THE JESSICA CABIN was the winner of BEST FEATURE FILM at the LA LGBTQ+ Film Festival.

https://www.instagram.com/marykateandashtray

Director Biography - Daniel Montgomery

Daniel Montgomery is an LA-based director/writer/actor known for his work in the worlds of comedy and horror. A USC School of Dramatic Arts, NC School of the Arts and UCB alum, Daniel is the artistic director and writer of LA’s premier immersive theatre company JFI Productions (Creep LA, The Willows). He is also the co-founder of sketch comedy duo turned production company Mary-Kate and Ashtray. Recent work includes award-winning short film Tall Betsy and onscreen in HBO’s Barry.

Director Statement

I wrote and directed The Jessica Cabin in the heart of the pandemic. My time stuck inside was measured by a listlessness and unsettlingly deep introspection that permeated my days: these are the bones of this film. I felt like a ghost. So I wrote about being one.

Inspiration also came from outside of myself. Shortly into the pandemic, two of my best friends, both in their early 30s, came out: one as gay, the other as non-binary. I was moved to create this film as an opportunity for them to be authentically represented onscreen for the first time. (They star in the film)

So, if those elements are the bones, the heart of this film is the universal desire to intimately connect with others. To be seen. And find reciprocated love. Everyone in the film is looking for a connection, and somehow the wires have gotten crossed. At times, to the extreme. I was inspired to portray this theme in every color: dark and light, grounded and fantastical.

Most importantly, I wanted to make a (slightly) spooky film that's decidedly queer: where the "fear" and drama doesn't come from the horror being queer; rather it's just an aspect of the characters' lives. Or, in this case, after-lives.

I hope you chuckle a few times, I hope you get the tingles, and I hope you disappear for a little while.
But not forever.

Film playing on the Film Festival Streaming service later this month. You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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MUTINY! is the winner of BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY at the July 2022 LA COMEDY Film Festival. Conversation with director Matthew Gratzner who is a fountain of insight with his multiple years working in the industry on many top film productions.

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Director Biography - Matthew Gratzner

MATTHEW GRATZNER | Writer/Director
IMDB: https://imdb.to/3gTjaVc

Matthew’s foray into entertainment started in theater growing up in Miami, Florida, where he dove headfirst into writing, directing and acting— ever the resourceful artist, he also designed and built costumes, sets and props to further his vision.

Leaving Miami to pursue filmmaking in Los Angeles, Matthew started briefly as an actor, acquiring his SAG card in Mel Brooks’ Robin Hood: Men In Tights.

Realizing quickly his passion was directing, he shifted to working behind the camera. Opportunities led to work in visual effects where he flourished as an art director, visual effects supervisor and co-founder of the Academy Award winning, New Deal Studios, Inc. (www.newdealstudios.com).

Between VFX projects Matthew directed several commercials and short films. After a number of successful years, Matthew decided to leave VFX to focus solely on writing and directing. Then the opportunity with the film, The Aviator, started a 10 year relationship with Martin Scorsese as a key member of Rob Legato's VFX team as Visual Effects/Miniature Effects Supervisor as well as Visual Effects Art Director.

Matthew was integral to creating scenes such as the horrific plane crash in The Aviator, the many subtle effects shots in The Departed, realizing the eerie environments for Shutter Island, and creating the epic train crash in Hugo.

He received a BAFTA nomination for The Aviator for best VFX, and Emmy nomination for best VFX on the Tom Hanks/HBO miniseries From the Earth to the Moon. Matthew also received a Clio and a Cannes Golden Lion for commercials as well as multiple VES Awards. Matthew is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

While Matthew never attended film school, he felt being on set with Martin Scorsese was a master class in filmmaking— which encouraged his passion to create content— pioneering cinematic virtual reality and co-writing and directing two independent feature films currently in post.

Matthew loves and feels most comfortable working with actors-- and thinks that while visual effects, art direction and stunt work are all extremely important visually—without the emotion of compelling characters and a strong story, a project’s success is diminished greatly.

Matthew also has several projects in development with his latest company, Proof of Concept Entertainment, Inc. (www.proofofconceptent.com)

Film playing on the Film Festival Streaming service later this month. You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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From October 15, 1979 to January 16, 1992, El Salvador endured a civil war. More than 8000 people were forcibly disappeared, over 80,000 died, 1 million were displaced, and 500,000 were internally displaced. The Woman in White is a short documentary, produced by Jaberi Dance Theatre, that explores the true story of a nurse and mother, Juana Irma Cisneros Ticas, who was captured and forcibly disappeared in El Salvador during the Salvadoran Civil War.

