christian Allan Ram Entity Director Shaun T. Pulsifer Paranoid Director Daniel Perez 7 Missed Calls Director Jorge Bello

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THE FESTIVAL

The 3rd Annual GOLDEN THESIS FILM FESTIVAL for UNDERSERVED Creatives and Young Filmmakers.

Our annual GOLDEN THESIS FILM FESTIVAL   (GTFF) showcase 2021-2024 Thesis, Non-Thesis & Original Short films with a writer, producer, director, cast, or theme of a diverse voice.

This includes creatives of all backgrounds, including ethnicity, culture, women, and members of the LGBTQ community.

This festival is on a nationwide search for distinctive storytelling and future talent, in front of, and behind the camera.

For years, we have celebrated student thesis films and supported our future directors, writers, producers, and actors. Introducing them to top industry trendsetters.

This is a wonderful, young, and refreshing experience highlighting the culture of Thesis & Non-Thesis and Original Short Films building a platform for alumni and student creatives.

List of our Award categories and Nominations 

2024 Best Overall Gold Thesis Award 2024 Best Editing Gold Award 2024 Best Documentary Gold Award 2024 Best Screenplay Gold Award 2024 Best Producer Gold Award 2024 Best Director Gold Award 2024 Best Production Design Gold Award 2024 Best Sound Design Gold Award 2024 Best Cinematography Gold Award

COMMUNITY AWARDS:

2024 Gold Thesis ICON Award

2024 Gold Thesis URBAN Award

2024 Best Overall Nominees

2024 Best Editing Nominees

2024 Best Documentary Nominees

2024 Best Screenplay Nominees

2024 Best Producer Nominees

2024 Best Director Nominees

2024 Best Production Design Nominees

2024 Best Sound Design Nominees

2024 Best Cinematography Nominees

LIVE Performances, Panels and Stand-up Comedy segments.

LIVE performances by T.E.A.M Official, FARRAH, and Zo Johnson. There will be special presentations and exclusive film screenings throughout the evening.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in a Q&A session with the filmmakers and cast of the nominated films.

The event will conclude with an after-party starting at 10:00 PM at the venue's rooftop garden, offering breathtaking city views and a chance for further networking and celebration.

Golden Thesis Film Fest

The 2nd Annual GOLDEN THESIS FILM FESTIVAL is a unique ALUMNI/STUDENT showcase.

2023 GTFF AWARDS CEREMONY

GTFF PROGRAM

GTFF SUBMISSION

GTFF TICKETS

GTFF OFFICIAL LAURELS

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Golden Thesis Film Festival

• Film Festival
• 3 Years Running
• Back to Festival Profile

The 3rd Annual GOLDEN THESIS FILM FESTIVAL is a unique showcase for underserved young creatives. This festival highlights thesis, non-thesis & original short films with a writer, producer, director, cast, or theme of a diverse voice. This includes creatives of all backgrounds, including ethnicity, culture, women, and members of the LGBTQ community.

This festival is a nationwide search engine for distinctive storytelling and future talent, in front of, and behind the camera.

For years, we have celebrated student thesis films and supported our future directors, writers, producers, and actors. Introducing them to top industry trendsetters.

This is a wonderful, young, and refreshing experience highlighting the culture of Thesis & Non-Thesis and Original Short Films building a platform for alumni and student creatives.

The Golden Thesis Film Festival will OPEN submissions on January 1st 2024.

2024 Best Overall Gold Thesis Award 2024 Best Overall Nominees

2024 Best Editing Gold Award 2024 Best Editing Nominees

2024 Best Documentary Gold Award 2024 Best Documentary Nominees

2024 Best Screenplay Gold Award 2024 Best Screenplay Nominees

2024 Best Producer Gold Award 2024 Best Producer Nominees

2024 Best Director Gold Award 2024 Best Director Nominees

2024 Best Production Design Gold Award 2024 Best Production Design Nominees

2024 Best Sound Design Gold Award 2024 Best Sound Design Nominees

2024 Best Cinematography Gold Award 2024 Best Cinematography Nominees

2024 GTFF ICON Award 2024 URBAN Award

PRIZES: Announcement coming soon!!

