SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27TH

 

10:00AM  Filmmaker Coffee Networking

 Georgette’s Grounds & Gifts

 311 Conant St., Maumee, OH 43537

 

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THEATER #1

 

12:00PM  Feature - Influenca (1:57:48) Directed by Ian James Milheim, Justine Hope

A talented photographer on the verge of viral stardom disappears in 2015; two persistent filmmakers attempt to document his career and sudden fall from both notoriety and existence.

 

2:30PM    Shorts Block #1 - Student Shorts

 

To Be Pretty (5:24) Directed by Faith Louise Jackson

A young girl struggles with her self-image after being confronted by her own insecurities. What does it mean to be pretty?

 

Gambled (5:28) Directed by Matthew Nadrasik

A detective interrogates someone in their apartment until he discovers who the killer really was.

 

A Party Without Tea (11:50) Directed by Kassidy Pluciniczak-Eyre

A tea party without tea? That’s preposterous! Will Sawyer, Cap, or Tortellini ever get to have their perfect tea party?

 

Cyberskaters (3:56) Directed by Abi Krecic

Extreme sports and video games collide in a neon-soaked roller race, where the only way out is victory on the track. Who will get the high score and who will end up in megabytes?

 

Echoes, Dust & Rust (8:23) Directed by Andrew James Leonard

Brothers Daniel and Joel Trzcinski are Bliss Nova, a two-piece band living on opposite sides of Ohio. Hoping to find fresh creative direction, they meet to record an album at Dream Louder Studio in Toledo.

 

The Rogue Runner (12:46) Directed by Brandon Basilio

Wes tries to get back into the running spirit with his friend, David.

 

The Showstoppers (3:15) Directed by Payton Polak

After years of silence, the toons will make their public debut in The Show. What is The Show? Nobody knows! Opening night, our camera crew is on the scene ​with exclusive backstage footage...

 

The Barn is Burning (6:44) Directed by Carter J. Hellwarth

After a devastating fire ravages a milking parlor, a family and its community rally together.

 

4:00PM   Shorts Block #2 - More Student Shorts

 

Silent Paws (2:37) Directed by Taylor Hill

Silent Paws is a 2D animated short film that follows the journey of an individual who adopts a newly rescued kitten, only to realize that the cat is deaf. As the character learns to communicate with the kitten using visual cues and vibrations, they form a deep bond and discover the beauty of embracing differences.

 

A Super Deluxe Gamepad 74 for Christmas (10:28) Directed by Shankar Sudhakaran

The true spirit of Christmas is heaved upon an impoverished family, as the thoughtless actions of greedy and narrow-minded children further plunge the family into destitution.

 

Mother and Daughter (20:00) Directed by Thomas Javier Castillo

Cindy, a post-college photographer, returns to her rural Ohio home after getting burned out by the big city and begins to explore her family history. Once home, she sees her parent's relationship in a new light.

 

Deep Rust (28:00) Directed by Sarah Faith Moss

The story of how two Southern and Appalachian families adapted to living in Detroit during the first half of the 20th Century.

 

5:30PM   Shorts Block #3 - Local Shorts

 

         Leave (3:37)* Directed by Michael DeSanto

            A mother and son argue about her past and his future.

 

Make the Call (3:23)* Directed by Michael DeSanto

One last call before death.

 

Love's Tragedies (9:00) Directed by Ronnell Isom

A man struggles with sharing the new changes in his love life as well as accepting them himself. He finds himself chasing after love moments before his fatal death.

 

Balloon (5:07) Directed by Opal Allen

A young woman plans to spend her birthday alone in peace—until a mysterious balloon and an unexpected visitor turn her night into something eerily unforgettable.

 

Look at Me (19:01) Directed by Brent Gfell, Digger Pierce, Aaron Gfell

A man tries to buy a mirror at a pawn shop. Things don't exactly go well from there.

 

Something is Amiss (14:54) Directed by Digger Pierce, Aaron Gfell

Dr. Frankenstein has a nosey neighbor.

 

Lobster Man vs. Chin Guy (11:00) Directed by Isaac Martinez

In the midst of a city-wide crime wave, Lobster Man hunts down his arch-nemesis Chin Guy.

 

7:00PM   Shorts Block #4 - More Local Shorts

 

Pretty (3:33)* Directed by Lindsey LaForest

Never tell a woman to smile. She just might.

 

The Incredible Life of Ricky Smolltuff (30:10) Directed by Spencer Stamitoles,

                    Bradley Tumasian

Ricky Smolltuff, actor turned director, writer, producer, camera man and editor embarks on his journey to create his new short film "The Lady Detective". 

 

He's Just a Friend (19:56) Directed by Bobby Cullen

Jack and Lily, a seemingly happy couple, are dealing with a new guy friend that shakes things up. Can they find their way through this or has the spark fizzled?

 

The Seance Spectre (13:30)* Directed by Michael DeSanto

Four friends summon the ghost of a TV producer to complain about how he ruined their favorite sci-fi show.

 

8:30PM    Feature - Extraction, USA (1:31:00) Directed by Mike Yonts

Two women from the margins, a single working mom and a wayfaring pool shark, fall in love, take down kingpins, and take back their lives.

 

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THEATER #2

 

12:00PM  Feature - The Harbor Men (1:24:49) Directed by Casey T. Malone

During a waterfront outbreak that drives the infected into madness and hallucination, dockworker Steven Dorre witnesses a bizarre murder, and finds himself in possession of a mysterious case that threatens to unravel everything he thought he knew.

