EVENT INFORMATION
Museum of Photographic Arts (MOPA) Balboa Park
Ticket Prices
Festival All-Access Pass – $150 ($65 savings)
- Tues, Aug 2: 6:00 – 9:00 PM
Opening Night (Benefit: Alzheimer’s Association San Diego) – $100 - Wed, Aug 3
- BLOCK ONE: SHORTS: 5:00 – 7:00 PM $20
- BLOCK TWO: FEATURE 7:10 – 10:00 PM $20
- ALL DAY PASS: $30
- Thur, Aug 4
- BLOCK ONE SHORTS: 5- 7:30 PM: – $20
- BLOCK TWO: 7:45 – 10:00 PM FEATURE – $20
- ALL DAY PASS: $30
- Friday, Aug 5
- 6:00 – 9:00 PM
- DRESS CODE: Red Carpet Ready and Looking Sharp! (whatever that means to YOU!)
- SDMA AWARDS CEREMONY – $35
EVENT SCHEDULE
TUESDAY, AUGUST 2ND (AT MOPA)
(Benefit for Alzheimer’s Association San Diego/Imperial Chapter)
- 7:20 PM – NOT TO FORGET
- 5:00 PM – SHORTS BLOCK
- 7:10 PM – BETWEEN GIANTS (FEATURE)
THURSDAY, AUGUST 4TH (AT MOPA)
- 5:00 PM – SHORTS BLOCK
- 7:45 PM – EST (FEATURE)
- 6:00 PM – RED CARPET, MEET THE NOMINEES!!
- 7:00 PM – AWARDS CEREMONY
Light refreshments follow Awards
daily schedule
TUESDAY - AUGUST 2ND
OPENING NIGHT
Museum of Photographic Arts (MOPA) Balboa Park
6:00-9:00 pm
Proceeds benefit ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION SAN DIEGO/IMPERIAL CHAPTER
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
- 6:00 PM – RED CARPET, INTERVIEWS, RECEPTION WITH LIGHT REFRESHMENTS
- 7:00 PM – FESTIVAL OPENING WELCOME and GUEST SPEAKERS
- 7:20 PM – OPENING FILM – “NOT TO FORGET” (FEATURE) – SEE DESCRIPTION BELOW
Not to Forget
Country: USA. Runtime (84 minutes) Director: Valerio Zaneli
"HEARTFELT AND MOVING”
Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement
Chris, a young con artist is sentenced to take care of his grandmother, who suffers from Alzheimer’s Disease “Not to Forget is a powerful and emotional film that raises awareness about a disease which in some ways impacts all of us. The film is told from a unique perspective with strong performances by its award-winning cast.
Not to Forget” stars Karen Grassle (Caroline Ingalls “Little House on the Prairie”) as Melody, Tate Dewey as Chris and Features Academy Award Winners George Chakiris (Best Supporting Actor, “West Side Story”) , Olympia Dukakis (Best Supporting Actress, “Moonstruck”), , Louis Gossett, Jr.,(Best Supporting Actor“An Officer and a Gentleman”) Cloris Leachman (Best Supporting Actress, “The Last Picture Show”), and Tatum O’Neal (Best Supporting Actress “Paper Moon”)
NOMINATED: BEST FEATURE, BEST DIRECTOR FEATURE, BEST ENSEMBLE ACTING
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3RD
BLOCK ONE - $20.00
MUSEUM OF PHOTOGRAPHIC ARTS (MOPA) Balboa Park
5:00 – 7:30 PM – DRAMA SHORTS & ACTION SERIES – SEE FILM DESCRIPTIONS BELOW
DRAMA SHORTS
In shreds
Country: USA. Runtime (18 Minutes) Director: Donna Magnani
In Shreds is a story of a middle aged woman’s 40 year love with her husband, an old dress and the journey back to hope. Written, directed by and starring Donna Magnani (“Last Temptation of Christ”, “Quantum Leap” “Prime Suspect”)
NOMINATED: BEST FIRST TIME FILMMAKER, BEST FEMALE FILMMAKER
The Missed Flight
Country: USA. Runtime (10 Minutes) Director: Ellory Yu
NOMINATED: BEST FIRST TIME FILMMAKER
ENTITLED
Country: USA. Runtime (10 Minutes) Director: Kelsey Fordham
NOMINATED: BEST DRAMA SHORT, BEST ACTRESS, BEST FEMALE FILMMAKER
The Witching Hour
Country: USA. Runtime (19:16 Minutes) Director: Steven La Morte
In Hell’s Kitchen, New York, a married couple, scarred by alcoholism, mutual distrust, and perceived infidelity, discover love follows no rules and trust is a choice.
