« Back to First Look 2018 Screening List
Drama Films:
A Conversation (18:13)
When a stroke leaves her unable to speak her native language Chinese, Mei, a terse and strict English teacher is forced to rely on Kelly, a rough- around-the-edges Irish expat, to help her resolve a decades old family dilemma.
Writer/Director/Editor
Jingyi Shao
Jingyi Shao
Producer
Melissa Lee
Melissa Lee
Sound Designer/Post-Production Sound
Chris Morocco
Chris Morocco
Editor
Jess Zou
Jess Zou
Production Designer
Joe Yao
Joe Yao
Composer
Albert Yu
Albert Yu
Cinematographer
GOLD
GOLD
Cast: Sung Fong as Mei, Mikey Griffin as Kelly, Jiang Fei as Nurse, Huang Yong as Doctor
A Craftsman (13:25)
Overcome with grief, a rural woodworker builds a coffin to join his wife.
Director
Sanford Jenkins
Sanford Jenkins
Writer
Joel David Santner
Joel David Santner
Producer
Elise Brown
Cydney Fisher
Elise Brown
Cydney Fisher
Cinematographer
Madeline Leach
Tanmay Chowdhary
Madeline Leach
Tanmay Chowdhary
Editor
Victor Pourcel
Cheryl Hu
Victor Pourcel
Cheryl Hu
Sound
Longwei Deng
Kevin McCormack
Longwei Deng
Kevin McCormack
Production Design
Neima PattersonRon Trejo
Neima PattersonRon Trejo
1st AD
Sabina Vajraca
Sabina Vajraca
Cast: Marvin Gay as Herman, Shirley Jordan as Meredith, Leonard R. Garner Jr. as Pastor Raines
Beads (13:26)
When school rules are unfairly enacted, a budding friendship is tested.
Director
Rachel Byrd
Rachel Byrd
1st AD
Matt Chupack
Matt Chupack
Writer
Cydney FisherLydia Lane
Cydney FisherLydia Lane
Cinematographer
Jason BoldtNancy Lin
Jason BoldtNancy Lin
Producer
Julia KennedyAdam Makary
Julia KennedyAdam Makary
Editor
Justine Suh
Rommel Villa
Justine Suh
Rommel Villa
Composer
Annie Rosevear
Annie Rosevear
Production Designer
Lily Ni
Kevin Reeves
Lily Ni
Kevin Reeves
Post-Production Sound
Austin Conway
Carol Gao
Austin Conway
Carol Gao
Cast: Kennedy Hall as Dalia, Seneca Paliotta as Annabelle, Erika Macke as Ms. Lewis, Erika Holmes as Mrs. Malcolm, Shon Fuller as Mr. Malcolm, Shaw Jones as Principal Nolan, Jaeden Bettencourt as Kyle, Karisma Lewis as Stacey, Tru Collins as Ms. Allen
Ben Is Dead (16:00)
Struggling to connect with her family on the 15th anniversary of her twin brother's apparent suicide, Brittany James reaches out to her brother's childhood best friend, Luke, in an attempt to remember his life and finally let go of his death.
Writer/Director
Lisa J Dooley
Lisa J Dooley
Producer
Kash Zehnder
Miriam ArghandiwalPiper Shaw
Kash Zehnder
Miriam ArghandiwalPiper Shaw
Cinematographer
Danny Belinkie
Danny Belinkie
Sound Designer
Kristen Hirlinger
Kristen Hirlinger
Editor
Ryan Michael Connolly
Ryan Michael Connolly
1st AD
Michea Bryant
Michea Bryant
1st AC
Sarah Winters
Sarah Winters
VFX Supervisor
Katherine Sweetman
Katherine Sweetman
Gaffer
Katharine White
Seth Koury
Katharine White
Seth Koury
Cast: Kaitlyn Black as Brittany, Marguerite Moreau as Charlotte, and Craig Lee Thomas as Luke.
Duvall et al. (20:57)
A self-centered curmudgeon acts out when his nurse forces him to read his son's suicide letter.
