One month has now passed since the 2014 Fresno Film Festival. Here’s one last look at this year’s award winners in our annual juried short film competition, as well as our audience awards.
“Park 51”
Cinematographer: Isaac Hughes Green
Against the backdrop of the 2010 protests against the controversial Ground Zero mosque proposal in New York City, the drama “Park 51” tells the story of a struggling Iraq War veteran who saves the life of a Muslim man from a hate crime. (Directed by Christopher Capelluto.)
The filmmaker:
After graduating from the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics and spending his freshman year at Duke University, Isaac Hughes Green moved to New York to pursue a career in cinematography at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Isaac takes pride in his ability to combine an engineering background with skills gained from professional experience in film production and photography in New York. He has been hired to shoot internationally for short and feature films, magazines, and documentary research projects using digital cinema, 35mm, and 16mm cameras. While undeniably technical, Isaac fully understands that technology is a tool to be used as necessary to tell a story.
“Young Americans”
Cinematographer: Kristin Fieldhouse
On the verge of aging out of foster care, 17-year-old Mercedes needs money and she needs it now in the coming-of-age crime drama “Young Americans.” She decides to manipulate Denver, a former high school classmate with a massive crush on her, to plan and execute a bank robbery. (Directed by Kevin Lacy.)
The filmmaker:
Born in London, England and educated at the University of Sussex, Kristin Fieldhouse holds a master’s degree in International Development, and she has lived and worked extensively in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America. Kristin trained as a union camera technician with the International Cinematographer’s Guild in Canada for many years, working on numerous feature films, television series, and commercials. In 2013, she completed a master’s degree in Cinematography from the American Film Institute and went on to shoot her first feature film, “M.L.E.” with director Sarah Warren, scheduled for release in 2014. Her award-winning films have been showcased in festivals such as Geneva, Cleveland, Sonoma, and London. She begins shooting her second feature film as cinematographer, “Palm Swings,” this summer.
“Families Are Forever”
Director: Vivian Kleiman
The documentary “Families Are Forever” tells the story of Tom and Wendy, devout Mormon parents living in a conservative community. They attend church every Sunday, actively serving in their ward, raising five children, and knocking on doors to promote support for California’s Proposition 8 to prevent same-sex marriage. Then one day, Wendy reads 13-year-old Jordon’s diary and discovers he is gay, changing their lives forever.
The filmmaker:
A veteran documentary filmmaker, Vivian Kleiman’s work is noted for its cultural, ethnic, and religious diversity. Her professional awards include television’s top honor, The George Foster Peabody Award; the Organization of American Historians’ Eric Barnouw Award; International Documentary Association’s Outstanding Achievement Award; and National Emmy Award Nomination for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Research. A longtime collaborator with the landmark African-American gay filmmaker Marlon Riggs, Vivian’s credits include “Tongues Untied” and “Color Adjustment.” She also supervised the posthumous completion of his final work, “Black Is . . . Black Ain’t.” Vivian holds the record of eight co-productions with the National PBS funder of independent filmmakers, ITVS. Among them: “Roam Sweet Home,” “First Person Plural,” “Maquilapolis,” and “STRONG!” a portrait of three-time U.S. Olympic weightlifter Cheryl Haworth. Her work is noted for challenging subject matter and diverse filmic approach.
“Sinceridad”
Director: Andrea Casaseca Ferrer
In the dramatic comedy “Sinceridad,” David must confess the news to his parents after lunch. What is not yet known is the impact it will have on them.
The filmmaker:
From Madrid, Spain, Andrea Casaseca Ferrer holds a degree in Audiovisual Communication and Advertising and Public Relations, and a master’s degree in filmmaking and TV production. She has directed several short films — “Felices Fiestas,” “El Mueble,” and “Cotillas” — as well as the pilot episode of “Los gritos del olvido” and the online series “Justos por pecadores.” Andrea worked as a scriptwriter on the short “Capricornio,” and an assistant director on several short films including “Misterioso asesinato en las aulas.”
AUDIENCE FAVORITE FEATURE FILM
“The Rocket”