short film festival

HIGHLIGHTS & VIDEOS: May 2018 Sci-Fi/Fantasy Festival

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AUDIENCE AWARD WINNERS:

BEST FILM: TRUMPETS IN THE SKY

BEST PERFORMANCES: THE SUPER RECOGNIZER

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: METTA VIA

BEST MUSIC: AFTER WE LEFT OUR HOMES

Watch the Audience FEEDBACK Videos:

festival posterTHE FLOWER GATE, 15min., Israel, Fantasy

festival posterRENDEZ-VOUS, 2min., Canada, Fantasy

festival posterPHARMA LAB TRAINING VIDEO: 1, 9min., USA, Fantasy

festival posterTRUMPETS IN THE SKY, 12min., Belguim, Sci-Fi

festival posterMETTA VIA, 12min., Canada, Sci-Fi

festival posterTHE SUPER RECOGNISER, 11min., UK, Sci-Fi

festival posterSOLUK (BREATH), 5min., Turkey, Sci-Fi

festival posterAFTER WE HAVE LEFT OUR HOMES, 8min., UK, Sci-Fi

The theme of the May 2018 FANTASY/SCI-FI FEEDBACK Film Festival was “Being Controlled”. Every single film was about a world or characters being controlled by an outside force.

There was a different vibe at this festival because we changed the start time from 7pm to 9pm just as a test to see if we would get a new audience. It was definitely a success as we got more hard core Sci-Fi fans, which lead to some great discussions with the films as you can watch in the feedback videos.

The trick though is to not have an audience that is 100% Sci-Fi fans. To have the casual viewer watch this genre so there is a different perspective. The hard core fan of any hobby (sports, comic books etc..) can be either too apologetic or too critical of the product that is given to them. There seems to be nothing in between a love or a hate of something. They sometimes feel that they are the most important members of the audience. They are the vocal minority that’s for sure as an average fan of Batman for example isn’t going to set up a blog to talk about it.

I always look at things from a 20%/60%/20% perspective on any mmainstream entertainment product:

20% – People who won’t watch it no matter what. Example would be the Super Bowl or the new Avengers movie.

60% – The average crowd. They might watch or might not. It’s all up to how they feel that day, how much an advertisement influences them, and/or what their family/friends are up to. If they are watching, then they will too.

20% – The hard core fan. They are watching most of the pre-game show of the Super Bowl, and have pre-bought their Avengers tickets and will be writing about their thoughts afterwards.

For me, you have to remove the two 20%s from the equation. They don’t matter as their minds are already made up. So the art of getting your film viewed and liked is from the 60% base. Football or Comic Book films can’t be what they are today if only the hard core 20% is watching. They are popular because they have trickled into the 60% and have gotten many of them to watch.

You can also use the same analogy for politics. In the United States you’re going to have 20% who will never vote. 20% who are going to vote Red or Blue no matter what. And 60% who will either vote or not vote, and it depends on what party they vote for election to election.

So in conclusion, the 9pm start time did work but we missed the average fan by doing it.

See you at the festivals.

– Matthew Toffolo

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Sci-Fi/Fantasy Festival – Film Festival – Thur. August 2nd, 7pm (Los Angeles)

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The FEEDBACK Monthly Film Festival coming to Los Angeles.. Our LA home is Regal L.A. LIVE Cinemas, located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles (beside the Staples Center) at 1000 W Olympic Blvd.. The event runs from 7pm to 9:10pm.Showcasing the best of short films from around the world, while maintaining our audience feedback format moderated by Shepsut Wilson.

Tickets are FREE or PAY WHAT YOU LIKE. Reserve your tickets online.

If you like to obtain seats in advance and pick them up on the day of the event (come for FREE, or make a donation), please email us at latickets@wildsoundfestival.com  and we’ll reserve seats for you.

1st ACT PROGRAM – ROMANCE/SCI-FI

WHAT IF, 16min., Germany, Sci-Fi/Romance 
Directed by Linda Gasser

It’s the year 2184 and big data is omnipresent. A sophisticated system has been developed to analyze people. Perfect partner recommendations have become the norm. But Achille wants to find a partner by himself

CLICK HERE – and see full info and more pics of the film!

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HOTTER WITH THE WINDOWS OPEN, 12min., USA, Romance/Drama
Directed by Julie Haberstick

Two corners of a love triangle confront their selfish affections and responsibilities in the 1970s South.

CLICK HERE – and see full info and more pics of the film!

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TEMPORARY, 14min., USA, Drama/Romance
Directed by Aaron Seever & Brad Skoglund

Ted and Tonya meet while backpacking in the Arizona mountain wilderness, bonding over beer and a game of “pineball”

CLICK HERE – and see full info and more pics of the film!

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2nd ACT PROGRAM – Best of SCI-FI/FANTASY

THE VOLUNTEER, 27min., USA, Sci-Fi/Romance 
Directed by Michael Willer

A woman fleeing a dystopian city forms a connection with someone she cannot touch.