NOMINATED: BEST DRAMA SHORT, BEST ACTRESS
SHORT FIVE
UNFILTERED THROUGH THEIR EYES
Country: USA. Runtime (14:25 Minutes) Director: Frank Fazzio
Written, directed, and produced during the pandemic lockdown “Unfiltered Through Their Eyes” brings insight into how the pandemic impacted children around the world. Thanks to contributing global filmmakers and their commitment, the film brings a new perspective to the pandemic through the eyes of children.
NOMINATED: BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT
ACTION SERIES!!!
SAUCE BOYS
Country: USA. Runtime (45 Minutes) Director: Brian Gilleece
With time of the essence and mounting pressure from the brass, two hip detectives work to protect the sanctity of the game of hockey while investigating a slew of counterfeit pucks threatening the hockey centric Sauce District. Written, directed and starring Brian Gilleece (“Westworld”, “Daddy Issues”, Ryan Murphy’s “Hollywood”).
NOMINATED: BEST WEB SERIES
7:45 PM – 10:00 PM FEATURE PRESENTATION – BETWEEN GIANTS
SEE FILM DESCRIPTION BELOW
BETWEEN GIANTS
Country: USA. Runtime (1:37 Minutes) Director: Maxwell Frost
THURSDAY - AUGUST 4
5:00 PM – 7:30 PM UNIQUE PERSPECTIVES/DRAMA SHORTS- SEE FILMS DESCRIPTIONS BELOW
UNIQUE PERSPECTIVES
SHORT ONE
MoonTalk
Country: USA. Runtime (4 Minutes) Director: DIRECTOR: MICHAEL HAWK
A new visual experience of a powerful endless force.
Having lost the love of his life Zena, Gizón the poet —inspired by the voice of the moon— takes us through a mysterious journey as he meets his greatest challenge: he must let go of time and space to be reunited with his love.
NOMINATED: BEST EXPERIMENTAL SHORT
Immortal Game
Country: USA. Runtime (10:54 Minutes) Director: John Freeman
Early in the 21st Century, Man has developed the technology to create humanoid androids with short, fixed lifespans. Ema, returns to Earth with the hope of extending her lifespan. After discovering her creator has been murdered, she meets a new visionary poised to continue the fateful experiments.
NOMINATED: BEST SCI FI, BEST ACTOR
Lucid Dreams
Country: USA. Runtime (13:34 Minutes) Director: Kostiantyn Mishchenko
NOMINATED: BEST EXPERIMENTAL SHORT
The Forgotten Place
Country: USA. Runtime (11:38 Minutes) Director: Oscar Rene lozoya
NOMINATED: BEST COMEDY
A Feast That Never Comes
Country: USA. Runtime (16:22 Minutes) Director: Maria Juranic
Four characters inhabit cycles within cycles of contentment, discontentment, inertia, movement, desire, and betrayal. A story emerges—told through the marriage of music (Ex-Fiancée) and stunning choreography (ChrisMastersDance)—functioning as a set of nesting dolls, inviting you to uncover as many layers as you wish
NOMINATED: BEST MUSIC VIDEO
SHORT sIX
THE HOOKUP**
Country: USA. Runtime (12:48 Minutes) Director: Alex Robert Mandelberg
Comedian Genevieve Joy tries a dating app for the first time… hilarity follows.
NOMINATED: BEST COMEDY
** ADULT CONTENT
SHORT SEVEN
FORNICAKES**
Country: USA Runtime (14:33 Minutes) Director: Steven Becker
A virginal master-baker and a self-described sex goddess team up open and erotic bakery, only to have their social-climbing arch-nemesis declare a turf war. ForniCakes is a contemporary web series in the style of Friends meets Two Broke Girls. At its heart it’s the story of how women, no matter their differences, have each other’s backs.
