Pembroke Taparelli Arts and Film Festival
Saturday, November 2
10:15 a.m. Voices of Tomorrow: Stories of Youth, Identity, and Aspiration. A dynamic film block highlighting the dreams, challenges, and resilience of young people across the globe as they navigate their paths to the future.
The Hard Art to Say Goodbye. Directed by Rafael Reis. Brazil, 20 minutes. The only certainty we have in life is that one day we will die. If we knew we had only a short time to live, we would change our view of many things. Even today, this topis has been taboo for most people, but treating death in a natural way is what this short film proposes.
When I’m Famous. Directed by Jon King. U.K., 12 minutes. Nineteen-year-old band leader Noah pinballs hard between his dreams of becoming famous and the mundane world of the Job Centre, winding up homeless in the process.
Scout’s Pride. Directed by Marko Stojanovic. USA, 10 minutes. Follows Andre, an ex-boy scout, as he physically and mentally explores the locale of his last scout outing in order to confront and rid himself of his past traumas.
Guiding Light. Directed by India Anne Mitchell. USA, 5 minutes. Exploring the tragic kidnapping of Polly Klaas and its enduring impact on child safety.
She Sees Me. Directed by Maryam Mahani. Iran, 12 minutes. A young boy struggles to embrace his newfound life with his stepmother and embarks on a journey leadhim to an unexpected encounter.
This Land Is. Directed by Bunnie Rivera. USA, 20 minutes. The story of a young boy’s journey to the beginning of his search for his chosen family.
Bad Guy. Directed by Isaac Burt. USA, 3 minutes. It’s hard to tell what’s good and bad these days. Can you be a good person that does bad things?
11:45 a.m. Breaking Boundaries: Stories of Identity, Resilience, and Redemption. A powerful film block that explores personal journeys of self-discovery, overcoming adversity, and the pursuit of freedom.
The HoodTrophy Bino story: Breaking the Generational Curse .Directed by Sam “Gebar” Gebremiche. USA, 21 minutes. Dive into the captivating story of HoodTrophy Bino, a California hip-hop artist from the projects of South Central and Palmdale, discovered by Soulja Boy in jail, and destined to overcome the generational curse of poverty and incarceration plaguing all the males in his immediate and extended family.
Return to Kawthoolei: A Refugee Rapper’s Return to His Homeland in Burma. Directed by Hons Solo and Wah Fish Paste. USA, 11 minutes. Refugee Rapper Star2 from San Diego, California was born in a Thai refugee camp – his people fleeing the Burmese Army who destroyed their village and attacked them in the middle of the night. He returns to his homeland in Burma (renamed Myanmar) at age 22,
Who Is God? Directed by Oscar Adam Lopez Parres. Mexico, 3 minutes. The first short film created with images generated entirely by artificial intelligence. Humanity is a remarkable race, brimming with amazing creativity and capable of building great empires and self-destruction.
The Mirror. Directed by Michael Ross Catania. USA, 7 minutes. Welcome to The Mirror, a thought-provoking exploration of how our energy is reflected back at us.
Run Away. Directed by Chico Bennett. USA, 4 minutes. Music video featuring artist Star2.
12:35 p.m.: Belonging in the U.S.A.: The Story of Alicia and Antonio. Directed by Arielle Noble. USA, 52 minutes. Forced into exile in the United States after being disappeared and held as political prisoners during the Argentine genocide of the late 1970s, Alicia and Antonio make a new life for themselves as human rights activists, parents, and artists.
1:45 p.m. Echoes of Conflict: Stories of Loss, Resilience, and the Human Spirit.
Echoes of Loss: Eight Days in Israel. Directed by Rob Mor. USA, 73 minutes. Mor interviews widows, parents, and family members who lost loved ones on October 7, 2023 and explores the grief felt by Israelis and Jews worldwide over the past year of turmoil.
Message. Directed by Saeed Moltaji. Iran, 10 minutes. A determined female reporter in a war-torn Gaza, facing poor internet conditions, decides to take all memory cards to her colleague in the news agency building. She hopes he can send all the videos. She faces obstacles along the way.
3:25 p.m. Out Loud: Stories of Identity and Transformation.
Transformation. Directed by Saeed Mayahy. Turkiye, 52 minutes. Malika, a transgender woman together with Mohamed, the love of her life, have fled their families’ honor killing plan and the Taliban’s fatal punishments to be able to cultivate their forbidden love for each other, in the hope of achieving a new and better life in Turkiye.
Who Is God? Directed by Oscar Adam Lopez Parres. Mexico, 3 minutes. The first short film created with images generated entirely by artificial intelligence. Humanity is a remarkable race, brimming with amazing creativity and capable of building great empires and self-destruction.
4:30 p.m. Kim Carnie: Out Loud. Directed by Maureen MacLeod. U.K., 89 minutes. Scottish singer Kim Carnie was in a secret same-sex relationship for 6 years, from the ages of 16-22. Now 30, she can reflect on the impact those 6 years of secrecy had on her
6:20 p.m. Through the Heart: Stories of Grief, Judgment, and Resilience.
As Easy as Closing Your Eyes. Directed by Parker Croft. USA, 22 minutes. A mourning mother confronts her dependence on Amesten, an illicit substance providing vivid dreams of her deceased son.
Inadequate. Directed by Elya Randrianaivo. USA, 12 minutes A well-intentioned white woman finds her presumptions questioned by her Black foster kid's mom.
The Worst Day Ever? Directed by Keegan Connor Tracy. Canada, 17 minutes. Four siblings return to their childhood home to say goodbye to their mother on the day of her doctor-assisted death after her long and losing battle with cancer.
Magic Ticket. Directed by Yelena V. Krivosheyeva. USA, 16 minutes. A film about homeless veteran who finds a gift certificate to a restaurant on Christmas Eve. It is a hard look at the realities of the life of a homeless woman who sufferers from military sexual trauma and can't find "home" to return to.
Kevin. Directed by Malik Baker. USA, 9 minutes. A young woman copes with the sudden death of her fiancé. His best friend offers her comfort.
The following events will also take place on Saturday in the Art Exhibit Room:. All panels and the Slam Poetry event will be livestreamed.
12 Noon. Lakesjde Filmmakers. Directed by Fang Wen. China, 33 minutes. This is a story about ordinary peope trying to appreciate the secrets of movies. Xiaodai Liu, who loves movies, gathered a group of creators who also love movies, to shoot a film.
12:40 p.m. Panel/Workshop. Navigating the Pressure Cooker: Managing Cast, Crew, and Filmmaker Expectations on Set.
2:00 p.m. Panel discussion: Reentry and Liberation- Breaking Barriers Beyond Prison Walls.
3:30 p.m. Women’s Liberation Movements and Their Impact on Women of Color- Progress, Challenges, and the Road Ahead.
4:45 p.m. Exploring Freedom and Representation in Modern Media.
6:15 p.m. Intersectionality in the LGBTQ Community- Navigation Liberation through the Lens of Race, Gender, and Identity.
7:30 p.m. Industry Mixer.
8:30 p.m. Voices Unbound: A Slam Poetry Showcase. Join us for Voices Unbound, a powerful Slam Poetry event at PTAFF 2024 that brings the theme of Liberation to life through raw, unfiltered spoken word performances. Poets from diverse backgrounds will take the stage to explore personal stories, global struggles, and the fight for freedom in all its forms. Expect an evening of passionate expression, bold truths, and artistic empowerment. This is more than poetry---It’s a movement.