Must be an Alumni of 2021-2024 or Current Student that's within their last 6 months of graduating.

GOLDEN THESIS FILM FESTIVAL TERMS, CONDITIONS AND ARBITRATION PROVISION (the “Agreement”)

THIS IS A LEGAL DOCUMENT AFFECTING YOUR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY

I have volunteered to participate in the "Golden Thesis Film Festival," a diversity showcase for content creators produced by GLOW (the "Showcase"). In that regard, I, on behalf of myself and on behalf of the production company (if applicable) that produced the Submitted Material (as defined below) (jointly and severally, “I” or “me”) am voluntarily submitting to GLOW and its respective parent, subsidiary, and affiliated entities and the sponsors of the Showcase (individually and collectively, "GTFF", the material which I have provided or may provide to GTFF in connection with the Showcase, including, but not limited to my short film and any trailers or other promotional materials for my short film (individually and collectively, the "Submitted Material"). By submitting my Submitted Material to GTFF and/or by clicking to accept these terms, I agree to the following:

1. I understand and agree that GTFF will make all decisions regarding participation in the Showcase in its sole discretion, without any limitation whatsoever, including without limitation who to select for the Showcase and the recipients of any and all awards or services for the Showcase. I understand that I may not be selected for the Showcase and that by submitting the Submitted Material, I am not guaranteed to be part of the Showcase or any future showcases, or be selected as the recipient of any award or service.

2. I have created and am submitting the Submitted Material completely voluntarily and on an unsolicited basis. GTFF has not hired or otherwise retained me, in any way, to create or submit the Submitted Material. I understand that GTFF will neither pay me any money nor provide me any other consideration or compensation for creating or submitting the Submitted Material, for executing this Agreement, for participating in the Showcase, or for granting any of the rights granted in this Agreement. I also understand that GTFF has not promised to license or otherwise acquire the rights to any of the Submitted Material other than those rights I grant in Sections 4 and 5 herein, or to hire me for my creative services in the future, or to find me representation or future work or bookings. Except as provided below, or otherwise agreed in writing by GTFF, all costs and expenses I may incur in connection with my submission of the Submitted Material, or my participation in the Showcase (if selected), or in connection with the production, distribution, exhibition or other exploitation of the Submitted Material, will be my sole responsibility.

3. I hereby grant to GTFF, its successors, licensees, sponsors and assigns the non-exclusive, royalty-free right to exhibit, transmit, distribute, edit, reproduce, copy, publish, display, perform, translate, adapt, modify, use and otherwise exploit the Submitted Material (or any part thereof), as well as the name, image, voice, likeness and biographical information of me and/or the cast, crew and any other person or entity involved in the production of the Submitted Material, in and in connection with the Showcase (including, without limitation, at the Showcase finale screening), LAFS Diversity Initiatives, and/or any future showcases, in any and all manner, media, and format whatsoever, whether now known or hereafter devised, throughout the universe in perpetuity, and in any and all advertisements, promotions, publicity, marketing or other material relating to the Showcase, LAFS Diversity Initiatives, or any future showcases.

