NEWFILMMAKERS  SUMMER FESTIVAL 2009 Featuring New York Filmmakers July 1 - July 5 /  Admission $6

Wednesday, July 1st NewFilmmakers in The Courthouse Theater kicks off our Eleventh Summer Season and our First Summer Festival. 6:00 NEWFILMMAKERS DOCUMENTARY SERIES About Home Movies Scott Kidall HOME STORIES (2009, 21 Minutes, 8MM) Marina Lutz THE MARINA EXPERIMENT (2009, 17 Minutes, 8MM) 6:45PM NEWFILMMAKERS SHORT FILM PROGRAM Doug C. Williams INCONTINENCE (2009, 4 Minutes, Video) Susan Cohen OPEN YOUR EYES (2008, 14 Minutes, Video) Olivia Newman BLUE-EYED MARY (2009, 13 Minutes, Video) Jacob Mendel THE COBRASNAKE (2008, 8 Minutes, Video) Alex Camilleri and Mark Denega ELLI AND THE ASTRONAUT (2009, 17 Minutes, Video) 8:00PM NEWFILMMAKERS FIRST FEATURE PRESENTATION Zack Godshall LOW AND BEHOLD (2009, 90 Minutes, Video) Turner Stull (Barlow Jacobs), an uninspired young man, trying to figure out what he wants to do with his life, arrives in hurricane-ravaged New Orleans to work as an insurance claims adjuster. Greeted by his Uncle Stully (Robert Longstreet) a seasoned claim adjuster, and an ambitious group of adjusters, he is quickly immersed into the routine: move fast, don’t get emotionally involved, and make a lot of money. But Turner, not prepared to deal with people who have lost everything, is totally overwhelmed. Turner’s lack of experience and uncertainty only makes things worse.  In a moment of crisis, Turner agrees to help Nixon (Eddie Rouse), a local man, find his lost dog. In exchange for Turner helping look for the lost dog, Nixon lends a hand with Turner’s insurance claims. Turner and Nixon begin to navigate their way through the storm-ravaged city, a journey that will change Turner's life. 9:45PM NEWFILMMAKERS SECOND FEATURE PRESENTATION Nick Gaglia OVER THE GW (2007, 77 Minutes, Video) Based on actual events in the life of the filmmaker, writer/director Nick Gaglia's Over the GW tells the tale of two Bronx siblings whose desperate mother takes them across the GW Bridge to New Jersey in hopes that a revolutionary rehabilitation program will be the key to their recovery. Tony (George Gallagher) and Sofia (Kether Donahue) are druggies. Having exhausted all other options for getting her kids sober, Tony and Sofia's mother opts to taken them to New Jersey and place them in a rigorous thirty-day rehabilitation program run by the tyrannical Dr. Hiller (Albert Insinnia). When Tony and Sofia's one month stretches into a grueling two-and-a-half year ordeal, the psychological torment and false imprisonment they are forced to endure at the behest of the corrupt doctor threatens to do far more damage than even the most addictive narcotics. Eventually led to believe that the only thing keeping them alive is the program, the frightened siblings fall victim to a detestable form of brainwashing while navigating a cult-like maze of confusion and struggling to maintain their true identities. Wednesday, July 1st NewFilmmakers in the Deren Theater hosts the Middle East NewFilmmakers Group. 6:00PM NEWFILMMAKERS DOCUMENTARY SERIES Imeldia O’Reilly BRICKS BEDS AND SHEEP’S HEADS (2009, 14 Minutes, Video) Bricks, Beds and Sheep's Heads is an odyssey of a Moroccan immigrant named Mourad looking back at his life on Aid El Kbir. Aid El Kbir is a celebratory Islamic holiday that occurs two months after Ramadan. Jawad Metni REMNANTS OF A WAR (2009, 76 Minutes, Video) The men and women of South Lebanon clear their land of unexploded cluster munitions, racing against time before more people are injured or killed. Documentary is a primer on these controversial weapons and a window on the under-represented South Lebanese people.  7:45PM NEWFILMMAKERS FILM PROGRAM About Women In The Middle East Maryam Habibian THE MIST (2009, 47 Minutes, Video) Iran is alive with youthful energy. Through a series of interviews with women painters, poets, actors, and students, filmmaker Maryam Habibian uncovers a reality very different than that which has dominated American media. Kathleen Foster AFGHAN WOMEN: A HISTORY OF STRUGGLE (2007, 69 Minutes, Video)  AFGHAN WOMEN: A HISTORY OF STRUGGLE chronicles the tumultuous history of Afghanistan from the perspective of the country’s women. Rare footage illustrates the amazing stories of women who participated in the revolutionary movements of the 1970’s. These women shed light on the epic battle between the US and the USSR played out on Afghan soil, discuss the creation of terrorist groups in Afghanistan by the CIA, and debunk the myth that US intervention brought Afghan women freedom. 