FESTIVAL HIATUS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

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PARKING TIPS: SANTA MONICA.

Sat. Apr. 28, 10:20am

HEARTS OF CHAMPIONS – SHORTS BLOCK

CIRCUS CHANGED MY LIFE – SHORT DOC

One Mongolian woman’s story of suffering domestic violence and how the circus offered her an escape to America. Chimgee Hatarhuu; Eron Wood; Stewart Lippe, Director. Adult themes. USA

SALTO – SHORT DOC

An Iranian girl who wins pretty much every competition she is in, cannot compete in the world arena because of politics. Maryam Haddadi, Director, Roohollah Taherkhani, Producer. Family.  Subtitles. Iran.

AS REAL AS IT GETS – SHORT DOC

A Canadian Roller Derby team competes at the first ever Junior Olympics Roller Derby event in Lincoln, Nebraska. It’s a tough fight. Frederick Kroetsch and Kurt Spenrath, director, producer. Family. Roller derby action. Canada

CHANGE – SHORT NARRATIVE

A FBI Agent cannot change her Partner/Lover’s destiny of being killed even with her loving him. Cherry Xu; Johnny Gao; Cuiji Wu; Efka Kvaraciejus; Samantha Stewart; Shidan Yu, Director. Fight action, violence. USA

GAME – SHORT NARRATIVE

A new kid shows up at the high school boys’ basketball tryouts and instantly makes an impression. Will talent and drive be enough to make the team? Nicole Williams; Rick Fox; Tye White; Charles Parnell; Dominique Columbus; Jamie McShane; Jeannie Donohoe, Director. Family.  USA

Sat. Apr. 28, 10:40am

FAMILY AFFAIRS – SHORTS BLOCK

TWO SHORTS AND FEATURE DOC IN THIS SCREENING BLOCK

FINAL DECISION – SHORT NARRATIVE

A young girl has to choose between her father and mother. Elaine Del Valle; Berto Colon; Elyn Jaime Jenkins; Elaine Del Valle, Director. Family. USA

HUNGRY – SHORT NARRATIVE

A determined teacher confronts the problems of children going hungry. Jillie Simon, Eric Roberts, Alex Emanuel, Victor Colicchio; Jillie Simon and Thomas Simon, directors. Family. USA

SUNRISE STORYTELLER – FEATURE DOC

A 17 year old girl sets about the world for six months to find positive stories about people trying to change the world. Kasha Sequoia Slavner, Actor, Cinematographer, Director, Producer. Family. Canada

Sat. Apr. 28, 12:00pm

PANEL DISCUSSION: A SEX TYPE THING

From the #metoo movement to #timesup, women’s voices are finally being heard in the context of discrimination, bias, sexual harassment and violence. Join us to hear perspectives from entertainment industry people, filmmakers who directly address the subject, social justice attorneys and others. Two taboo and myth-ridden topics: women’s sexuality and women’s physical strength will also be discussed to explore the roles they can play in ending gender-related violence, the benefits of honing your self-defense skills, the role of sexual empowerment, what consent really means and more.

Moderated by August McLaughlin, author, creator GirlBoner. Participants include Ellen Snortland, filmmaker Beauty Bites Beast; Sandra Fluke, Social Justice Attorney; Gillian Bohrer, Exec VP Fox 2000 Pictures (Twilight, La La Land); Michelle Kantor, writer/director, producer, founder Cinefemme; Additional panelist announcement coming soon.

Sat. Apr. 28, 12:20pm

FUTURE TIMES AND GOOD OL’ DAYS – SHORTS BLOCK

FIRST SAMURAI IN NEW YORK – SHORT NARRATIVE

In the late 1800s, a Japanese samurai family, who recently immigrated to New York, clash with local Irish gangsters out for blood. Adult themes. Maho Honda; Kyo Kasumi; Gabe Fazio; Mike Houston; Justin Ambrosino, Director. Sword violence. Fight action. Language. Subtitles. USA

PROTECTRESS – SHORT NARRATIVE

During battle, a healer duels with her mortal enemy in an unsettling form, facing an impossible choice that will forever forge her destiny as a warrior. Joanna Ke; Charlotte Bjornbak; America Young, Director. Fight action. USA

