2012 Savannah Film Festival competition films

The official lineup won't be unveiled until October 1st, but here is a list of the features and shorts competing for prizes at the Savannah Film Festival.

Narrative Features

"Fat Kid Rules the World"

USA, 2011, 100 min.
Director: Matthew Lillard
Producers: Evan Wasserstom, Jane Charles, Jennifer Maas, Nick Morton, Rick Rosenthal, Talan Torriero
Writers: K. L. Going, Michael Galvin, Peter Speakman
Cast: Jacob Wysocki, Matt O'Leary

Synopsis: Troy is a depressed and overweight teen that gets sucked into the world of punk rock by a young street urchin named Marcus. But, as their friendship grows, Troy discovers Marcus’ drug addiction and battles to do the right thing.

"Fort McCoy"

USA, 2011, 100 min., 50 sec.
Directors: Kate Connor, Michael Worth
Producers: Eric Stoltz, Kate Connor
Writer: Kate Connor
Cast: Andy Hirsch, Eric Stoltz, Kate Connor, Lyndsy Fonseca, Brendan Fehr, Camryn Manheim, Matthew Lawrence, Seymour Cassel

Synopsis: “Fort McCoy” is based on the true story of the Stirn family who lived next to a Nazi POW camp in Wisconsin during World War II. It is a coming of age story beset with tragedy; a love story between a Jewish soldier and Catholic girl; and the journey of one man (Eric Stoltz) struggling to find his worth in a war that does not want him.

"A BIG Love Story"

USA, 2012, 93 min.
Director: Ryan Sage
Producer: Kristina Denton
Writer: Dale Zawada
Cast: Robbie Kaller, Jillian Leigh, Tommy Snider, Constance Reese, Bryan Bellomo, Jacquelyn Umof, Jess Allen

Synopsis: Seven years ago, Sam was a 260-pound NFL prospect. Now, he's a lonely 413-pound bowling alley cashier. Realizing that he can’t change his life on his own, the personal trainer he hires makes a bigger impact on him than he’d bargained for.

"Missed Connections"

USA, 2011, 100 min.
Director: Martin Snyder
Producers: Kathy Lindboe, Alison Palmer Bourke
Writers: Marnie Hanel, Martin Snyder
Cast: Jonny Abrahams, Mickey Sumner, Anastasia Ganias, David Rasche, Jamie Bellman, Julia Jones, Malcolm Barrett, Tamara Tunie, Waris Aluwahlia

Synopsis: In a city of 19 million people, love at first sight happens every instant. But if you fail to act in the moment, how can you find each other again? “Missed Connections” is a dynamic, new independent comedy about the lengths New Yorkers will go to find love.

Documentaries and shorts after the jump!



Documentary Films

"Gregory Crewdson: Brief Encounters"

USA, 2012, 78 min.
Director/Producer: Ben Shapiro

Synopsis: Filmed over a decade, “Brief Encounters” follows internationally renowned photographer Gregory Crewdson’s quest to create his unique, surreal, and incredibly elaborate portraits of suburban life. He sets a house on fire, builds 90-foot sets with crews of 60, shuts down city streets ... all in the service of his haunted image of American life, and his own anxieties, dreams and inner desires. Brief Encounters is an intimate portrait of one of the most heralded image-makers of our time.

"Sweet Dreams"

USA, 2012, 89 min.
Director/Producer: Lisa Fruchtman, Rob Fruchtman

Synopsis: A group of Rwandan women embark on a journey to heal the wounds of the past and create their own unique path to a future of peace and possibility.

"Switch"

USA, 2012, 97 min., 57 sec.
Director: Harry Lynch
Producers: Harry Lynch, Scott Tinker
Writer: Harry Lynch
Cast: Scott Tinker

Synopsis: What will it really take to switch from oil and coal to alternatives? Dr. Scott Tinker explores the world's leading energy sites, from coal to solar, oil to biofuels, to find out. Along the way, he gets straight answers from energy leaders and lays out a path to our future that is surprising and remarkably pragmatic.

"Wonder Women! The Untold Story of American Superheroines"

USA, 2011, 60 min.
Director: Kristy Guevara-Flanagan
Producer: Kelcey Edwards
Synopsis: “Wonder Women! The Untold Story of American Superheroines” traces the fascinating birth, evolution and legacy of Wonder Woman and introduces audiences to a dynamic group of fictional and real-life superheroines fighting for positive role models for girls, both on screen and off.

Animated Shorts

"Abiogenesis"

New Zealand, 2011, 4 min., 20 sec.
Director: Richard Mans

Synopsis: In this breathtaking science fiction spectacle, a strange mechanical device lands on a desolate world and uses the planet to undergo a startling transformation that has profound implications for an entire galaxy.

