May 06 - IFS 2017

Saturday, May 6th - Beverly Hills Music Hall

Middle Man USA

Director: Ned Crowley

Lenny Freeman’s dream of being a famous comedian is about to become a nightmare. Not only is he stuck in a dead end accounting job, Lenny has a bigger problem -- Lenny is not funny. When his mother suddenly dies, he quits his job and heads to Vegas in search of fame. But along the way, a mysterious hitchhiker lures him into a desert-town killing spree with dark and twisted results – as the bodies pile up, Lenny becomes funnier and funnier.

Starring Jim O'Heir (Parks and Recreation), Andre J West, Josh, McDermitt (Walking Dead), Anne Dudek (Mad Men, Big Love) and Tracey Walter (Batman, Repo Man, Silence of the Lambs)

World Premiere

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Inspirit USA

Director: Trevor Kyle Hansford

SHORTS BLOCK 6a

Inspirit is a cinematic journey into that dark spiritual place that comes with one bad decision. Bad things happen to good people when we choose darkness.

This projects production, writing, producing and direction is done by Trevor Kyle Hansford. The cast consists of Elle Paczona, Linda Nezu, David Quane, Ali Nezu

World Premiere

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Alone USA

Director: David Foley II

SHORTS BLOCK 6a

When a college student sees a woman undressing through her window, he decides to spy on her. As his infatuation in her grows, she slowly infiltrates his life. This begs the question: who are we when we are alone?

World Premiere

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The Lion's Den USA

Director: Orchid Cameron

SHORTS BLOCK 6a

A blind date gone very wrong.

Los Angeles Premiere

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7 Days in November USA

Director: Whitney Powell & Jordan Ehrlich

SHORTS BLOCK 6a

What happens when your estranged sister shows up on your doorstep 8 months pregnant? Izzie's has definitely had her share of disappointments. When her little sister arrives with a chip on her shoulder and a baby on the way, it's time for Izzie to grow up. A dark comedy all taking place in the month of November, we learn what being a family is all about.

World Premiere

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Girl Knight USA

Director: Deborah Attoinese

LGBTQI BLOCK 6b

Sixteen-year-old ISABEL is not your ordinary knight. She clanks around her lonely life trapped in her own armor until she meets DELILAH, a goth princess, in detention at school. Edging around each other at first, these two wounded souls learn to love by finding the courage to let their guard down.

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Champion USA

Director: Perry Pang

LGBTQI BLOCK 6b

A high school champion soccer player comes out as transgender to his best friend/teammate.

IFS Premiere

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SUPER USA

Director: Jacob Michael Keller

SHORTS BLOCK 6c

A boy, moving into his new home with his family, decides to take a chance and introduce himself to a neighborhood kid. Before you know it, the two boys are intertwined in a heated battle between super hero characters they've created from their own imaginations! Who will win, and will they still be friends when the battle is done? SUPER is the quintessential tale of finding lifelong childhood friends, through an unlikely common bond!

World Premiere

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Common Threads USA

Director: William Shockley

Best Family Short

SHORTS BLOCK 6c

COMMON THREADS is an emotional story about 3 generations of women, separated by tragedy and circumstance, then ultimately reunited by the triumph of the human spirit. When a mysterious child is found wandering a desolate road, a reclusive widow reluctantly agrees to take the child into her home, unearthing a harrowing truth that will change their lives forever. Set in Tucson, Arizona in 1887, filming took place entirely on location at Old Tucson Studios, with its vast, untamed desert and cavernous mountains providing a magnificent backdrop. Nancy Stafford ("Matlock", "St. Elsewhere", "Scandal"), Thomas Silcott (Broadway tour of "Bring in Da Noise, Bring in Da Funk"), Sydney Scotia ("Some Assembly Required") and newcomer Sage Tousey star. William Shockley ("Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman") directs.

Los Angeles Premiere

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The Paperclip USA

Director: John Lockmer & Justin Manntai

SHORTS BLOCK 6c

Seth (JAMES SAYESS) turns into a micro-managing workaholic after being unexpectedly handed the reins to his father-in-law Ed’s (WILLIAM KIRCHER) company. Seth must learn that marriage, family and ambition can create conflict and make a person miss what really matters. Can Ed’s trip down memory lane help Seth see a different perspective before it’s too late?

