From feature films to animated shorts & Bat-kids to female perverts, discover the 20 films directed by women presented at the Slamdance Film Festival in Park City, Utah on January 23-29, 2015.
Summary: Features in Competition | Beyond Program | Closing Film |Narrative Shorts Program | Documentary Shorts Program | Animation Shorts Program | Experimental Shorts Program | Anarchy Shorts Program
January 23: Salt by Ugla Hauksdóttir – Mujer by Sofia Canales – Tears of Inge by Alisi Telengut – 09:55-11:05, Ingrid Ekman, Bergsgatan 4B by Cristine Berglund & Sophie Vukovic
January 24: Female Pervert by Jiyoung Lee – Batkid Begins: The Wish Heard Around the World by Dana Nachman – Across the Sea by Nisan Dag & Esra Saydam – Off Season by Elinor Nechemya – Working Title by Irina Arnaut – Marie by Jadina Lilien – Unicorn by Grace Nayoon Rhee – Viscera by Lauren Morrison
January 25: The Tide Keeper by Alyx Duncan – Busking Tales by Adriana Copete – Defragmentation by Sae-Bbyul Hwangbo – Half Wet by Sophie Koko Gate – The Handeye (Bone Ghosts) by Anja Dornieden & Juan David Gonzalez Monroy – Detritus by T.J. Misny
NARRATIVE FEATURES PROGRAM
High Performance by Johanna Moder
Rudi wears a suit, Daniel rides a bike, and they are both interested in Nora for very different reasons; the story of two grown up brothers who still know how to hurt each other.
Austria – North American Premiere – January 25, 27
Director & Screenwriter: Johanna Moder
Cast: Marcel Mohab, Manuel Rubey, Katharina Pizzera
Tired Moonlight by Britni West
Drifting between small-town gossip and dreams of the outside world, two middled aged womens’ lives are slowly upended as they start caring for a young girl and a ramblin’ man from the past rolls through their small town.
USA – World Premiere – January 23, 26
Director & Screenwriter: Britni West
Cast: Alex Karpovsky, Liz Randall, Paul Dickinson, Hillary Berg, RainLeigh Vick
Across the Sea by Nisan Dag & Esra Saydam
A Turkish immigrant estranged from her homeland, Damla, lives in New York City with her husband Kevin, expecting their first child. But with the memories of a first love continuing to haunt her, Damla returns to Turkey and confronts a troubling secret from her past.
Turkey – North American Premiere on January 24, 27
Released theatrically in Turkey on November 7
Directors & Screenwriters: Nisan Dag & Esra Saydam
Cast: Mert Bulgan, Damla Sönmez, Sinan Eczacibasi, Ozum Ersoy, Jacob Fishel
Across The Sea is still raising funds to cover their festival & travel costs – Contribute on Indiegogo until January 23, 11:59pm
BEYOND PROGRAM
Batkid Begins: The Wish Heard Around the World
by Dana Nachman
5-year old Miles Scott has spent half his life battling leukemia. Now, it’s his wish to be Batman. Why not turn San Francisco into Gotham City?
USA – World Premiere – January 24, 27
Director: Dana Nachman
Screenwriters: Dana Nachman, Kurt Kuenne
Cast: Miles Scott, Natalie Scott, Nick Scott, Patricia Wilson, Eric Johnston, Mike Jutan, Jen Wilson, Teresa Clovicko
Female Pervert by Jiyoung Lee
Phoebe is a lonely video game designer seeking a true connection in the modern world, but her perversions are hard to suppress. Will she be able to change? Or will she accept her fate as a female pervert?
USA – World Premiere – January 24-28
Director & Screenwriter: Jiyoung Lee
Cast: Jennifer Kim, Skizz Cyzyk, Brian Cafferty, Joshua Mikel, Jesse Price, Kate McManus, Taylor Proctor, Eddie Ray
Tears of Inge by Alisi Telengut
A cloud of tiny particles forms a shifting, emotionally-charged vision inspired by the phenomenon of mother camels rejecting their offspring after a painful childbirth.
Canada – January 23-26 with Birds of Neptune
Director: Alisi Telengut
Cast: Qirima Telengut
CLOSING FILM
Yosemite by Gabrielle Demeestere
It’s the fall of 1985. The intertwining tales of three 5th grade friends, Chris, Joe and Ted, unfold in the suburban paradise of Palo Alto, as the threat of a mountain lion looms over the community.
