New Strand Film Festival

Tattered Angel-Drama, Runtime-95 min, English Language–No matter how hard you run, the past has a way of catching up to you. No one knows this better than Vince Jacob, who can’t escape his sister’s murder 30 years earlier. Cincinnatus Motion Picture USA, Ohio Director-Will Benson, Writer-Duffy Hudson, Producers-Will Benson and Duffy Hudson, Co-producer-Micheal Caporale, Associate Producers-Kim Christen, Sara Elizabeth Timmins, Braxton Davis Honeycutt, Director of Photography-Micheal Prisco Caporale, Cast-Lynda Carter, Susan Floyd, Kirk Baltz, Roy Lee Jones

The Girl Who Could Run 600 Miles Per Hour-Short/Narrative/Comedy, Runtime 20 min, English Language-An average office worker is trapped in a meaningless routine. Dismayed by it all he heads out of town. A chance encounter with a girl who can run 600mph changes his outlook forever. 600 Films, Nebraska Director-Mark Thimijan, Writer-Mark Thimijan, Cinematographer-Jason Musco, Producers-Mark Thimijan, Kristen Nugent, Cast-Vernon R Wheeler, Amber Moelter, Tony Arenas(from Council Bluffs, Iowa).

The Pit and the Pendulum- Drama/Animation, Runtime 7:04 min, English Language-A story of condemnation, judgment, despair, and hope. Hand Made Heroes, Canada Director-Marc Lougee, Writer-Matt Taylor, Producer-Susan Ma, Exec. Producer-Ray Harry Hausen, Cinematographer-Dean Holmes, Cast-Pete

The Romanovs’ Last Photograph-Short/Student/Drama, Runtime 15 min., English Language-A character study of the Romanov sisters in their final hours before their execution. Te girls share their hopes, fears and aspirations, as they live their lives int he constant dread of being caught on the wrong side of the Russian Revolution. Sligo Productions, California Director-Catherine Faris King, Writer-Catherine Faris King, Cinematographer-Shane King, Producer-Patrick King, Cast-Jessica Gordon, Marja-Lewis Ryan, Lidia Czternasty, Suzanne Schmedding

Director’s Biography-Ms. King is a 17 year old high school student from Los Angeles, California.

End of the Sawdust Trail-Short/Silent, Runtime 9 min, Silent-A modern silent about a clown’s retirement, set to an old-timey original score. A poetic exploration of aging, identity and transforation, shot on black and white Super 8 and featuring an original score by Seattle cult musician Jason Webley. Film shot in Ames, Iowa. Director-Andy Brodie (Iowa City), Writer-Andy Brodie(Iowa City), Exec. Producer-Emily Light, Cinematographer-Mark Huelsbeck Music-Jason Webley Cast- Patrick Gouran, Ron “Toto” Johnson, Sara Antion, Joanne Van Meter, Scott Siepker, Kevin Kellogg, Jason Webley

Director’s Biography-Andy Brodie was born and raised in Ames, Iowa. A writer and filmmaker with a background in journalism, Brodie currently lives in Iowa City, where he has served for two years a Programming Director of the Bijou Theater-a not-for-profit, student-run cinema at the University of Iowa.

Afuera-Student/Short/Foreign Language, Runtime 6:30 min. Spanish Language–A young Argentine girl immigrates tot he United States in search of a better future. She must then decide how much she is wiling to give up in order to adapt to her new environment. University of Southern California. Director-Florencia Krochik, Writer-Florencia Krochik, Exec. Producer-Glenn Schaeffer, Cinematographer-Michelle Frezieres, Producers-Florencia Krochik, Michell Frezieres Cast-Andrea Savopolos, Lidia Pires, Jay Edwards

Gravity-music video/student, Runtime 3 min.–The music video Gravity, from the album Foolhardy, follows the arc of a trapeze flier and the flight of a baseball struck by an elephant. Director-Seth Camillo, Writer-Seth Camillo, Producer-Seth Camillo

Director Biography-Seth Camillo is born and raised in Iowa City. He is a student at the University of Iowa.