10:00PM NEWFILMMAKERS FEATURE PRESENTATION Amine Kais AFFAIRE D’HOMMES (2008, 87 Minutes, Video) Nacer, a NYC detective whose wife was killed in the World Trade Center, lives in the suburbs with his six years old daughter Noor. Nacer’s life intersects with Omar’s a rich Algerian Businessman when Noor is caught in the middle of cross fire targeting Omar. As his daughter’s life hangs by a thread, Nacer is determined to find the perpetrators. Thursday, July 2nd NewFilmmakers in the Courthouse Theater presents science fiction and fantasy films. 6:00PM NEWFILMMAKERS DOCUMENTARY SERIES Zac Adams THE BELL WITCH LEGEND (2008, 42 Minutes, Video) A true and frightening story of one John Bell, a man who was murdered by ghosts in the nineteenth century. 7:00PM NEWFILMMAKERS SHORT FILM PROGRAM Brad Regier AUTONOMY (2 Minutes, Video) Claiborne McDonald MALA SMRT (2008, 6 Minutes, Video) Joey Angerone CON CARNIVORO (2009, 10 Minutes, Video) Devi Snively DEATH IN CHARGE (2008, 15 Minutes, Video) Max Nova THE SHAMAN’S APPRENTICE (2009, 17 Minutes, Video) Leah Shore MEATWAFFLE (2009, 8 Minutes, Video) Laura Android HEADCHEESE (2008, 35 Minutes, 16MM) 8:45PM NEWFILMMAKERS FIRST FEATURE PRESENTATION David Yohe THE BOOK OF TOMORROW (2007, 19 Minutes, 35MM) Young Billy Allen is pulled into an incredible adventure when he discovers a forgotten chest containing a comic book with unimaginable powers. Maya Batash OUT OF THE FOG (2008, 86 Minutes, Video) A geologist, Sarah Portico, journeys to a remote island to investigate an environmental mystery. Upon her arrival, she experiences strange visions, dreams that seem to predict her future, and eventually force her to confront her painful past. As Sarah uncovers the cause of the environmental mystery, she discovers her true self. Thursday, July 2nd NewFilmmakers in the Deren Theater hosts the NewLatino Filmmakers Group. LATIN HORROR cordially invite you to another special edition of the NewLatino Filmmakers Screening Series — "The HORRORphiles #3 - Summer Scream" — featuring the work of emerging Latino/a directors working within the genre of horror. Join us from at 6:00PM for complimentary Rum & Coke cocktail shots in lobby, Short Films at 7:00, and Feature at 8:00. Friday, July 3rd NewFilmmakers in the Deren Theater talks about relationships in the modern world. 6:00PM NEWFILMMAKERS DOCUMENTARY SERIES Amelia Bryne SPRING WIND WILL BRING LIFE AGAIN (2007, 42 Minutes, Video) We live in a moment where the order of the world is shifting. We are worried, we are hopeful. The film, whose title plays on a Chinese poem about the inevitability of change and the cycle of growth and decline, is a document of this moment. A portrait of Beijing, the city emerges from a construct of fears about its economic rise, evidence in its everyday landscape of its connections with global capitalism, and stories of about living in this pivotal city as it changes. 7:00PM NEWFILMMAKERS SHORT FILM PROGRAM Jacob Mendel THE WAKING ARTIST (2009, 4 Minutes, Video) David Bellarosa LULU (2008, 3 Minutes, Video) Veronique Doumbe* THE BIRTHDAY PARTY (2009, 6 Minutes, Video) Sara Pomerance* YELLOW CAKE WITH SPRINKLES (2007, 8 Minutes, Video) Lara Izagirre SPIDERMAN AND GRANDMA (2009, 8 Minutes, Video) Cathy Lee Crane ADRIFT (2009, 12 Minutes, 16MM) Michael Nedelman EVERYONE WHO HAS EVER LIVED HERE (2008, 29 Minutes, Video) Marton Varo* GENTLEMEN'S AGREEMENT (2009, 9 Minutes, Video) 8:30PM NEWFILMMAKERS FEATURE PRESENTATION John Baldino 12 STEPS (2008, 14 Minutes, 16MM) A lyrically uninspired singer songwriter encourages the alcoholism of his roommate to generate material for his songs. Gil O’Brien ONE HIT WONDER (2009, 88 Minutes, Video) A man in his early 30's loves his wife, but still has a passion for his other love: Music. After losing his job as a stockbroker, he joins a band of misfits and pursues his dream of becoming a rock musician one last time. Saturday, July 4th NewFilmmakers in the Deren Theater celebrates the Fourth of July with two first hand accounts of the Iraqi War and its aftermath.  Join us for a free Reception in the Lobby before heading out to see the fireworks. 6:00PM NEWFILMMAKERS DOCUMENTARY SERIES Evelyn Lowrey FALLOUT: COMING HOME FROM THE WAR IN IRAQ (2009, 51 Minutes, Video) FALLOUT: Coming Home from the War in Iraq is a documentary about three veterans of the war in Iraq. Each veteran speaks about their experience as a soldier in Iraq and the challenges they faced while readjusting to civilian life here at home. Unbiased, this documentary aimed to have each veteran profile their Iraq war experiences. 