VISIONFEST 15: THE OTHER FESTIVAL (VF15), dubbed ‘the American Classic’ and widely renowned and respected throughout the U.S. for its solid, quality programming, has officially announced its line-up and set off its advance, online ticket sales. Running May 13 thru May 17 at Tribeca Cinemas (corner of Laight and Varick Streets in New York City), VF15, whose mission to “promote domestic filmmaking” is supported and propelled by its organizing entity, the Domani Vision Film Society, a not-for-profit organization, this year celebrates its fifteenth annual outing with a powerful and very diverse lineup of some of the finest American indie films on the festival circuit today.
Beginning with its “Official Opening Night Selection,” DESERT CATHEDRAL, the haunting debut feature from Travis Gutierrez Senger, VF15 explores more thematic paths and genre shifts than ever before. In this opening night feature, a broken real estate developer, played by Lee Tergesen (Oz, Generation Kill, Monster), mysteriously disappears into the Southwest in 1992, leaving behind a series of VHS tapes to his employer and family. Without the aid of the police, his desperate wife hires a private investigator, played by Chaske Spencer (The Twilight Saga), to locate his whereabouts and bring him home. When asked about the Selection Committee’s decision to include the film in this year’s line-up, VF15 co-director and programmer, Bruno Derlin stated: “How one film manages to keep you on the edge of your seat and, at the same time, pace itself with some of the most breathtaking and eloquently paced visual poetry you’ll ever see is beyond me. This is the work of a true visionary. We are so proud to be able to celebrate our fifteenth anniversary with such beautiful work.” As always, all feature presentations are preceded by one or two shorts, and the opening night honors go to the experimental, THE TULIP CHAIR, by Courtney N. Marsh, and the riveting, dramatic powerhouse, SINA FORMA, by Garette Henson, which makes its World Premiere at VF15.
The “Special Centerpiece Selection” this year is reserved for ALTO, another debut feature in a completely different genre. Here, writer-director Mikki del Monaco blends improbable love, the mob, and family non-conformity in a comedic tale whose tagline boasts “Two Girls. One Gun. The Mob. Because coming out to family is hard. But coming out to ‘family’ is funny.” VF15 co-director and co-programmer, Frank Lewallen, called the film as “A breath of fresh air. It’s clear to me that everyone in this movie had a blast making it and the love, passion, and dedication for the project are all too evident on the screen.” The film, which features vibrant turns by Diana DeGarmo (American Idol) and Natalie Knepp (Orange Is The New Black), also stars Annabella Sciorra (The Sopranos, Don Peyote– she is also billed here as one of the producers). The charming little tale, MOON PEOPLE, by Alexandra Grace, another World Premiere, precedes the feature, making this program the first, fully LGBT-themed block at VF.
“Official Closing Night Selection,” FRANK VS. GOD, by Stewart Schill (Big Time Rush, Charmed) offers a perfect blend of comedy, drama, and existentialism. After his house is destroyed by a tornado (what his insurance company deems an "act of God"), former hotshot lawyer David Frank, played immaculately by Henry Ian Cusick (Lost, Hitman, Scandal) is determined that someone must pay. He decides to serve God... with a lawsuit. VF15 producer, Jana Frindtova shared that: “Films like this one make all the work we put into this festival worthwhile. I laughed. I cried. I laughed again and cried from laughing so hard, but ultimately, I was entertained above and beyond anything that the local multiplex can offer these days. I think everyone should see this film. It says so much without ever preaching. It stays with you long after the end credits have rolled.” Paving the way for this divine showdown, the New York Premiere of the emotionally charged, DOUBLE NEGATIVE, a short by Brian Dilg.
The fourth narrative feature in the line-up is Lawrence Krauser’s WENDELL AND THE LEMON, which comes to VF15 on the trail of a very successful film festival run, which began this past January at Slamdance. Kicking off this program will be THE CRUMB OF IT, the third piece of the widely acclaimed shorts trilogy, INTIMATE SEMAPHORES, by T.J. Misny.
The volume and the heat are cranked up for the festival’s Saturday evening block, with the New York Premiere of LORDS OF BSV, a feature documentary focusing on a new dance form called Brukup, directed by Maria Soccor, Audiences will also be treated to the New York Premiere of PINKY, a short subject drama, written and directed by AFI alum, Dylan Paffe.
A slew of other narrative shorts (including the World Premieres of LULLABY by Start Valberg and CLOSE THE DOOR by Glen & Shaun Vivaris), docs, and experimental projects will be featured in several, thematically connected program blocks. A special ‘fundraising’ screening will take place on Thursday evening, May 14, when A SILENT STRUGGLE, a six-minute, experimental doc by Alexander Yakacki, which briefly explores with the lives and minds of four individuals battling various mental illnesses, is presented as part of the very eclectic A POTPOURRI OF VISIONS, block. A portion of the proceeds from this program will be donated to NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.
MUSICAL VISIONS, a photo exhibit by Mark Doyle, will be unveiling at Tribeca Cinemas throughout the VF15 run. The premiere showcase features a series of photographs of popular music artists performing live, which will be exhibited in the theater's bar/lounge, THE VARICK ROOM. The exhibit, viewable throughout the entire film festival with the exception of Saturday, May 16, is free and open to the public and Mark Doyle is scheduled to be on hand for the opening and closing nights.
After a fairly long hiatus, the exciting VF sidebar initiative FKBK - For Kids By Kids returns to VF with a special Sunday semi-matinee program slated for May 17 at 4:30 pm. The program consists of films created by filmmakers under the age of 18 and is set up as a special "out of competition" screening, which will unveil three new films that will reignite the flame of a VF project that the festival hopes to enhance and continue for years to come. This year's lineup will kick off with three short works by Ava Kuslansky, followed by the experimental short, THE EMOTIONAL DIMENSIONS OF THE RIVER JAMES, by 15-year-old Michelle Marquez; the short doc, POET AGAINST PREJUDICE, by 17-year-old Faiza Almontaster, mentored by the late Albert Maysles as part of the non-profit BYkids program; and closing the program will be the East Coast Premiere of THAT BITES! - A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT FOOD ALLERGIES MADE BY A 12 YEAR-OLD BOY, a documentary by Jack Yonover.
VF15 is a competitive forum that annually announces nominations for its prospective IVA (Independent Vision Awards) honorees on opening night, following the first set of screenings. Nominees will be publicly announced that evening and then online, on Thursday, May 14.
VF15’s complete line-up and advance ticket sales are available at: www.visionfest.com