FILM SCREENING VENUES:
Hotel Boulderado: 2115 13th st., Boulder, CO 80302

A Single Body

Short film, directed by Sotiris Dounoukos (Australia). Best friends and skilled abattoir workers David and Wani are saving to open their own butchery, but before they can realise their dream, the arrival of a new worker will test the bonds of their shared life. Winner of best film at the Toronto International Film Festival, and the Oscar-recognised St Kilda Film Festival and Sydney Film Festival Dendy Awards 2015. (20 minutes)

Becoming Bulletproof

Feature film, directed by Michael Barnett (USA). A diverse group of disabled people from across the U S take on leading roles in a magical rip-roaring costume drama Western, filmed on vintage Hollywood locations. This riveting film-within-a-film immerses us in a dynamic, inclusive world of discipline and play, raising questions about why we so rarely see real disabled, yet talented, actors on the big screen? ‘Becoming Bulletproof’ is the story of how four very different people with disabilities from across America take on leading roles in an ambitious indie film production, to make a Western, complete with authentic Western wardrobe, saloon brawls, showdowns at the poker table, and evil villains. ‘Bulletproof’, is the brainchild of brothers Will and Pete Halby from Vermont, who run an annual film camp in Venice Beach, California. As Will Halby explains, filming ‘Bulletproof’ isn’t about actors’ limitations, “It’s all about making an awesome movie, not a statement.” (80 minutes)

Between Times

Animation film, directed by Ru Kuwahata & Max Porter, (Netherlands & USA). From the wall of a small town bakery, a cuckoo clock recounts a day where bread was sliced one second thick, lovers fell in sync and time rarely flowed at an even rate. Amazing imagery! (15 minutes)

Circus Without Borders

Feature documentary, directed by: Susan Gray (USA). What do you do when you are born into a world where your forefathers were on the losing side of the colonial struggle and despair is your inheritance? Circus Without Borders follows the stories of two unique circuses from struggling communities at opposite ends of the globe – an Inuit circus in the Canadian Arctic and a West African circus in Guinea, Conakry: Both circuses achieve unexpected, international success and their parallel journeys shed light on the commonalities and differences of the human experience. (70 minutes)

Colors of Life

Short documentary film, directed by Goro Ushijima (Japan). The Shimuras, mother Fukumi and daughter Yoko, devote their daily lives in a lifelong pursuit to understanding and preserving the national treasure that is Japanese textiles, Lovely photography of the gathering of wild plants, flowers & herbs, and the ancient traditional art & process for creating fabulous and unique fabric dyes. (14 minutes)

Crimean

Feature narrative Film, directed by Burak Cem Arliel (Turkey). This beautifully-filmed & directed movie tells of the poignant, very personal human tragedy and the suffering of the Crimean Turks who were taken hostage as prisoners of war in German prison camps during World War II. Based of Cengiz Dagci’s ‘The Frightful Years’ novel. Fabulous film, Academy Award quality; don’t miss this winning film! (In Turkish, with English subtitles) (113 minutes)

ELLA (SHE)

Animation film, directed by Juan Montes de Oca, 19 minutes, (SPAIN). In Palma de Mallorca, through the eyes of a 5 year-old innocent kid, a lovely and moving story unfolds of life’s coincidences, miseries and joys, as the boy learns about an old man’s stories of his ill-fated life in New York, and his long-lost love. But the boy is happy to see that, in the end, the old man finds his way to his life’s happiness, and even to the love of his life. Juan Montes de Oca has won more that 100 international awards for his animation work, and this is one of his best examples. (19 minutes)

EVERY BEAUTIFUL THING

Short narrative film, directed by Sonya Lea (usa). Two sisters trying to forget their troubled past must deal with a cruel mother close to death. Stars HBO’s Lauren Weedman and singer Dylan Nichole Bandy, with a score by Trey Gunn, featuring Bob Dylan’s ‘Not Dark Yet.’ EVERY BEAUTIFUL THING was created by a mostly female cast and crew, and is supported by women and those who want to see women’s stories on the screen. Rated R, for opening sexual scene. (12 minutes)

Expose

Short Dance Film, Directed By Moniek van der Kallen (Netherlands). A young woman is dancing in her room alone. Or is she? Through transparent curtains and glass ornaments, a girl appears, dancing around her room, carefree. Lightheartedly, passionately, expressing her thoughts, she moves across the floor. Until she realizes, through the dance, that she is not really alone at all. (12 minutes)

