Director BIO: Diana Losen (PRIEST TO PRIEST)

Director Biography – Diana Losen

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Diana Losen graduated with her MFA in Writing for the Screen and Stage from Northwestern University in June 2016. Immediately after graduating, Diana acted in A Red Orchid’s production of Sick by Seven and was named a 2016 Academy Awards Nicholls Fellowship semifinalist for her screenplay The Brief & Brilliant Reign of Billy Tread. She went on to produce the world premiere of the play Taught by Mercedes Lake at the American Theater of Actors in New York City. Priest to Priest is her first short film.

Director Statement

I write and direct coming-of-age screenplays and teleplays navigated by protagonists who wield humor like a weapon as they fight to survive, find purpose, and grow up. I craft worlds that mirror our own but also veer off into the fantastical, using supernatural situations to provide escape and metaphor. My stories emphasize the value of the unconventional families we create for ourselves and explore the darker side of young love with romances of the forbidden or doomed variety. I’m interested in examining The Big Things such as meaning and our human obsession with it, the kaleidoscope of identity, and what sets us free. I write stories that capture the strangeness of adolescence, the melancholy of childhood, and the irony of adulthood.

Short Film: PRIEST TO PRIEST, 9min., USA, Family/Drama

LOGLINE: A nine-year-old priest seeks a mentor to help him defeat the antichrist, a devious middle-school bully.

SYNOPSIS:
Billy Tread (9) delivers a passionate prayer and is overheard by the unconventional, wise Father Williams. Billy introduces himself to Father Williams as a fellow priest but before he can ask for his counsel in defeating the antichrist (Axel Greene, grade 7) he must listen to Father William’s strange confession.

  • Film Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes 25 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    June 8, 2017
  • Production Budget:
    3,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Film Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color

Director BIO: Till Gmuer (ABOUT PATIENCE)

Director Biography – Till Gmuer

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1983 – 1986
Self-taught learning and experimenting with Super-8 film.

1987 – 1992
Teacher education in Lucerne

1994 – 2001
The hobby becomes a profession by a professional Videoproducer

2001 – 2002
Marketing and image communication by an agency

2002 – 2004
Preparation course at the School of Design, Bern and eidg. Diploma Examination Multimedia Coordinator.

Since 2002
independent video producer

Director Statement

 

It’s about believing in yourself. You have to stay true to your goals and ideas.
It is about assertiveness, one’s own will, it is about self-realization, about the development of one’s own strengths and unequal prerequisites. And also to promote the acceptance of partial performance weaknesses against the background of today’s school situation.

The topic is global and timeless.

I want to see children laughing!

Short Film: ABOUT PATIENCE, 24min., Switzerland, Family/Drama

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He scores goals like Ronaldo. Though reading out loud or writing doesn’t work as well. But as shy Noah falls in love with a girl, neither nimble feet nor a quick tongue matter and the key to fortune is something else: patience.

  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Über die Geduld
  • Film Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Romance, Drama, Childhood
  • Runtime:
    24 minutes 39 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    November 11, 2017
  • Production Budget:
    15,000 CHF
  • Country of Origin:
    Switzerland
  • Country of Filming:
    Switzerland
  • Film Language:
    Swiss German
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital ProRes422HQ HD
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color

April 2018 FAMILY Stories, Screenplays, and Short Films

Submit your Family Film or Screenplay to the Festival: http://festivalforfamily.com

 

festival posterI PROMISED HER LIFE, 15min., Drama/Family

festival posterDAUGHTER, 3min., Canada, Drama/Family

festival posterSUNDAY DINNER, 15min., USA, Documentary

festival posterA GOOD BLINDER, 26min., USA, Documentary

festival posterMATTHEW, 6min., USA, LGBT/Family

ACTORTV FAN FICTION PILOT: SCOOBY DOO: AGE OF AQUARIUS
April 2018 Reading
by Katie Grotzinger
ACTORINDIAN COUNTRY – 1st Scene Screenplay
April 2018 Reading
by Troy Kelly
ACTORIN THE WOODS – Short Screenplay
April 2018 Reading
by Rachel Greenhoe
ACTORSEEKER – Family Short Screenplay
April 2018 Reading
by Kaitlyn Kowalski
ACTORRETURN TO FREEDOM – FEMALE Best Scene Screenplay
April 2018 Reading
by Bristol MacDonald
ACTORSADIE SASQUASH – FEMALE Best Scene Screenplay
April 2018 Reading
by Frank Vespe

 

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Producer/Director: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com

Festival Moderators: Kierston Drier, Shepsut Wilson
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: Kimberly Villarruel

Festival Directors: Mary Cox, Rachel Elder, Natasha Levy

Camera Operators: John Johnson, Isabal Cupryn, Aser Santos Jr., Zack Arch

FAMILY Winning Short Screenplay – SEEKER, by Kaitlyn Kowalski

Genre: Family, Drama

A young girl struggles between helping her family, and doing the right thing.

