More than 100 Films Screening April 24-26, 2009
Seattle, WA – March 12, 2009 – The National Film Festival for Talented Youth (NFFTY) today announced its line up for the third annual NFFTY festival taking place in Seattle, WA from April 24-26, 2009.
In only three years, NFFTY has become the largest and most influential film festival and support organization for filmmakers age 22 and under. According to NFFTY founder and executive director, Jesse Harris, age 23, the festival has grown in breadth and subject matter. From more than 400 submissions, Harris and his jury have selected 113 films that will be shown in themed programs over the weekend – the most films the festival has ever shown.
NFFTY is unlike other youth festival in that it accepts both feature length and short subjects and has the widest range of ages from 22 through elementary school age. The youngest filmmaker this year is Emily Salva, who at seven years old is also the youngest filmmaker to ever be featured at a NFFTY festival.
“We have college age filmmakers making shorts that cost $20,000 and young kids in middle school making equally complex films using the family’s equipment and friends as cast and crew,” said Harris. “The subject matter is more sophisticated than most would expect. That’s what people are blown away by, how impressive the stories are, especially some of the documentaries.”
A wide array of feature-length and short films in narrative, documentary, animation, music video, experimental and international categories by young filmmakers from around the country and the world will comprise this year’s festival. Because there were so many international submissions, NFFTY has for the first time created an international category to showcase the talents of young filmmakers from outside the US. including Australia, Canada, China, France, Mexico, Netherlands and Singapore.
Feature Films
NFFTY is pleased to announce four feature films for 2009. Among them are, “Perfect Sport” by 21 year-old writer/director Anthony O'Brien who stars as a high school wrestler who must compete against his sister when she decides to join the boy's team but whose personal demons and bigger issues are what threaten to destroy him. The film also stars Gary Hudson, Jessica Rose (Lonelygirl15) and Stella Keitel, daughter of Harvey Keitel.
Another feature-length selection is by Seattle-area natives and University of Washington students, Jesse, Miles and Dylan Stipek – triplets who have had a film in every NFFTY festival since its launch. This film, “Through a Dark Wood,” demonstrates the talents of these three brothers who do everything themselves acting as writers, directors and crew. It is a complex film both in terms of storytelling and cinematography – including a sequence shot by helicopter.
Documentaries
This year’s documentaries show a true range and complexity of subject matter.
“Without Papers” follows two illegal immigrant students and their struggles trying to attend college in the U.S.
“Don’t Erase My History,” a film by San Francisco Bay Area high school students ranging in age from 14-22, chronicles how gay history is – or is not – taught in schools which that presents positive historical portrayals about prominent LGBTQ individuals and events in California history.
“Left Side” made by Seattle-area residents Esther Magasis, 16, Ryan Zemke, 16, Andy Tran, 17 is the compelling portrait of Brian Bartlett, an amputee mountain biker, who was struck by a car at the peak of his freeskiing career but who persevered with his passion after finding a doctor who would develop the first prosthetic leg that could be used for extreme sports.
“Lifestories: The Lost Boys Of Sudan” by 18-year-old Jared Martin who started the film at the age of 14. It is the story of eight Sudanese refugees and how a brutal civil war forced them to flee their homes alone as young boys.
“Surfing 50 States” is a hilarious travel documentary in which two Australian friends find a wacky way of surfing in all 50 States of the U.S., while celebrating America’s diverse culture.
Animation
NFFTY’s selection of animated films shows the wide-ranging talent and complex subject matter inspiring young filmmakers. Styles run the gamut from hand drawn to claymation, to Lego and “human” stop motion.
Highlights include seven-year-old Emily Salva’s hand-drawn “Odysseus And The Cyclops,” a retelling of the Cyclops story from Homer's “Odyssey.”
Another standout is “The Zonus Project,” a 61-minute Lego stop motion film. Made by Torrance Carroll, age 19, “The Zonus Project” took more than years to make and required more than 120 sets. Over the three years, 30 people helped animate the characters and 27 people worked on the sets.
Local filmmakers:
Of the 113 films screening at NFFTY 09, 29 are by Seattle-area filmmakers including two showing opening night. From Bellevue, WA, 13-year-old filmmaker Ben Kadie, who has had a film in every NFFTY festival since it launched, wrote, directed and starred in the film, “Murder at the Pharaoh’s Grave.” Although set in Egypt, the film was shot in Ben’s backyard using green screen and home made sets.
The second local area film showing opening night is from high school student and Anacortes, WA resident Hannah Holtgerts titled, “I Have a Dream Today” which is her interpretation of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech and features children reciting the famous words.
Short film “Alone And Together” written by brothers Aaron (16) and Derek (17) Jones from the Tulalip Tribe is based on the novel “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” by the well-known writer and filmmaker Sherman Alexie a Spokane/Coeur d'Alene Indian. The film is about Arnold, a young Native American who remembers the people who shared their lives with him and who made him the person he is today. They are no longer around but the memories he fosters are what keep Arnold moving ahead.
NFFTY Programs
NFFTY ’09 will include NFFTY Earth, a screening of films covering environmental, peace and social justice issues ranging from the environmental impacts of Hurricane Katrina to immigration rights. Presenting Sponsor TakePart.com (formerly Participant Media, the company behind “An Inconvenient Truth”) will present a NFFTY Earth Award to the filmmaker whose film has the most potential to create positive change.