Food for Thought, Food for Life

Short documentary film, directed by Susan Rockefeller (USA). We want our food fast, convenient and cheap, but at what cost? As farms become supersized our environment suffers and so does the quality of our food. FOOD FOR THOUGHT, FOOD FOR LIFE wants to start a revolution in the food system. This film will be a conversation starter inspiring us to think differently about what we eat, and to make changes that will positively impact our health, our earth and our communities. A driving and optimistic soundtrack by the indie band Cloud Cult punctuates interviews with such visionaries as poet Wendell Berry, chef Dan Barber, and guerilla urban gardener Ron Finley. Viewers will be inspired by the fast-paced info-graphics, stories of change, and left with a real-time ‘what you can do right now’ message. (22 minutes)

GARAND

Short narrative film, directed by Rodrigo Atiénzar (Spain). A sensitive boy & his family, living in an old mansion in the forests of Catalonia, are faced with the boy’s sense of right & wrong, when his controlling, old-world father forces the boy to go hunting with him, to teach him to be a man. In this passionate coming-of-age story, the boy seeks revenge, but learns about regret & forgiveness. (26 minutes)

Good Men

Short documentary film, directed by Brian Connors (USA). Two elderly & garrulous friends, Golden Globe & Emmy-winning actor Ed Asner & Mark Rydell, who was nominated for an Oscar for his direction of On Golden Pond, get into a free-spirited discussion & confrontation over a conspiracy theory & the differing allegations about the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks. (12 minutes)

Hold On

Short narrative film, directed by Jackie Julio & Doug Olear (USA). This must-see, delightful and thought-provoking film is a quirky comedy about Rose, a spirited, real-life quadriplegic, and famed physicist, who goes to extreme measures in her fantastic quest for romance and true love. This engaging, story – part romance, part magic realism – is sprinkled with absurdity and symbolism, adding more than a touch of spice for the consummate film lover. Starring Jackie Julio, Doug Olear (“The Wire”) and Dominic West (“Chicago”), and featuring original music written for this film, by Bruce Springsteen. (21 minutes)

I Am

Feature documentary film, directed by Tom Shadyac (USA). This is an utterly engaging and entertaining documentary film that poses two practical and provocative questions: “What’s wrong with our world, and what can we do to make it better?” The filmmaker behind the inquiry is Tom Shadyac, one of Hollywood’s leading comedy practitioners and the creative force behind such blockbusters as Ace Ventura, Pet Detective, Patch Adams, Liar Liar, The Nutty Professor, and Bruce Almighty. However, in I AM, Shadyac steps in front of the camera to recount what happened to him after a cycling accident left him incapacitated, possibly for good. Though he ultimately recovered, he emerged with a new sense of purpose, determined to share his own awakening to his prior life of excess and greed, and to investigate how he, as an individual, and we, as a race, could improve the way we live and walk in the world. Plus special Q&A with the director! (77 minutes)

I am gone

Short narrative film, directed by Andie Naar (USA). A young woman rushes through the streets of Manhattan at night. She seems worried someone could follow her. She uses a payphone to make a call. We see her bruised face. The woman enters the subway, people stare at her bruises. She seems to be in her own world, deep thinking, while the train rushes through the dark. (8 minutes)

INDIGO GREY: The Passage

Shirt narrative music video, directed by: Sean Robinson (USA). A young boy’s discovery of a mysterious gas mask provides a glimpse into an alternate reality. Featuring America’s Got Talent’s ‘Hammerstep,’ a traditional Irish/hip-hop dance troupe, nine-year-old Aidan Lok, who has a first degree black belt in Shotokan Karate and has won over 100 medals from international karate tournaments, and original score by Evanescence’s Amy Lee. (6 minutes)

Julian Lennon’s “Salt Water Song”

Music video, directed by Bud Wilson (USA). A visual metaphor of Lennon’s haunting lyrics and music, imagining the poignant and beautifully touching scenes from the song. (5 minutes)

Lambing Season

Short film, directed by Jeannie Donohoe (USA). Lambing Season is the offbeat tale of Bridget, an American woman who travels to the Irish countryside to track down her long-lost father while posing as a stranger. When things don’t go according to her convoluted plan, Bridget and her father are surprised to learn they have more in common than they imagined. On a sheep farm full of secrets, nature has its way of delivering the truth. (15 minutes)

LOSING JULIA

Short film, directed by Michael Conti, written & produced by Elizabeth English (USA/Colorado) An urban legend brought to film. A passionate encounter between two strangers, which leads them to the one thing they both seek in life: true love and unconditional commitment. But at what ultimate price? The ending is a shocker!(15 minutes)

MUSIC OF STRANGERS

Short film, Directed by: Christopher McKee (USA/Colorado) Superstition and reality intermingle when a suspicious-looking stranger hears the music of a beautiful woman cellist. The story unfolds against the backdrop of Paris and its beautiful metro with the melodious sound of the cello. (7 minutes)