CAST LIST:

Harry: Fabio Abreu
Jasmine: Vanessa Quaglaira
Narrator: Dan Fox
Maria:Val Cole
Gretchen: Cassandra Sirois
Dale: James Murray

Get to know the writer:

 1. What is your screenplay about?

The Seeker is a story about a young girl who struggles to find the balance between helping her family and actually doing the right thing.

2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?

I would consider The Seeker to be a drama.

3. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?

Personally, I think this story is just flat out entertaining. I love a story with a smart twist and The Seeker definitely has one. It is filled with tender visuals and I think it would be a fun movie to direct. It would be challenging, but rewarding.

4. How would you describe this script in two words?

Terrifyingly relatable

5. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?

Hmm… wow that’s a tough one. It’s probably a toss up between The Never Ending Story and No Country For Old Men… don’t judge!!

6. How long have you been working on this screenplay?

Funny enough, I’ve been working on this script since I was a sophomore in college, 2011. I’d forgotten that I’d written it, but found an old PDF and fell in love with the idea again. It was cool to see how I’ve progressed as a writer from one of the first screenplays I’d ever written.

7. How many stories have you written?

I’ve written probably 50 short films & sketches since 2011 when I started and I’ve gotten to 1/2 of a feature!

8. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)

I used to have a big crush on a guy who was seriously into Gerry Raferty so I’ve probably listened to “Right Down The Line” over 1,000 times. Ha!

9. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?

I had a certain story in my head and when I thought it was finished, I got critiques from a couple of people wanting more. I still get them. It’s hard to get suggestions from other people and still stay true to the story you want to tell. Overall, I think the changes I made based on their suggestions made for a stronger story. It’s always good to get a fresh set of eyes.

10. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

I love working with children. They are so unafraid to express how they feel, but may not always know how to articulate it. They taught me how to be a better instructor and a better director.

11. You entered your screenplay via FilmFreeway. What has been your experiences working with the submission platform site?

Working via Film Freeway makes submitting to festivals extremely easy!! There are so many festivals to submit to right at your fingertips.

12. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?

I read the title of the festival and knew I needed feedback on The Seeker and thought, could this get anymore perfect? The Seeker is a troubling story about a family, and it’s so hard to get friends to read anything so it just seemed like fate was saying “Enter this one Kaitlyn!”. It was an entry fee well spent!
I felt like the feedback was incredibly insightful. I really felt like the feedback giver was invested in the success of my story and did what they could to have made it stronger. I thank you for that!

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Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com

Director: Matthew Toffolo

Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne

Editor: Kimberly Villarruel

Camera Op: Mary Cox

March 2018 FAMILY Stories, Screenplays, and Short Films

Submit your Family Film or Screenplay to the Festival: http://festivalforfamily.com

 

ACTORSTUDENT SHORT Screenplay – DIMAGGIO
March 2018 Reading
by Taylor Zaccario

festival posterFOR THE LOVE OF THE CHILD, 38min., USA, Documentary

festival posterTHE MANLIEST MAN, 23min., India, Drama
WATCH Audience FEEDBACK

ACTORTV SPEC Screenplay of the show TRANSPARENT
March 2018 Reading
by Marisaa Lessman

ACTORANIMATION 1st SCENE Screenplay – MARIE’S JOURNEY
March 2018 Reading
by Keith Famie

ACTORFEMALE BEST SCENE Screenplay – FIRST TIME FOR PENNY
March 2018 Reading
by Janice Walker

 

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Producer/Director: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com

Festival Moderators: Kierston Drier, Shepsut Wilson
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: Kimberly Villarruel