"What an incredibly poignant film – it’s an amazing piece of work."
—Samer Muscati, Human Rights Watch

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Director Biography - Roshanak Jaberi

Roshanak is an Iranian-born Canadian artist, producer, director, and a Dora nominated choreographer and performer with a career that spans over 20 years. She is also the founding artistic director of Jaberi Dance Theatre, based in Toronto. Described as a “force to reckon with,” she has created and co-created over 30 works in dance, visual arts, film and music, has performed in numerous dance works, and has presented her work in Canada and internationally.

Roshanak is the recipient of the ISPA-International Society of Performing Arts Global Fellowship (2020, 2021) and the Chalmers Arts Fellowship (2019), and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honours from York University. She has been a guest speaker and lecturer in various forums, and her work has been referenced in adult education courses and in critical pedagogy at the University of Toronto.

Director Statement

We often hear stories about victims of forced disappearance, but rarely do we experience them from the perspective of their families who are still searching. This photo exhibit and film offers an intimate look into a daughter’s journey through love and loss, and her quest for justice. The items featured in these photos–an ID card and graduation cape–hold special memories and are among the few remaining pieces belonging to Juana Irma.

Film playing on the Film Festival Streaming service later this month. You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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Conversation with directors Christian Montoya Johnson, Anton Ransom & the subject of the film Manny the Tru MC, a poet with Cerebral Palsy.

WHERE THERE'S A WHEEL THERE'S A WAY was the winner of BEST SHORT FILM at the August 2022 LA Feedback Film Festival.

"If you have the heart of determination, there is no such thing as limitations". -- Manny the Tru MC. This film is a testament to human determination and what is possible with a positive outlook and refusal to make excuses for your current circumstances. You will laugh. You will cry. You will leave grateful. Where There's a Wheel There's a Way.

Film playing on the Film Festival Streaming service later this month. You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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THE LAST CHAMPION was the winner of “Best Feature Film” at the Sports & Recreation Film Festival. Conversation with co-writer and actor Hallie Todd on the making of the film from creation to editing.

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“A former championship wrestler is forced to face his past when he returns to the hometown he left in disgrace twenty years earlier. Can he become the hero his town expected… or will he remain a prisoner of his past mistakes?” Directed by Glenn Withrow. Starring Cole Hauser, Peter Onorati, Randall Batinkoff, and Hallie Todd.

Film playing on the Film Festival Streaming service today. You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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SIGNAL DARK was the winner of BEST DIRECTION at the June 2022 FANTASY/SCI-FI Festival.

“Lucas Anderson is an insular IT technician whose life is turned upside down when he stumbles across a mysterious email and its reality bending contents.”

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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GHOSTLY LABOR: A DANCE FILM was the winner of BEST FILM at the WILDsound Film Festival.

“Ghostly Labor: A Dance Film” explores the history of labor in the US–Mexico borderlands through Tap Dance, Mexican Zapateado, Son Jarocho, Afro Caribbean movement, and live music. This work brings together polyrhythmic movement and an original score to look at the (ongoing) years of systemic exploitation of labor while highlighting the power and joy of collective resistance.

Based on farmworker interviews in California, this excerpt honors the sacred hands that feed us and was filmed on a farm with support from Ayudando Latinos a Soñar (ALAS), a non-profit advocacy organization for farmworkers in Half Moon Bay, CA. A full-length dance theater production of Ghostly Labor will premiere in 2023.

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You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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ONLY HUMAN was the winner of BEST FILM at the WILDsound Film Festival.

Conversation with director Katerina Giannakopoulou and the creative team.

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Director Statement

The first episode of the documentary series “Only Human” introduces the moving stories of refugees. Their escape from their native countries, their journey to hope, through danger and desperation and their challenging start in an unfamiliar culture.

When Germany opened its borders to refugees six years ago, the non-profit organization "music4everybody! e.V." initiated a series of musical projects with young refugees and native peers. These projects use art to create a safe space, where they could get closer and learn more about themselves and one another. With the guidance of professional coaches and social workers, these musical
projects focus on building bridges between people from a variety of cultural backgrounds through the process of creating art together. The artistic modes of expression, such as singing, acting, and dancing, require a deep and trusting connection with oneself and others. Therefore, they are particularly powerful in building bridges between cultures and individuals.

My collaboration as a multidisciplinary artist and director with music4everybody! started in 2014. Since then, I have contributed to more than 100 music theatre projects as a choreographer, coach, or director. It has been a privilege for me to work and grow as a human being alongside the team and the participants, as well as share my own experiences and work on my own traumas. Art offered us increased inner peace through the processes of expression and creation.

CineMars were the obvious partner of choice because of their familiarity with the participants and being an integral part of the music4everybody! community since 2018. This was vital to provide a secure space in which the participants could feel supported enough to share their journeys with us. CineMars’ motto ‘filming for change’ captures their goal as a production company, creating films with a social impact.