The German Lullaby-Drama/short, Runtime 15 min, English Language–The German Lullaby is about a couple, Anna and Molly, who live in New York. We find out about Anna’s German family and what they did in WW2 to survive and how this affects Molly (a Jew) today. Dirty2Films LTD, United Kingdom Director-Tess Malone, Writer-Lesley Roettges Scammell, Cinematographer-Nic Lawson, Producters-Stephen Scammell, Tess Malone, Cast-Sophie Shaw, Samantha Coughlan

A Plea for Everyman-Drama/Short, Runtime 10 min, English Language– Roots Filmmaker, Lemonus Productions, Director-Joe Boyle(Davenport, Iowa), Writer-Joe Boyle(Davenport, Iowa)

Absolute Zero-Short/Drama, Runtime 27 min, English Language–An account of the grim and ironic death by freezing of a railway worker after becoming trapped inside a refrigerated meat wagon. Australia. Director-Alan Woodruff, Writer-Alan Woodruff, cinematographer-Lee Ryder et al. Cast-Ian Wilmoth

eDump-Documentary, Runtime 20 min, English Language–The rich world, led by the United States has been dumping electronic waste on the poorer nations, harming public health and the environment for local communities. Micheal Zhao, New York. Director-Micheal Zhao, Writer-Micheal Zhao, Producer-Micheal Zhao, Cinematographer-Micheal Zhao

A Little From Left of Right-Documentary, Runtime 67 min, English Language–A Little From Left of Right takes a particular route to promote awareness of cannabis’ essential place in our arsenal of medical treatments. The vanguard of the medical marijuana movement ardently relate the inside story surrounding Californians passing Proposition 215 in 1996, despite daunting federal laws. We meet the very people whose lives and health are impacted at a San Fransisco holistic clinic. From societal bane to theapeutic remedy, cannabis’ gradual hard-earned return is revealed. Winding Roads Produtions, Hamburg, Germany. Director-Marinell Haegelin, Camera-Sarunyoo Sangrungruang, Declan Murphy, Ted Kambhu, Marinell Haegelin, Producer-Marinell Haegelin

Unravel-Documentary/Student, Runtime 28 min, English Language–Films examines the decline of the multi generational family farm and the effect this has on a rural community. West Liberty, Iowa. Director-Megan Jensen Cast-Ron Jensen, Kirsten Jensen, Marie and Warren Jensen, Larry Miller

Midnight Misfortune-Student/short/comedy, Runtime 13:25 min, English Language–A teenager opens a fortune cookie that says he will die before the day ends. he spends the next 24 hours trying to avoid death. Steven Bieber Films, Muscatine, Iowa. Director-Steven Bieber, Writer-Steven Bieber, Producer-Steven Bieber, Cinematographer-Steven Bieber, Cast-Steven Bieber, Thomas Bieber, Pat Bieber, Craig Bieber

Director’s Biography-Steven Bieber is a freshman at Muscatine High School.

The Offering-Short/drama, Runtime 10 min–”The Offering” is an elegiac meditation about the passing of life, told through the story of love and friendship between a Japanese monk and the novice who came into his life, from their initial encounter to the final parting. Ganymedia Inc., Canada. Director-Paul Lee, Writer-Paul Lee, Cinematographer-Antonin Lhotsky, Producer-Paul Lee

The Three Brothers-Short/Animation, Runtime 10 min–Two brothers decide to rid themselves of their third by convincing him the fastest way to heaven is through a sack. Electricbeard Productions, Illinios. Director-Joel Benjamin, Writer-Joel Benjamin (based on a Welsh-Gypsy Folktale)

Director’s Biography-Joel Benjamin is born and raised in northwest Iowa. He moved to Chicago in 2001.

Captive-Short/drama, Runtime 48min, English Language–A powerful film dealing with terrorism.

Postpartum-Drama/feature, Runtime 109 min, English Language–A young man finds his birht mother to enact his justice for being given up at birth. Oak Road Multimedia, Indiana Director-Randy DeFord, Writer-Randy DeFord, Producer-Randy DeFord, Cast- K. Elaine Hooker, Adam Shephard

Director’s Biography-PostPartum is his third full length film and has produced six short films. He has screened in many festivals and have 34 awards for audio, video, and graphics. He has also done work for hire, including jingles and six educational videos for the Every 15 Minutes projects, sponsored by MADD and SADD at local high schools. Randy is a mechanical engineering manager and has built some mounts, cranes, and jibs for the video work. He also does software programming and has written several engineering programs that is supplied free to our customers by his employer, Mid-West Spring and Stamping. He continues to write and produce micro cinema and have slated another full length feature for the summer of 2008 titled “Goss Acres”. He also collaborates with another northern Indiana filmmaker, Adam Shephard, and those collaborations are made under the production company, 25North Filmwurks.

