IndieWorks

IndieWorks - March Recap

Last Tuesday was the March edition of IndieWorks! We had over 50 people in house for our 5 films of the night. The first set of films were moving mixed-medium pieces that explored overcoming grief. The second set were lighter pieces that explored trying to find one’s place and make a connection in different ways. The audience had great questions, and lovely conversations were had.

We'd like to say thank you to everyone who came out to support the filmmakers and spend the evening with us & them. We do hope you enjoyed the films, as well as the opportunity to network with other filmmakers and film enthusiasts. We know some connections were made!

AND we hope you'll join us again for our Best of Fest screening, featuring all Silver Whiskers Award winners of Year 6 on April 23rd! (More on that soon!) Save the date!

See photos from the evening:

The Films of the night:

Bloom (Written & Directed Lauren Cheung)
Captures a young woman’s attempt to contend with loss through her art. Facing a blank canvas, a grief-stricken painter named Mae flits through memories— both remembered and conjured— of her lost friend, until she finally confronts the most painful of them all: her friend's belongings scattered among a crime scene. Her memories are entwined with visions of her friend playing the violin in a dark auditorium; as the film progresses, the violinist’s music and Mae’s art combine together to become the language of Mae’s grief.

A Thousand Words (Directed by Mara Bush, Written by Carrie Ferrante)
Christine, forced to live in a new and unwelcome reality, hopes a special set of polaroids will provide her with a tangible keepsake. As she looks back on the little moments captured in the photos, she doesn't quite find what she's looking for but instead finds just what she needs.

Man’s Best Friend (Written & Directed by Alex Mallonee & Natasha Blass, Written by Natasha Blass.)
A dark comedy that examines our relationship to smartphones and how they both connect and isolate us from one another.  

The Break (Directed by Michael Goldburg, Written by Michael Goldburg, Janelle Tedesco, and Dave Chan)
An unhappy accountant works out her midlife crisis to be an artist during a "break" with coworkers at her office. An office comedy -- and grown-up version of "The Breakfast Club." 

Coffee and a Donut (Written & Directed by Cary Patrick Martin)
Pablo is a young immigrant, new to the United States, and speaks no English. When he first comes into a diner, not knowing how to order, he mimics another customer. Thus, a “coffee and a donut” becomes his regular order. Meanwhile, more appetizing meals pass in front of him, which he has to figure out how to order while in a busy environment that leaves him isolated. 

Watch our Q&A Recap. *Please know there are some film spoilers - feel free to look for an opportunity to catch the films at a festival or computer screen near you & then come back to watch!

The awards go to...

At the end of the evening, we announced our winning film for the Audience Choice Award. We had to skip our usual Silver Whisker Award this month, so the March Audience winner receives $50 towards a crowdfunding campaign on SeedandSpark.com should they use the platform and 50% off 4MileCircus' post-production audio cleaning service for a future project!

Congrats to:
    Audience Choice Award:  "Coffee and a Donut"

52842239_2553449138061715_1171088069512658944_o.jpg

IndieWorks - February Recap

Last Tuesday was the February edition of IndieWorks! There was a snowstorm, so unfortunately we only had 30 people in house for our 6 films of the night. But, thankfully, it was an engaged crowd with a lively Q&A. The lineup was a sweet, silly, and sometimes sad mix of films about love, sex and relationships.

We'd like to say thank you to everyone who came out to support the filmmakers and spend the evening with us & them. We do hope you enjoyed the films, as well as the opportunity to network with other filmmakers and film enthusiasts. We know some connections were made! AND we hope you'll join us again for our March screening on the 12th! It’ll be a mix of emotional and entertaining pieces about moving on from loss and making new connections.

See photos from the evening:

The Films of the night:

The High Wire (Directed by Joe Foley, Written by Kristy Hasen)
Catches the painfully funny misadventures of a sex-crazed, love-shy, middle-aged Innocent as she tumbles off Tinder and onto a former Mormon. Part Olympic gymnast, part accident waiting to happen, the small-but-mighty Kristy takes a giant leap towards love.