Writer/Director
Youthana Yuos
Youthana Yuos
Producer
Jake Katofsky
Bob Cammisa
Jake Katofsky
Bob Cammisa
Cinematographer
Derek Robinson
Derek Robinson
Sound Editor
Christopher Winterbauer
Christopher Winterbauer
Production Designer
Emma Weston
Emma Weston
Editor
Brett Holman
Brett Holman
UPM
Celia Rettenmaier
Celia Rettenmaier
AD
Ryan Michael Connolly
Ryan Michael Connolly
Re-recording Mixer
Derek Sepe
Derek Sepe
Composer
David Boman
David Boman
Colorist
Enrico Targetti
Enrico Targetti
Costume Designer
Casey Nguyen
Casey Nguyen
Cast: Rick Shapiro as Duvall, Helen Madelyn Kim as Mercedes, Brian Lampert as Nelson, Heather Robinson as Mom
Cast: Laur Allen as Jewel, Keith Boos as Marc, Shiloh Creveling as Catherine
Hats (14:14)
An imaginative, young, black baseball player is torn between his new predominately white high school and his gang infested home of South Central, Los Angeles. As his worlds collide, Kito must choose what hat he will wear in order to survive.
Director
Sadé Clacken Joseph
Sadé Clacken Joseph
Producers
Zoë Alyce Salnave
Daniel Zevallos
Zoë Alyce Salnave
Daniel Zevallos
Writer
Christopher Columbus Watkins III
Christopher Columbus Watkins III
Sound Mixer/Boom Operators
Assata Jackson
Juliette Beneich
Assata Jackson
Juliette Beneich
Editors
Seamus O'Malley Finnegan
Ogechi Echebiri
Seamus O'Malley Finnegan
Ogechi Echebiri
Production Designers
Tayo Amos
Mimi Lee
Tayo Amos
Mimi Lee
Director of Photography
Martin Baird
Lo Lam
Martin Baird
Lo Lam
1st AD
Star Victoria
Star Victoria
Cast: Aaron Joseph as STEVEN, Chance Harlem Jr. as OG TREY, Michael J Hennessy as COACH BUSH, Jensen Atwood as OG MAFIA
Last Meal (15:02)
Roger McNamara dreams of being the next great celebrity chef, but his lofty aspirations are jeopardized when controversy arises surrounding his current job: cooking last meals for prisoners on death row.
Director
Austin Simmons
Austin Simmons
Writer
Michael Boyle
Michael Boyle
Producers
Nimisha Patil
Alex Bratsos
Nimisha Patil
Alex Bratsos
Editor
Lynna Lam
Lynna Lam
Sound
Alvin Joo
Alvin Joo
Composer
Hosu Yoon
Hosu Yoon
Gaffer
Luke Sargent
Luke Sargent
Production Designer
Shannon McDonough
Denver Kotian
Shannon McDonough
Denver Kotian
Director of Photography
Dakota Diel
Dakota Diel
Assistant Director
Robert Green
Robert Green
Cast: Nate Ward as Roger McNamara, Renzo Rios as Carlos, Sam Ingraffia as Bianchi, Kate McIntyre as Warden, Steve Sobel as Jason Billings
Lost in Aroncore (13:42)
When Lucy's older sister, Audrey, returns home from college burdened by depression, Lucy tries to process her sister's struggles through writing fantasy stories that parallel their situation.
Writer
Dezi Gallegos
Dezi Gallegos
Producers
Sarah Jones
Kelly Logan
Sarah Jones
Kelly Logan
Director
Ryan Wagner
.