4. Without in any way limiting the foregoing, I hereby grant to GTFF, its successors, licensees, sponsors and assigns the non-exclusive, royalty-free right to exhibit, transmit, distribute, edit, reproduce, copy, publish, display, perform, translate, adapt, modify, use and otherwise exploit the Submitted Material (or any part thereof) in any and all manner, media and format whatsoever, whether now known or hereafter devised, throughout the universe in perpetuity as follows: (a) on any website, broadcast, cable or other distribution or exhibition platform of GTFF or its licensees, including, but not limited to, The Los Angeles Film School; (b) via the regular network signal of any broadcast, cable or distribution platform of TBD (the “Network Transmission”) (including, without limitation, in standard definition (“SD”), high definition (“HD”), Three Dimensional (“3D”), 4K Resolution (“4K”), and/or 8K Resolution (“8K”)); and, (c) authorize the retransmission of the Submitted Material (or any portion thereof) (including, without limitation, in SD, HD, 3D, 4K, and/or 8K), simultaneously or substantially simultaneously with such Network Transmission (including, without limitation, over-the-air, satellite, wire, cable, digital, telco, DBS, Internet, computer networks, set-top box, cellular and/or wireless) to any audio/visual receiving devices, whether now known or hereafter devised (including, without limitation, television equipment or monitors, set-top boxes, personal computers, smartphones, handheld or mobile devices and tablets). Neither GTFF nor any other licensee of GTFF shall be required to obtain any consent from, or pay any compensation to, me or any third party for such transmission and re-transmission or any other rights for which beyond that specifically provided by this Agreement (e.g., any transmission of the Submitted Material (or any portion thereof) and the simultaneous or substantially simultaneous re-transmissions of the Submitted Material (or any portion thereof) shall collectively be considered one exhibition of the Submitted Material (or any portion thereof) under this Agreement and in no event will any such re-transmission be considered a repeat exhibition). In addition, and without in any way limiting the foregoing, GTFF may use the Submitted Material (or any portion thereof) to determine whether to invite me or any cast or production members of the Submitted Material to participate in any other LAFS Diversity Initiative programs.

Anamia Frias

Send various emails to festival no reponces

Alex Meridy

If you're a student, get your work be seen, And starts here in GTFF!!

Karry Johnson

It was an honor to be nominated. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this.

Henry Brown

I have just won the Best Screenplay in the Nov 2023 contest for my script "Awkward!" and I am deeply appreciative of the honor and the knowledge that my scripts are earning such attention. Thank you very much!

Zander Rice

My name is Zander Rice, and I submitted a film to the Golden Thesis Festival called 'Celestial'. I got this email from you guys that you chose my film to be a part of the festival, saying I was either an honorable mention OR a finalist. However, when I attended and showed up on time at 3:30pm at the LA Film School, I was shocked to find out my film was in fact an honorable mention, and I missed my screening. No mention was ever made to me that I was ever just an honorable mention, and the only email I had received told me that red carpet arrivals began at 3:30pm. My girlfriend came from out of town for this event, and I was extremely embarrassed and disappointed.

Just wanted to let you guys know to prevent this from happening again with future festivals.

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Welcome to the 2nd Annual Golden Thesis Awards Virtual Ceremony - livestream

from The Los Angeles Film School

The Golden Thesis Film Festival's 2nd Annual Awards Ceremony is more than just an event; it's a celebration of creativity, dedication, and the art of storytelling through film. We invite you to join us at the IVAR Theater on November 16th for an unforgettable night of awards, live performances, and inspiration.

All nominated movies "Moscow International Film Festival" in 2023

Other awards and film festivals.

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Moscow International Film Festival

2013-07-01T16:21:00+01:00

Russia's Xenia Rappoport received a special prize in recognition of her achievements as an actress

Alexey Shevchenkov was clearly over the moon being named Best Actor for his title role as Judas in Andrey Bogatyryov's Judas

The Short Film Competition was won by Russia's Rustam Ilyasov for Elfen Castle

Golden George winner Erdem Tepegöz for the social drama The Particle

The Silver George for Best Director was won by South Korea's Jung Young-Heon for Lebanon Emotion

The Special Jury Prize was taken home by Japan's Tatsushi Omori.

Tepegöz with his lead actress Jale Arikan who won the Silver George award for Best Actress

Winners of Golden and Silver George awards at the 35th Moscow International Film Festival.

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Spotlight Week Event Schedule

The los angeles film school presents—spotlight week and spotlight awards.

Get ready to join our biggest event of the year! Spotlight Week is an interactive celebration that brings students and alumni together for a week-long event series that begins Monday, June 26.

From June 26-29, we invite our school community to participate in industry-specific events such as leadership panels, a gear expo, and interactive meetups with our talented Spotlight Academy inductees. All events are open to students and alumni with a select few exclusive events requiring pre-registration. Keep checking your lafilm.edu email for pre-registration info!

READY…SET…LET’S GO!

