April 5, 2019

“It’s a beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.”

As a matter of fact it was, (Local Shorts) started the Atlanta Film Festival and that entrance was perfect.

Every single participant displayed sooooo much passion and creativity in their films that I nearly ruined my ballot trying to choose.

“Dear, Dreamer”…won my vote !!!

“dear, dreamer”…

Directed by Kristian Melom

“This is a story about the power of telling stories, especially when young people are listening. A portrait of the life and work of rising literary star Jason Reynolds.”

 -I’ll start there “Dear, Dreamer…” This is exactly what the world needs at this very moment an alternative solution to society’s unanswered question(s). The narrative in this film was much relevant and remarkable in its delivery to those that look similar to me and I #LOVED every single second of every minute. Jason and Kristin together gives the 20th century something to look forward to in relation to the real world and its order.

GWilliam’s “Tips for turning tricks into treats”

 Directed by Brian Lonano

“This is what you wanted! GWilliam is back and offers some tips for getting special treats this Halloween”

 - GWilliam Mister G William, the beauty of this film was that it came light, but ever second was powerful and extremely hilarious. This feature was truly much to good for children this particular Halloween #ADULTSONLY.

Meat Eater

Directed by Jared Callahan

“A woman in the woods makes her escape”

-Horror and macro films sounds so farfetched for some strange reason, but this one definitely quite the exception. The 2 minutes and 15 seconds was certainly just enough to plot thicken and climax its viewer until the father speaks. This macro “local short” was both horrifying and hilarious at the same time.

Being with Elephants

Directed by James Martin (Kenya)

“Throughout the Siana region of the Maasai Mara, local rangers must monitor and react to the shrinking elephant corridors in order to prevent future collisions of man and beast.

-Elephants are said to be good luck and I do believe this true or not. The story was very interesting it allowed us to see the interaction with the elephants and how free flowing this community was overall. The story depiction of civilization and modern day to day routine in another country was brilliant and liberating.

visit Being with Elephants.

"I Snuck off a Slaveship”

Directed by Lonnie Holley & Cyrus Moussavi

“Lonnie Holley, a “self-taught African American artist” and dimensional traveler, attempts to sneak off the slave ship America.”

-The name of this film had me a little nervous, in fact extremely nervous actually.

I admit that I am a tad biased to films where the feature in question is heavy in its content that if improperly executed totally strips away what actually happened in

real life. Fiction and nonfiction can easily be mistaking and often is primarily in

film, however the narrative of this film was in fact extremely heavy in its context &powerful in its message.

By far thee most creative and inspiring film I’ve seen all year.

To Mr. Lonnie Holley I thank you for your art and the power that lives in it.

Nobody’s Darling

Directed by Robyn Hicks

“A film about a young woman who, in order to make her way to California after the suicide of her father, turns to prostitution. Along the way, she meets an older widower and, together, they find common ground.”

-Nobody's Darling, that name alone speaks volume especially in today's world. It's someone, something that almost everyone watching can relate to in more ways than one. 
  The innocences of someone having the courage to follow their dreams & the strength to do so "by any means necessary"showed the determination of the beautiful young ladyThis feature tackled so very many sensitive topics without glorifying one more than  the other. At the end,"Nobody's Darling" became Everyone's Darling.

CRACKS

Directed by Molly Coffee

The Girl is a whiskey drinking punk-rock welder who works hard and plays hard, but after a sudden violent sexual indecent, she struggles with who she thinks she is.”

-To that girl we all know. To that girl who is trying to tell.

To that girl who is scared as hell. To that girl who thinks no one will believe her. SPEAK!!!

Speak the truth and someone will always hear you. This feature forced us to deal with society from a total different perspective.

Gatito

Directed by Kristina Arjona Adler

“A quiet story of a little Hispanic boy who decides to be a cat for a day, and his traditional father who attempts to support him.”

-Gatito; in Spanish translates to Kitten, Little Cat in english.

The director welcomes the world into millions of homes for only 8:19 and in my

opinion that wasn’t enough. I needed more….

Gryphon Ainmo

Directed by Mt Maloney (Spain)

“To save his ailing sister, an unlikely hero must journey afar to pluck a feather from the mighty Gryphon in this parody of the classic fairy tale.”

-Even in animation the true essence of unconditional love is felt. Hero's are often

selected they usually just appear out of thin air and I was very hopeful that this

hero's hard work wouldn’t be in vain.

To be contiuned...