Our Common Roots

Feature documentary film, directed by Glenn Axford (Canada). This film speaks to the therapeutic and energetic qualities of medicinal plants of the forest, field and garden. Reconnecting with the intelligence of the plant kingdom, and our global healing traditions such as Ayurveda, might just be the most rewarding investment we can make – not only for ourselves, but also for our planet, and all future generations. The film is a cinematic mix of nature, music, narration and on-location plant walks covering over 35 healing plants and the holistic philosophy behind their use. The film’s goal is to empower the viewer with the knowledge that health and vitality can be achieved through integrating the best of both modern and traditional methods. (45 minutes)

Porcelain

Short narrative film, directed by Samantha Smith (USA). Porcelain, set in the year 1910, follows a little girl, Isabella as she is forced to deal with the fatal illness of her mother. One night, after receiving a very special music box gift, Isabella falls into a deep sleep and finds herself in a dream world, where her beloved mother is well again and dances for her. (10 minutes)

Razor

Short narrative film, directed by Rajko RIstanovic (Serbia). The film is based on the short story RAZOR by Vladimir Nabokov. A game of destiny or cosmic justice? (10 minutes)

Red Earth Calling

Short narrative dance film, directed by: Jennifer Jessum (USA). The raw, wild dance choreography of Red Earth Calling tells the story of a young man who gets lost in the desert and becomes entranced by the spirit of the land. He is being called back to his roots, to the earth of which he is made. (13 minutes)

Sandboy

Short narrative film, directed by Vittoria Colonna, co-produced by Julian Lennon (IRELAND). In a sleepy Californian desert, sits an abandoned junk yard, an abandoned RV and an abandoned young woman haunted by a secret. Sandboy is a story about bereavement, atonement, redemption and HOPE. We follow one woman’s journey into finding forgiveness after the tragic loss of her family. Grace is an outsider artist – imprisoned in the desert by her own mind. Full of longing and regret, Grace punishes herself for the horrific events that took place last Christmas. As the film unfolds, we slowly come to realize that Grace holds herself responsible for the tragic deaths of her husband, child and an innocent woman. Earth to earth, ashes to ashes and dust to dust, the sand boy and family of sculptures are a visual reminder of Grace’s son and husband and the life she knew and held dear. (21 minutes) The support and love we received from the local community was truly humbling and inspiring. After four days of filming we had gathered an extended family, united by a common bond of love, story telling, trust and art! (23 minutes)

Shabu-Shabu SpIrit

Short narrative film, directed by Yuki Saito (Japan). In this comedic film, a fiancé, Keita, goes to meet the family, while the father, Shozo, begins his secret appraisal – a test to see whether this fiancé is worthy or not of marrying his daughter. Trying to reduce the distance between them, the mother prepares a single nabe (cooking pot) for the shabu-shabu meal. As Shozo’s eyes glint brightly, Keita reaches towards the shabu-shabu….(11 minutes)

SHANGRI-LA CAFÉ

Short film, directed by Lily Mariye (USA). This touching film is about a Japanese-American family who conceals their identity and reluctantly adopts discriminatory practices in order to operate a Chinese restaurant within the hostile Cold War climate of Las Vegas in the late 1950s. “A stirring evocation of a very personal place and time, ‘The Shangri-la Cafe’ serves up a tender, bittersweet childhood recollection of a not always glittering Las Vegas past.”
-, The Hollywood Reporter. (30 minutes)

Super Sounds

Short narrative film, directed by Stephen.de Villiers & Chloe Gardner (Australia). Super Sounds is a simple childhood tale about discovering friendship and receiving the gift of acceptance. Set in a small coastal town over the course of two long summer days, a lonely, shy boy runs into a curious, quirky young girl. Trying his best to deal with a well-guarded secret around his disability, the boy seems stuck in the world of imagination, living out a superhero fantasy ritual. Seeing beyond this, the girl, at peace with her own idiosyncrasies – she is half blind without her glasses – tries to reach out. In an ironic and climactic twist, the boy is given the opportunity to act like a real hero. As a result of this, we get the sense that through her trust and appreciation, he’s able to engage with the real world, re-discovering a sense of his personal value. Even superheroes need friends! (14 minutes)

The Detectives of Noir Town

Animation/live-action film, directed by Andrew Chambers (Australia). A puppet detective is on the case of his missing uncle. Though he has competition from every man, woman and dummy wanting to be named Noir Town’s top detective. In this fantasy/comedy short film we are transported to ‘Noir Town’, a place where puppets and humans coexist, in an uneasy, unspoken truce. Detective John Cotton is a puppet detective who is on the search for his missing uncle. The problem is everyone in town wants to be a detective and steal this case, so back-stabbing and murder comes swift and fast from every direction. Who is the killer? and will John find his uncle before things start to unravel. (7 minutes)

THE DUST MACHINE

Animation, directed by Damon Mohl (USA/Colorado) A highly imaginative visual journey into a dark microscopic world, The Dust Machine is a poetic expressionistic meditation on absurd technological eras of exploration, isolation and communication. (15 minutes)