SHIELDMAIDEN – SHORT NARRATIVE

A woman comes into her own after being a coward at her father’s death. Olena Medwid; Aaron Harrison; Jackson Berlin; Richard Wasnock; Shawm McKinney; Benjamin Janicki, Director. Fight action. USA

TRIALS OF EMBER STAGE ONE – SHORT NARRATIVE

A warrior fighting to escape a virtual world is forced to relive the death of her only brother. Amy Schumacher; Jayme Woscjechowski; Steve Lamorte, Director. Fight action. USA

THE ZONE – SHORT NARRATIVE

A young woman turns to sport hypnosis to improve her boxing skills and faces the challenge of an underground fight that may change her life. Denisse Bon; Anthony Ray Parker; David Tirado; Sarah Brown; Monica Azevedo, Director. Boxing. USA

LOST IN TRANSIT – SHORT NARRATIVE

A martial arts teacher gets caught up with the possession of a briefcase being protected by a girl he knows. Cassandra Ebner; Ken Do; Osric Chau; Berlin Lu; Simon Chin, Stanton Chong, Director. Adult. Fight action. Canada

RFLKTR – SHORT NARRATIVE

A pilot crashlands on an alien planet where she faces an unexpected enemy. Breeda Turner; Mark K Turner, Director. Sci-fi action. USA

THE FORCE AND THE FURY – SHORT NARRATIVE

A Jedi crash lands on a barren planet and is pursued by a mysterious Sith who seems to know him. Aris Juson; Deborah Lee Smith; Jason Satterlund, Director. Sci-fi sword action. Family. USA

Sat. Apr. 28, 12:40pm

UNSHAKABLE WOMEN

TWO SHORTS AND A FEATURE DOC IN THIS SCREENING BLOCK

A LIGHT ABOVE – SHORT NARRATIVE

A young girl fights her way out of sex trafficking. Laura Clifton; Joe Pallister; Megan Doyle; Anna Gutto, Director. Adult themes, violence. USA

PERPETURAPED – SHORT DOC

About how the media and general perceptions lead to rape itself, plus lack of convictions and the stigma women can carry. Charlie Brook, Director; Lillian Constantine, Producer. Adult / sexual violence themes. USA

SLUT OR NUT: THE DIARY OF A RAPE TRIAL – FEATURE DOC

In Canada, a woman is raped by someone she is dating and then spends the next grueling 16 months of trying to get him to trial. Jane Doe; Mandi Gray; Nneka MacGregor; Jennifer Keeler; Deepy Sur; Kelly Showker and Joanne Vannicola, Directors. Adult / sexual violence themes. Canada

Sat. Apr. 28, 2:00pm

PANEL DISCUSSION: MICRO AND LOW BUDGET FILMMAKING

How to do the most with your money, Hosted by Ms. In The Biz

Join powerhouse producer/writer/actors from Ms. In The Biz as they discuss tricks, tips, and how-to’s for taking your idea from conception to completion even if you don’t have studio-style finances.

Moderated by Leah Cevoli (Remember the Sultana, Puppet). Panelists include: Helenna Santos (At Your Own Risk, Similitude), Alexandra Boylan (At Your Own Risk, Catching Faith), Jennica Schwartzman (Parker’s Anchor, Before the Lights Come Up), Deborah Lee Smith (Parker’s Anchor, Last Three Days), Brea Grant (Best Friends Forever, Eastsiders) Etta Devine (Diani & Devine Meet the Apocalypse), America Young (The Concessionaires Must Die!, Protectress).

Sat. Apr. 28, 2:10pm

A SEX TYPE THING

BEAUTY BITES BEAST – FEATURE DOC

Often humorous always dynamic documentary which flips ideas of women’s self-defense upside-down. Dolores Huerta; Gavin de Becker; Riane Eisler; Ellen Snortland; Dr. Bessel Van der Kolk; Ellen Snortland, Director. Adult themes. USA

Sat. Apr. 28, 2:40pm

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN OF POWER – SHORTS BLOCK

FOUR SHORTS IN THIS SCREENING BLOCK

GIRL EPIDEMIC – SHORT NARRATIVE

A million girls disappear every year, in an epidemic of infanticide, sex slavery and child labor. Is there a cure? Swapnila Gupta; Faiz Khan; Leeza Mangaldas; Sanjay Nath; Indrani Pal-Chaudhuri, Director. Adult themes. USA