Spotlight Events Schedule

MONDAY, JUNE 26

QUEER TRIVIA GAME SHOW WITH Q+MMUNITY

Virtual Event

Queer Trivia Game Show hosted by the LAFS Q+mmunity club is a virtual game show where students compete in queer-themed trivia, with categories such as LGBTQ+ history, queer music and film, and drag culture.

Start Time: 12:00 p.m. PT // 3 p.m. ET

Students can check their email for an exclusive invitation to register for Spotlight Week events.

BREAKING DOWN THE SOUND OF METAL

Campus & Virtual Event

In this masterclass, Oscar® winner and Spotlight inductee Phillip Bladh breaks down how he worked with the director and sound team to create the immersive sound design in the film Sound of Metal. Find out what made this film win the Academy gold!

Start Time: 2:00 p.m. PT // 5:00 ET

Students can check their email for an exclusive invitation to register for Spotlight Week events to join in-person or watch on Youtube .

STUDIO TIPS: 101

Panel featuring our multi award-winning alumni and Spotlight Academy members where they share studio tips with students.

Start Time: 4:00 p.m. PT // 7:00 ET

Students can check their email for an exclusive invitation to register for Spotlight Week events or watch on Youtube .

GOLDEN THESIS FILM FESTIVAL

The 2nd Annual Golden Thesis Film Festival (GTFF) is a unique alumni/student showcase of original short films with a writer, producer, director, cast, or theme of a diverse voice. This includes creatives of all backgrounds, including ethnicity, culture, women, and members of the LGBTQ community.

Start Time: 5:00 p.m. PT // 8:00 ET

Students can check their email for an exclusive invitation to register for Spotlight Week events in-person or watch on Youtube .

TUESDAY, JUNE 27

HOLD AN OSCAR! MEET PHILLIP BLADH SPOTLIGHT INDUCTEE

Campus Event

Experience a unique opportunity to hold an Oscar and meet Spotlight Inductee and LARS alumnus, Philip Bladh the Oscar®-winning production sound mixer known for his work on the film Sound of Metal.

Start Time: 10:00 a.m. PT // 1 p.m. ET

This expo will give you an inside look at prominent companies like Sony and RED’s new technologies. Students and Alumni will not only be able to attend technical demos but also will have the chance to win cool prizes!

GOOGLE RESUME WORKSHOP

Do you need to create a new resume or do you have one that you’d like to clean up? Bring your resume and get ready to make it stand out! Join an expert group of Google executives and team members in this resume building seminar for great ideas to showcase your skill-set and build a creative resume.

Start Time: 1:00 p.m. PT // 3 p.m. ET

ROOFTOP BASH

Say hello to the ultimate hang out at the LAFS Rooftop Bash! This event is the perfect opportunity to wind down after finals, connect with other students and soak up the summer vibes.

PRG: THIS IS THE WAY: OUR JOURNEY NAVIGATING REAL-TIME PRE-VIZ ON SET

A panel presentation with PRG doing a live demo on stage and an in depth Q&A covering blending the magic of live action and CG content, no matter the environment or gear.

Start Time: 1:30 p.m. PT // 3:30 p.m. ET

INDUSTRY CONNEXION

Industry Connect 101 is an event that aims to highlight the contributions of Latinos in the entertainment industry and their influence on American culture. Despite their significant contributions, Latinos remain the most underrepresented group in Hollywood.

Start Time: 7:30 p.m. PT // 10:30 p.m. ET

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28

STORYTELLING WITH YOUTUBE: A GOOGLE PANEL

Level up your storytelling game! We’ve got an epic opportunity just for our students – join forces with purpose-driven Google/YouTube team members. Together they’ll equip you with the secret sauce of concise visual storytelling.

Start Time: 10:00 a.m. PT // 1:00 p.m. ET

PEN TO PAGE: A SCREENWRITING JAM SESSION

Get ready to unleash your creativity and put pen to paper at the ultimate write-a-thon competition! Join us for a night of inspiration as we welcome a renowned screenwriter who will give students the ultimate writing challenge.

Start Time: 4:00 p.m. PT // 7:00 p.m. ET

SONGWRITING & PRODUCING IN LATIN MUSIC

Get ready to tap into the vibrant world of Latin music like never before. Featuring LA Film School alumnus, Daniel Arana, this event will highlight songwriting and producing in Latin music.