In the first part of “Only Human” we wanted to show ten people - ten cultures - ten destinies. In combination, their work enabled them to recount their stories and illustrate that art truly has a very special healing power. This empowered them to help others, turn darkness into light and unite us. The interview approach for this film was crafted to achieve the highest impact, fully integrated within the structure of slow cinema. This gives viewers a deeper understanding of the humanity of each of the participants as they recount their experiences of escape and immigration. Every word spoken was carefully considered and delicately woven into the shots we chose, allowing a more powerful and profound perception of each participants’ experiences within their unique stories.

Although the movie is very much a documentary, we agreed that an artistic presentation of the emotional truth and impact of each participant’s story would reach viewers far more directly than a simple ‘free’ interview structure. We were very careful to support the emotional significance of each story with its own color palette and mood depending on its theme. The documentary itself is a testament of how creating artwork based on real life experiences and emotions is cathartic and healing. It was important to me that the creation of the film itself be a healing process for the participants and not a situation in which they might be re traumatized. In this sense, the film is both and functions as an artistic work and process, which includes all the participants as well as the viewer. Watching the film, hopefully, will make the viewer slow down enough to really absorb its human impact and realize how much we all want the exact same things - no matter where we are from, or which side of the camera lens we are on. We all want to be seen, heard and respected, whilst being allowed to retain our dignity, love and be loved.

Ultimately, my hope is that “Only Human” allows us a moment, through artistic expression, to be reminded that we are not so significantly different from others. The universal language of art and music lets us communicate and maybe share a space where freedom is accessible and boundaries don’t exist, aiming towards and re-imagining a better world … together.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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THE DOOR was awarded BEST PERFORMANCES at the June 2022 LA Feedback Film Festival.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt17055052/?ref_=nm_knf_i1

Director Statement

The Door is a proof of concept short film created in the hopes of finding funding or a distributor for a feature film that has been in the works for over 5 years. This short is an altered version of the beginning of the feature film. There are many more mysteries to unravel and explore.

This short in particular is incredibly personal. It’s essentially how I view the concept of death. After losing people very close to me in the winter of 2020, I made this as a way to cope with and accept what happened. This film is very special and personal to me. Although it will never be explicitly stated in the film, The Door is an allegory for death and my view of it. When someone dies, they’re taken from you. Out of the billions of people on the earth, at some point our loved ones will be “chosen”. They will be taken from us and sent into the unimaginable void that is death. Are they okay wherever they are? Will we ever see them again? To me it’s almost like they pass through a door, never to be seen again. Death itself is not evil, it is natural. It comes for us all no matter how we lived in life. No matter how good you are or how evil and vile you are, you will not be spared by your own mortality. I’ve always viewed horror as an exaggeration of our reality. Our everyday fears translated into things that are larger than life. I want to incorporate these very thoughts into the film.

Something as simple as a door can be terrifying if perceived in the right context. As odd as it sounds, I see a stationary door as the perfect embodiment of death itself. Wherever it may be, no matter if you see it throughout your life or only at the very end, it is always out there. Patiently waiting until it is your time to open it up and pass through.

This short film is dedicated to everyone we lost and those we wish to see again.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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LAST DAY ON EARTH was the winner of BEST DRAMA FILM at the July 2022 ENVIRONMENTAL Film Festival.

https://instagram.com/lastdayonearthfilm

Director Biography - Christian Jacob Eisenbarth

Christian is from a small town in in rural Wyoming. Majoring in Audio Engineering and Music Technology, it gave him the opportunity to work for some of the biggest recording studios in the world in Los Angeles. Having a background in music, sound design, and photography, gave him a unique story telling perspective. He has always had a passion for nature and protecting the environment.

Director Statement

My name is Christian, this film was inspired by a 2 day solo trip I took to Washington to visit the Olympic Peninsula to go to a rain forest for the first time. I had never seen a place more beautiful in my life; to my dismay, I discovered that most of Washington is victim to commerical logging, completely destroying the natural habitat.  The stark contrast between life and death deeply inspired me that I needed to do something to stop this.  While in the forest, I had a vision of an old man experiencing his last day on earth, an idea I felt could help rebuild this devastated ecosytem and touch the heart of millions. I felt chosen by nature to be the vessel in which this story is brought to life.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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PUT AWAY was the winner of BEST PERFORMANCES at the June 2022 FEMALE Film Festival.

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Director Biography - A. D. Cooper

From a copywriting background, A. D. has written and directed a string of short films and longer theatre productions. Many of her films have been screened at international film festivals and won a number of awards. More info at https://hurcheonfilms.com

Director Statement

During the lockdown, I wondered how the isolation I felt could be worse. This is a proof of concept for a feature project set in the same location.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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THE LAST PICTURE was the winner of BEST DIRECTION at the June 2022 FEMALE Film Festival.