SISTERS IN THE RING – SHORT DOC

Two sisters from Iran train and fight in the World Wushu Championships. Maryam Naghibi, Director. Family. Iran

FIGHT LIKE A GIRL – SHORT DOC

Yoon Young learns jiu jitsu to discover her own inner spirit and break the thinking of limitations. Yoon Young Lee; Hee Jin Lee; Hee Jin Ha; Seong Ryeong Kim; Jung Woo Lee. Yoon Young Lee, Director; Family. Subtitles. Korea

MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD – FEATURE DOC

A woman is beaten to death in the streets which motivates women reporters to dedicate and risk their lives to stop such condoned violence. Roberta Staley, Director. Adult themes, violence. Canada

Sat. Apr. 28, 4:00pm

PANEL DISCUSSION: ALL-STARS OF STUNTS

Meet our 2018 Stunt Honorees

A 90 minutes panel discussion with some of the greatest stuntwomen in Hollywood! A panel unique to Artemis Film Festival, we put a spotlight on the unsung heroines of your favorite action films.

Panelists include Debbie Evans (The Fate of the Furious, Furious 7, Matrix), Alicia Vela-Bailey (Wonderwoman, Alita: Battle Angel, Hostel 3, Lights Out), Danielle Burgio (Matrix Reloaded II and III, Daredevil, The Green Hornet), Kachina Dechert (Mission Impossible – Fallout, The Mummy, Ted 2, John Wick), Heidi Pascoe (A Wrinkle in Time, Fantastic Four, This Means War) and Cassandra Ebner (Game of Thrones, Arrow, Demon X).

Sat. Apr. 28, 4:00pm

THE DATING GAME

STUCK – FEATURE NARRATIVE

A down on her luck woman decides to win her ex-boyfriend back by moving in with him and his fiancé. Heather Matarazzo; Joel McHale; Felicia Day; Christina Moore; Kirsten Vangsness; Jilliam Armenante, Director. Adult situations. USA

Sat. Apr. 28, 4:40pm

AHEAD FOR BUSINESS, II

PERFUME WAR – FEATURE DOC

Using the corporate world, a single mom creates an unlikely weapon in the fight for world peace after her best friend, a soldier, is almost killed by a terrorist. Barb Stegemann; Capt. Trevor Greene; Michael Melski, Director. Adult war themes. Canada

Sat. Apr. 28, 6:05pm

PUNCHLINES – SHORTS BLOCK

REKINDLED – SHORT NARRATIVE

Kate gets the chance via a magical Groupon to rekindle romance with the love of her life. Kelly Vrooman; Dyan Riley Snyder; Aaron Schwartz; Asher Grodman; Teri Reeves; Erin Thomas Brown, Director. Adult. USA

INCENDIO – SHORT NARRATIVE

A mismatched couple meets on an ill-fated blind date. Will they kill each other, or fall in love trying? Hannah Barefoot; Aris Juson; Slater Dixon, Director. Adult themes, violence. USA

LOQUITA – SHORT NARRATIVE

A girlfriend goes over to meet her boyfriend’s parents for the first time and disaster happens. Zully Garica; Amy Schumacher; Elizabeth Alvarez; Josten Rositas; Gerardo Martinez; Kayden Phoenix, Director. Family. Fight action. Ghosts. USA

HOW TO BE ALONE – SHORT NARRATIVE

A reminder of self love and that life doesn’t always have that Hollywood ending. Sylvie Rae; Manya Glassmam, director. Family. USA

HEARTS AREN’T LONELY – SHORT NARRATIVE

Singer/songwriter NJP has created a love letter to Los Angeles, shadowing her youth and the loss of innocence towards her relationship with the music industry. NJP (Natasha Pasternak); Carline Spencer; David Webb & Cary Lalonde, Director. Music Video. USA