Start Time: 1:00 p.m. PT // 4:00 p.m. ET

MAKEUP, HAIR & MORE: HOW TO PREPARE FOR A SHOOT

Learn from one of today’s top Make Up Artists (MUA) how to make sure your shoot goes well, from negotiating the price to knowing what you need.

Start Time: 11:00 a.m. PT // 2:00 p.m. ET

THURSDAY, JUNE 29

CRITICAL THINKER’S SOCIETY SPOTLIGHT WATCH PARTY

Campus &Virtual Event

The Critical Thinkers Society Presents…. PROUD. Join us in celebrating spotlight week with our 2023 Students of the Month and some Pride activities! Win prizes! Then stay for some pizza and watch the Spotlight Ceremony on the Star Glass. 

Start Time: 3:00 p.m. PT // 6:00 p.m. ET

4TH ANNUAL SPOTLIGHT AWARDS CEREMONY

Get ready to celebrate the 4th Annual Spotlight Awards on June 29, 2023. Four alumni will be inducted into The Los Angeles Film School Spotlight Academy. Every year the Spotlight Awards ceremony inaugurates a new class into #LAFSSpotlight on the final day of Spotlight Week. These individuals have shown their unyielding commitment to excellence in their professional careers and selfless contribution to our students. We are proud to announce Jeff Barnes, Phillip Bladh, Paquita Hughes, and Samantha Wilkins as our Spotlight Academy Class of 2023.

Watch on YouTube . Don’t forget to subscribe AND ring the bell to get notified of when we go live!

Meet the Spotlight Academy Class of 2023

Learn more about our four amazing alumni who will be inducted into the Spotlight Academy this year!

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Two Powerful Ski Documentaries Will Premiere at Prestigious Tribeca Film Festival

"la roche" follows swiss racer marc rochat's mental challenges in professional skiing, while "champions of the golden valley" tells the story of bringing competitive skiing to afghanistan..

Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! >","name":"in-content-cta","type":"link"}}'>Download the app .

Attendees at the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival in New York City can escape the sweltering East Coast humidity this week by watching two new ski films premiering there.

“La Roche, ” a short documentary about Swiss racer Marc Rochat’s rise to the elite level of World Cup Slalom skiing, is competing in the Shorts category. Executive-produced by Bode Miller, the U.S.’s most successful alpine ski racer, “La Roche” explores the mental challenges in professional skiing. Rochat’s unique style and unconventional approach, driven by his goal to be faster than everyone and prove his place on the team, have resulted in numerous injuries and concerns from doctors, family, and friends.

Directors Basil Schneeberger and Nolan Büchi state, “It’s been a rough four seasons with Marc’s issues.” Despite this, Rochat’s perseverance shines through. “The day I accepted to lose my career, I gained my new life,” says Rochat. Viewers will follow his journey, experiencing the triumphs and failures that marked the height of his career.

In the Feature category, director Ben Sturgulewski, known for his work with Sweetgrass Productions films like “Valhalla” and Matchstick Productions’ “Ruin and Rose,” will debut “Champions of the Golden Valley.” The 80-minute film follows former Afghan Olympic hopeful Alishah Farhang on his mission to bring competitive skiing to the ancient mountain town of Bamyan. After introducing the sport to the area in 2011 and establishing its first ski club, Alishah saw it quickly gain popularity. However, following the collapse of the Afghan government to the Taliban in 2021, Alishah was forced to flee, leaving his beloved home country and facing an uncertain future.

These films not only offer escape and inspiration but also underscore skiing’s broader impact on personal growth and cultural change and illustrate its transformative power in challenging environments.

The Tribeca Film Festival, founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff in 2001, runs from June 5 to 16, 2024.

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Golden State Film Festival ®  

Independent Film Festival Los Angeles California

Golden State Film Festival

February  22 - 29th

Tcl chinese theatres 6.

We are pleased to announce that the Golden State Film Festival will hold its seventh edition,

at TCL Chinese Theatres 6.