Fork In The Road (Written & Directed by Lea Pfandler)
Struggling with her girlfriend's ongoing denial, Lorena is left with the repercussions of the poor decision that follows that heartbreak. She finds herself at a crossroads having to make one of the most difficult decisions a woman could face.

Committed (Directed by Rachel Handler & Crystal Arnette)
When Calvin announces that he's proposing to Leesa...and then they're moving to the suburbs, Rebecca enlists Dennis's help to sabotage the proposal and keep their friends around for good.  

Metamorphosis (Written & Directed by Natalie Harris)
A queer and inexperienced girl seeks guidance after a game of Never Have I Ever. 

Cake (Directed by Adam Griffith, Written by Erika Santosuosso)
Abandoning social norms, a woman ventures into new territory to explore her sexuality. 

Watch our Q&A Recap. *Please know there are some film spoilers - feel free to look for an opportunity to catch the films at a festival or computer screen near you & then come back to watch!

The awards go to...

At the end of the evening, we announced our winning filmmakers for both Audience Choice Award & Silver Whiskers Award. The Audience Choice Award is voted upon by all those in attendance, and the Silver Whiskers Award is judged by the CongestedCat Team based on a rating system of 8 categories:   StoryDialogue/WritingDirectionActingCinematographySoundEditing, and Production Value, along with a nuanced discussion focused on inclusion and originality. The Silver Whiskers winner goes on to screen again at our end of year Best of Fest screening next April. 

The Silver Whiskers winner also receives $50 towards a crowdfunding campaign on SeedandSpark.com should they use the platform and 50% off 4MileCircus' post-production audio cleaning service for a future project. 

For the February 2019 lineup, our winning films were:
    Audience Choice Award:  "Cake"
    Silver Whiskers Award:  "Metamorphosis" 

indieworks.png

IndieWorks - January Recap

Last Tuesday was the January edition of IndieWorks! We screened 5 films and had over 50 people in house. The first set of films were intense & dramatic pieces, focused on past relationships coming back with consequences. The second set were lighter pieces, focused on feeling stuck or halted and unsure of what’s next, portrayed across very different styles & genres. Aside from one of the filmmakers not showing up and us needing to skip a 6th film we had programmed, the night went extremely well. We had a really engaged crowd with a lot of profound questions and comments during both Q&As.

We'd like to say thank you to everyone who came out to support the filmmakers and spend the evening with us & them. We do hope you enjoyed the films, as well as the opportunity to network with other filmmakers and film enthusiasts. We know some connections were made! AND we hope you'll join us again for our February screening on the 12th! It’ll be a sweet, silly, and sometimes sad mix of films about love, sex and relationships.

See photos from the evening:

The Films of the night:

The Long Wet Grass (Directed by Justin Davey, Written by Anna Nugent & Séamus Scanlon)
As dawn breaks over a remote lakeside in the West of Ireland, a car comes to a halt and a man all in black exits. He opens the boot (trunk) and we find there a terrified, barefoot woman. As he leads her to the edge of the lake they start to argue and we discover that they have been there before as children.

My Name is Somebody (Written & Directed by Orges Bakalli)
Bruno is living the 'American dream.' He has a loving wife, owns a bar and is expecting his first child. He is hiding a secret however; one he has spent the last twenty years hoping to hide. When a forgotten figure re-emerges and threatens all that he has built, Bruno must make amends with his past, before carrying on with his future. 

Still Life (Written & Directed by Jennifer Dean)
A short-short film celebrating the art that keeps us sane even when life makes us crazy. 

Cheese Shop (Written & Directed by Sammy Zeisel)
Takes place over the course of one long day at an artisan cheese shop. Ella, an out-of-work actress, struggles to wrap cheese in plastic, build trays, and cut every variety of cheese throughout her first day of work at the shop. Meanwhile, her life outside the shop appears to be falling apart: career failure, a break-up, and...bed bugs.

Future Unknown (Written & Directed by Makeba L. Ross)
On the afternoon of their college graduation, Mannie lets the fear of the future keep her from enjoying the day, while her friend Sunny tries her best to be happy for the both of them. 

Watch our Q&A Recap. *Please know there are some film spoilers - feel free to look for an opportunity to catch the films at a festival or computer screen near you & then come back to watch!

