Official Selections: 1st-7th LA Student Film Festivals
Congratulations to our accepted filmmakers!
Films are listed in alphabetical order, index to the left.
Scroll Down to learn more about each film
Fall Back
Narrative Short
Trey Mills, a middle aged inmate’s peace is disturbed and her patience tested to its limits when her new cellmate, Deedee, who wishes to establish dominance, enters with brash and boisterous ill-intentions. Deedee exhibits brazen and cocky behavior from the onset of meeting Trey in efforts to make known her intentions to display sovereignty over the cell and the cell block as a whole. She yells to rest of the inmates on the block to announce her presence while Trey silently attempts to cope and ignore in her continued pursuit of peace. Noticing this lack of attention paid, Deedee ups the stakes and intentionally starts to push the buttons of her mysterious bunkie. The climax is reached when Deedee slaps Trey’s coveted book our of her hands demanding her attention. Just then Detective Anderson shows up to break the tension and have a quid pro quo with a non responsive Trey. During the interaction with the detective Deedee finally finds out the person she has been antagonizing this whole time is extremely dangerous and exactly the type of person one would not want to antagonize. Silence falls over the audacious Deedee as the Detective leaves the cell block and quiet is restored to Trey’s cell.
Director: Lorie V. Moore
Producer: Lorie V. Moore & Joseph Patrick
Writer: Lorie V. Moore
Cast: Ciera Henry, Yolanda Benning, Benny Adams IV, Starla Heinz, Alexsis Glenn
Cinematographer: Lorie V. Moore & Joseph Patrick
Editor: Lorie V. Moore
Website: fallbacktheshortfilm.com
Instagram: @lorievmoore
Twitter: @lorievmoore
Facebook: fb.com/loriem3
First Born
The short film revolves around Arthur, a young boy with a passion for Kung fu. However his younger sister, Aurora, has a natural talent for the sport. As a result, she received most, if not all the praise from their father. So in an attempt to prove his worthiness, Arthur must put on a near perfect performance at the upcoming competition.
Director and Writer: Justin Bruce Lee
Art Director: David Diba
Animation Supervisor and Writer: Aerik Bertulfo
Producers: Aerik Bertulfo, David Diba, Justin Bruce Lee
First Born was selected in 39 film festivals including Chinese American Film Festival and Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival. From those festivals, the film was able to win awards from Independent Shorts Awards, Los Angeles Independent Film Festival Awards, Urban Action Showcase International Action Film Festival, San Francisco IndieFest, and San Francisco Another Hole in the Head Film Festival.
Website: inbetweensjsubfa2020.org/student-projects/firstborn
Instagram: @firstborn_film
Facebook: @firstborn.jaedhouse
Forget Me Not
In an attempt to preserve her legacy, a cartoon classic goes head to head with her rebooted counterpart.
Director: Saige Guevera & Courtney LeBlanc
Producer: Paula Navarro
Writer: Margaret Doebling, Saige Guevera, Paula Navarro, Courtney LeBlanc
Editor: Kellie Driscoll
Website: MEET THE CREW | Mysite (wixsite.com)
Instagram: @forgetmenotshort
Twitter: FMNshort
Gentrification
My film is about gentrification and how it is changing my neighborhood. People who have worked years to get where they are today are having their rents raised and are being forced to move out of the community. Through interviews and BRoll, this film explores how gentrification is affecting our community.
Director, Editor, Cinematographer: Samira Barragan
Miami Independent Film Festival
Newark IFF Film Festival
Cine Las Americas International Film Festival
Prestige Film Festival
San Diego Latino Film Festival
All American High School Film Festival
Instagram: @samiraa.barragan
GOB
USA Premiere
Short Film
On the eve of her 18th birthday, a goblin that lives in a young woman's closet struggles to accept that she no longer needs a childhood playmate.
Director: Casey Roberts
Producer: Casey Roberts
Writer: Casey Roberts
Cast: Lydia Bailie-Bellew, Danyelle Mealings, Vinnea-Rose Joycemanners, Daniil Nasirov, Bridget Crooks, Winter Oszajca, Emmett Morrison
Cinematographer: Sean McConnachie
Editors: Casey Roberts, Joe Howells
Best Lead Performance Award for Lydia Bailie-Bellew (Gob) at Screen-It International Student Film Festival 2022 (Queensland, Australia)
Grey
USA Premiere
In a snowy forest, in medieval Germany, a villager, Börn, and his horse, Gunnar, come across the dead wolf, bleeding from a shot arrow, and her pup, Grey. The man adopts the pup and raises him as a companion. A few years later, Börn, Grey and Gunnar enjoy a summer day together in the forest when a wild wolf pack blindsides the trio, threatening them all. As Börn prepares his bow and arrows to defend himself, Grey recalls the death of his mother and must make a decision whether to stand by a man or leave into the wild.
