2006 Film Synopses

A Cigar at the Beach
	On a family trip to Florida to visit his sick father, The Smoker (Billy Gillespie) leaves his napping, pregnant wife (Stephanie Nash) and his iPod addicted step-son (Charlie Schmidt) in the motel room for a cigar at the beach. As a storm approaches, The Smoker pulls up a chair to the water's edge, smokes his cigar, and begins to pretend. At once, two high-octane Bikini-clad Asian tourists (Cathy Shim, Rumi Bunya) catch him off-guard and on-camera as they play and pose for the drugstore Kodaks they carry. As they begin to undress, The Smoker conjures up a more mature romance, The Woman in White (Svetlana Efremova) for an exotic and erotic encounter. As they begin to make love, The Smoker gets the call from a distant Freighter and is instantly playing poker in the ship's belly with four Mariners from distant lands (Martin Clark, William Joseph Hill, Jermaine Jackson, Radu Vlad). The insight that their obsession with women echoes his own and has rendered them all quite mad drives The Smoker from the game. He retreats into a corrected but unsustainable vision of his own family. Then he sees--the wave. Huge, swelling, mystifying, the wave grips The Smoker in a wish for release. The Smoker walks into the towering wave which crashes over him. The sea becomes calm. The Smoker's chair is empty.
Across the Hall
	Late one evening, Julian settles in to a hot bath to soak away the effects of a long day. His tranquil state is disrupted by a distressed phone call from his best friend, Terry. Terry has reason to believe his fiancé, June, is cheating on him. Tonight, his lingering suspicion persuades him to follow June to a hotel. He has been drinking all night.Julian tries to calm Terry down. He tells Terry he's just acting paranoid, a case of pre-wedding jitters. With gun in hand, Terry lays out his intentions.Julian throws on his jeans, begging Terry to stay put, then staggers into the bedroom of his own hotel room......where June lies asleep in the bed.Julian tries to stay cool as he scans the room, but when he realizes there's no way out besides the front door, all he can think about is his friend...drunk, armed, and completely unstable...staking out their only escape through the peephole...ACROSS THE HALL.
Ambassadors Day
	Ambassadors Day is a post-apocalyptic comedy. Long after the end of the world has passed into myth, two envoys meet in the desolate wilderness to exchange the weekly numbers of their people. It's a day like any other in Rendezvous Zone eighty-seven northwest, until the yelling starts. Edgar Adam Ogyletree, Right Pious Attaché of Hillsbury, has been happily oblivious to everything around him until today, when the world's problems suddenly become his own.Geoffre Done, Ambassador of Northern Materials Habitat Four, finds himself in an international incident long after nations have ceased to exist.Before sunset, these two diplomats must confront a dilemma that will detrermine the course of history.
American Debate
	American Debate explores the changing nature of human rights, such as privacy and individual freedom, in a world of constant, hidden danger. A group of teenagers have the quiet predictability of their lives suddenly and inexplicably shattered when they find themselves trapped together with the threat of a weapon in the room. As the story unfolds, the students are forced to deal with the reality that they may need to sacrifice their basic rights in order to insure their safety. When fear takes over, the classroom begins spiraling towards a cataclysmic clash of the dark side of human nature and the better angels of civilization. With a climax that strips the students of their preconceptions about themselves, each other and life in the modern world, American Debate asks the question: How far would you go to protect your freedom?
And Now a Word from Our Sponsors ...
	A young man's quest for a condom turns strangely surreal as he is bothered by an army of supermarket sellers soliciting their products. If he doesn't outsmart them on time he will lose his chance with a beautiful girl waiting in his apartment. Will he make it on time? And what surprise will he find once he arrives? This short is a commentary on today's world dominated by advertising. To best express its theme, the film consists of fake commercials put together in a way that tells a story of the main character's mission. Each part was made in a different style to present various approaches that advertisers use to lure in and manipulate the potential consumer.
Animal Tales
	A mixed-media animated story of a lion and a monkey that travel on a magical journey across the sea.