The awards go to...

At the end of the evening, we announced our winning filmmakers for both Audience Choice Award & Silver Whiskers Award. The Audience Choice Award is voted upon by all those in attendance, and the Silver Whiskers Award is judged by the CongestedCat Team based on a rating system of 8 categories:   StoryDialogue/WritingDirectionActingCinematographySoundEditing, and Production Value, along with a nuanced discussion focused on inclusion and originality. The Silver Whiskers winner goes on to screen again at our end of year Best of Fest screening next April. 

The Silver Whiskers winner also receives $50 towards a crowdfunding campaign on SeedandSpark.com should they use the platform and 50% off 4MileCircus' post-production audio cleaning service for a future project. 

For the January 2019 lineup, our winning films were:
    Audience Choice Award:  "Cheese Shop"
    Silver Whiskers Award:  "Future Unknown" 

indieworks.png

IndieWorks - December Recap

Last Tuesday was the December edition of IndieWorks! We screened 5 films and had over 50 people in house. The first set of films were mixed-medium pieces about overcoming trauma, and the second set were lighter pieces that both somewhat touched on creating art & expression. The lineup as a whole was moving and encouraging. The audience was wonderfully engaged; and, thanks to some positive adjustments by our venue after last month’s unfortunately rowdy bar crowd, the evening was immersive and sparked a lot of thoughtful conversation.

We'd like to say thank you to everyone who came out to support the filmmakers and spend the evening with us & them. We do hope you enjoyed the films, as well as the opportunity to network with other filmmakers and film enthusiasts. We know some connections were made! AND we hope you'll join us again for our January screening on 8th! It’ll be an eclectic mix of narrative films exploring tense relationships, finding one’s path, and surprising discoveries.

See photos from the evening:

The Films of the night:

The Mole (Directed by Nina Gielen, Written by Steffan Triplette)
A visualized poem about identity, marginalization, and bitter-sweet memories of childhood. Created as part of the Visible Poetry Project.

For a Better Life (Written & Directed by Yasmin Mistry)
Sold for $100 at the age of 5, Fekri suffers through years of abuse before his plight is discovered. After almost a year of hospitalization and therapy Fekri moves into a group home where he finds support, mentorship, and eventual forgiveness towards the family which sold him. 

AMYDEE (Written & Directed by Amy DePaola)
Since surviving a physical assault on the steps of her apartment, Amy DePaola (30) has been keeping a low profile while visiting a local boxing gym. When a young woman turns up dead in her neighborhood, Amy is forced to face her fears again, revealing that her real fight is far from over. 

Encore (Written & Directed by Noah Marthaller)
A woman struggles with her elderly father’s new living situation as his health declines and he clings to his independence.

Unfinished Business (Written & Directed by Nikolai Basarich)
rock bottom rock bottom rock bottom demon rock bottom rock bottom. 

Watch our Q&A Recap. *Please know there are some film spoilers - feel free to look for an opportunity to catch the films at a festival or computer screen near you & then come back to watch!

The awards go to...

At the end of the evening, we announced our winning filmmakers for both Audience Choice Award & Silver Whiskers Award. The Audience Choice Award is voted upon by all those in attendance, and the Silver Whiskers Award is judged by the CongestedCat Team based on a rating system of 8 categories:   StoryDialogue/WritingDirectionActingCinematographySoundEditing, and Production Value, along with a nuanced discussion focused on inclusion and originality. The Silver Whiskers winner goes on to screen again at our end of year Best of Fest screening next April. 

The Silver Whiskers winner also receives $50 towards a crowdfunding campaign on SeedandSpark.com should they use the platform and 50% off 4MileCircus' post-production audio cleaning service for a future project. 