Festival Directors: Mary Cox, Rachel Elder, Natasha Levy

Camera Operators: John Johnson, Isabal Cupryn, Aser Santos Jr., Zack Arch

January 2018 FAMILY Stories, Screenplays, and Short Films

Submit your Family Film or Screenplay to the Festival: http://festivalforfamily.com


festival posterOUR WONDERFUL NATURE, 3min., Germany, Animation
WATCH Audience FEEDBACK


festival posterEGGS AND SOLDIERS, 20min., USA, Drama/Family
WATCH Audience FEEDBACK


festival posterEVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY, 30min., Austria, Drama/Thriller
WATCH Audience FEEDBACK


festival posterLILAC TV Pilot, 15min., USA, Adventure/Family
WATCH Audience FEEDBACK

ACTORTV Best Scene Screenplay – AMERICAN SCHOOL
January 2018 Reading
by Michael Hager
ACTOREUROPEAN SHORT Screenplay – THE BIKERS’ WAVE
January 2018 Reading
by Damien Mazza
ACTOR FAMILY Best Scene Screenplay – THE SHOW TO DIE FOR
January 2018 Reading
by Martin Cox
ACTORMYSTERY Best Scene Screenplay – UNDER THE WELL
January 2018 Reading
by Max. J. Eber
ACTORWAR Best Scene Screenplay – NO HONOUR AMONG FAMILY
January 2018 Reading
by Shawn McCormack
ACTOR NOVEL Transcript Reading – CURLY AND TUBS AND THE GALLOPING ROT
January 2018 Reading
by Kim Montgomery
ACTOR NOVEL Transcript Reading – AUNT SOOKIE ME
January 2018 Reading
by Michael Scott Garvin
ACTOR NOVEL Transcript Reading – SHARLEYS LESSONS
January 2018 Reading
by RK Vetter
ACTOR SHORT STORY Reading – EVERYTHING
January 2018 Reading
by Lionel Walfish

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Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com

Director: Kierston Drier
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: John Johnson

Camera Operator: Mary Cox

2017 NOVELS & SHORT STORIES (10)


ACTORAN UNCOMMON FAMILY Novel Transcript Reading
December 2017 Reading
by Christa Polkinhorn
ACTORGETAWAY DAY Novel Transcript Reading
December 2017 Reading
by Ken White
ACTORTIMETRIPPERS Novel Transcript Reading
November 2017 Reading
by Hamish Robertson
ACTORNOVEL Transcript – COURAGE THE MOUSE
September 2017 Reading
by Cornelia Fick

ACTORSHORT STORY Reading – THEY DROVE ON STREETS PAVED WITH KINDNESS
July 2017 Reading
by John Bauer

ACTORNOVEL Transcript: DIGBY’S DIARY
May 2017 Reading
by E.D. Bird
ACTORNOVEL Transcript: THE SCENT OF MY SON: IN GOD WE TRUST
May 2017 Reading
by Adrienne Miranda

ACTORNOVEL Transcript Reading – RYAN GORDON
March 2017 Reading
Written by Art Blum
ACTORNOVEL Transcript Reading – BRIAR EARTH
March 2017 Reading
Written by Paul Tapp

ACTORNOVEL Transcript – MEI MENG: THE LOST PANDA
February 2017 Reading
Written by Andrew Fisk

 

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Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com

Director: Kierston Drier
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: John Johnson

Camera Operator: Mary Cox

2017 FAMILY Short Screenplays (8)

A FilmFreeway preferred festival:

 

 

ACTORCOMING SHORT Screenplay – VALERIE VERSUS EARTH
November 2017 Reading
by Jason Boaden
ACTORUNDER 5min. SHORT Screenplay – BABY LOUIE
July 2017 Reading
by Mark Richards

ACTORSTUDENT SHORT Screenplay – BRANCHES
July 2017 Reading
by Holyn Thigpen

ACTORFAMILY SHORT Screenplay – GIRL IN THE PAINTING
June 2017 Reading
by Scott Williamson
ACTORFANTASY SHORT Screenplay – POLLY
April 2017 Reading
Written by Eric P. Granger

ACTORSHORT Screenplay – TWO GEESE AND A LADY GIRAFFE
February 2017 Reading
Written by Chanda Walker
ACTORSHORT Screenplay – 5 THINGS NOT TO FEED YOUR BABY
February 2017 Reading
Written by Todd A. Jackson

ACTORSHORT Screenplay – MODERN LOVE
January 2017 Reading
Written by Hannah Dillon

 

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Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com

Director: Kierston Drier
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: John Johnson

Camera Operator: Mary Cox