The Joymaker (13:46) Tara Grover Smith;
Florida PremiereWhile Karen is bracing for her stepson with opioid addiction to return home from jail, she encounters her friend and former life coach Joyce, a self-described Joymaker, who is homeless and dying from AIDS and from whom Karen learns how to welcome her stepson home.
Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLcm1LQsmd0El Triste (14:02) Mexico; Manuel Del Valle (student);
Florida PremiereA Drama that takes place on the backstage of a marionette show. This short film follows "El Triste", an old used ragdoll-like marionette, and his journey of self-acceptance and discovery as he decides to do all it takes to prove to himself and his fellow puppets that he is valuable and worthy of admiration.
Sam's Decision (9:23) USA; Marcelo Ribeiro Carvalho;
World Premiere (attending)“Sam's Decision," tells the contemporary story of a man who feels alone in the world. This man, Sam, has everything going wrong in his life. His grades are falling, his girlfriend broke up with him, and he just lost his job. He's feeling the pressure of not being able to match expectations of everyone around him. He feels that there are no solutions around him, and because of that, he turns inward and brings to his school something he feels with fix all his problems, a gun.
Trailer:
https://vimeo.com/415124793/d73bc7c0ed
Wings (15:45) USA; Michael Christensen, Benjamin J Murray;
U.S. Premiere (attending)Stuck in an abusive relationship, Grace takes a job as a typist working for Henry, a blind poet. Through a moment of connection, each provides clarity to the other's blindness.
At Last (13:22) USA; Lorena Gordon;
Florida Premiere (attending)A timid high school girl reveals her truth during the most important night of the year.
Trailer:
https://youtu.be/i3xwW_iIM1ULemons (11:54) USA; Danny Lewis
(filmmaker attending)One young man’s sour day leads him to one sweet revelation.
Trailer:
https://vimeo.com/425325235My Dinner with Steve (11:39) USA; Eugenie Bondurant;
St. Petersburg Premiere (attending)When newly sober, 40-something Jen finally lands a date with her teacher crush, she mistakes her online stalking for intimacy, and turns their dinner into a cringe-worthy addict's confessional.
Trailer:
https://youtu.be/seJlxjUsPrg