"Bendito Machine IV"

Spain, 2012, 9 min., 51 sec.
Director/Producer/Writer: Jossie Malis

Synopsis: An improbable hero embarks on a crude journey by earth, sea and sky—throughout all the attractions of a planet turned into a massive petrochemical park ... and beyond.

"It’s Such a Beautiful Day"

USA, 2012, 23 min.
Director/Producer/Writer: Don Hertzfeldt

Synopsis: Bill finds himself in a hospital struggling with memory problems, in this third and final chapter to Don Hertzfeldt's “Everything Will Be OK” trilogy.

"Pasteurized"

Argentina, 2012, 7 min., 33 sec.
Director: Nicolas Villarreal
Producers: Nicolas Villarreal, Joaquin P. Villarreal, Alessandro Squitti
Writer: Nicolas Villarreal
Cast: Danielle Levin, Nicolas Villarreal

Synopsis: While conducting experiments on a quiet night, a scientist receives an unexpected visitor whose arrival will change everything.

"Wolf Dog Tales"

USA, 2012, 6 min., 40 sec.
Director/Producer/Writer: Bernadine Santistevan
Cast: Bernadine Sosa, Larry Fessenden

Synopsis: This animated film takes us to the world of the Wolf Dog who answers some of life's greatest questions through a series of indigenous tales of animal wisdom. The film's director learned these teachings as a part of a colony of Spaniards who left Spain during the Inquisition and who have been living among the Native Americans of New Mexico for more than 400 years.

"Zergut"

USA, 2011, 5 min., 50 sec.
Directors: Alisa Lapidus, Natasha Subramaniam

Synopsis: Within a refrigerator, a battle ensues as moldy, decaying foods forgotten in the depths of the back rise up against the fresh ingredients that reside in the front. These confrontations escalate, as foods morph, disintegrate, dance, explode and become a textural, abstract display of color and form culminating in a grand finale sequence that results in their obliteration.

Professional Shorts

"Buzkashi Boys"

Afghanistan/USA, 2011, 27 min., 39 sec.
Director: Sam French
Producers: Ariel Nasr, Martin Roe
Writer: Martin Roe
Cast: Fawad Mohammadi, Jawanmard Paiz, Wali Talash

Synopsis: Set against the dramatic landscape of contemporary Afghanistan and the national sport of Buzkashi—a brutal game of horse polo played with a dead goat—“Buzkashi Boys” tells the compelling coming of age story of two best friends, a charismatic street urchin and a defiant blacksmith's son, who struggle to realize their dreams as they make their way to manhood in one of the most war-torn countries on Earth.

"Good Karma $1"

USA, 2012, 14 min., 17 sec.
Directors: Amy Laslett, Alex Bogusky, Jason Berger
Producer: Jason Berger

Synopsis: “Good karma $1” is a short documentary that explores acclaimed ad-guru Alex Bogusky's fascination with collecting homeless signs. What starts out as a project to understand the world's simplest form of communication turns into a lesson in generosity.

"The Procession"

USA, 2011, 10 min., 30 sec.
Director: Rob Festinger
Producers: Roberta Munroe, Tatiana Kelly
Writer: Rob Festinger
Cast: Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Lily Tomlin, Lucy Punch

Synopsis: Rob and his Mother are roped into attending the funeral of someone they don't know. As they wait for the seemingly endless funeral procession to exit the parking lot, they attempt to quietly escape (as they're understandably hungry) but accidentally find themselves stuck in the middle of it.

"Friend Request Pending"

UK, 2011, 12 min.
Director: Chris Foggin
Producer: Chris Croucher
Writer: Chris Croucher
Cast: Judi Dench, Penny Ryder, Philip Jackson, Tom Hiddleston, John MacMillan

Synopsis: “Friend Request Pending” is a short comedy drama about the mature generation dating in our modern social networking world. It’s a tale of love, but more importantly, lifelong friendship. The 12-minute tale tells the story of Mary (Judi Dench) and Linda (Penny Ryder) who spend an afternoon discussing the pleasures, pitfalls and problems with using social networking to try and woo the local choirmaster, Trevor (Philip Jackson).

"Voice Over"

USA, 2011, 10 min.
Director: Martin Rosete
Producers: Jose Martin, Koldo Zuazua, Manuel Calvo, Sebastian Alvarez
Writer: Luiso Berdejo
Cast: Feodor Atkine, Jonathan D. Mellor

Synopsis: “Voice Over” tells the story of a man fighting to survive in three different situations. The voice over of a narrator leads to the audience from one to another in a frenetic journey.

"The Wheel"

USA, 2012, 13:30 TRT
Director: John Roberts
Producers: Mark Foote, Cesar Gamino
Writer: Ryan Plato
Cast: Mark Metcalf

Synopsis: This whimsical, visually imaginative tale concerns a dutiful young man, fated to maintain a large wheel that balances the entire world, and his rebellious sister, who is determined to mischievously tempt that fate.