7:00PM NEWFILMMAKERS FEATURE PRESENTATION Kristian Fraga* SEVERE CLEAR (2009, 92 Minutes, Video) Severe Clear is based on the memoir by First Lieutenant Mike Scotti as well as video footage shot by him and other members of 1st Battalion, 4th Marines on the outset of the 2003 invasion of Iraqi. Through their cameras we see the raw sounds of war, capturing the harrowing three hundred mile charge to Baghdad through hostile enemy territory. The footage used to create Severe Clear was never shot for the purpose of making a movie. In this digital age of embedded reporters, the film truly strips the barriers between audience and soldier, personalizing the fear, moral conundrum and adrenaline rush of life on the battlefield. Severe Clear offers an unflinching look at the uncertainty, disorder and chaos of war from the remarkable perspective of one Marine. Sunday, July 5th  NewFilmmakers Summer Festival final night in the Courthouse. 6:00PM NEWFILMMAKERS DOCUMENTARY SERIES Matthew J. Beard WE WANT TO BE SWEAT FREE! (2008, 26 Minutes, Video) The issue of sweatshop labor to produce collegiate clothing has long been an ongoing battle for student activists the world over. In the spring of 2008, college students were holding sit-ins and protests across America demanding their schools sign onto the Designated Suppliers Program (DSP), which would ensure that workers making their collegiate clothing were given basic human rights. Students at the University of Montana had been facing an up-hill battle with their school's administrators for years and finally decided to escalate their campaign for workers' rights. Many rallied behind the leaders of the Students for Economic and Social Justice (SESJ) who were occupying their president's office, demanding their administration also sign onto the DSP.  What resulted was student activism that had not been seen since the Vietnam War.  Matthew Weber CLOWNFEST: FIVE DAYS IN THE ALLEY (2009, 38 Minutes, Video) CLOWNFEST: FIVE DAYS IN THE ALLEY is a documentary short examining the people and events that make up the week long convention known as Clownfest. This personal glimpse into the psychology of a professional clown explores not only the artistic and entrepreneurial spirit of clowning but also the subjects’ deeply rooted desires to entertain and inspire those around them. 7:15PM NEWFILMMAKERS SHORT FILM PROGRAM about Drugs Mark Harris RPDM (2008, 6 Minutes, Video) Anna Maria Vag* IPSO FACTO (2009, 9 Minutes, Video) Harune Massey & Usman Shaukat PANORAMA OBSCURA (2008, 16 Minutes, Video) 8:00PM NEWFILMMAKERS FIRST FEATURE FILM Molly Donovan and Michael Vincent THE GRASS IS GREENER (2009, 17 Minutes, 8mm) Seth & Nathan Anderson BLACK (2008, 40 Minutes, Video) A young psychiatrist's life begins to unravel when his psychic wife invites a dark presence into their lives. 9:15PM NEWFILMMAKERS SECOND FEATURE FILM Princeton Holt COOKIES & CREAM (2008, 90 Minutes, Video) Cookies 'N' Cream is a character piece that centers around Carmen, a racially mixed single mother who after employment options become limited, feels forced to accept an adult modeling gig to take care of her daughter and herself. A modern-day relationship drama, this tasteful, classically-told tale of new-age dating and unbreakable career ambition, is told through the eyes of a single, independent mother with limited career options, and the strength to continue on through the toughest of circumstances. Sunday, July 5th  NewFilmmakers Summer Festival final night in the Deren Theater. 6:00PM NEWFILMMAKERS DOCUMENTARY SERIES TBA 7:30PM NEWFILMMAKERS SHORT FILM PROGRAM Tonje Gjevjon LESBIAN GYMNASTS FROM THE USSR (2009, 3 Minutes, Video) Eugene John Bellida* UPSTAIRS (2009, 5 Minutes, 35MM) Sherry Mills NATALIE AT FIVE O'CLOCK (2006, 5 Minutes, Video) Tatiana Lamela-Rabell HOLY WATER (2009, 12 Minutes, Video) Christopher Palo ODD CITY (2009, 16 Minutes, Video) Tom Morgan DINNER WITH STRANGERS (2008, 22 Minutes, Video) 8:45PM FEATURE FILM  Join the discussion with filmmakers after screening Mishara Canino-Hussung and Bill Hussung* FLIRTING WITH LEPRECHAUNS: A UFO DOCUMENTARY (2009, 81 Minutes, Video) New York documentary filmmaker Bill Hussung takes an offbeat look at family values when he decides to investigate his own mother’s encounter with a giant UFO 15 years ago. The filmmaker’s journey begins shortly after his mother’s cancer diagnosis and takes viewers deep into the heart and soul of upstate New York folklore as well as his own family’s mythology. Mr. Hussung journey’s across the Hudson Valley with his cinematographer wife Mishara Canino-Hussung in search of something both in the sky and in his own heart. What he finds comes as a surprise and is sure to keep viewers guessing about the true meaning of the mysterious lights in the night sky above Pine Bush New York.   OUR SUMMER SCHEDULE   * NewFilmmakers Alumni