Director: Vasilina Mikhaylova
Producers: Vasilina Mikhaylova, Irma Lotosova, Mitchell Speers
Writers: Vasilina Mikhaylova, Sarah Casey
Cast: Matt Farren
Editor: Vasilina Mikhaylova
Grey is Vasilina’s directorial debut senior thesis film about the duality of man. Following an orphan wolf pup and a villager in medieval Germany, this short gives an introspective and remedial take on the classic human canine relationship, one that Vasilina believes many viewers can draw new meaning from.
Animotion Film Festival - Official Selection, Hollywood International Golden Age Festival - Nominee, LMU - Character Animation Award
Website: seedandspark.com/fund/grey#story
Instagram: @vasilina_mikhaylova_art
Falling Up
Feature
College student Davis clings joyfully to his childlike surroundings. Video games, stuffed animals, singing eggs - who could want anything more? He is content in his current stage of life, and has no intention of growing up, due to the notion that being an adult kind of sucks. Therefore, when adulthood is literally delivered to his doorstep, Davis responds appropriately. He freaks out. In an effort to cope, Davis traverses through several examinations of change, innocence, and fear—all in a desperate effort to preserve his childhood.
Director: Davis Cameron Chu
Producer: Aaron Connor & Lauren Brooks
Writer: Davis Cameron Chu
Cast: Davis Cameron Chu
Cinematographer: Milana Scarlato
Editor: Davis Cameron Chu
Falling Up has won awards for Best Editing, Acting, and Writing at the Hollywood International Diversity Film Festival, Audience Choice at the New York Lift Off Film Festival, and has most recently placed in the Buffalo International Film Festival.
Website: filmfreeway.com/fallingupfilm
Fili
Short
Fili, a young Samoan American, is torn between following his father's footsteps in playing football and pursuing his hidden passion for acting.
Director: Peter Filimaua
Producer: Andy Yi Li, David Duran Lopez, Haoyue Yang
Writer: Peter Filimaua
Cast: Joshua Leomiti, Eric Scanlan, Victoria Schmidt, Alex Correa
Cinematographer: Daniel K. Matsumoto
Editor: Shih-Chun Hsiao
Premiered at the 2023 LA Asian Pacific Film Festival, won Best Drama at the AltFF Alternative Film Festival, won Best Cinematography and Best Student Film at Top Shorts, and won Best Student Film and Best Duo at Los Angeles Film Awards.
Website: filifilms.com
Instagram: @filithefilm
For a Living
North America Premiere
To save his ill mother, an upcoming politician succumbs to the will of a crime lord. Now he must fight to save his mother... and himself.
Director: Bryan Suarez
Producer: Bryan Suarez
Writers: Bryan Suarez & Janier Diaz
Cast: Eric EC Claussen, Cliff Folds, Mireya M. Kilmon, Byron Q. Wright
Cinematographer: - Samuel Romero
Editor: Janier Diaz
We've entered 23 different film festivals, and have some awards along the way. One of them was "Best Student Film" at the "Big Apple Film Festival".
Website: spark.adobe.com/page/zmwdNLPupLDqD/
Social Media: @solido_115
Georgie
World Premiere
Short
Georgie, an asthmatic teen, hides away in his uncle Richard’s car to go to an exclusive mafia meet-up. He finds himself standing face to face with the mob boss and ultimately conquers his greatest fears in a timely fashion.
Director: Katherine Vasta
Producer: Tyler McDonald
Writer: Katherine Vasta
Cast: Justin Rotolo, Pete Penuel, G. Ross Bridgman, David Berra, Helena Sadvary
Cinematographer: Eric Jackson
Editor: Katherine Vasta
Instagram: @georgie.film
Facebook: fb.com/georgie.film
Good Boy
Short
Andrew must leave home to escape the shackles of his horrifying mother, but the only way to make that possible is to take on his biggest fear and defy her authority.
Director: Abraham Abotel
Producer: Alyse Arteaga, Isabel Galvan
Writer: Abraham Abotel, Dane Charles Tharp
Cast: Conor Messier, Laura Lejuwaan, Andy Stetkevich
Cinematographer: Jennifer Hoehn
Editor: Diana Rincon-Zepeda, Jack Laws
- Environmental Media Association Green Seal for Students
- California State University, Long Beach Green Seal. *both in recognition of practicing sustainability during the production of the film.*
Website: goodboythefilm.com
Instagram: @goodboythefilm
Grief Night Club
West Coast Premiere
As a young man struggles through moments of uncertainty, grief, mortality and being unable to cope with the influx of emotion, he is brought along on a mental journey of self-discovery and self-worth through a language that speaks even though he wishes to stay silent -- music.
Director: Nolan Robinson
Producer: Colin Kruse, Nolan Robinson, Nicholas Saidenberg
Writer: Nolan Robinson
Cast: Nolan Robinson, Natalie Welch, Claire Kwon, Jennifer Grey, Tom Avery, Gabrielle Bieder, Dani Goldberg
Cinematographer: Evan Robinson-Johnson
Editor: Nolan Robinson
This film features around thirty jazz musicians and vocalists who all recorded their parts remotely due to COVID. It also features Golden Globe nominee Jennifer Grey (Dirty Dancing). Grief Night Club was also a BronzeLens Film Festival Official Selection, and a Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival Semi-Finalist.