 

2:00PM   Feature - Magic of the Old West End (58:50) Directed by Shane Potgieter

Magic of the Old West End explores the remarkable history of the Old West End of Toledo, a historic neighborhood boasting some of the largest Victorian and Edwardian homes in the USA. Presented by WGTE Public Media.

 

4:00PM   Actors’ Roundtable Panelists TBA

 

5:30PM   Shorts Block #5 - Ohio Shorts

 

Circles (3:59) Directed by Thomas Moeger

A man in a park writes a letter to his late father as he reflects on their relationship and an important decision he’s about to make. Through this quiet moment of introspection, he seeks closure and clarity, reconciling with his father's memory while preparing for the next step in his life.

 

Confessions to Code (7:32) Directed by Terry D. Coates

When a sensational news report claims a catastrophic AI breach has exposed everyone’s private data, chaos erupts across digital and personal lives. 

 

Solitude (11:50) Directed by Johnny K. Wu

Cody has been hating her dad since the passing of her mom (due to cancer). She isolated herself by playing Virtual Reality games and ignored everything else. Eventually she's immersed into the VR world without a way to return.

 

My Sister's An Alien (3:00) Directed by Heather Bayles

After mysterious noises awaken a young girl, she becomes an alien… sometimes.

 

Adult Skate (15:00) Directed by Adam Clark

Skateworld is re-opening for their Adult Skate nights following a slew of financial struggles. Martin, the rink's bumbling owner, must work with the staff to do all they can to keep the rink from going under, even if that means teaming up with Mandi, a local roller derby captain who is hellbent on getting her team into shape for the new season.

 

7:30PM    Shorts Block #6 - More Ohio Shorts

 

The Squaller (19:59) Directed by J.W. Cox

When the daughter of a local Bigfoot hunter reports her father missing, the police aren't quick to take his disappearance seriously. Officer Hope Evans takes it upon herself to help young Brooke Garrison find her dad, whom was last seen looking for "The Squaller."

 

Infernalis (15:33) Directed by Naomi Wildermuth

In a remote 19th-century pioneer village, suspicion spreads when a newborn vanishes under mysterious circumstances. As tensions rise, the townspeople turn their scrutiny toward the local midwife—an outsider whose knowledge runs deeper than they realize. Secrets, superstition, and fear collide in a haunting tale of isolation and accusation.

 

Stoned (15:34) Directed by J.W. Cox

A Midwestern stoner must decide between being " managerial material" or accepting her role as a gun wielding criminal when a conflict with a co-worker escalates.

 

Between Seconds (9:00) Directed by Nic White

"Between Seconds" tells the story of Arlo and Eva, two strangers inexplicably trapped in the Infinite Chamber—a mysterious, ever-shifting void that defies time and space. As Arlo and Eva confront their confinement, Arlo must face his inner demons in hopes of finding the inner peace that has eluded him for so long.

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In Between the Lines (10:26) Directed by Kira L. Wilson

A reclusive writer retreats to a remote cabin to complete her novel, but her solitude is interrupted when two mysterious hikers arrive seeking help. As the days unfold, their presence becomes increasingly unsettling, forcing her to confront the darkest corners of her mind. A haunting and lyrical exploration of grief, isolation, and the blurred line between reality and the beyond.

 

8:30PM    Shorts Block #7 - Even More Ohio Shorts

 

Texas Hold 'Em (3:19) Directed by Morgan Bean Hall

A game of poker goes south when people can't accept their losses.

 

Third Wheel (9:28) Directed by Samantha Ryan

Third Wheel takes three friends on a journey of self discovery and change when two of them begin to date, leaving the third friend feeling left out.

 

Crickets (19:54) Directed by Megan Frieling, Jonathan Tuggy

Facing the reality of grief, two individuals must walk through hard life changes. As they process the new lives they now live, they find strength and connections that wouldn't otherwise exist.

 

Vejigante (8:47) Directed by James Aponte

Working-class demon exterminators partner up for the first time on a job in the suburbs.

 

Sometimes I Imagine Your Funeral (11:15) Directed by Vince Dixon

As Max prepares to eulogize his sister Chloe just minutes before her funeral, he wrestles with the anger, frustration, and grief of losing her to an overdose, attempting to understand who Chloe was.

 

Procrastination (4:19) Directed by Jacob Francis Warling

A man requests the help of his friend to create a computer program to help him stop procrastinating.

 

Our Hero, Cadet (8:36) Directed by Kam Smith

Cadet, a bright-eyed third-grader, dreams of going to space. While being held inside for detention, she is rescued by two people who want to make her dream come true.

 

3 Days (8:46) Directed by Heather Bayles

A captive woman tricks her captor into believing she cares for him, using his growing feelings to escape—only to trigger his downfall.

 

The Boy Toy (12:02) Directed by Chris Harboldt

An aging kept man's life is turned upside down when he's dumped for the pool boy, and he attempts to re-invent himself.

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The Weatherman Who Knew Too Much (10:00) Directed by Kaylin Allshouse

Barry keeps making inaccurate weather predictions and could lose his job. He seeks help from a psychic to become the most accurate weatherman but was it worth it?

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CONFERENCE ROOM

 

12:00PM   Headshot Sessions with Toledo Talent

 

2:30PM    Workshop #1 - TBA

 

4:00PM    Workshop #2 - Casting & Auditions with NexGen Talent - Additional guests TBA

 

5:30PM    Workshop #3 - Improv for Actors with Charles Wetzel Jr.

 

7:00PM    Workshop #4 - Accounting for Film with Aaron Cherr, Pease Bell CPA

 

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10:30PM   After-Party / Networking

 Location TBA

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* Out of competition, not eligible for awards