Ally May attended the UCLA Writing Program, the Academy of Film Writing, SF Film School, the Directing Actors Workshops and Sundance Directing Actors Programs. Ally has written 7 award-winning screenplays. She has been an Athena Finalist, Austin finalist, ScreenCraft Finalist, Page Finalist, Final Draft Finalist and more. Ally has directed 6 short films which have placed in festivals including - NOLA, Napa Film Festival, Sonoma Film Festival, Oregon Film Festival, Toronto Independent Film Festival, Los Angeles Independent Film Fest and more.

Watch the Festival Today. You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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TRAMPS LIKE US us the winning TV PILOT from the Black & White Film Festival. Interview with Julian Hoxter followed by the best scene reading.

Watch the screenplay reading: https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/tramps-like-us-tv-pilot

“The diverse crew of the tramp steamer Stella Maris sails into fantastic danger in the South Seas in this horror adventure set in the 1930s.”

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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12 SHADES OF GREY was awarded BEST FILM at the June 2022 SCIENCE & NATURE Festival.

Watch the Short Film Trailer: https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/12-shades-of-grey-short-film-trailer

“To have followed mainstream media for best on four decades, together with countless films and television programs relating to the Great White Shark, its no surprise that the overwhelming public and social sentiment is one of fear and loathing.

In a similar light to foreign and domestic governments inoctrinating the populations to despise a supposed enemy, the Great White has become the common foe of people throughout the globe. There appears to be a gap between public sentiment and the views of scientist and shark enthusiasts across the board. The question remains, how to we bridge this gap?”

Conversation with Anthony Gordon on the making of the film.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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WE ARE THE APOCALYPSE ! was the winner of BEST DIRECTION at the June 2022 WILDsound Festival.

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“An “arts collective” turns to terrorism to enact a grand scheme of social justice, but their plans go awry when they realize they’ve been conned from within. With nothing to lose, they change tack and return to what they know best.”

Director BIO:

Charles is a New York based television producer, writer and director, living in Jackson Heights, Queens. Working mostly in the true crime genre, he has produced programming for ABC, CBS, NBC, Identification Discovery, CNN and the Oxygen Channel. He also has an extensive background in theater and music, which he draws from in his writing.

Playing at the Festival APP today! You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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ME & ME played to rave reviews at the June 2022 CHICAGO Feedback Film Festival.

https://vimeo.com/477883126

Me and Me is a short film about reconciling the person you were with the person you will become. It's also about time travel... sorta.

Conversation with animator Jason Spizzo on the making of this project.

Playing at the Festival APP next month! You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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SUCCUBUS was the winner of BEST PERFORMANCES at the June 2022 HORROR Underground Film Festival.

https://www.instagram.com/succubus_short/

Once again, Lauren is dragged on a night out with her drunken roommate. Tensions rise as the two realize they share an interest in the mystery man at the bar. Jealousy sparks a sharp twist, sending Lauren into a dark void of insecurities, traumas, and a looming sense of anxiety as she tries to survive the night.

Director Biography - Taylor Weiss

Taylor Weiss is a 21-year-old filmmaker based in Southern California. Born and raised on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, Taylor is a senior at Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. After producing several Independent student films throughout college, she made her directorial debut, an experimental short titled “Succubus”. Taylor is currently developing her thesis film “Splinter” set to film in February 2023. As a filmmaker, her main goal is focused on gaining more experience as a Director.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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MAGNETIC was the winner of BEST FILM at the July 2022 CRIME/MYSTERY Film Festival.

https://www.instagram.com/magneticshortfilm

Director Statement

I wanted to explore the positive power of nightmares - in this case set in the context of post-domestic violence and move away from stories of victimhood and towards transformation.

Conversation with the filmmaker on the making of the film.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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OUTSIDER played to rave reviews at the June 2022 ANIMATION Film Festival.

“The magic between ‘frames’ acts on clay, the table becomes a contradictory object that can be soft and hard. Some people get into it, but others are not. There is no differentiation between superior and inferior or right or wrong in this place, but how we face the world.”

Conversation with Shuo Liu, the one man filmmaking machine, on his individual pursuit making this film.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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July 14, 2022 - Filmmaker Trevor Courtney & Music Supervisor Paul Dowling (THE ROCKER AND THE PUCA)

Matthew Toffolo

THE ROCKER AND THE PUCA was the winner of BEST SOUND & MUSIC at the June 2022 FANTASY/SCI-FI Festival.

“Animation/Family/Fantasy Short Film. A Teenage busker Jack is driving the locals mad because he plays only one tune. So, when a shape shifting trickster known as 'Puca' appears and promises Jack a cap full of coins in exchange for playing a single gig, Jack can't say no.”

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Conversation with director Trevor Courtney and Composer & Post Sound Editor Paul Dowling on the making of the film.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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