Social Impact Shorts
3pm Sunday September 20
All film screenings will take place at the Edmond Town Hall Theater located at 45 Main Street, Newtown, CT 06470. All screenings are completely free and open to the public, we hope to see you there!
This specially curated collection focuses on films with messages about social issues and aims to change the world for the better. There’s a poetic letter from father to his hypothetical son about his concerns about the modern world. Other themes include the unequal distribution of wealth, the humane treatment of farm animals, gender inequality specifically in the film industry, and bullying. This program will keep you thinking (and hopefully discussing) long after the credits roll! 44 mins
Recommended for ages 13 and up due to mild language and some mature themes.
Recommended for ages 13 and up due to mild language and some mature themes.
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A Letter To My Son
'A Letter To My Son' is the touching story of a father who pens a hypothetical letter to his unborn son outlining his fears and concerns about the world.
Runtime: 10:07 Directors Maurice Hicks Writers Maurice Hicks Producers Maurice Hicks Dave Norris Key Cast Cranston Johnson |
About the Filmmaker
Maurice Hicks' love of film began at a young age when his mother would frequently show him the Kung Fu films of the Shaw Brother's Chinese cinema. That interest evolved into a love of films that transcended local and immediate culture boundaries. After earning his bachelor's degree, double majoring in Film/Video Production & Psychology, he went on to pursue his filmmaking career having since made several commercial ad spots and producing his own feature length film. Maurice enjoys film that involves cultural awareness, equality, and relationships.
About the Filmmaker
Eric Pauls is a writer, director and producer of several short narrative and documentary films. He is currently in production on his debut feature "To the Mountain".
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Wealth and Status
US PREMIERE
Two high school friends bump into each other several years later and share about where they are in life. With drastically different priorities now the conversation grinds to an awkward halt.
Runtime: 2:29 mins Directors Eric Pauls Writers Eric Pauls Producers Paige Boudreau , Michael Janke Key Cast Alysa Van Haastert , Tyler Reinhold 
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ZOEThe story of a little girl who thinks big.
Runtime: 3:15 mins Directors Lou Quill Blood, Sweat & Sequins Writers Lou Quill Blood, Sweat & Sequins Producers Lou Quill Blood, Sweat & Sequins Key Cast Zoe Cheepie |
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The House that Wren Built
NEW ENGLAND PREMIERE
A young girl at boarding school finds her escape by building imaginative faerie houses in the forbidden woods, until other students threaten to destroy her sanctuary.
Runtime: 9:33 mins Directors Laurel Cohen Writers Laurel Cohen Producers Carly Kleinbart , Emelyn Barrientos Key Cast Zoey Jaffe-Richter Ruby-Sage Jacobson Madison Jaffe-Richter Cece Hagen Ewan Parker-Eaton |
About the Filmmaker
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Laurel Cohen is a midwest based writer/director. She wrote/directed The House that Wren Built her junior year at Northwestern University. Her first film, Jonah and the Crab, has screened at festivals internationally, including San Francisco International Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival KIDS. Her thesis film, The Very True Story About What Happened to Your Goldfish, was largely funded by the Princess Grace Foundation-USA, and it is currently making its festival rounds.
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About the Filmmaker
Born and raised in Bucharest, Romania, Roberto discovered a passion for visual storytelling while traveling and living abroad, as he realized the power that film and photography have to instill intercultural empathy, promote awareness and understanding, and connect people. He moved to Chicago to pursue that passion through a film degree at Northwestern University, where he directed “Girl with a Movie Camera,” his first documentary short, his sophomore year. He aims to write, direct and photograph both documentary and fiction films that transcend the boundaries that are imagined and imposed upon people, beliefs and cultures.
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Girl With a Movie Camera
EAST COAST PREMIERE
Girl with a Movie Camera’ is a short documentary portrait that examines the work and challenges of a young female filmmaker about to graduate from film school. Lauren, deeply committed and passionate about cinematography, is about to enter a field which has historically been overwhelmingly dominated by men. Through her work, she takes the first steps in gaining control of the woman’s image on the silver screen, an image so often manipulated by and for the male gaze.
Runtime: 11:30 mins Directors Roberto Drilea Producers Roberto Drilea Sanya Mansoor Tali Jona Key Cast Lauren Guiteras , Laurel Cohen Cinematography Roberto Drilea Additional Cinematography Katherine Nagasawa Creative Advisor Brent Huffman Co-Directors Sanya Mansoor , Tali Jona |
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Amazing Judith and the Wall of Difference
Judith, a girl with multiple disabilities, attempts to reach out beyond her isolated world and make contact with a new friend.
Judith’s family contacted me to make a short film to explain her disability to their entourage. The aim was to show why Judith is different, to transmit a positive message and sensibilize youth and adults on the Handicap globally. Despite her multi-handicap, Judith transmits a lot of energy around her. With her father, Jean Christophe, we chose to materialize her positivy and joy of life through the use of color. And, as Judith is from the city of Lyon, I used a quote from "The Little Prince", by Antoine de Saint-Expéry, who was also from Lyon. I called the power of Judith "The Essential", that which is invisible to the eyes. Directors Julien Vergé Writers Julien Vergé Original soundtrack Simon Chapelle About the Filmmaker
Julien Vergé is a cartoonist / designer, specialized in animation, who graduated from the Art School Emile Cohl. He created the animated short film "Amazing Judith and the Wall of Difference" (2013) about a multi-handicapped young girl, which was used as an educational tool by many specialized institutions. Philippe Pozzo, who inspired the film "The Intouchables" (2011), describes "Amazing Judith" as "A little gem!"
In 2013, Mr. Vergé worked with the Geneva special effects studio DBFX Workshop. He finished his first live short film, "MANTOSON Biotechnology," in 2015. |