Director & Screenwriter: Gabrielle Demeestere
USA – World Premiere on January 29
Cast: James Franco, Henry Hopper, Barry Del Sherman
NARRATIVE SHORTS PROGRAM
09:55-11:05, Ingrid Ekman, Bergsgatan 4B
by Cristine Berglund & Sophie Vukovic
Ingrid has decided to deal with cancer on her own, but when home care employee Frida knocks on her door she awakens feelings that Ingrid can’t shut out.
Directors & Screenwriters: Cristine Berglund, Sophie Vukovic
Sweden – North American Premiere on Short Block #2 – January 23, 28
Cast: Lisbeth Zachrisson, Cristine Berglund, Hélene Parment
Salt by Ugla Hauksdóttir
A lonesome boy who has just moved to a small village tries to befriend a mysterious girl, but their encounter leads to unexpected consequences.
Iceland – North American Premiere on Short Block #2 – January 23, 28
Director: Ugla Hauksdóttir
Screenwriters: Ugla Hauksdóttir, Markus Englmair
Cast: Alex Elí Schweitz Jakobsson, Diljá Valsdóttir, Pálína Jónsdóttir, Haukur Ingi Jónasson
Off Season by Elinor Nechemya
Wandering through a mysterious seaside resort, Zohar seeks clues for her father’s absence from a family vacation.
Israel – Short Block #3 – January 24, 28
Director & Screenwriter: Elinor Nechemya
Cast: Mika Altman, Kareen Ophir, Itzik Arviv, Tamir Lyfshiz
Working Title by Irina Arnaut
A filmmaker emboldened and tormented by her creative ambition, her artistic and cinematic predecessors, and even by her DP, careens through a cavalcade of cultural influences before erupting in a deceptively charming slapstick routine.
USA – Short Block #3 – January 24, 28
Director: Irina Arnaut
Cast: Irina Arnaut, Justin Drobinski
Detritus by T.J. Misny
A girl emerges from the depths, carrying with her an unusual burden.
USA – North American Premiere January 25-29 with “Body”
Director: T.J. Misny
Screenwriter & Producer: Kaija Matiss
Cast: Kaija Matiss
The Tide Keeper by Alyx Duncan
An aging fisherman dreams the spirit of the sea right into his bed.
New Zealand – January 25-28 with Darkness On The Edge Of the Town
Director & Screenwriter: Alyx Duncan
Cast: Lee Stuart
DOCUMENTARY SHORTS PROGRAM
Marie by Jadina Lilien
A portrait of Marie and her daily visits to the local diner as she philosophizes about life.
USA – January 24-29 with Sweet Micky For President
Director: Jadina Lilien
Cast: Marie Lytwn, Andrew Tsatsimas
Mujer by Sofia Canales
Three Latinas of different generations take pleasure in helping each other bathe, dress up, and cook dinner.
USA – January 23-27 with On Her Own
Director: Sofia Canales
Cast: Rosa Emma Estrada, Rosa Emma Canales, Emily Judith Canales
ANIMATION SHORTS PROGRAM
Busking Tales by Adriana Copete
A patchwork of memories about undesirables, cheap-goods-hustlers, and buskers in a city undergoing constant transformation.
Colombia/USA – North American Premiere on January 25, 29
Director: Adriana Copete
Cast: Juis Garay, Camilo De La Espriella
Defragmentation by Sae-Byul Hwangbo
A woman’s lifetime of emotionally-charged events are altered to retain only the happy memories, in a process similar to the defragmentation of a computer hard drive.
South Korea – US Premiere on January 25, 29
Director: Sae-Bbyul Hwangbo
Cast: Jinwoong Moon, Sae-Byul Hwangbo
Half Wet by Sophie Koko Gate
“We are all born as wet as a banana, about 75% water” – the whimsical ruminations of a love-stricken man in a surreal, watery landscape.
England – North American Premiere on January 25, 29
Director: Sophie Koko Gate
Cast: Keiran P Chantrey, Paul Williams
EXPERIMENTAL SHORTS PROGRAM
The Handeye (Bone Ghosts)
by Anja Dornieden & Juan David Gonzalez Monroy
A distinguished flea hypnotizes the ghost of a distinguished man.
Germany on on January 25, 29
Directors: Anja Dornieden, Juan David Gonzalez Monroy
ANARCHY SHORTS PROGRAM
Unicorn by Grace Nayoon Rhee
Girl and Boy meet little strangers.
(USA) World Premiere on January 24, 27
Director & Screenwriter: Grace Nayoon Rhee
Cast: Jason Davis, Meghan Tryon
Viscera by Lauren Morrison
As houseguests blissfully ignore the provenience of their food, the reality of their consumption takes on a monstrous form.
USA – January 24, 27
Director: Lauren Morrison
Cast: Eva Sinotte, Rose Arscott, Gyasi Silas, Jesse March