At Jesus’ Side-Feature/Animation, Runtime 82 min, English Language– At Jesus’ Side brings the teachings of Jesus to life for today’s families though the story of five misfit animals on a journey towards love and forgiveness. God’s Dream LLC, Minnesota. Director–William Kowalchuk, Writer–Ken Reiner, Exec. Producer-Mike Wigley, Producers-Patrick Wells, Valerie O’Conor, Ken Reiner, Cast- Lucas Grabeel (Disney H.S. Musical) Roma Downey (Touched by an Angel)

Bath Time-Short/Student, Runtime 4:06, English Language- From the first tun of the tap to the last drop going down the drain. Experience bath time as a child might. I Like Y Films, Texas. Director-Marek Dojs, Cinematographer-Marek Dojs

Director’s Biography-Marek Dojs is a graduate MFA student at the University of North Texas.

Don’t Smash-Short/animation, Runtime 2:44 min –A monkey teaches a bunny to not smash things, especially an ornate card house he just built. New York Director-Tom Eaton, Cast-Shara Worden, Tom Eaton

Vitruvius’ Toybox-short/experimental/music video, Runtime 6:03 min–Vitruvius was a Roman architect whose ideas about art shaped the visual style of the Renaissance. My film applies his ideas to animation, typography and graphic design. Dennis Michael Iannuzzi, Pennsylvania. Director-Dennis Micheal Iannuzzi, Writer- Dennis Micheal Iannuzzi, Producer-Dennis Micheal Iannuzzi, Cinematographer-Dennis Micheal Iannuzzi

Director’s Biography-Mr. Iannuzzi has won awards in both music video and experimental with his film Viturvius’ Toybox. He received his undergraduate degree from Temple University in Communications. he completed one year of graduate study in the Computer Animation program at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Currently, he is taking classes in art, photography, electronic music and web design at the Community College of Philadelphia. He plans to pursue a MFA in graphic design and interactive media.

Voor een paar knikkers meer-short/drama, Runtime 11 min, Dutch Language/English subtitles-Four ten year olds are kicked out of their playground by two aggressive drunkards. When they realize their parents are not going to help them, there’s only one solution. They have to find a way to get the toughest boy in the neighborhood to help them. Kairos Films, The Netherlands. Director-Jelmar Hufen, Writer-Jelmar Hufen, Exec. Producer-Jelmar Hufen, Cinematographer-Aage Hollander, Producer-Christopher Koelemijer, Cast-Ruben van den Besselaar, Tom Schild, Aidan Vernee, Pauline Winchel

Treasure Blind-feature/drama, Runtime 115 min, English Language-Cabbie and amateur treasure hunter, Cliff Edwards, stumbles onto a Civil War treasure map and sets out to risk everything to find the gold. He becomes sole guardian for a 10 year old blind grandson he didn’t know he had. Treasure Blind LLC, Oklahoma. Director-Brian Shoop, Writer-Brian Shoop, Exec Producers-Travis Jones, Sam Rader, Cinematographer-Richard Thompson, Producer-Brian Shoop, Principal Cast- Brian Shoop, Daniel Brookshire, Joseph Shoop

The Red Princess-anime, Runtime 8 min, English Language-In this tale we meet her as a 12 year old little girl who finds herself in a strange country looking for her father. She is then taken in by a “unique” looking man who goes by Nino. The short film is completely from the perspective of Princess and what she is going through. She soon discovers the “Book of Violence” and slowly begins her journey that one day will lead to vengeance.

What’s Up With the Hijab?-documentary/student, Runtime 8:56 min, English Language–Girls explore racism and cultural differences. Inner thoughts of a group of Somali teenage girls about the hijab. Director-TVbyGirls

Director’s Biography-TVbyGirls is a nonprofit organization that works with girls aged 12 to 18 to build leadership, compassionate and collaborative working skills, critical thingking and engagement in social justice and the issues of their communities.

We Don’t Let Labels Stick-documentary/short, Runtime 5:30 min, English Language-A venture beyond labels to show us what we’re missing. Director-TVbyGirls

Director’s Biography-TVbyGirls is a nonprofit organization that works with girls aged 12 to 18 to build leadership, compassionate and collaborative working skills, critical thingking and engagement in social justice and the issues of their communities.

Alondra Smiles-feature/drama, Runtime 119 min, English Language-Alondra has had a rough start in life, but with the love and support of her grandparents and friends she is planning to have a very special 15th birthday. Her plans seem to be coming along better than expected, that is until her spoiled cousin Tatrona has her own aspirations and is willing to ruin anyone’s life to get her way. Villa Media Productions, LLC, California. Director-Conchita Nora Villa, Writer-Conchita Nora Villa, Juan Fransisco Villa, Cinematographer-Justin Quach, Producers-Conchita Nora Villa, Juan Fransisco Villa, Principal Cast- Natalie Gomez, Paloma Rodriquez, Anthony Marquez