NOT ALL WHO WANDER ARE LOST – SHORT NARRATIVE

A beautiful young woman driving a Harley-Davidson across the desert pulls into a gas station where she sees another young woman being man-handled. She comes to her aid. Heather Bonomo; Louise Bond; Tim James; Daniel Ash; song by Stadium; Benjamin Pollack, Director. Domestic violence. USA

STUNT MOM – SHORT NARRATIVE

A mother who is a professional stunt woman. Her children want to be involved in her work. Janelle Tedesco; Vance Barton; Shannon Morrall, Director. Family. USA

DON’T MESS WITH JULIE WHITFIELD – SHORT NARRATIVE

When new parent Rachel attempts a coup on the school board to oust Julie, it leads to a bloody battle that only one woman will survive. Mary Elizabeth Ellis; Casey Wilson; Brian Sacca; Jennifer Zaborowski; Elizabeth Laime; Amy Barham, Director. Adult satire. Comic violence. USA

VESTIGE – SHORT NARRATIVE

A newlywed couple is interrupted in their hotel suite by a man sent to save the Future. Hailey Vest; Walker Snow Harrison; Dartanyin Hawkins; Adnrew Richardson, Director. Adult. USA

TIME’S UP – SHORT NARRATIVE

When an assassin catches up with her mark, it leads to an unexpected outcome. Ann Roy; Warren Brooks; Ann Roy, Director. Family. USA

SANDRA WEST DIARIES: THE BLONDE WITH THE IRON FIST – SHORT NARRATIVE

Sandra West is a sultry and lethal freelance spy and ex agent of T.H.E.M., who plays by her own rules in a world of danger and intrigue. Olivia Dunkley; Esteban Cueto; Glenn Takakjian; Inga van Ardenn; Fernando Jay Huerto; Tess Marie Dunkley; Scott Rhodes, Director. Fantasy, comic fight action. Adult themes. USA

FOR MURIEL – SHORT NARRATIVE

After their regular aerobics class, three ladies of a certain age plot the best way to rob a bank. Concetta Tomei; Mindy Sterling; Rakefet Abergel; Rebecca Shapiro, Director. Comic action. USA

SHADY OAKS TAKEDOWN – SHORT NARRATIVE

Residents of a nursing home are much more dangerous than they appear. Thresa Richardson; Peggy Glenn; Patricia McNeely; Don Appleby; Rookie Morgan, Director. Comic fight action. USA

COMBAT NUNS: ALL OR NOTHING – SHORT NARRATIVE

A nun confesses her sins to a priest, including beating up bad guys. Dot Marie Jones; Steve Apostolina; Gary Kasper; Rick Williamson, Director. Adult themes. USA

Sat. Apr. 28, 6:40pm

MONSTERS AND GHOSTS, OH MY – FILM BLOCK

TWO SHORTS AND ONE FEATURE IN THIS SCREENING BLOCK

DEADLY DRIVE-IN DISASTER – SHORT NARRATIVE

A female super secret agent defeats a an alien in an UFO from capturing humans at a drive-in. Arjan Wilschut, director, Producer. Adult humor / references. Netherlands.

LUNCH LADIES – SHORT NARRATIVE

Two burnt out high school lunch ladies obsessed with becoming personal chefs to Johnny Depp, accidentally murder a cheerleader so they serve her up for lunch à la Sweeney Todd. J.M. Logan; Donna Pieroni; Mary Manofsky; Daisy Kershaw; Chris Fickley; J.M. Logan, director. Adult themes and violence. USA

RILEY PARRA – FEATURE NARRATIVE

A cop investigates the murder of a man who turns out to be an angel killed by a demon and she is reluctantly drawn into the battle of good and evil. Marem Hassler; Liz Vassey; Connor Trinneer; Connor Kelly-Eiding; Karl E. Landler; Christin Baker, director. Adult, fantasy violence. USA

Sat. Apr. 28, 8:05pm

KICKIN’ ASS / TAKIN’ NAMES – SHORTS BLOCK

AUTO-STOP (HITCHHIKING) – SHORT NARRATIVE

Backpacker young woman is hitchhiking in the mountains. An elegant man driving a sportscar stops by and gives her a lift. As they talk, the man seems nice – but kind of weird. Finais Schwinn; Nicolas Robins; Cédric-Alexandre Saudinos, director. Fight action. France