Binta y la Gran Idea
	Binta is a 7 year old girl who lives in a small charming village on the Casamance river in southern Senegal. She goes to school. Her cousin Soda does not have the same good fortune. She is not allowed to learn about the things of the world.Binta admires her father, a humble fisherman who, concerned about the developement of mankind, is determined to carry out an idea that has ocurred to him.
Birdstate
	'Well, we've learned quite a bit today about the Rhode Island Red and how it became our State Bird and I'm just trying to figure out, what the heck does it all mean?'In 1954 the Rhode Island Red - a breed of domestic fowl developed as a high yield meat and egg producer - was elected state bird of Rhode Island. The story of the Rhode Island Red forms a busy ideological intersection where politics, commerce, genetics, iconography, and natural history collide. Birdstate ponders the significance of the RI Red through an ecelectic mix of animated and live action vignettes. 'Maybe we SHOULDN'T have elected a CHICKEN as our State Bird!'
Caught in Paint
	Caught in Paint is a 6 minute video capturing painter/sculptor Rita Blitt painting on four by eight foot transparent surfaces while choreographer David Parsons and members of the Parsons Dance Company are seen in mid-air, through the painting, imitating the dancing lines of Blitt's paint strokes. Lois Greenfield, who collaborated in this union of paint, dance and photography, made dynamic photographs as she, too, was being filmed.The creative sparks and positive energy of all the artists challenged the group to stretch their limits and perform magic.
Cuando la Luna este Llena (When the Moon is Full)
	In a fresh reinterpretation of the classic storyteller archetype, Cuando la Luna esta Llena braids together universal themes of love, loss and rejection in a tautly compelling narrative
Day of Independence
	This dramatic film, set in a Japanese American internment camp during the World War II, explores one family's experience and examines the sacrifices and triumphs of those who endured and survived through preserverence, courage, and the all-American game of baseball.
Dissolution
	Lukas is a twenty something filing clerk living alone in his apartment. Post 7/7, he is forced daily to confront the common perceptions of Islam; the images of religious fanaticism, a failure to integrate into British society and a opposing set of cultural values. He is forced to reckon with the Muslim presence in his immediate society when prompted by the sight of a local mosque upon his daily journey to/from work. In the loneliness of his apartment he has only the media for company through which his perception of Islam grows increasing blurred and fragmented. As the film progresses Lukas grows increasingly more tolerant once a realised interaction is found.
Drei Deutsche Soldaten (Three German Soldiers)
	The story of Klaus Penning and his experience on the Russian front as a German soldier at the end of World War 2 and his experiences as a POW for years afterward.
Ed I Hide
	Eddie and Anna have had a fight. Needing to get away, Eddie decides to head out to the woods for a camping weekend. Along for the ride is his light-hearted buddy, Ward. After stopping for some gas and groceries, they are nature bound.Ward attempts to keep things light as he searches for topics of conversation, but Eddie just becomes more and more agitated. The two try to find a truce somewhere between giddiness and exasperation. Reaching the wilderness allows the two to exhale as they settle into camp. However, the peace is short-lived, for they are soon joined by an enigmatic vagabond who stirs the pot of Eddie's emotions and serves as a catalyst for his unwinding.
Invaders of the National Parks
	The quiet beauty of Arches National Park hangs in a precarious balance. Researchers hunt the serene landscape for one of the most dangerous threats to our environment - invasive species. In order to hold the intruders at bay, the National Parks Service has launched a major initiative: To eradicate the exotic plant at the top of the West's most wanted list: Tamarisk or Salt Cedar. This marauding weed has infested over 3.3 million acres in our most fragile ecosystem - the riparian or stream-side area. Join the Exotic Plant Management Teams as they fight to stop this particularly ferocious invader before it spreads like a biological wildfire.