"Troutteur"

USA, 2012, 13 min., 30 sec.
Directors: Arnaud Brisebois, Francis LeClerc
Producer: Antonello Cozzolino
Writer: Marie La Haye
Cast: Kyle Gatehouse, Milya Corbeil, Sophie Naubert

Synopsis: A metaphorical tale of adversity. A settling of accounts between a young man and a locomotive turns into a diabolical race against a merciless opponent.

"when you find me"

USA, 2011, 28 min., 43 sec.
Director: Bryce Dallas Howard
Producers: Francesca Silvestri, Kevin Chinoy, Ron Howard
Writer: Dane Charbeneau
Cast: Erin Way, Jacy King

Synopsis: “when you find me” tells the story of two sisters whose childhood bond is tested by a tragedy they are too young to understand. Alternating between past and present, “when you find me” is an emotional fable of two people coping with loss in very different ways, and what it takes to find peace within yourself and reconciliation with the ones you love.

Student Shorts

"12:15 Sunday"

USA, 2012, 11 min., 59 sec.
Director: Taylor Jenkins
Producers: David and Lisa Jenkins
Cast: John Jenkins, Patrick Hussion

Synopsis: Witness the story of a World War II veteran who fought against the odds to return to safety after bailing out of his plane set ablaze over Nazi Germany.

"Caves: The Social Underground"

USA, 2012, 9 min., 53 sec.
Director: Jennifer Bird
Producer: Luke McMahon
Cast: Brad Barker, Bruce Minkin, Tabbatha Cavendish

Synopsis: The lure of caving brings people together in a special camaraderie that is not found above the ground.

"Chalk Talk"

USA, 2012, 9 min., 53 sec.
Director: Christopher Durenberger
Producer: Christopher Durenberger, Zac Cageao
Writer: Christopher Durenberger
Cast: Will Bellais, Dandy Barrett

Synopsis: Chalk Talk is a love poem about a grandfather and grandson, lost love and coincidence run most foul.

"Enlighten Me"

USA, 2012, 9 min., 53 sec.
Director/Producer/Writer: Jamie Lewallen
Cast: Garret Schmigle

Synopsis: Working outside of your comfort zone can be as frightening and unsure as stumbling around in a dark room. Expanding your skill sets and learning to problem solve can eliminate that uneasiness as if you turned on the lights.

"Hatch"

Austria/USA, 2012, 18 min., 46 sec.
Directors: Christoph Kuschnig, Felix Striegel
Producers: Martin Maier, Christoph Kuschnig
Writer: Christoph Kuschnig
Cast: Andreas Patton, Max Mayer, Michael Steinocher, Peter Faerber, Tina Keserovic, Ursula Strauss, Vedran Kos

Synopsis: A newborn's destiny hangs in the balance as grownups come to terms with what they cannot have.

"Not at Home"

USA, 2012, 18 min., 55 sec.
Director: Arielle Kilker
Producer: Ian Ford
Writer: Arielle Kilker
Cast: Kelsey Higgs, M. Steven Felty

Synopsis: On his way to California in his live-in RV, Gene picks up a young hitchhiking girl who is just as lost as he is. Together, the two discover that what was missing in their lives isn't what they expected.

"Noodling"

USA, 2012, 17 min.
Director: Rebecca Eskreis
Producers: Cassie Ketrick, Rebecca Eskreis
Writer: Rebecca Eskreis
Cast: Maddie Perry, Aaron Cornelison, Cathie McCain Perry, Cindy Hanska, Jason Padgett, Jed Fox, Kasey Southwell, Kristy Russell, Ron Rolin

Synopsis: The only person not impressed by the Ramsey's family's Noodling legacy in the small town of Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, is Jenna Ramsey, 14. When her father, John, and his longtime girlfriend, Dee Dee, announce their engagement, Jenna's open emotional wounds are exposed to the urbane new boy, Mikey, who is both an interesting distraction and soon the key to Jenna facing her past.

"Legacy"

USA, 2012, 5 min., 17 sec.
Director: Adam Floeck

Producer: Peter DeSalvo
Cast: Alexandra Olivier, Craig Zacok

Synopsis: “Legacy” is the story of one boy's difficulty living up to his family's expectations when the burden of his heritage is suddenly thrust upon him.

"Love Hacking"

USA, 2011, 21 min., 28 sec.
Director: Jenni Nelson
Producers: Jenni Nelson, Ishor Bajracharya
Cast: Sarita Heath, Tim William Grayson Heath

Synopsis: A virtual relationship becomes a reality when a robot inventor falls in love over the Internet and journeys to Nepal to meet his fiancé for the first time. They marry the next day.

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