Editor

The 2015 Hollywood Film Festival, which runs September 23-27th, promises a fresh and exciting global direction under its new team:  CEO & Executive Producer Brad Parks and Executive Director Rod Beaudoin.  

After funding the acquisition of the festival last year, Brad Parks guided the transition of the festival theme to socially relevant films anchored in causes and calls-to-action.  Now, with the help of Rod Beaudoin, the festival takes its message global with international partnerships, new media programming and cutting edge entertainment which all complement its “See Good / Do Good / Feel Good” mission. This year, the festival received an unprecedented 3,019 submissions; and from that number, programmed 20 Narrative Features, 27 Documentaries and 38 Shorts, along with Social Impact TV and Social Impact Streaming projects incorporating social Vine and social YouTube content.

With over 15 years of experience in community engagement and social commerce software, Brad Parks also served over a decade as V.P. of The Hanleigh Companies, America’s first-ever direct underwriter for Lloyds of London, specializing in entertainment, professional sports and high net worth corporate risk management. He also served 10 years as a Sergeant with the United States Army. Rod Beaudoin, with over 20 years of festival programming and entertainment experience, helped to form the Beloit International Film Festival in 2005 and a few years later, he was instrumental in launching the Julien Dubuque International Film Festival in Iowa with Brad Parks. Last year he reunited with Parks in the production of the Hollywood Film Festival.   

Brad Parks and Rod Beaudoin plan to grow the Hollywood Film Festival to a top tier global festival without the help of typical glitz and glamour, by celebrating the creative artists, activists and industry leaders who have supported causes around the world. “Our goal is to demonstrate the power of cinematic storytelling as a tool to fuel positive social change,” says Parks. “The Hollywood Film Festival is connecting the dots,” adds Beaudoin. “Many of Hollywood’s celebrities are heavily involved in important global causes, so overlapping is eminent.  But with digital technology, our cultures are colliding more now than ever and audiences globally are responding to the inspiration of social content.”

The 2015 Hollywood Film Festival begins Wednesday September 23rd with a “Welcome Wednesday: Welcome to Hollywood” night of events designed to get to know the vast number of filmmakers who traveled from around the world to attend the festival, and to introduce them to a pool of industry professionals and distribution partners.

Thursday September 24th , promises stars and emerging filmmakers on the Red Carpet as they join the four Showcase Opening Night Films anchored in the social impact See Good / Do Good / Feel Good theme along with an additional “Be Good” film.  PEARLY GATES, directed by Scott Ehrlich, features an all-star cast including Uzo Aduba, Illeana Douglas, Bonnie Sommerville, Peter Bogdonavich and Lainie Kazan in a comedic musical about wanting to be remembered and learning that the only way to truly live on is in the hearts and minds of the people around you; WAFFLE STREET, directed by Eshom and Ian Nelms stars James Lafferty and Danny Glover in the true story of Jimmy Adams, a V.P. of a $30 billion hedge fund, who loses his job and winds up working as a waiter at a waffle shop; OUTLIVING EMILY, directed by Eric Weber stars includes Olympia Dukakis, Louis Zorick, Andre Braugher, Zosia Mamet and Alexis Bledel in a look at the marriage of Tim and Emily over the course of 50 years with numerous actors playing both characters; and GHOST TOWN TO HAVANA, directed by Eugene Corr and Roberto Chile is the story of two youth baseball coaches who strike up a friendship in an online gaming room but, when they decide to meet in person, fun and baseball quickly turns to murder and poverty.

The evening continues with a tier of four risk taking films.  The World Premiere of F FOR FRANCO, is a multi-layered exploration into the mind of James Franco the Actor, Director, Author, and Visual Artist.  Directed by Dr. Francisco J. Ricardo, the film will incorporate a live art exhibition with discussions of Franco’s art process.  THE KEY, directed by Jefery Levy, is an erotic look at marriage and lust and stars David Arquette and Bai Ling. GLORY DAZE: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF MICHAEL ALIG is directed by Ramon Fernandez and takes place in NYC in 1987 when a new group of individuals arises to fill the artistic power vacuum created by Andy Warhol's untimely death and the demise of his 'Factory', in the form of The Club Kids. THE TRUTH ABOUT LIES, directed by Phil Allocco, tells the story of a man who finds himself in a tangled web of lies when the truth proves to be too much to admit and even harder to accept.

“Female Friday” taking place on September 25th is dedicated to showcasing films produced and/or directed by an exceptional female filmmaker with curated conversations about issues facing women in Hollywood today.  