Audiences, judges, filmmakers, and industry professionals will gather

 to participate in this highly anticipated event.

The Golden State Film Festival is intended to serve as an opportunity for emerging independent filmmakers to showcase their talents. It is a competitive event, with exhibitors and prize winners enjoying fantastic exposure before a large audience of enthusiastic film aficionados and high-level industry decision-makers. Filmmakers from across the United States and around the world are eligible to participate, and short-form as well as feature-length works are being considered for entry.

Submissions for the 2024 Golden State Film Festival are open now. Send your entry before the final deadline! ​

The Golden State Film Festival is being administered and operated by Jon Gursha and Peter Greene. Mr. Gursha and Mr. Greene are both highly respected film industry professionals, with extensive experience discovering and helping emerging filmmaking talent achieve success at the professional level. Mr. Gursha is serving as the Festival Director, while Mr. Greene is its Program Director.

Film festivals are one of the best routes for independent filmmakers to reach wider audiences and open up new career opportunities. The Golden State Film Festival offers entrants excellent exposure and the chance to win coveted prizes, and it will also include an opening night gala ball as well as a red-carpet awards ceremony.

Please note that submitting your film for consideration does not guarantee it will be accepted to the festival, or that it will be screened at the festival or win a prize. Programming decisions may change without prior notice, and submission fees are nonrefundable. All Tickets are non refundable. 

For further information, or to enter your film, please contact us

Jon Gursha 

Festival Director 

Peter Greene 

Program Director 

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‘The Dead Don’t Hurt’ Review: Viggo Mortensen Disappears From His Own Western for a Spell, Letting Vicky Krieps Lead

Mortensen's understated and nonlinear second feature privileges the female perspective, pushing back on the violent tropes of studio Westerns like 'Appaloosa.'

By Peter Debruge

Peter Debruge

Chief Film Critic

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From the second scene of Mortensen’s second feature, “The Dead Don’t Hurt” (following 2020’s excellent father-son drama “Following”), audiences know the fate of Vivienne LeCoudy ( Vicky Krieps ). A resilient French Canadian pioneer woman left alone for years, Vivienne dies at home in bed, a single tear making tracks on her dusty cheek. For no good reason, Mortensen opts to tell her story out of order, flashing back to Vivienne’s childhood (to show the character-defining disappearance of her fur-trapper father) and carrying on past her death to reveal whether her absentee partner (played by Mortensen) manages to avenge what happened to her.

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How many partners have attached themselves to someone else’s dream, then had to adapt when it proves disappointing? Films rarely frame that experience from the woman’s perspective, which makes Mortensen’s enlightened approach fairly refreshing, even if Vivienne’s independence manifests itself in a way that anyone can sense is bad news (and not just because we see a varmint shooting up the saloon and hightailing it out of town early on). Determined to earn her own money, Vivienne applies for a job in that very same saloon, where that very same varmint, Weston (“Tom Jones” star Solly McLeod), lecherously hires her on the spot.

Wearing his entitlement as menacing as his villainous black hat, Weston acts like he owns the bar — as it happens, he does — and everything in it, smashing whom and what he pleases. One night, the young pest shows up drunk at Vivienne’s cabin and forces himself on her (a development that’s predictable to us but comes as a surprise to Krieps’ otherwise intelligent character). After so many subtleties, it’s unfortunate that Mortensen relies on rape as a plot device, though Vivienne’s reaction reinforces the strength she finds in Holger’s absence: defiantly showing up at work the next day, raising the child that results from this violation.

One of the film’s best scenes — emblematic of the way the movie communicates many of its ideas without dialogue — occurs years later, when Holger accepts the boy as his own. When the characters do speak, they express themselves in a clumsy, overwrought way, as if they’ve been watching “Deadwood” and wish to parley as only David Milch can. Danny Huston brings gusto to the role of shady mayor Rudolph Schiller, in cahoots with Weston’s dad, Alfred Jeffries (Garret Dillahunt), on a big land deal. Told out of order, those scenes are frustratingly difficult to follow, but also standard enough that we get the gist. (The rest works better on second viewing, once we’ve worked out the chronology.)