THE INCIDENT AT TOWER 37

Animation film, Directed by: Chris Perry (US). In the middle of a dry, desolate landscape stands Tower 37: a shimmering water processing station, siphoning every last drop of water from a once-pristine lake. Day in and day out the station’s lone steward monitors the tower’s activities, never realizing that Tower 37 is slowly destroying an entire ecosystem. But when two unexpected guests arrive, the tower’s operator learns the high cost of his ignorance. ‘The Incident at Tower 37’ leverages the power of allegory and the beauty of computer animation to foster a debate about the ownership, use, and exhaustion of natural resources. (5 minutes)

THE RAMONA FLOWERS ~ ‘TOKYO’

Music video, directed by Bouha Kazmi (UK). The Ramona Flowers perform ‘Tokyo’ in this epic, surrealistic story of a boy’s strange journey into the unknown, where he encounters a ménage of elegantly masked women who dance to enchant his young mind. (6 minutes)

The Windfisherman

Short narrative film, directed by Anna McRoberts, (USA). The Windfisherman lives in the windiest little town in the world, where he “fishes” for things that have blown away, and returns them to their rightful owners. His father, grandfather, great-grandfather & even great-great grandfather before him were all the town’s Windfishermen, but even though it is in his blood, it’s not in his heart, at least not until he learns one of life’s most valuable lessons, in this beautifully-filmed allegorical tale. (12 minutes)

The World is My Country

Feature documentary film, directed by Arthur Kanegis (USA). The amazing true story of Garry Davis, — a song and dance man on a mission to save the world, and how he became World Citizen #1 and why there is hope for a fabulous future for us all. Garry Davis enthralls us with his astounding journey from the Broadway Stage, as Danny Kaye’s understudy, to the World Stage, as the first official Citizen of the World. Hailed by Andre Breton, Albert Camus, Albert Einstein, Buckminster Fuller, Eleanor Roosevelt, Martin Sheen, and a cameo appearance by film director Tom Shadyac. Garry’s true life story cuts through the barbed-wire borders imprisoning our minds and takes us dancing into a future with …No Borders! No Boundaries! No Fear! An amazing lost piece of history that gives us hope that we can build a peaceful future. This film may cause you to realize that you, too, can change the world! (79 minutes) Note: this is a Sneak Preview!. (79 minutes)

Tom in America

Short narrative film, directed by Flavio Alves (USA). A couple living together for 50 years still manages to have some secrets between them — until one rare, collectible male doll comes into their lives. Uh-oh…(16 minutes)

Two Secrets

Short Film, directed by Charles Dye (USA). A true story. Two secrets will change 12-year-old Janey’s life forever. One she’s never told a soul. The other, her entire family’s never told her. Tonight they crash. A powerful coming-of-age film with a shocking ending that challenges each of us to become the real person we keep hidden inside.

Since the age age of eight, Janey’s kept a secret so dark she feels no one can ever find out. At the same time, she’s about to be blind-sided by a secret that will destroy everything she believes about her past. These two secrets will rip Janey’s life apart. The courage and strength she summons to confront them is inspiring. (21 minutes)

Who Would Jesus Date?

Short narrative film, directed by: Neeti Fidurko (USA). A girl brings Jesus home to meet the parents. Will they approve of “a match made in Heaven”? A comedic short of biblical proportions! Ancient texts have revealed the possibility that Jesus of Nazareth was married. Who Would Jesus Date? uses interfaith humor and sharp wit to ponder what it would be like to date an up-and-coming young messiah.??Things are getting pretty serious between Jesus of Nazareth and Mariah of Bethany when she brings him home to meet her parents. Jesus is beloved by his disciples, but can be prove himself worthy of her father’s blessing???Who Would Jesus Date? carries a universal message of acceptance using a lighthearted & semi-respectable modern approach. Avoiding theological debate and religious punditry, this film comedically highlights the sin of passing judgement, and the virtues of love and patience. (18 minutes)

WILDERNESS WITHIN

Short narrative film, directed by Vangelis Maderakis (Greece) Screenplay written by Elizabeth English (USA), An elderly Greek man ponders his long and passionate life as a peasant boy at the turn of the century in Greece. Old Petros relates his unique, Zorba-esque tale of an undying love for his late wife; a tale of incredible, mystical adventures, a poignant quest for life lived to the fullest, and a venture into the realms of the impossible. Petros’ young wife, a strong-willed woman, is the equal to his story, and the tale becomes hers, too. (18 minutes)

FILM SCREENING VENUES:
Hotel Boulderado: 2115 13th st., Boulder, CO 80302
Conference area, Columbine & Alpine Theaters

  All events & films are scheduled to occur or be screened, as indicated, but the schedule or venue may change, due to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control.
See print program at the festival.