Each day, the festival will honor one of its six Jury Prize winners at a special 6pm event at the Arclight for Best Documentary Feature, Best Narrative Feature, Best Documentary Short, Best Narrative Short and Emerging Filmmaker.  On Sunday, top honors for Best Social Impact Film will be awarded to the film that best exemplifies the festival’s See Good / Do Good / Feel Good mission.  

The Hollywood Film Festival seeks to promote phenomenal films about causes that count while inspiring audiences to act.  The festival connects some of our generation’s best independent filmmakers, cultural content creators, and social impact storytellers with Hollywood, the "Entertainment Capital of the World."

 

NARRATIVE FEATURES

 

12 Citizens

Synopsis: A Chinese remake of the Classic American Film 12 Angry Men.

Director: Ang Xu

Producer: Luna Wang

Country: China

Stars: Bing He, Tongsheng Han, Tiezeng Mi, guangfu Li, Chunyang Zhao, Gang Wang, Dongping Gao, Yongqiang Zhang, Zan Ban, Bo Qian, Hui Liu, Jia Lei

Trailer: https://youtu.be/n8HHV4HIYYc

 

Astraea

Synopsis: When disease nearly wipes out the human race, a telepathic teenage girl believes her visions confirm that survivors are living in Northern Canada.

Director: Kristjan Thor

Producers: Jessica Cummings, Ashlin Halfnight, Scotty Crowe, Kristjan Thor

Country: United States

Stars: Nerea Duhart, Dan O'Brien, Scotty Crowe, Jessica Cummings

Trailer:

 

Backgammon

Synopsis: Thirty-something Erik makes a living playing Backgammon in the local park. He is about to get thrown out of his residence, when a young girl approaches him in the park. She changes his life, while he tries to fight the demons from his past.

Director: Danny Thykaer

Producers: Kenneth Skouboelling, Danny Thykaer

Premiere Status: West Coast Premiere

Country: Denmark

Stars: Danny Thykaer, Sofia Lever, Maja Muhlack, Dan Zahle, Thomas Chaanhing, Laura Kamis Vrang, Adam Fischer, Carl Emil Lohmann

Trailer:

 

Booze Boys & Brownies

Synopsis: An aspiring actress navigates the musically comedic underbelly of Hollywood in search of fame, fortune, boys and herself.

Director: Veronica Mannion

Producer: Veronica Mannion

Country: USA

Stars: Deborah Geffner, Brent Weinbach, Brandon Denton

Trailer:

 

Don't Worry Baby

Synopsis: A father and son unknowingly sleep with the same woman, then four years later compete over the paternity of a child either of them could be the father of.

Director: Julian Branciforte

Producers: Nick Shore, Thomas Kaier, Brendan McHugh

Premiere Status: West Coast Premier

Country: United States

Stars: Christopher McDonald, Dreama Walker, John Magaro, Tom Lipinski, Talia Balsam

 

East Side Sushi

Synopsis: Juana, a Latina single-mother strives to become a sushi chef.

Director: Anthony Lucero

Producers: Julie Rubio, Vicki Wong, Heather Haggarty, Nanou Matteson

Country: United States

Stars: Diana Elizabeth Torres, Yutaka Takeuchi, Rodrigo Duarte Clark, Roji Oyama, Kaya Jade Aguirre, Lane Nishikawa

Trailer:

Website: www.eastsidesushifilm.com

 

Forward. Side. Close!

Synopsis: A neurotic cynic who suffers from obsessive compulsive behaviors lives in a remote castle with his two servants. His life undergoes a dramatic restructuring when his excitable friend surprises him on his 70th birthday weekend with the intention of turning his life upside down.

Director: Alexander Peter Lercher

Producers: Alexander Peter Lercher, Elsa Hartlieb

Premiere Status: World Premier

Country: Austria

Stars: Heinz Trixner, Christian Futterknecht, Uschi Glas, Sandra Lipp, Julius Kuhn, Herman van Ulzen, Vivien Wulf, Otto Retzer, Helmut Nagele, Bruno Thost and Mark Jaeger.

Trailer:

 

Hells Heart

Synopsis: A lonely ten-year-old boy becomes enamored with a woman who lives across the hall and her seemingly perfect family. One evening, he witnesses her brutal murder, and his life changes forever. Decades later, he believes her spirit has come back to haunt him.

Director: Ryan Denmark

Producers: Ryan Denmark, Carol Matthews-Nicoli

Premiere Status: World Premier

Country: United States

Stars: Michael Kirby, Adrienne LaValley, Kersti Bryan, Christine Cartell, Alexander McCarty, Diane Perell, Kenneth Tigar

 

January 1st

Synopsis: In the midst of his parents’ divorce, a twelve year old boy tries to find his family's stolen piano.