NIGHT RUNNER – SHORT NARRATIVE

In the aftermath of an attack, Riva Harris finds she has superhuman strength. Hollis Fox; Enrique Novello; Jayson Wesley; Michael Joseph Robinson; Tara Novie, Brandon Scott Hughes, director. Adult themes. Violence. USA

ALYCE SEARCHES – SHORT NARRATIVE

A woman walks into a strip club and beats the hell out of everybody so she can find her sister. Dina Cataldi; Victoria De Mare; Dane Oliver; ER Ruiz; James Kwong; Jeff Pollard; Katy Foley; Lawrence Le, director. Fight action, adult themes. USA

SLICKED BACK – SHORT NARRATIVE

Two partners break into a house and battle demons. Joy Ryan; Michael Tomsu; Savannah Gilmore; Shyaam Karra; Greg Feiner; Patrick Tomsu; Matthew Tallamantes, director. Monster violence. USA

NO TRACE – SHORT NARRATIVE

An undercover cop robs a bank for the mob, only to find herself on the run from her own former partners. Alex Marshall-Brown; James Kyson; Pia Shah; stunt coordinator America Brown; Rand Behr, director. Fight action. USA

PIMPKILLAH – SHORT NARRATIVE

When a ruthless killer searches for her estranged sister she’s propelled into LA’s underbelly of prostitution and human trafficking leading her down the dark path of retribution. Michelle Jubilee Gonzalez; Terrence Julien; Bryan Royal; Angelica Amor; Christie Insley; Sarah Bitely; Sarah Bitely, director. Adult themes, violence-fight action. USA

WHEN KIDS GROW UP – SHORT NARRATIVE

A defenseless woman is savagely attacked by a group of vicious men, only to reveal her own brutal intent against them. Marrisa Labog; Luke Cook; Everette Wallin; Siaka Massaquo; Shahoub Roudbari, director. Adult themes. Graphic fight violence. USA

UFO DIARY – SHORT NARRATIVE

Two Women’s Army Corps officers in the early days of WWII fight an alien invasion of LA, becoming the unlikely heroines of one of the most famous UFO incidents in history. Govindini Murty; Rachel Newell; Jason Apuzzo, director. Family. Sci-fi action. USA

Sat. Apr. 28, 8:35pm

FACING THE CHALLENGE – FILM BLOCK

TWO SHORTS AND ONE FEATURE DOC IN THIS SCREENING BLOCK

EDUCATE GIRLS – SHORT DOC

Safeena Husain founded Educate Girls to ensure that girls in India’s most marginalized rural communities are able to achieve their full potential. Safeena Husain; Gabriel Diamond, director. Adult humor. USA

88 SEOUL – SHORT NARRATIVE

A double agent and the director of the ANSP battle ruthless spies in a warehouse. Taesik Lee; Song Choi; Seongho Heo, director. Fight action, violence. South Korea

BURKAS2BULLETS – FEATURE DOC

A series of vignettes as a reporter travels across war torn areas – focusing on the women who serve. Deena Safi, Translator; Alison MacLean, director. War. Canada

Sat. Apr. 28, 10:05pm

BLOODY DEEDS

VIRGIN CHEERLEADERS IN CHAINS – FEATURE NARRATIVE

A group of friends sets out to make a no-budget horror movie in an abandoned orphanage, only to find a family of sadistic killers wants to rewrite their script. Ezekiel Z. Swinford; Kelsey Pribilski; Elizabeth Maxwell; Gary Warner Kent; Don Daro; Evan Glover; Michael T. Morford; Dominique Davalos; Lindsey Lemke; Ammie Leonards; Paulo Biscaia Filho, director. USA and Brazil

Sat. Apr. 28, 10:35pm

THE ULTIMATE INDEPENDENCE, II

ICE BLUE – FEATURE NARRATIVE

A teenage girl’s life is turned upside down when her long-estranged mother returns to the isolated family farm, revealing a dark past. Sophia Lauchlin Hirt; Billy MacLellan; Charlie Kerr; Michelle Morgan; Sandi Somers, director. Adult themes. Canada

Download our 2018 festival program.

PARKING TIPS: SANTA MONICA.