Ryan Wagner
Gaffer
Jarand Herdal
Jarand Herdal
1st AD
Cameron Covell
Cameron Covell
Sound Designer
Alexander Artin
Charlie Benson
Alexander Artin
Charlie Benson
Editor
Carter Feuerhelm
Carter Feuerhelm
Production Designer
Khang Le
Khang Le
Composer
Aaron Reihs
Aaron Reihs
Costume Designer & Make-up
Aidan McCollough
Aidan McCollough
Director of Photography
Victoria Stein
Victoria Stein
Director of Lighting
Matthew Burke
Matthew Burke
Cast: Casey Lopez as Lucy, Anna Maiche as Audrey, Elizabeth Dement as Gwen, Drew McAuliffe as Dan, Andrew Heffernan as Baron of Darkness, Evan Raiff as Baron of Darkness
Mammoth (22:16)
Caught between his own grief and sense of family duty, Paul drives his care-free terminally ill brother, Elliot, on a farewell tour to Mammoth California, where Elliot plans to end his life under the Death with Dignity Act.
Director
Ariel Heller
Ariel Heller
Producers
David Breschel
Carrie Finklea
David Breschel
Carrie Finklea
Director of Photography
Caleb Heller
Caleb Heller
Editor
Zach Siegel
Zach Siegel
Production Designer
Chrissie De Guzman
Chrissie De Guzman
Composer
Rene G. Boscio
Rene G. Boscio
Cast: Tad Cooley as Paul Thompson, Alex Hoeffler as Elliot Thompson, Christine Kellogg-Darrin as Mom, Marcus Henderson as Andric, Peter Murphy as Peter, Hannah Pilkes as Hannah, Nitya Vidyasagar as Janice, Peter Karinen as Rich, Brian Sacca as Sean, Stephanie Ritter as Sheryl, Holly Fowler as Naomi
Mermaids (13:54)
After the untimely death of his wife, a grieving young man struggles to raise his five year old step-daughter who wishes to become a mermaid.
Director
Dream Thanika Jenjesda
Dream Thanika Jenjesda
Producers
Celia Rettenmaier
Ilan Numhauser
Celia Rettenmaier
Ilan Numhauser
Cinematographers
Anthony Mangini
Bash Achkar
Anthony Mangini
Bash Achkar
Sound Designer, Production Sound Mixer, Post-Production Sound
Chris Armienti
Atefeh Nouri
Chris Armienti
Atefeh Nouri
Writer
Hayley Trafzer
Hayley Trafzer
Composer
Brian LaGuardia
Brian LaGuardia
Production Designers
Daniel Smith
Jono Seneff
Daniel Smith
Jono Seneff
AD
Hind Metwalli
Hind Metwalli
Cast: Ray Nicholson as Chase, Lorelai Shien-Ts Green as Lorelai, Brooke McCormick as Lauren, Jensen Higley as Emma, Everly Jade Green as Young Brooklyn,
Elizabeth Southard as Lily, Monica Quinn as Natalie, Christine Sloane as Dr. Patterson, Lori Lynner as Nurse Linda, Glenn Edward as Ted, Sierra Mellinger as Suzie, Scarlett Mellinger as Sally
One Small Step (13:18)
A 9-year-old girl attempts to juggle the responsibilities of school and her younger siblings after her mother goes missing.
Director
Aqsa Altaf
Aqsa Altaf
Producers
Derek Tonks
Alexandra Christensson
Derek Tonks
Alexandra Christensson
Writer
Travis Rush
Travis Rush
Cinematographer
Dakota Adney
Dakota Adney
Production Designer
Shannon McDonough
Shannon McDonough
Sound Designer/Production Sound Mixer/ Post Production Sound
Jeffrey McDonald
Jeffrey McDonald
Editor
Clayton Kinson
Clayton Kinson
1st AD
Micah Johnson
Micah Johnson
Composer
Uriel Vanchestein
Uriel Vanchestein
Cast: Charlie Reddix as Dasani, Destiny Toliver as Avianna, Avanna King as Chanel
Sparks (13:43)
A surprise reunion of two exes leads to a romantic adventure through Los Angeles, and a chance to mend a rift between two people who couldn't figure it out the first time.