This year will also feature a NFFTY Earth Lunch Concert featuring live music and lunch for free for those who take the NFFTY Earth Pledge to live a greener life. Powered by Official Green Sponsors T-Mobile and Motorola.
In 2009, NFFTY will be carbon neutral, meaning all greenhouse gases created as a result of the festival (air flights, venue electricity, shuttle service) will be offset by the purchase of carbon credits that invest in renewable energy projects. For the second year in a row, the festival will again be using local vendors, post consumer waste materials, soy inks, paperless online film submissions and on-site recycling programs as well to be even more sustainable.
This year NFFTY will feature a Saturday NFFTY Late Night Horror, Action, Teen Angst, Love and Seduction program with horror one minute and comedy the next, plus gangsters, heartbreak and sex appeal and a Sunday afternoon NFFTY Family Cinema with a collection of youth-made films the entire family can enjoy. The screening includes an animated film from NFFTY 09’s youngest filmmaker, seven year-old Emily Salva.
Panels
Another feature that makes NFFTY stand apart from other youth festivals is NFFTY’S offering of panels by film industry experts. NFFTY ‘09 presents four information-packed panels including high-profile moderators such as John Maatta, COO of the CW Network and Peter Trinh from ICM’s International and Independent Film division. This year’s panels are:
The Filmmaker as Dealmaker: Entertainment attorneys and film executives with first-hand knowledge of the business and legal dynamics that impact every filmmaker.
“What’s Left to SAY?” The Social Value of Filmmaking: Community leaders around the country team up to challenge filmmakers to make films, both narrative and documentary, based on real life issues.
The Creative Team: How directors, writers, actors and producers work together to create motion picture and television content.
The Sound of the Story – The Power of Music in Film: A seminar in film composing, getting songs for films, and the impact that music can have on a story.
Awards
The festival will close on Sunday night with an awards ceremony. An Audience Award and Jury Award will be given in each film category. There also will be a Jury Award for Best High School Film and for Best Film for Filmmakers 12 and Under. Additionally, one filmmaker age 18 or younger will receive an all-expense-paid trip to Los Angeles to meet with creative executives and agents. Another will receive a full scholarship to attend TheFilmSchool’s high school summer program.
About NFFTY
The National Film Festival for Talented Youth (NFFTY, pronounced “nifty”) was founded in 2007. In only three years, NFFTY has become the largest and most influential film festival and support organization for filmmakers age 22 and under. NFFTY occurs annually each spring in Seattle, WA and includes more than 100 film screenings, filmmaking workshops, and concerts by youth bands and opportunities for young filmmakers to network with each other as well as with industry professionals. Young filmmakers from around the world submit feature-length and short films in narrative, documentary, animation, music video, experimental and international categories. NFFTY is a core program of The Talented Youth, a non-profit cultural organization.
About Jesse Harris
Seattle native Jesse Harris is part of the next generation of young and talented filmmakers. At the age of 17, Jesse wrote, directed, financed and ultimately secured multi-city theatrical release for the feature length drama, Living Life. Jesse financed Living Life primarily with money he had saved for college and funds raised through friends, family and local organizations. Jesse filmed Living Life in Seattle between his junior and senior years of high school.
As a result of his experience making, releasing and distributing his own film, Jesse decided to create an organization to support other young filmmakers. In 2007 Jesse co-founded The National Film Festival for Talented Youth (NFFTY), a new film festival and non-profit organization to support young filmmakers 22 and under. The festival is now in its third year.
Sponsors
NFFTY has received the support of a record number of sponsors this year including: Volvo Cars of North America Presenting Sponsor and Exclusive Sponsor of Opening Night Gala; TakePart.com (formerly Participant Media); T-Mobile USA, Inc. and Motorola, Inc. Official Green Sponsors; HBO; Nike 6.0; The Film School; American Lung Association of California Sponsor of the “What’s my next Project” Social value of filmmaking panel and IndieFlix.com.
Tickets
Tickets can be purchased online at www.NFFTY.org. Ticket information is also available at 206.905.8400.
VIP Festival Pass - $65
Admits pass holder to three-day event, including 100 films, a variety of film panels and special events, including Opening Night Gala.
Opening Night Gala - $50
Presented by Volvo Cars of North America
April 24th, 7:30pm | Cinerama & EMP|SFM
NFFTY Opening Night Gala includes a film showcase of some of the best NFFTY films of 2009 at Seattle's historic Cinerama Theater, followed by a catered after-party gala at Experience Music Project with live entertainment including a performance by up-and-coming L.A. youth band and Sony Recording Artists Raheem Cohen.
Ticket includes admission to screening and after-party and roundtrip shuttle service between theater and party.
General Film Tickets - $8
General Film Tickets will provide access to one showcase.
Dates:
April 24-26, 2009
Times: Friday evening, 7:30pm-midnight.
Saturday 10am to midnight.
Sunday 10am to 8:00pm
Locations:
SIFF Cinema 321 Mercer Street
Experience Music Project|Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame or EMP|SFM 325 5th Ave. N
Seattle Cinerama 2100 Fourth Avenue
Press contact:
Stacey Sanner
Stacey@nffty.org
206-905-8400 ext. 105
www.nffty.org
Torrance Carroll
Very Patient Productions