Eternal High - The Documentary
	Based on the 17-year old filmmaker's personal experience, Eternal High - The Documentary portrays a teenage boy's view of life as he tries to escape his depression through drugs. The second segment of the documentary is a 12-minute short film titled Eternal High. At the time this film was made, the filmmaker was unaware he was suffering from depression. The film reveals his struggle with depression and thoughts of suicide. After winning film festivals and receiving requests for the film, this 30-minute documentary was made which contains a televised news story about the film, the film itself, and an accompanying speech made by the filmmaker to the high school he attends. Copies of this documentary have been requested and shown at high schools, youth groups, and suicide prevention organizations including Yellow Ribbon, an international teen suicide prevention program. The filmmaker hopes this documentary can be used as a tool so both teenagers and parents can discuss suicide and depression openly and erase the stigma still existing today. Since February 2006, the 12-minute short film (Eternal High) has been screened in over 13 film festivals nationwide winning awards for Best Screenplay & Best Actor (Method Fest Film Festival Youth Program - Calabasas, CA - March 2006), Best Film & Best Actor (Kalamazoo Teen Filmmaker Festival - Kalamazoo, MI - March 2006), Best Film (NEO Short Film Festival - Miami, OK - March 2006), and Third Tier Award Winner (National Undergraduate Film Festival - New York City, NY - April 2006).
GODMA
	Theo, (8), boldly disrupts her singing Catholic school classmates by unintentionally questioning God's existence. Distressed about the situation, she asks her Grandpa about why she can't see God. He cynically sends her on a mission to find tangible evidence of God's existence. That night, Theo prays to God for x-ray vision so that she can spot Him easier. A fantastic dream consumes her, wherein she stumbles across a tropical forest and encounters a person whom she initially believes to be God; a red-bereted brunette. The stranger is petrified by Theo's claims of her identity, and flees the scene. Theo wins the skittish woman's favor, and is unknowingly invited into a cult. When she doubts the cult's uncanny worship of inanimate objects, the leader proceeds to pummel her x-ray glasses. On a busy street corner, Theo meets a second philosopher; a homeless, burly gypsy. They 'share' lunch, as he articulates his nihilist theory, which is lost on an eight-year-old Theo. Frustrated by this non-believer, Theo takes a stroll by a lake, and encounters a colorful group of Evangelists. Theo's seen this all before, and sits next to a kind stranger on a bench, who is similarly displeased by the boisterous group. After they share a Kinder Surprise, the man senses her disappointment and imparts his simple philosophy. Theo finally seems satisfied and runs home to tell Grandpa, but is it too late?
Harvest
	This is a portrait of Harold Ward, who raised walnuts in Paradise Valley from the 1920's through the 1980's. Set in 1985, this enhanced home movie offers a view of what life in Morgan Hill was like when farming was still predominant in the community.
Higher Ground
	Higher Ground follows a young boy, who lives with an abusive father, as he struggles along the path toward manhood. Despondent and bitter, the boy is profoundly changed when a caring man finds a way into his heart.
Hole in the Wall
	What is the secret behind the hole in the wall? Ben played by Samuel Johnson lives an isolated life as he struggles to forge his own identity. Overwhelmed by memories from the past, he carries the burden of a profound secret that has affected him his entire life. When a strange hole appears in his wall, Ben is shocked by what he sees on the other side. Now he has a decision to make that could change his life forever. Hole in the wall is a powerful and inspirational film that explores the painful journey of letting go.
Homemade
	Single mother Sadie Brooke wakes her children Bella and Milo with 'We're going to Disneyland' without the intention of actually taking them. Hoping that they'll forget about the off-hand promise, she prepares breakfast for them. Of course, the children are ecstatic about the trip, until they sense that something is amiss at the breakfast table. Sadie breaks the news that they are not in fact going and the children leave the table infuriated. Sadie learns that she must appease them, and devises a homemade, half-baked Disneyland of her own, with games like Rollercoaster, Houdini, and Cross-dress. Sadie lures Bella and Milo out of the room with a guilt trip and essentially turns the wrongdoing on them. Milo and Bella re-enter the living room and see Sadie's unusual transformation as she changes their disappointment to excitement. Sadie begins with throwing Teddy across her back running, ducking and weaving through obstacles in her game 'Rollercoaser.' Sadie manages to ruin the game with a cruel caveat for the kids, excluding them from the game. Next, Sadie ties the children up for a game of Houdini, and proceeds to do the unthinkable when a cigarette craving influences her better judgment. In order to make up for yet another blunder, Sadie prepares brownies while the kids play Cross-dress. An accidental ingredient in the brownies sends all parties over the edge and ends in a twisted role-reversal.
