Post started September 6, 2023

POST UPDATE Oct 12th

The 26th Annual FirstGlance Film Festival in Philadelphia October 5-8 2023 will take place at PFS Bourse 400 Ranstead St Philadelphia PA.

Their official film selections have been chosen, after which, the directors of FirstGlance Andrea DiFabio and Bill Ostroff send word to the filmmakers to contact Tinsel & Tine if they’d like to participate in our 5 Questions Series. Last year (FirstGlance 25th Annual), I did the interviews in person on opening night. It was fun meeting and filming all these creatives, but afterwards, there was just too much editing to be done and regretfully, I only had time to post a scant few of the interviews; a year goes by so swiftly!

This year, I decided rather than written form or live interviews, I would have the filmmakers film themselves answering the 5 Questions. I realize I’ll most likely get fewer responses, but the ones that have been sent are fantastic!

5 Questions for Filmmaker Keith Andreen – MAYFLY

TRAILER | Website: Mayflyshortfilm | Instagram | Facebook | IMDb

Screening Saturday, October 7, 2023 7:30pm (Runtime 27 min) – Tickets

Film Synopsis: Best-selling self-help author Aaron Driscoll may look like a successful motivational speaker on the outside, but inside, he hides a dark secret that he thought would remain buried deep in his past. After a long day of talk shows, book signings, and motivational speaking, he returns home to his mansion and passes out, only to be startled awake by what initially appears to be an obsessed fan holding him at gunpoint, demanding the truth about his shameful past. This harrowing encounter forces him into a painful reckoning that will either kill him or be his salvation.

T&T: In a nutshell what was the main inspiration for Mayfly and/or the theme that is the heart of your film?

T&T: Tell us a bit about the music (Who did you work with? What did you want to convey? Or any other tidbits)

T&T: What’s been the most memorable response you’ve received thus far from anyone after seeing your film?

T&T: Give a quick shout out to your creative team and anyone who helped get your film from an idea to FirstGlance Film Festival

T&T: Name 5 of your favorite films which influenced your desire to be a filmmaker?

All wonderfully answered in video above ⬆️

Cast: Warren Kole, Katrina Law (Co/Writer), Grace Jenkins

POST UPDATE OCT 12th – CONGRATS!

5 Questions for Filmmaker Brian McQuery – PLEA

Screening Friday, October 6, 2023 5:00pm (Runtime 88 min) – Tickets

Film Synopsis: After 20 years in prison, a man wrongfully convicted of rape and murder is released. He reconnects with his now adult daughter and tries to rebuild his life. The victim’s husband has become a recluse, obsessed with a true crime documentary about the case, and tries to contact law enforcement to reopen the investigation, but they consider it closed. Then the prosecutor is kidnapped in a desperate attempt to convince her to find the real killer.

Director’s Statement: PLEA was written for personal reasons and while it is not my story, it is informed by some of my life experiences. I am the proud son of a Chicago Police Officer. In 2016, I was almost killed in a violent crime and had a low expectation of survival. During my recovery, my mother and I had to advocate for me with law enforcement and the criminal justice system, which was very frustrating. And for years I have transcribed interviews for true crime shows. All of this has been distilled into PLEA. My hope is that it sparks conversation and gets people talking about the problems with law enforcement and the criminal justice system in the United States of America.

T&T: In a nutshell what was the main inspiration for PLEA and/or the theme that is the heart of your film?

T&T: Tell us a bit about the music (Who did you work with? What did you want to convey? Or any other tidbits)

T&T: Was there a point where you almost didn’t finish PLEA ? And if so, what pushed you forward?

T&T: Give a quick shout out to your creative team and anyone who helped get your film from an idea to FirstGlance Film Festival

T&T: Name 5 of your favorite films which influenced your desire to be a filmmaker?

All wonderfully answered in video above ⬆️

Cast: Steve Mize, Anne Marie Howard, Eddie Kehler,Heather Langenkamp

5 Questions for Filmmaker David Michael Maurer
MENDO’S CAROUSEL

Screening Sunday, October 8, 2023 5:30pm (Runtime 12:55 min) – Tickets

Film Synopsis: This last year was a struggle and Liza finds herself at a breaking point. She drinks herself into an alcoholic fog and burgles a dry-cleaning business to “borrow” some cash, but before she can escape the scene of the crime, she passes out. The next morning, Arthur finds her hungover in the back of his shop… again. He demands she leaves but Liza quickly realizes she’s misplaced her bag with the stolen money and begins a frantic search to cover up her secret. Little does she know that Arthur has some secrets of his own.

Mendo’s Carousel is a film about honesty with ourselves and others, the secrets that keep us shamefully disconnected and the truths that bring us closer together.

Director’s Statement: The truth is… I’ve been grieving. Right before the pandemic started, my Grandmother passed away, a year and a month later, my Grandfather passed away, and right before we filmed my Uncle passed away. These three loving people always supported my passion for storytelling, they saw the best in me, and losing them became a catalyst to tell this short story.

In 2016 I found myself experiencing a different kind of grief, one where I had to say goodbye to my toxic best friend alcohol. In the process of getting sober, I had to come to terms with my truth, take responsibility for my behaviors and try to find ways to make things right wherever I fell short. Through Mendo’s Carousel, I wanted to share my experience with the power of getting honest and how it can lead to healing. When I keep secrets inside, I can feel disconnected, ashamed, or even resentful, but when I open up honestly, when I get vulnerable and let others in, there is a real opportunity for connection. Honesty is the antidote. There are so many ways in the world for us to tear ourselves and others down, to cause harm, and to numb the fear. I wanted to tell a universal story where people can make mistakes, make amends, and find new a new beginning.