For the December 2018 lineup, our winning films were:
    Audience Choice Award:  "Encore"
    Silver Whiskers Award:  "AMYDEE" 

indieworks.png

IndieWorks - November Recap

Last Tuesday was the November edition of IndieWorks! We screened 5 films and had 40 people in house. The lineup was a moving & thoughtful mix of documentaries and narrative films exploring larger social issues as well as small personal stories, with a focus on family & childhood. The screening itself went well with a lot of audience engagement. However, the night as a whole was a bit of a mess. Since moving to The Local as our venue in Year 4, we’d say that the bar in front is nearly empty 75% of the time with the few people there typically respectful during the films, but sometimes there ends up being a chatty group at the bar . On most occasions when that happens, we can get them to speak softly while the films play. But, unfortunately, this evening wasn’t one of those occasions. We actually experienced a first for IndieWorks where we had to stop a film and eventually restart it because there was a drunk, misogynist at the bar who talked loudly during the first half of films and then began screaming vulgarities at the bartender. We stepped in to help get him out of the bar. It took 20 minutes to get him to actually leave. Thankfully, no one was hurt and we were able to continue the night with no other disruptions (though his friends stuck around to continue drinking & unfortunately became quite loud towards the end of our event). We’d like to apologize to the filmmakers & audience whose enjoyment of the films and conversations were lessoned by this occurrence. We try our best to create an immersive experience each month, but we don’t have full control of the space. The trade off for getting to keep attendance free while creating a welcoming environment where attendees can mingle between and after the screenings over affordable drinks & a chill atmosphere, is having to sometimes contend with rude people at the bar. (To be honest, as much as we appreciate The Local for their hospitality, large inviting space, and beautiful screen, the ability to create a free but private event and have a bar owner who’s on top of getting rid of belligerent people swiftly & smoothly is something we really miss about our original home The People Lounge & its wonderful owner Heinz.) Nonetheless, the filmmakers and audience did seem to enjoy the evening as a whole, and great conversations were had throughout the night.

We'd like to say thank you to everyone who came out to support the filmmakers and spend the evening with us & them. We do hope you enjoyed the films (despite the noise), as well as the opportunity to network with other filmmakers and film enthusiasts. We know some connections were made! AND we hope you'll join us again for our December screening on 11th! It’ll be a moving & uplifting slate of films that explore overcoming trauma and creating art.

See photos from the evening:

The Films of the night:

The Method (Directed by Michela Monte)
Living in Brooklyn (NYC) has become an act of resistance. The housing market is dominated by money and often ruled by unscrupulous landlords. Families, children and working class New Yorkers are violently pushed out of their affordable homes and made homeless. In South Williamsburg aka « Los Sures » the community has developed his own « Method » to fight back.

Unwelcome (Directed by Ida Theresa Myklebost)
The 2017 short documentary film "Unwelcome" takes an unusual approach in covering the Syrian war by giving the microphone to a six year old refugee boy and letting him narrate the film himself. 

Oatmeal (Directed by Alessia Gatti, Written & Produced by Martha Frances Williams)
A woman struggling to balance her lofty work ambitions has an unexpected reunion with a childhood friend and recovers her lost spark.

The Fifth Date (Written & Directed by Claire Brooks)
A single mother struggles to find a babysitter and takes the risk of inviting her date over after her 3 year old daughter goes to sleep.

The Rocket Ship (Written & Directed by Taishon S Black)
Seven year old Livy has seen her mother (Angie) deal with heart break and sadness too many times over; where in that she feels she has to do something. 

Watch our Q&A Recap. *Please know there are some film spoilers - feel free to look for an opportunity to catch the films at a festival or computer screen near you & then come back to watch!

The awards go to...

At the end of the evening, we announced our winning filmmakers for both Audience Choice Award & Silver Whiskers Award. The Audience Choice Award is voted upon by all those in attendance, and the Silver Whiskers Award is judged by the CongestedCat Team based on a rating system of 8 categories:   StoryDialogue/WritingDirectionActingCinematographySoundEditing, and Production Value, along with a nuanced discussion focused on inclusion and originality. The Silver Whiskers winner goes on to screen again at our end of year Best of Fest screening next April. 

The Silver Whiskers winner also receives $50 towards a crowdfunding campaign on SeedandSpark.com should they use the platform and 50% off 4MileCircus' post-production audio cleaning service for a future project. 

For the November 2018 lineup, our winning films were:
    Audience Choice Award:  "The Rocket Ship"
    Silver Whiskers Award:  "Unwelcome" 

indieworks.png