In Holger’s absence, Vivienne transforms their scrappy patch of nothing into a proper home, with a thriving garden and plants blooming all around the porch. (She probably should have opened a flower stand in town, rather than find work at the saloon, but then Mortensen couldn’t have made his statement about what dastardly predators men can be.) When Holger returns, it’s to the scene that opened the film, just in time to watch Vivienne kick the bucket. She was the film’s spine, its fiery frontier wildflower, and without her, the movie settles into a kind of melancholy torpor. Weston’s out there somewhere, begging to be taught a lesson, but Mortensen — who, as an actor, expanded the Western in films such as “Jauja” and “The Road” — seems to have other ideas in mind.

Reviewed at Toronto Film Festival, Sept. 9, 2023. MPA Rating: R. Running time: 129 MIN.

• Production: (Canada-Mexico-Denmark) A Shout! Studios release of a Talipot Studio presentation, in association with MEP, Perceval Pictures, of a Talipot Studios, Recorded Picture Company, Perceval Pictures production, in association with HanWay Films. Producers: Regina Solorzano, Jeremy Thomas, Viggo Mortensen. Executive producers: Roberto Paxson, Gabriel Terrazas, Ivan Kelava, Daniel Berkerman, Jesper Morthorst, Paula Astorga Riestra, Peter Watson. Co -producers: Gia Galligani, Angela Blair.
• Crew: Director, writer: Viggo Mortensen. Camera: Marcel Zyskind. Editor: Peder Pedersen. Music: Viggo Mortensen.
• With: Vicky Krieps, Viggo Mortensen, Solly McLeod, Garret Dillahunt, Colin Morgan, Ray Mckinnon, W. Earl Brown, Atlas Green, Danny Huston. (English, French, Spanish dialogue)

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Grad Film at 2024 Tribeca Film Festival

Friday, May 24, 2024

2024 Tribeca Festival

Congratulations to the Grad Film alumni, faculty, and MFA candidates whose films were selected to screen at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival!

US NARRATIVE COMPETITION

"Griffin in Summer" by Nicholas Colia

"Griffin in Summer" is a feature film by Grad Film alum Nicholas Colia. Summer vacation is usually the time for kids to let loose, but for fourteen-year-old Griffin Nafly it's time to get down to the serious business of putting on his dramatic new play: an ambitious cross between  Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf  and  American Beauty . However, when his tween collaborators get distracted by more trivial pursuits like boys and camp, Griffin’s attention drifts toward Brad, the zoned-out handyman working at his house. Increasingly smitten and seeking a kindred spirit in Brad due to his failed career as a New York-based performance artist, Griffin finds himself embarking on an unforgettable summer.

"Lice" by Vindhya Gupta

"Lice", by Grad Film MFA candidate Vindhya Gupta, follows 12-year-old Roshni as she forges a bond with the class outcast, Chakor, to keep her lice infestation a secret. The malicious lie looms large over Roshni as a friendship blossoms between them.

"Ebb and Flow" by Nay Tabbara

"Ebb and Flow" is a short film directed by Grad Film alum and adjunct faculty Nay Tabbara. Determined to have her first kiss, a young teenage girl defies her tumultuous world in search of normalcy.

RISING VOICES (SHORTS)

"TENDER THOUGHTS" BY ANNDI JINELLE LIGGETT

"Tender Thoughts" is a short film directed by Grad Film alum Anndi Jinelle Liggett.

MOVING THE SPOTLIGHT (SHORTS)

"CUANDO TODO ARDE" (When Everything Burns) by Maria Belen Poncio

"Cuando Todo Arde" (When Everything Burns) is a short film directed by Grad Film MFA candidate Maria Belen Poncio. 

INDIE EPISODIC (NOW)

"Le Parrot" by Rachael Sonnenberg

"Le Parrot", by Grad Film MFA candidate Rachael Sonnenberg, follows three siblings as they return home for their mother's funeral. Chaos ensues when they realize their mother has left behind her pet parrot.