NOMINATED: BEST WEB SERIES
** ADULT CONTENT
SHORT EIGHT
BEAVER BOYS**
The Beaver Boys follows the journey of two quirky characters as they attempt to save the planet from plastic pollution and are determined to protect Mother Nature. While offering a positive message, the comedic juxtaposition of these two endearing characters and their developing friendship will draw you into their offbeat little world
NOMINATED: BEST COMEDY, BEST ACTOR
**ADULT CONTENT
DRAMA SHORTS
SHORT ONE
Victims
Country: USA. Runtime (15:00 Minutes) Director: Zachary L. Harris
NOMINATED: BEST DRAMA SHORT, BEST DIRECTOR SHORT, BEST ACTRESS, BEST ENSEMBLE ACTING
SHORT TWO
Marisol
Country: USA. Runtime (17:09 Minutes) Director: Juan Escobedo
Marisol” is inspired by the true story of a little girl from East LA who dreams of the perfect Quinceañera dress until her life takes a drastic turn after an incident of domestic violence. A story of hope, resilience and love.
NOMINATED: BEST SHORT, BEST DIRECTOR SHORT, BEST CHILD ACTOR
7:45 PM -10:00 PM FEATURE PRESENTION – “EST” SEE FILM DESCRIPTION BELOW
EST
Country: USA. Runtime (1:43:42) Director: Antonio Pisu
‘EST” is a road movie that tells the adventurous journey of three Italian boys to a country still under dictatorship. An unlikely crew made up of three friends who, almost unknowingly, will know the story of a people of their struggles and their hopes for a tomorrow that may never come.
NOMINATED: BEST FEATURE, DIRECTOR FEATURE, BEST ENSEMBLE ACTING
FRIDAY AUGUST 5
SDMA BEST OF FEST AWARDS CEREMONY
- 6:00 PM – RED CARPET, MEET THE NOMINEES!!
- 7:00 PM – AWARDS CEREMONY
Light refreshments follow Awards!
- DRESS CODE: Red Carpet Ready and Looking Sharp! (whatever that means to YOU!
Tickets: $35
Best Screenplay feature NOMINEES
ZIGGY AND RACHEL – Michael Rispoli, Gregg Greenberg
I Met Her at Birkenau – Laurie Clemens Maier
When a Jewish teenage prisoner becomes the object of a female Nazi guards affections, she barters herself to keep her friends and family alive, but when the Allies liberate the camp she must choose to save the guard or gain revenge
The Passage of Sun – Aaron Braxton
Three brothers challenge the Convict Leasing System of forcing African American men into an Alabama prison in order to continue providing slave labor and county revenue post-Civil War.
Rigged – Steven Ellis
RIGGED is a slow burning thriller that peels back the curtain of a small, but pivotal, state senate race in the affluent suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Modern-day digital marketing techniques, mastered in 2016 to stun the world, are now utilized to hold all levers of power. The intimate state senate race attracts a lot of financial attention with stakes so high.
BEST SHORT SCREENPLAY NOMINEES
Loving in Truth – James Fitzmaurice
While working on a book about the turbulent early years of the food memoirist MFK Fisher, Mary, a mixed-race biographer, interviews the elderly actress Gloria Stuart (of Titanic fame). Both interviewer and interviewee ponder the ways in which the truth about past love is shaped by self-interest.
Never Wake A Sleeping Man – Rick Shepherd
A brief friendship between a homeless man and child displays the importance of life’s innocence as well as the fragility of the human condition.
Welcome to Pineville – Steve Walter
An out-of-work actor lands the role of a lifetime in a desert town known as ‘the home of the Western.’
Sweetwater Road – Myk Watford
When his son is accused of murder, Hank must risk everything to keep his family together and win his son’s freedom.
DON’T WAIT FOR PERMISSION TO DO SOMETHING CREATIVE.
- AVA DU VERNAY
SUBMIT YOUR FILM NOW