CLICK HERE – and see full info and more pics of the film!

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MARGARET AND THE MOON, 12min, USA, Sci-Fi/Animation
Directed by Trevor Morgan

An unpopular little girl falls in love with her imagination and learns the true value of friendship.

CLICK HERE – and see full info and more pics of the film!

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ZACKMAN, 5min, Hong Kong, Sci-Fi
Directed by Jack Tong

Jeanne, finally recognized that she had to survive from the fierce battle and left this mad world.

CLICK HERE – and see full info and more pics of the film!

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The FEEDBACK Monthly Film Festival coming to Los Angeles.. Our LA home is Regal L.A. LIVE Cinemas, located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles (beside the Staples Center) at 1000 W Olympic Blvd.. The event runs from 7pm to 9:10pm.

Director BIO: Jack Tong (ZACKMAN)

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Director Biography – Jack Tong

94d2d9d6d4 headshot

I had been a concept designer and visual effect artist for around over ten years. I started to work in film and animation industry since I was seventeen. Imagi Animation Studios was my first company that I worked for and I worked as a 3D animator and joined the project of “Astro Boy”.Then,I joined Sola Digital Arts and worked on starship troopers invasion and captain harlock as production designer. The reason that I decided to work in the industry was that I liked the fascinating visuals very much when I was young.

 

Director Statement

 

In my first short film – “Zackman”. I want to bring out the topic about the relationship between our soul and body. Whether our soul drives our body or our body drives our soul? When we have a chance to be with our dear forever in a same “place”, can we get what we want?

Director BIO: Michael Willer (THE VOLUNTEER)

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Director Biography – Michael Willer

Me smiling with slate cropped

Michael is self-taught, though he did get into film school. He decided to move to LA instead and dive in. School became learning from the professionals he met and then making short film after short film to let it set in.
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He’s worked in the trenches of development at Rough Diamond Productions, managed the G&E crew on the set of You Should Meet My Son 2!, and worked 14 hour days in the edit bay to finish The Nurse on schedule. If he’s writing, he can keep an eye on budget restrictions, if he’s on set he can speak the crew’s language as easily as the actors’.

Because of this, he’s known as the guy who will show up and get things done on time, under budget. You can see his creative eye in his films; just as important is having a smooth process. This is what he does best.

Short Film: THE VOLUNTEER, 27min., USA, Sci-Fi/Romance

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613d880ea6 poster

A woman fleeing a dystopian city forms a connection with someone she cannot touch.

Project Links
  • Film Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Sci-Fi, Romance, adventure, post-apocalyptic, drama
  • Runtime:
    27 minutes 24 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 21, 2016
  • Production Budget:
    3,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Film Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    RED
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.35:1
  • Film Color:
    Color

SCI-FI SHORT Screenplay – RAY IN SPACE, by John Celona

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Genre: Sci-Fi,

Extraterrestrials stranded on Earth live in people’s pools.

CAST LIST:

Crosby: James Murray
Narrator: Val Cole
Ray: Fabio Abreu
Vikki: Vanessa Quaglaira
Colonel: Nick Wicht

Get to know the writer:
 
1. What is your screenplay about?

Extraterrestrials stranded on Earth live in people’s pools. A routine mission to the planet goes awry when an alien shuttlecraft mistakenly lands in the financial district during a busy day, creating havoc. Three extraterrestrials escape the ship and take refuge in pools where they can exist as pure atmospheric air is deadly and harmful. Contact is attempted with the mothership yet this transmission causes a power grid blackout and now the Pentagon and CIA become involved. The male alien Ray who has been beamed onto the planet from the mothership is sweet on the female alien Vikki who seems to prefer the comforts of people’s pools and water tanks over returning to her home planet, thus ignoring Ray’s warning that time is running out.

2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?

Science Fiction, Fantasy, Romance

3. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?

The movie is an exciting adventure, full of intrigue, romance and desire as well as current thoughts and ideas about alien visitation, abduction and the future of mankind. We identify with the principal characters and hope for their safe departure while rooting against the CIA operatives trying to capture and contain them. The budget is mid-range, approx. 10 million tops as the CGI demands are kept to a minimal.

4. How would you describe this script in two words?

Action and the unknown future.

5. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?

Tarkovsky’s Solaris, followed by the Soderbergh remake with G. Clooney.

6. How long have you been working on this screenplay?

One year. This short screenplay uses tropes from my award-winning feature-length screenplay Lady Smoke (California Film Awards, Oregon Film Awards and more). Ray in Space is considered from an idea to create a TV series of numerous episodes. The basic backbone for the screenplay comes from the John Cheever story The Swimmer, made into a film with Burt Lancaster. The metaphor of using swimming pools to denote steps to home is a premise.

7. How many stories have you written?

About 12.

8. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)

Any music by James Brown, incl. Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag.

9. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?

Time. Always time.

10. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

Creating music-compositional software, producing live electronic music with my trio The Krells, authoring graphic novels and audiobooks.

11. You entered your screenplay via FilmFreeway. What has been your experiences working with the submission platform site?

Very Good. No issues.

12. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?

Good meaningful feedback. And I was hoping my work would be selected for one of the readings, something I am very, very enthusiastic about!

******

Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com

Director: Matthew Toffolo

Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne

Editor: Kimberly Villarruel

Camera Op: Mary Cox

Sci-Fi/Fantasy Festival – Thursday May 31, 2018 – 9PM (Toronto)

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The FEEDBACK Monthly Film Festival is back for 2018.. Our home is The Carlton Cinemas, located in the heart of downtown Toronto at 20 Carlton Street. The event runs from 9pm to 11pm.

Continuing to showcase the best of short films from around the world, while maintaining our audience feedback format moderated by Kierston Drier. Showcasing a festival twice a month in Toronto in 2018!

Tickets for 2018 are PAY WHAT YOU LIKE. Purchase your tickets online via Paypal or Credit Card. Tickets are first come first serve.

If you like to obtain seats in advance and pick them up on the day of the event (come for FREE, or make a donation), please email us at festivalevent@wildsoundfestival.com and we’ll reserve seats for you.

You can pick up the tickets on the day of the event at the cinema. Tickets are first come, first serve. This festival has sold out 70 out of its last 72 events!

You will be able to buy alcohol (beer, wine, liquor), popcorn, candy, and refreshments before the show.

Here is the full program of films. Festival starts at 9pm sharp!

FIRST ACT PROGRAM

THE FLOWER GATE, 15min., Israel, Fantasy
Directed by Kristin Gorell

‘The Flower Gate’ is a magical realist and feminist short film metaphorically exploring oppression and destruction by telling the story of an Israeli-expatriate woman returning to Jerusalem for a visit, only to be confronted by the impact of her choices. Inspired by the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, ‘The Shadow’.

CLICK HERE – and see full info and more pics of the film!

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RENDEZ-VOUS, 2min., Canada, Fantasy
Directed by Jimmy Boutry

In a manor out of time, a man begins to paint a canevas.

CLICK HERE – and see full info and more pics of the film!

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PHARMA LAB TRAINING VIDEO: 1, 9min., USA, Fantasy
Directed by Joseph David Bowes

A training video gone wrong for the government’s new pharmaceutical testing facility!

CLICK HERE – and see full info and more pics of the film!

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TRUMPETS IN THE SKY, 12min., Belguim, Sci-Fi
Directed by Robin De Cock

In a near, dystopian future an earshattering sound has plagued the world for six months. Gabrielle and her deaf son Raphael struggle to survive in a a society on the brink of collapsing since the start of “The Horn”.

CLICK HERE – and see full info and more pics of the film!

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SECOND ACT PROGRAM

METTA VIA, 12min., Canada, Sci-Fi
Directed by Warren Flanagan

Set in the future It tells the story of a young woman who wakes up in a mysterious ‘temple like’ room and must figure out what her purpose is there. This in turn leads to her memories being unlocked and the true purpose of the temple, the strange sentient machines that surround her, and ultimately her final destination.

CLICK HERE – and see full info and more pics of the film!

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THE SUPER RECOGNISER, 11min., UK, Sci-Fi
Directed by Jennifer Sheridan

It tells the story of Scott (Jacob Anderson), a seemingly normal young man with a very special talent. Thanks to his exceptional skills of 90% facial recognition, Scott has been recruited to work in a secret government initiative. Under the watchful eye of his tough-talking supervisor Agent Williams (Ritu Arya), this Super Recogniser is over-worked and under pressure as he spends hours seeking terrorists and criminals captured on CCTV cameras. However, Scott starts to question everything after he believes he sees ‘himself’ on the monitors.

CLICK HERE – and see full info and more pics of the film!

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SOLUK (BREATH), 5min., Turkey, Sci-Fi
Directed by H. Yagmur Kartal

In a dystopic future, there is a shortage of oxygen. People are breathing with gas masks. A thief sneaks into an old man’s house. The thief finds a plant in the house he enters. The old man realizes that he can get maskless oxygen at home thanks to this plant and special fan. The film deals with the struggle of two people for the sake of having this plant that supplies oxygen.

CLICK HERE – and see full info and more pics of the film!

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AFTER WE HAVE LEFT OUR HOMES, 8min., UK, Sci-Fi
Directed by Marc Adamson

Under a dictatorship that has banned music, a man hides a recording until he is caught and imprisoned. Whilst paying for his crimes he stumbles across a repository of confiscated items, leading to a series of events that will forever change the city.

CLICK HERE – and see full info and more pics of the film!

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The event runs from 9pm to 11pm on Thursday May 31, 2018

Continuing to showcase the best of short films from around the world, while maintaining our audience feedback format moderated by Kierston Drier. Showcasing a festival twice a month in Toronto in 2017!