AT&T PRESENTS: UNTOLD STORIES

2024 UNTOLD STORIES FINALISTS

AT&T*, together with Tribeca Festival, connects emerging and historically underrepresented filmmakers to greater possibilities with the seventh installment of AT&T Presents: Untold Stories – an annual pitch competition and year-round mentorship program. This year’s winner will receive $1M to take their pitch from idea to full-length feature film that will premiere at next year’s 2025 Tribeca Festival. 

"In an Orderly Fashion" is a feature film directed by Grad Film alum Adrian Cardenas and produced by Grad Film alum Maria Altamirano . In the peaceful suburbs of Miami, a Cuban family’s lives are upended when Rafa, after forty years of hard work, is rewarded with a terminal illness on the first day of his retirement. Chaos ensues when Rafa asks the unthinkable from his wife: to help him end it all, so long as he doesn’t know when it’s coming.

"Honeyjoon" , directed by Grad Film alum Lilian T. Mehrel , follows Kurdish-Persian mother Lela and her diaspora daughter June as they take a trip to the romantic Azores off the Portuguese coast, after a recent loss. Out of place amidst honeymooners in paradise, they attempt to reclaim their lust for living. But life – and each other – keeps getting in their way.

80th Venice Film Festival Announces 2023 Lineup, Zendaya-Led 'Challengers' Pulled from Slate

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• The 80th Venice Film Festival is set to be different this year due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, resulting in the absence of Hollywood stars.
• Despite the strike, the festival has put together an impressive lineup featuring movies from renowned directors such as David Fincher, Michael Mann, Sofia Coppola, and Ava DuVernay.
• The festival will also showcase films from other celebrated directors, including Wes Anderson, J.A. Bayona, William Friedkin, and Richard Linklater, outside of the main competition. The jury, led by Damien Chazelle, is filled with high-profile directors.

The 80th Venice Film Festival is gearing up to deliver its most different edition ever this September. Hollywood stars are likely not going to attend the event due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike (which prevents them from promoting movies as well), but that didn’t stop the event’s organization to put together a lineup that will certainly make attendees rush to get their tickets. There was some concern that high-profile titles would be pulled from the festival following the strike, but so far the only movie that was removed was Luca Guadagnino ’s Challengers .

The movies slated to premiere at the festival hail from some of the biggest names in the film industry. David Fincher ( Gone Girl ) will debut his new thriller The Killer , and the highly expected biopic Ferrari by director Michael Mann will also be screened at the festival, as well as Sofia Coppola ’s Priscilla . Ava DuVernay ( Selma ) is set to make history within the festival as the first Black female director to compete for a Golden Lion in the event’s main category with her new film Origin – which is also her first feature film in five years.

Bradley Cooper ’s directorial follow-up to A Star is Born is also on the lineup: Maestro stars himself as world-famous composer Leonard Bernstein , who wrote music to legendary films like West Side Story and On the Waterfront . Other heavyweight directors include Ryûsuke Hamaguchi with Evil Does Not Exist , Luc Besson with Dogman , and Yorgos Lanthimos ’ second team-up with Emma Stone ( La La Land ) in Poor Things .

RELATED: ‘Challengers’ Release Date Delayed as SAG Strike Continues

2023 Venice Film Festival's Jury Is Also Brimming With All-Star Directors

Outside the main competition, the Venice Film Festival will also showcase new titles from other celebrated directors such as J.A. Bayona ( Society of the Snow ), Wes Anderson ( The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar ), William Friedkin ( The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial ) and Richard Linklater ( Hitman ). With Challengers removed from the lineup, the opening night title will now be Comandante , from Italian director Edoardo De Angelis .

The festival’s jury is also overflowing with high-profile directors: They are led by president Damien Chazelle ( Babylon ), who’s had movies open the festival in previous years. Chazelle is joined on the board by Jane Campion ( The Power of the Dog ), Martin McDonagh ( The Banshees of Inisherin ), Mia Hansen-Løve ( Bergman Island ) and others.

The 80th Venice Film Festival takes place from August 30 to September 9 in Venice, Italy. You can check out the full lineup on the festival’s website .

You can watch the trailer for Poor Things , one of the year’s most anticipated films, below:

• Venice Film Festival