Far From the Tree
World Premiere
Short
After the sudden passing of the eldest son of a Taiwanese-American family, unspoken trauma drives a rift between Mason, the remaining son, and his mother, Li. When Mason earns the opportunity of a lifetime – to audition at Godfrey Conservatory – he must choose between his dream and his family. Their conflict embodies a battle between East and West, tradition and modernity, and unstoppable force vs immovable object.
Director: Anton Isaac Lee
Producer: Eliot Lee, Taylor Thai, Anton Isaac Lee
Writer: Anton Isaac Lee
Cast: Ling Yu,
Cinematographer: Matheus Bastos
Editor: Anthony Picanzi & Anton Isaac Lee
Instagram: @farfromthetreeshort
Faulty Connections
Two young men struggle to communicate honestly about the state of their mental health.
Director: Ian Odermatt
Producer: Ian Odermatt
Writer: Ian Odermatt
Cast: Beck Nolan, Gabriel Matthews
Cinematographer: Ian Odermatt
Editor: Ian Odermatt
Fences
World Premiere
In a world where your life is decided by what side of the Fence you live on, two brothers choose different paths.
Director: Keldon Duane-McGlashan
Producer: Cody Duane-McGlashan
Writer: Keldon Duane-McGlashan
Cast: Sawyer Shine, Lucas Meyers, Marianne Shine, Maxx Moore, Bill McGlashan Sr, Rob McGlashan, Teresa McGlashan, Duke O'callahan, Yonni Hirner, Grant Martin, Cody Duane-McGlashan
Cinematographer: Keldon Duane-McGlashan
Editor: Keldon Duane-McGlashan
Follow Her
Los Angeles Premiere
Short
A self-obsessed influencer is experiencing strange visions and being hunted by a creature in her photos that everyone else can see... except for her!
Director: Shawn A. Baker
Producer: Jacqueline Vagnone
Writer: Shawn A. Baker
Cast: Katherine Ruiz, Emmeline Chuy
Cinematographer: Aaron Roberts
Editor: Riley Allen
Instagram: @followher_shortfilm
Facebook: fb.com/followhershortfilm
Forced
Short
A high school student fights against his OCD while struggling to complete his homework
Director: Sam Boyar
Producers: Jillian Caforio and Chris Putlock
Writer: Ed Boyarsky
Cast: Jackson Dunn, Sam Boyar
Editor: Sam Boyar
Instagram: @chefboyar
Found
Los Angeles Premiere
Short
Found is a short film that was written in one day while I was spring breaking in The Grand Cayman Islands. Inspired by a pair of boots, Found follows a girl on a journey, who unsure of the world around her. I know I can certainly relate to our main character, and I hope you can too.
Director: Elizabeth Borg
Producer: Ana Lopez
Writer: Elizabeth Borg
Cast: Nyatche Martha
Cinematographer: Paige Kaiser
Editor: Paige Kaiser
Instagram: @lizzieborgfilms
Graffiti
West Coast Premiere
A high school principal discovers several vandalizations within the stalls of the boys bathroom. While trying to find the culprit, his investigation leads him down to a path of insanity.
Director: Charlie Norton
Producer: Charlie Norton and Jess Foster
Writer: Charlie Norton, Jess Foster and Brendan Egan
Cast: Matthew Stannah, Kyle Gregory, Nicholas Eaton, Kimberley Fogelgren, Justin Cullinan and Ryan Curley
Cinematographer: Charlie Norton
Editor: Charlie Norton
Best Student Director and Best Actor in a Student film Winners at the 2021 NJ Brightside Tavern Film Festival, Semi-Finalist at the 2021 Flickers Rhode Island International Film Festival, Nominated for Best Student Film at the 2021 Vancouver Independent Film Festival.
Website: flyingcardproductions.com/
Instagram: @graffiti.shortfilm
Facebook: Charlie Norton
Guns and Stuff
As an up-and-coming filmmaker and actor, I was motivated to work on the short film Guns and Stuff. Guns and Stuff in fact is a target project for the new Wakanda series on Disney+. The idea of being on a T.V. series about a part of Africa that has not been invaded by settlers and exhausted from their resources is what compelled me to make this film. No matter what the outcome, I am happy knowing I was able to express not only my filmmaking but my acting talents too. What I take away from my short is that I can achieve anything, if I put in the work that is needed.
Director: Alexander McDaniel
Producer: Alexander McDaniel, Lindsay Hopper, Kelly Tighe
Writer: Alexander McDaniel
Cast: Alexander McDaniel, Johnny Crown, Gian Pettus, Ed Nathan Mecate
Cinematographer: Hitoshi Inoue
Editor: Hitoshi Inoue, Alexander Mc Daniel
Any awards, accolades or additional details about the process you would like to mention: Semi-Finalist Los Angeles Film Awards, Bronze and Silver Awards Independent Shorts Awards, Winner IndieX Film Festival Award
Website: www.mcdanielfilms.com
Instagram: @mcdanielfilms
Twitter: @mcdanielfilms
Facebook: @McDanielFilms