Illegal
	Illegal is a well-acted drama about two immigrants who meet in a London café and strike up an unlikely friendship. The only thing they have in common is their illegal status and a shared sense of being a long way from home.
Imagine This
	California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom presents creative agriculture short films grade school and high school students.
In Case of Emergency
	Chapman Digital Motion Pictures present a powerfully enlightening drama. Written and directed by Matt Chapman, In Case of Emergency is the tale of Joe. A recovering ex-smoker who is faced with the addiction that he so badly want's to overcome. From start to finish this nightmarish film will take the viewer on a wild ride. In an effort to cure his cravings, Joe tears up the house. After the search provides him with his fire, only a break glass box can save him now. Or maybe not! In Case of Emergency puts a face on the struggles that this epic addiction can cause. Not only to Joe, but also to his relationship with his wife Heidi. Joe and Heidi have a troubled past as a result of him smoking. They find that only his commitment to quitting his addiction will save their bond. When an ex-smokers urges come to manifest, is there nothing that will stand in his way? Or perhaps Joe is just letting his sub-concious get the best of him? In Case of Emergency is a dramatic piece where nothing is as it seems. A truly enlightening story that will leave a lasting impression. The overall message of the film can best be described by Mark Twain: 'To cease smoking is the easiest thing I ever did. I ought to know because I've done it a thousand times'
Incomplete Reality
	As a young drifter hitches for a ride (As we can see in Live Action), a truck approaches the young drifter offering him a ride to the San Fernando Valley (Appearing in a comic book style of Animation), The Young Drifter and the man strike up a conversation and both learn that they have hitch-hiked for the same reasons (In the Truck Driver's case it was a long time ago), after 3 hours down the road it's time for a pit stop in a small classy downtown area, The Truck Driver tells the young drifter to call a number for a hotel he claims he owns (In Live Action), but after finding out the Phone Number is fake, the young Drifter realizes that the Truck Driver's truck and his belongings have left him stranded. A young man who finds the young drifter in need of help offers him food and a place to stay (In Animation) the young drifter later finds out that the young man too was a runaway just like him. (Back In Live Action) After spending a night in the hotel for free, the young drifter has no other choice to but to go back onto the sidewalk and hitch for another ride, but when a homeless man approaches the young drifter (In Animation) says something that really haunts the young drifter 'Don't end up like us!' (Back In Live Action) The drifter, now in serious question, must find out why he has met who has met.
K-7
	An ordinary job interview becomes a battle for life or death when Vincent Kincaid rates a 'K-7' on his psychological profile. But what does 'K-7' mean?
La Letenda del Espantapajoros (The Legend of the Scarecrows)
	A scarecrow’s life changes when he decides to befriend the birds.
Lewis
	Lewis is a man who thinks he is so ugly that he will never be loved by a girl. He orders a book about how to be a good-looking man. At nights he has nightmares about meeting a girl who looks like a monster. He finally decides to go to the place of his nightmares and see what happens.
Linear Progression
	Strange creatures! Beautiful animation! Grass! What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object? Such conundrums abound in this charming traditionally drawn and digitally painted short. Simple but rich in its design, and with a dialogue track of only grunts and sighs, animation proves itself once again to be the universal story-telling language. Now, with over 25 festival screenings and counting, Linear Progression has been warmly welcomed into the world of independent animation and is charming audiences of all ages nationwide.
Madam Marina
	During a hostile take-over of a Paramilitary occupied village by the FARC Guerrilla, sixty miles South of Bogota, Marina a once beautiful reclusive prostitute, and Lucas a handsome young Guerrilla soldier, are held under house-arrest. As the bombs and gunfire draw closer, they remain guarded by orders of Paramilitary Commander Salvatore, Marina's 'John' for the past thirty years. Thrown together and powerless to save themselves from the oncoming battle, they learn each other's deepest regrets. Lucas has never loved a woman, in search of his 'perfect' mother, who left him when he was a child. Marina, has never been truly loved, yet she has been a catalyst for change to every soldier that has climbed into her bed. Marina, through the 'magic'' of her country, becomes Lucas' estranged mother, who advises Lucas before his eminent death. Lucas having witnessed Marina's magic, begs her to appear to him as the young beauty she used to be. Lucas seduces 'Young Marina' and they make love, ignoring the oncoming gunfire and explosions only blocks away. The guards run for their life, releasing the couple. In the act of lovemaking, 'Old Marina' reappears beneath Lucas and asks him if he will leave her now. He answers, 'I see you, you are old and wrinkled and not perfect anymore. . .' They are given the ultimate choice; to save their lives or save their souls.
