Coffeehouse Cinema invites you to a special presentation
of the four films that launched its inaugural screening series

COFFEEHOUSE CINEMA AT USC

Featuring films from Coffeehouse Cinema Volume 1:

DONKEY
Directed by Matt Kazman

ROGER J. CARTER: REBEL REVOLUTIONARY
Directed by Justin Fairweather

THAT’S OUR TIME
Directed by Alex Backes

TERMINALLY ILL
Directed by Chris Cole

Followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers

7:00 P.M. on Monday, July 27th, 2026

The Eileen Norris Cinema Theater at the Frank Sinatra Hall
3507 Trousdale Parkway, Los Angeles, CA 90089

FREE ADMISSION. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. RSVPs REQUIRED.

FOOD AND DRINKS ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED IN THE AUDITORIUM.
 

CLICK HERE TO RSVP
 

About Coffeehouse Cinema at USC

Coffeehouse Cinema at USC brings the inaugural Coffeehouse Cinema lineup to the USC School of Cinematic Arts for a special evening celebrating independent filmmaking, emerging voices, and the creative journeys behind four acclaimed short films.

The program features work spanning comedy, documentary, and emotionally grounded storytelling. Following the screening, the filmmakers will discuss the inspiration behind their films, the process of bringing each project to life, and how short-form storytelling has contributed to their broader creative careers.

About Coffeehouse Cinema

Coffeehouse Cinema is a monthly community-centered short-film screening series that transforms cafes and coffee shops and gathering spaces into intimate cinemas.

Founded in Los Angeles by filmmakers and producers Ellis Sutton and Eddie Locks, Coffeehouse Cinema curates bold, intentional short films and presents them alongside filmmaker Q&As, audience conversations, and opportunities for meaningful creative connection.

By bringing cinematic work outside of traditional theaters and festival environments, Coffeehouse Cinema creates an approachable space where audiences can discover emerging filmmakers, experience thoughtfully curated programming, and engage directly with the artists behind the work.

Coffeehouse Cinema is built around the belief that short films deserve attentive audiences, filmmakers deserve meaningful conversations about their work, and moviegoing can be both communal and intimate.

More on their website: coffeehousecinema.com

About the Founders

ELLIS SUTTON '20, CO-FOUNDER AND HEAD OF MARKETING AND STRATEGY

Ellis Sutton is a producer, writer, and director, as well as the co-founder of Coffeehouse Cinema. He has worked across film, television, and live events with the NAACP Image Awards, Netflix, Warner Bros. Pictures, and Hartbeat, supporting projects from development through production.

In addition to his filmmaking work, Ellis writes about storytelling, industry trends, and creative strategy through his Substack publications, Notes from the Studio and The Label.

At Coffeehouse Cinema, he leads marketing and strategy, bringing his experience across storytelling, production, audience development, and creative operations together to help build a community-centered space for short films, emerging voices, and intentional moviegoing.

EDDIE LOCKS, CO-FOUNDER AND HEAD OF PROGRAMMING AND EVENTS

Eddie Locks is an independent producer and the programming lead for Coffeehouse Cinema. He has worked in physical production at Warner Bros. Pictures and in creative development at Khalabo Ink Society, Kenya Barris’ production company, supporting projects from early development through production.

Alongside his work with Coffeehouse Cinema, Eddie is developing multiple independent film and television projects. He brings a strong curatorial eye and a filmmaker-first perspective to the Coffeehouse Cinema programming experience.

About the Filmmakers

MATT KAZMAN, DIRECTOR OF DONKEY

Matt Kazman is a filmmaker from Toronto who lives and works in Los Angeles with three cats, which he assures everyone is completely normal. He creates strange and emotional comedies designed to make audiences laugh, cry, and cringe, sometimes all at once.

His short films have screened at the Sundance Film Festival and received multiple Vimeo Staff Picks. He recently participated in the TIFF Filmmaker Lab and is currently developing a feature film titled Coming. Matt has also directed commercials and branded content for Amazon, Google, Postmates, REI, Toyota, Intel, and other major brands.

JUSTIN FAIRWEATHER, DIRECTOR OF ROGER J. CARTER: REBEL REVOLUTIONARY

Justin Fairweather is a writer and director with an eye toward combining emotional truth with fresh innovation. His body of work spans narrative filmmaking, documentaries, and commercials, and has received recognition from SXSW, the Directors Guild of America, The New Yorker, and other organizations.

Across his projects, Justin combines tones and genres to create distinctive cinematic experiences rooted in relatable human stories. Born in New York and raised in Maryland, he currently resides in Los Angeles.

ALEX BACKES, DIRECTOR OF THAT’S OUR TIME

Deeply rooted in his independent sensibility, Alex Backes creates work that blends dark humor with emotional honesty. He self-publishes comics, directs independent films, and currently leads merchandise at Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions.

His short film That’s Our Time received the Grand Jury Prize at the American Cinematheque’s PROOF Film Festival.

CHRIS COLE, DIRECTOR OF TERMINALLY ILL

Chris Cole discovered his passion for filmmaking as a child, directing his siblings in parody rap videos. His love of storytelling, music, and offbeat comedy later led to work as a freelance music journalist and as a video producer at GQ and Apple.

Chris is a two-time SFFILM FilmHouse Resident and holds an M.A. in Arts Politics and a B.F.A. in Film and Television from NYU Tisch School of the Arts.

His short film Terminally Ill won both the Audience Award and the Oscar-qualifying Jury Award for Comedy at Aspen Shortsfest, as well as a Silver Screen Young Director Award. He is currently developing Fonzel and Gloria, a feature adaptation of Terminally Ill, with support from the SFFILM Rainin Grant. 

Check-In & Reservations

This program is open to all eligible individuals. The USC School of Cinematic Arts operates all of its programs and activities consistent with the University’s Notice of Non-Discrimination. Eligibility is not determined based on race, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited factor.

This screening is free of charge and open to the public. A reservation confirmation will automatically be sent to your e-mail account upon successfully making an RSVP through this website. Doors will open at 6:30 P.M.

All SCA screenings are OVERBOOKED to ensure seating capacity in the theater, therefore seating is not guaranteed based on RSVPs. The RSVP list will be checked in on a first-come, first-served basis until the theater is full. Once the theater has reached capacity, we will no longer be able to admit guests, regardless of RSVP status.

Accessibility Needs

Individuals with disabilities who need accommodations to attend this event may contact Alessandro Ago, Assistant Dean, Programming and Special Events, at aago@cinema.usc.edu or 213-740-2330. It is requested that individuals requiring accommodations or auxiliary aids such as sign language interpreters and alternative format materials notify us at least seven days prior to the event. Every reasonable effort will be made to provide reasonable accommodations in an effective and timely manner.

Parking

On-campus parking at the University of Southern California is limited. We recommend buying a day pass for the Royal Street Structure, located at the intersection of Royal Street and W. Jefferson Blvd. Parking passes are $20/car. For more information about parking at USC, please visit USC Transportation Website:

https://transnet.usc.edu/index.php/daily-and-hourly-parking/
https://transnet.usc.edu/index.php/about-us/entrance-hours/

Contact Information

Name: Alessandro Ago
Email: aago@cinema.usc.edu