Director: Erika Bagnarello

Producers: José Miguel Bonetti, Eduardo Najri

Premiere Status: US Premier

Country: Dominican Republic

Stars: Víctor Pintor, Paula Sánchez-Ferry, Carlos Báez

 

Oblivion Season

Synopsis: An ex-prostitute tries to start a new life by marrying the man she has fallen for, but leaving behind the shadow of her dark past is not as easy as she thought it would be.

Director: Abbas Rafei

Producer: Abbas Rafei

Premiere Status: US Premier

Country: Iran, Islamic Republic of

Stars: Sareh Bayat, Amin Zendegani

 

Outliving Emily

Synopsis: A look at the tumultuous marriage of Tim and Emily Hanratty over half a century, with numerous actors playing both characters throughout the 50 years.

Director: Eric Weber

Producers: Josh Sugarman, Eric Weber

Country: USA

Stars: Thomas Mann, Zosia Mamet, Kal Penn, Alexis Bledel, Dominic Fumusa, Cara Buono, David Pittu, Malcom Gets, Andre Braugher, Phylicia Rashad, Louis Zorich, Olympia Dukakis,

Trailer:

 

Pearly Gates

Synopsis: A comedic musical about wanting to be remembered and learning that the only way to truly live on is in the hearts and minds of the people around you.

Director: Scott Ehrlich

Producer: Scott Ehrlich

Country: USA

Stars: Scott Grimes, Uzo Aduba, Illeana Douglas, Bonnie Sommerville, Sam Mcmurray, Nolan Gross, Madison Grimes, Peter Bogdonavich, Lainie Kazan, Jack Noseworthy, Hill Harper, Jordyn Belle, Vincent Soano Jason Stanford

Trailer:

 

Silent Sea

Synopsis: Two families clash in a lonely house by the sea and are faced with the disturbing reality of a somber truth.

Director: Juliane Fezer

Producers: Alexandra Krampe, Juliane Fezer

Premiere Status: US Premiere

Country: Germany

Stars: Charlotte Munck, Christoph Grunert, Christoph Gawenda, Nadja Bobyleva, Alexander Beyer, Daan Lennard Liebrenz, Henny Reents, Nico Holonics, Elias Kassner, Bella Bading, Natalia Belitski

 

 

 

Surviving Me

Synopsis: When fear and insecurity get the best of college sophomore Sophie, she loses her moral compass, and must journey through her own experience of Dante's Inferno to find redemption.

Director: Leah Yananton

Producer: Mary Prendergast

Premiere Status: World Premier

Country: United States

Stars: Mira Furlan, Vincent Piazza, Fredric Lehne, Dennis Hill, Leah Yananton, Christine Ryndak

 

The Key

Synopsis: An erotic exploration of marriage and lust.

Director: Jefery Levy

Producer: Jefery Levy

Country: USA

Stars: David Arquette, Bai Ling

Trailer: https://youtu.be/TxuMFVvz6gQ

 

The Truth About Lies

Synopsis: Gilby finds himself in a tangled web of lies when the truth proves to be too much to admit and even harder to accept.

Director: Phil Alocco

Producers: Steve Carr, Isen Robbins, Aimee Schoof, Phil Allocco, Coleen Camp, Kim Jackson

Country: USA

Stars: Fran Kranz, Odette Annable, Chris Diamantopolous, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Miles Fisher, Colleen Camp, Arthur J. Nascarella

Trailer:

Website: http://thetruthaboutliesmovie.com

 

Two 4 One

Synopsis: A bittersweet comedic drama with a transgender hero in an unimaginable predicament. Oddball couple Adam and Miriam have a pivotal and ill-advised one night stand that sees them both wind up pregnant.

Director: Maureen Bradley

Producer: Daniel Hogg

Country: Canada

Stars: Gavin Crawford, Naomi Snieckus, Gabrielle Rose, Andrea Menard, Matt Baram

Trailer:

 

W.A.K.A.

Synopsis: Matilda, a 30-something-year-old single woman abandoned by her family, works as a waitress in a bar. Her life is shaken up after her boss finds out that she's pregnant, and opts to fire her.

Director: Françoise Ellong

Producers: Jonathan Taieb, Adam D. Lablack

Premiere Status: US Premiere

Country: France

Stars: Patricia Bakalack, Bruno Henry, Alain Bomo Bomo

Trailer: