SHUNNED
directed by Janice Villarosa
(Philippines)
A documentary about the trauma and struggles faced by
a group of Trans women in the Philippines as they compete in a pageant and find strength in their convictions
and one another. SHUNNED is the first feature length
film for director Janice Villarosa; her short A Day in the
Country won Ron Howard’s Canon Imagination Contest
and premiered alongside films directed by Eva Longoria
and Jamie Foxx. Starring Mimi Juareza (Quick Change)
and featuring the work of cinematographer, Mark Celestino (Long Island International Film Expo Best Short
Film for My Friend Charlie Whight).
PRETTY BOY
directed by Cameron Thrower
(USA)
Sean is taken to a motel and is given a prostitute for
his 18th birthday by his father. He must sleep with her
to fix his questionable homosexuality. Aside from acceptance, PRETTY BOY is about confidence, finding inner
strength, and being who you are meant to be.
Director, writer and producer Cameron Thrower has won
Awards of Excellence for PRETTY BOY at both the Best
Shorts Competition and The IndieFest Film Awards. Starring Nick Eversman (The DUFF, NCIS, House), Rebekah
Tripp (producer of Joe Orton’s play Ruffian on the Stair),
and Jon Briddell (Criminal Minds), PRETTY BOY inspires
youth to follow their hearts and seek out their true family.
ALEX
directed by Sondre Fristad
(Norway)
Young Trans person Alex struggles with transphobic attitudes and cyberbullying. Alex is played by Norwegian
actor, Brede Fristad, a recent high school graduate who
just landed the lead in his first feature film.
Director Sondre Fristad is the founder of Fristad Film,
at the young age of 25, and has received international
interest for ALEX.
Producer Tina Shruti Karlsen has produced five shorts
and has been the Assistant Director on over 20 productions; she will finish her bachelor’s at the Film School
AFDA in South Africa, where she attends with Editor Andreas Hansen Lie.
Director of Photography Sebastian Øyangen won an
Amandus for Best Documentary in 2013 and has filmed
15 shorts and participated as D.P. in over 30 productions.