Seth played by James Sayess, Ed played by William Kircher, from the Hobbit Trilogy as Bifur, Lee Kovel Screenwriter, Original Music by Stephan DeReine, Gold and Platinum record producer and musician

IFS Premiere

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No One Ever Said USA

Director: Jane Stephens Rosenthal

SHORTS BLOCK 6d

This is a movie about a woman who is sure of who she wants to be, and sure of who she doesn't want to be, but she's not so sure of how to get to where she can be who she wants to be. This is a movie about finding oneself. About growing up. About looking for answers. About accepting the chance to change. The movie stars Jane Stephens Rosenthal, Matt O'Leary (Brick, Eden, Stung, Fat Kid Rules The World), Lance Guest (The Last Star Fighter, Halloween II), Alla Tumanian (Tangerine) and Cyrus Wilcox. It was produced by Gabrielle Nadig (King Jack) , Rick Rosenthal (Bad Boys, Halloween II), and cinematography by Noah Rosenthal (Cold Comes The Night, Fat Kid Rules The World).

World Premiere

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Tracking USA

Director: Robert Ford & John Robert Twoy

SHORTS BLOCK 6d

Tracking takes place in a post apocalyptic near future where a virus has decimated the population. With a large corporation controlling the treatment for the virus, a team of mercenaries is dispatched to eliminate a scientist who claims to have found the cure, ending the companies rule. John, the lead Mercenary uncovers the truth behind their mission and decides to go against the company in an effort to do the right thing. This action packed short film, touches on some of today's subjects about the treatment of diseases instead of focusing on a cure and the companies financial interest above all.

World Premiere

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Grown-Ups USA

Director: Caitlin Dahl

SHORTS BLOCK 6d

"Grown-Ups" is the story of two young women (Alexandra Breckenridge - This Is Us/The Walking Dead and Melinda Dahl Loudermilk/Casual) who return home to attend their aunt’s funeral and are shocked to find themselves in an even more troubling situation – that after many years of sobriety, their once-vibrant and spirited mother (Sondra Kerr Blake - The Caretaker/Helter Skelter) has severely relapsed into a dependence on drugs and alcohol. The two daughters must decide if and how they are going to help their mother with her now-crippling addiction. It is a painful transition that many in life must face – that landmark moment when the nurtured become the nurturers, when the guarded become the guardians, and when the children become the "Grown-Ups".

World Premiere

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Dogs & Tacos USA

Director: Steve Bachrach

SHORTS BLOCK 6e

Dogs and Tacos presents one afternoon/evening in the life of a high school junior in South-Central Los Angeles (Venecia Troncoso), starting with her after-school job at "El Cihualteco", a local taquería. Plans to make a dent in her homework on a slow weeknight are again interrupted when Nilsen (Cesar Hernandez), a former boyfriend with a shady past, shows up unannounced and drops his little brother, Jorge (David Gurrola) in front of the restaurant, then drives off in a hurry. As afternoon turns to evening, Over the next several hours.

Alma gradually discovers that Jorge might no longer be the "sweet little boy" she’d remembered.

World Premiere

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Gunwalkers USA

Director: Addison Sandoval

Best Action Short

SHORTS BLOCK 6e

Set in 2009 Baja Arizona against the backdrop of the Sonoran Desert, Gunwalkers chronicles a string of violence following a botched government sting. When his daughter is murdered at the hands of a lawless gang, Hank, a local business owner, pressures his son to avenge her death as he rallies to do the same. But when Hank is disabled by a gunshot wound, the fight for justice wanes to a dying light. In a last-ditch effort, he enlists a militia to hunt down the gunmen.

World Premiere

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The Last Train USA

Director: Tracy Pellegrino

INDEPENDENT VANGUARD

Written by the survivor of a suicide attempt and starring Lou Diamond Phillips, Anthony Montes and Ciera Danielle, The Last Train is a story about two strangers who have chosen this night to die, but when an argument prevents them from jumping in front of the same train they are forced to confront their demons and take a chance on love as wary partners on the road to hope.

Los Angeles Premiere

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The 60 Yard Line USA

Director: Leif Gantvoort

BEST COMEDIC FEATURE

During the 2009 Football season 'Zagger' and 'Polano' buy a house in the parking lot of Lambeau Field (home of the Packers). Zagger has lived a non-directional life and with his choice of buying a tailgating party house, he's now forced to pick between continuing a misdirected life with his divorced best friend, or realize what he truly loves; his fiancé Amy Etzman. Featuring: Randall Park, Cedric Yarbrough, Mindy Sterling, Chuck Liddell, Chelsey Crisp, Ahman Green, John Kuhn, Mark Tauscher

West Coast Premiere

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