I wrote the film keeping in mind three of the most honest actors I know: Edi Gathegi, Todd Grinnell, and Otmara Marrero. All three of these artists committed their hearts and talent to this simple story and I am so grateful for their loving care and generosity.

T&T: In a nutshell what was the main inspiration for Mendo’s Carousel and/or the theme that is the heart of your film?

T&T: Tell us a bit about the music (Who did you work with? What did you want to convey? Or any other tidbits)

T&T: What’s been the most memorable response you’ve received thus far from anyone after seeing your film?

T&T: Give a quick shout out to your creative team and anyone who helped get your film from an idea to FirstGlance Film Festival

T&T: Name 5 of your favorite films which influenced your desire to be a filmmaker?

All wonderfully answered in video above ⬆️

5 Questions for Filmmakers Writer Matt Steiner & Director Maren Lavelle
WENDY

TRAILER | Website: one-eyedrabbitwendyfilm | Instagram | Facebook | IMDb

Screening Saturday, October 7, 2023 2:00pm (Runtime 10:14 min) – Tickets

Film Synopsis: Wendy can see the exact way she wants things to go in her head, but when she opens her mouth everything seems to fall apart. So, when she develops a secret crush on Cassie, the lead actress in her middle school production of “Romeo & Juliet”, the stakes are higher than ever. Can she summon up the courage to let Cassie know how she really feels? Or is the risk of
humiliation just too high?

Director’s Statement: One of the big inspirations for Wendy was being able to create something that could give young Queer folks their own over the top, in your face, middle school love story. With an abundance of content out there featuring young boy-girl love stories as the main plot point, I wanted to give representation to the young Queer students that deserve to see themselves reflected on the screen.

But as far as actually taking the steps to produce the film, Cab Calloway School of the Arts, my alma mater in Wilmington, DE, and the Cab 8th grade theatre majors are what made me want to make this film happen! Once I started to ponder the idea of making this film at my old high school with the current 8th grade students, it just seemed like our team had to make the film and we had to make it now.

I was very focused on the educational aspect of providing the students with the experience of working on a professional film set at such a young age. I thought a lot about how amazing an opportunity like working on this film would have been to me at that age, as it would’ve opened up so many more possibilities to me than I knew were available at the time. I wanted these students to be able to experience that and see for themselves what it’s like to make a film from scratch!

Wendy should fill audiences with a sense of wonder, magic, and glee. I want LGBTQIA students to see their story fully realized in the film and I’m confident that non-LGBTQIA audiences will still leave feeling seen and recognized. It’s a relatable story–we’ve all had that deep, all-encompassing teenage crush that we can’t get off of our mind. I think we’ve captured that essence really well in this film. I hope audiences leave this film and share their own stories of their most wonderful and embarrassing moments with the crushes that shaped who they are today. -Maren Lavelle

Cast: Ava Ramey, Lexie Rubincan, Matt Steiner

T&T: In a nutshell what was the main inspiration for WENDY and/or the theme that is the heart of your film?

T&T: Tell us a bit about the music (Who did you work with? What did you want to convey? Or any other tidbits)

T&T: Was there a point where you almost didn’t finish WENDY ? And if so, what pushed you forward?

T&T: Give a quick shout out to your creative team and anyone who helped get your film from an idea to FirstGlance Film Festival

T&T: Name 5 of your favorite films which influenced your desire to be a filmmaker?

All wonderfully answered in video above ⬆️

POST UPDATE Oct 12th – CONGRATS!

5 Questions for Filmmaker Dan Jacobson – 1805

TRAILER | Website: 1805film.com | Instagram | Facebook | IMDb

Screening Sunday, October 8, 2023 5:30pm (Runtime 30 min) – Tickets

Logline: An enslaved couple risk their lives and love in pursuit of a narrow path to freedom.

Synopsis: In the North, the last states take their first steps toward abolishing chattel slavery; though it will be generations before they will free the last of their slaves. For Basammer, an enslaved man on Mr. Jared Corey’s Virginia plantation, that sounds close enough to freedom; and it’s but a few days’ march away, just across the Mason-Dixon line. He escapes with his secret wife Marfay, leaving the vainglorious Mr. Corey with none to punish (or profit from) but those that remain. The journey of Basammer and Marfay tests their love, pitting it against their morality as they battle both the laws of nature and the laws of man.

1805 was shot in eight days over a two-week period stretching from August 10-24, 2020, in-and-around Lancaster, PA. The production was filmed entirely outdoors due to the COVID-19 pandemic and contains no interior shots. Shooting locations included historic sites like Historic Rock Ford and the Hans Herr House.

Cast: Nathaniel J. Ryan, Michelle Kariuki, Ross Denyer, Frank Sean Johnson, Laurence James Sargent, Marian Edmiston, Brian Rock – BTS Interviews with Cast & Crew

T&T: In a nutshell what was the main inspiration for 1805 and/or the theme that is the heart of your film?

T&T: Tell us a bit about the music (Who did you work with? What did you want to convey? Or any other tidbits)

T&T: Was there a point where you almost didn’t finish 1805 ? And if so, what pushed you forward?

T&T: Give a quick shout out to your creative team and anyone who helped get your film from an idea to FirstGlance Film Festival

T&T: Name 5 of your favorite films which influenced your desire to be a filmmaker?

All wonderfully answered in video above ⬆️