Message from the Boss
	A band of gangsters deliver an unforgettable message to their wayward associate in this film noir animation.
One Survivor Remembers (Acadamy Award Winner)
	This documentary shows one survivor's story of how she overcame a death march, her town and country turning against her and her family, and the strength it takes to make it through, and the strength is takes to educate generations of children on the horrors of the Holocaust.
Plight of the Windie: Birds of Mystery
	Plight of the Windie: Birds of Mystery is a 3-minute mockumentary that chronicles the trials and tribulations of an endangered species and the people who raise and care for these fragile creatures. Known by the scientific name of 'Plasticus Eraticus,' the Windie (pronounced liked 'wine') owners never acknowledge (or even seem to realize) that the birds are plastic and powered by rubber bands. The saga depicts the many dangers faced by the Windie, from immoral poachers to the powerful windmills that dot the landscape frequented by the delicate birds. Also featured are the people dedicated to preserving the species by teaching them how to survive in the wild.
Rusty Forkblade
	Rusty Clayton spent most of his days down at the local pond, drinking, fishing and soaking up the Texas sun. All that changes when a freak grilling accident magically transports him to Valhalla, the mythical afterlife meant for slain Viking heroes. Odin, king of the Norse gods, claims that Rusty is the legendary Savior of Valhalla and that he alone can lead the warriors of Valhalla to victory against the invading troll army. Rusty is faced with a difficult decision... to return to his lazy life of ease back in Texas... or to step up to the plate and truly realize his potential.
Shepherds
	Dogs never lie. But people do.Jake's heart is broken, but he'll be damned if he lets his ex-girlfriend, Lucy, know he still loves her. No, Jake would rather pack up his loneliness and move back to Montana than reach out to the woman who betrayed him. Lucy, on the other hand, made a big mistake when she cheated on Jake. But as guilty as she feels, she's too proud to apologize and risk Jake's anger. But the giant German Shepherds they adopted together are not too proud to show their feelings. They do what Jake and Lucy cannot--bring the estranged lovers back together. Face to face, Jake and Lucy are forced to confront their feelings, and each other. At last.
Something True
	A beautiful woman fires two gun shots into her husband as he sleeps... Struggling with his second novel, Gui, 28, supports himself as a gigolo, which pisses off his girlfriend Cassie. When he shows up at the club where she works, she tells him she's moving to the suburbs and taking their young son with her. Devastated, Gui knows he's unable to stop tricking and give her what she wants. He takes the opportunity of an invitation onstage to say goodbye. As if on cue, Gui gets a call from a mysterious new client, who turns out to be the woman who just murdered her husband...
Sticks & Stones
	Sticks & Stones directly addresses the psychological repercussions of racial and class disparity in the American public educational system. Based on the filmmaker's own experiences this short film exposes the influence a teacher can bear on her student's abilities and the role parents can play in their child's education.During a parent teacher conference late one afternoon, Darryl and Dolores confront their daughter's maligned teacher, Mrs. Martin. Though their daughter, Rehema, is literate Mrs. Martin refuses to accept this obvious reality because of her own misperceptions. Rehema is challenged to either fight back or internalize the racial stereotypes. An engaging narrator guides the audience through this disturbing meeting. One Rochester Institute of Technology faculty member summarized the film in the following way:Rehema Trimiew's 'Sticks & Stones' is the rarest of student films; it's lushly shot, well directed and intelligent. This film is a relevant, incisive and lucid portrayal of a very personal experience whose implications touch upon real-world issues of contemporary and national concern. At once entertaining, educational and socially aware Trimiew's film sketches a scene that is all too typical. Concerned parents in an 'urban' school request an improvement in curriculum but are met with resistance based on what are essentially racial grounds. Sticks & Stones confronts issues that are still plaguing race relations in the United States today.