Producer/Director
Tony Ducret
Tony Ducret
Writer
Chelsea Grate
Chelsea Grate
DP
Brandon Harris
Brandon Harris
Production Designer
Erin Lunsford
Erin Lunsford
Sound Designer
Ugo Derouard
Ugo Derouard
Editors
Star Victoria
Marcus C.W. Chan
Star Victoria
Marcus C.W. Chan
Composer
Erick Schroder
Erick Schroder
Cast: Dashawn Barnes as Sophie, Jeremy Spencer as Bobby, Jon Sprik as Derek
Spring Flower (31:22)
A Chinese rural girl Chun Hua is forced by her family to marry a man she never met before. After influencing by her cousin -Tong, a modern city girl, she decides to change her life.
Director/Writer
Gisele Tong
Gisele Tong
Producer
Han Zhang
Han Zhang
Cinematographer
Chen Wang
Chen Wang
Sound Designer
Jingjue Zhou
Jingjue Zhou
Editor
Mengxue Hou
Mengxue Hou
Composer
Qingnan Ma
Qingnan Ma
Cast: Hua Yu as Chun Hua, Yumeng Liu as Tong, Mingfu Tong as Chunhua Father
The Fringes (13:40)
In a corporate world void of human interaction, Ennis has lost her ability to relate to others. When the company fires her and forces her into a crowded tenement building, Ennis must overcome her fear of human connection to begin again.
Director
Lily Harty
Lily Harty
Producers
Karla Luna CantuJason Phillips
Karla Luna CantuJason Phillips
Cinematographer
Kuba Soltysiak
Kuba Soltysiak
Production Designer
Emma Bradford
Emma Bradford
Production Sound, Sound Mixer, and Sound Designer
Adrian Hernandez
Adrian Hernandez
Editor
Andrew Setiawan
Andrew Setiawan
Composer
Jacques Brautbar
Jacques Brautbar
Directior of Lighting
Kevin Tian
Kevin Tian
Production Designer
Emma Bradford
Emma Bradford
AD
Adrian Vega Albela Osorio
Adrian Vega Albela Osorio
Cast: Alexandria Collins as Ennis, Kally Khourshid as Leda, Clifford B Jones as Al, Jay Jee as Security Guard, Daniel Peera as Carter
To Pimp a Butterfly (29:58)
ANDY (13) must help his mother break free from a vicious cycle of debts and sordid lifestyle in the underbelly of Chinatown. But first, he must come to terms with what she had to do to survive.
Director/Writer/Producer
Rui Cui
Rui Cui
Producers
Gracy WangYuchen Yang
Gracy WangYuchen Yang
Writer
Xavier Burgin
Xavier Burgin
Production Designer
Colleen O'Halloran
Colleen O'Halloran
Sound Supervisors
Jingjue Zhou
Gisele Tong
Jingjue Zhou
Gisele Tong
Editor
Mason Na
Mason Na
Composer
Xiaoshu Chen
Xiaoshu Chen
Co-Producers
Tou U
Zhang Yang
Tou U
Zhang Yang
1st AD
Ian McClellan
Ian McClellan
Unit Production Manager
Xin Li
Xin Li
Art Director
Alexa Acuña
Alexa Acuña
Cinematographer
Guan Xi
Guan Xi
Cast: Bai Ling as Butterfly (Mother), George Liu as Andy, Eric Harrison as Wayne, Andrew Kwong as Terrance
Wolves (13:45)
When a seasoned police officer attempts to save a boy from committing suicide, she makes a personal discovery that will forever change her life.
Director
Chester Howie
Chester Howie
Producers
Sam Frickleton
Madison Stevens
Sam Frickleton
Madison Stevens
Writer/1st AD
Victor Alonso-Berbel
Victor Alonso-Berbel
Production Designers
Sam Adams
Sigin Ojulu
Sam Adams
Sigin Ojulu
Sound
Alex Rivers
Paul Vogel
Alex Rivers
Paul Vogel
Editors
Alanna Field HoffmanJake Harbour
Alanna Field HoffmanJake Harbour
Directors of Photography
Shelby Adair
Lars Struck
Shelby Adair
Lars Struck
Cast: Elle Shaw as Liz, William McMullen as Adam, Martin Dorsla as Eastwood, Logan Pepper as Marshall, Chris Devlin as Sergeant Geerlings, Jim Jepson as Officer Vanderberg