The HANNA Project
	In February 2006, documentary filmmaker Jake Viramontez traveled with a 22 member team 500 miles into the interior of war torn Cote d'Ivoire to document their adventure. They based their headquarters for 6 days in the village of Doropo where a Medical Center had been devastated by 4 years of civil war.The population was deprived of basic medical care, while coping with a meningitis epidemic. The Hanna Project was instrumental in vaccinating more than 12,000 babies, children, and adults. At the base camp we were able to perform 13 life changing and life enhancing surgeries on people with facial deformities. The team worked tirelessly for six days, TOUCHING the hurting and under privileged people of northeast Cote d'Ivoire.This area of the country had always been without elementary medical care. After four years of continuing civil war, basic health care could not possibly be established. While the door of opportunity was open, The Hanna Project walked through and brought help, hope and healing to those in need. Follow along in the journey that the team endures, and the change that they made in the lives of thousands.
The Last Woman on Earth
	A worker-bee (Kate Kelton) arrives at work to find that she's the only one there. This is the tale of her descent into something less than sanity as she realises that she's all alone forever.
The Meatrix II
	In an age characterized by mechanization, there exists a large gap between our illusions about where food comes from and the stark reality of industrial meat and dairy production. Enter The Meatrix films, a series of short animations that explore this disconnect between food production and consumption. The Meatrix II: Revolting is the sequel to the original smash hit, The Meatrix, a critically acclaimed exposé of industrial farming. Simultaneously spoofing the popular Matrix films while educating consumers about the dangers of factory farming, much of The Meatrix's success has been attributed to its creative combination of humor, parody and pop culture references; a combination that challenges stereotypes and changes the definition of activism to bring the concept of sustainability to a wide audience of mainstream consumers. The series features three superhero farm animals including Leo, the young pig who wonders if he is 'the one,' Chickity, the feathered family farm defender, and Moopheus, the trench-coat clad cow with a passion for green pastures. The sequel promises to deliver even more action, adventure, and humor than the first as the three plunge into the revolting reality of industrial dairy farming. With a growing audience of over 10 million viewers worldwide, and translations into over 25 languages, as well as a 2005 Webby Award, an Environmental Media Award and acceptance into film festivals around the globe, The Meatrix has been an incredibly successful tool for raising interest in Sustainable Table's unique goals and projects. www.themeatrix.com and www.themeatrix2.com
The Pros and Cons of Breathing
	A twisting tale of tragedy, self-hatred, repression and survival. Jude Mulvey is a hopelessly troubled youth cursed from birth with the degenerative lung disease, Cystic Fibrosis. After losing the one person Jude cared for most, the path of his life takes a dark turn. Abandoning his eligibility for a lung transplant and hospital institutionalism, he exchanges his hope with a pursuit of death and control over his own destiny.
The Tragedy of Comedy
	In this harrowing short film, a depressed comedian masks his pain in his stage routine, and gives the audience the laughs it wants at a terrible and personal cost.
The Way She Walks
	Every woman must walk her own road. This woman's journey, told in four cinematic poems, or cinepoems, explores themes of self esteem, body image, child-bearing, depression, friendship, and solitude. 'Object' explores her obsession with mirrors, 'Alice is My Middle Name' recounts the ticking of her biological clock, 'Slow Roast' speaks of friendship, and 'Boots Are Made' ties the other three poems together with a narrative about the road she walks and the shadows that lie just around the bend.
Twitch
	Twitch portrays a young girl who has a conflicted relationship wit her disabled mother and begins to develop an irrational fear that the disability is contagious. Her boyfriend, oblivious to her increasing hypochondria, only seems interested in her physically. Ultimately, she must learn to confront her fears and take care of herself.
Valour
	Set During The First World War , Valour tells the tale of Corporal Byrne, the sole survivor of a platoon from The Royal Irish Rifles as he relates to his commanding officer what happened to him on the battlefield that day during a failed Allied attack...But what he claims happened and what really happened are two completely different stories. The Question is will his commander believe this tale of Valour? Valour is a dark Fable of the morality of men in Wartime and how murderous actions and Cowardice can easily be mistaken ... or disguised as heroism in combat.