FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
Venice, CA, March 23, 2004
The Other Venice Film Festival celebrated its inaugural season at The Electric Lodge March 19-21, 2004 with sell-out crowds.
The opening night feature film, Frankie & Johnny Are Married, directed by and starring local resident Michael Pressman with wife Lisa Chess as co-star, went on to win the Abbot for Most Excellent Feature, at the closing award ceremony.
The Abbot Award for Most Excellent Short Film went to life-long resident Stanley Mitchell for his captivating documentary Venice, America.
The Audience Choice Abbot Award went to Santa Monica residents: actor/director Marek Probosz for the world premiere of his feature film Y.M.I., and to brothers Alastair and Rob Thorne for their comedic short film tic(K).
Actor/Producer Chris Mulkey was honored at a special Saturday night screening of his classic independent comedy Patti Rocks, and received a Local Maverick Spotlight Abbot Award.
Rounding out the fun-filled weekend was a panel discussion on Breaking Through featuring: director and producer Tony Bill; Camryn Manheim, star of ABC’s The Practice; Sean Welch, producer of the documentary Spellbound; Chris Mulkey.
2004 Films & Schedule
Friday, 19 Mar, 8p – Opening Film & Party
Cramps on Milk
dir. Marianne Magne
Avant Garde short film
Lactose intolerant viewers need not watch.
Frankie And Johnnie Are Married
Winner – Best Feature
dir. Michael Pressman
prd. Alice West
Romantic comedy feature Two touching love stories of a husband for his wife and an artist for the theater. Hilarious cameos by David E. Kelley, Mandy Patinkin, Leslie Moonves and Hector Elizondo. Official website.
Introduction by renowned producer/director Tony Bill. Q&A after with Filmmaker Michael Pressman and Lisa Chess. After party with music, cocktails and mayhem to follow.
Saturday, 20 Mar, 2p – Competition Short & Feature
Jam
dir. Craig Serling
Dramatic short film
Unlikely companions find themselves in a debate over fatherhood, morality and the realities of delivering a baby in a sweltering, hot Winnebago. Official website.
Ghostown
David Ruiz-Marquez
prd. Hso Hkam
James Binaski
Horror/Gangster feature
From the colorful explosion of human tourists known as Venice Beach, comes an Urban Fable of The 90’s Pop Culture.
Saturday, 20 Mar, 4.20p – Short & Feature
Mementoke
dir. Alfredo Barrios and Matt Nix
Comedic stoner short film
A parody of MEMENTO, in which a man who smokes too much weed has trouble remembering things, but must figure out who ripped him off.
Man Woman Film
dir. Cameron Pearson
Comedic feature film
In this world of distraction, futility and bad poetry, French New Wave Cinema and tragic farce combine to produce darkly humorous results. Cameos by Cameron Diaz and Lee Arenberg.
Saturday, 20 Mar, 7p – Local Maverick Spotlight
Patti Rocks
dir. David Burton Morris
Romantic comedy feature film
Celebrating actor/writer/producer/musician Chris Mulkey. Film followed by Q&A with Chris Mulkey and co-writer Karen Landry.
Just when you thought sex was no laughing matter. Classic comedy from the late 80s was a Sundance Winner.
Saturday, 20 Mar, 9p – Late Night Short & Feature
Venice America
Winner – Best Short
dir. Stanley Mitchell
Political short documentary
A captivating documentary which explores the rich social and economic diversity that exist in Venice and the challenges its residents face in creating a healthier co-existence.
YMI
World Premiere
Winner – Audience Choice Feature Marek Probosz
Dramatic feature film
YMI is a visually arresting portrayal of dark forces that infect and exist in a huge sector of todayís youth worldwide. Comic and rueful, over-the-top and under-the-bottom, fantastic, impossible, and only too real.
Sunday, 21 Mar, 2p – Short Film Series
Laughing Millionaires
dir. Ross Manus
Animated/Live Action music video
Prepare to laugh hysterically as L.A.F.C.O. showcases its wide diversity of artists, including musicians, painters, dancers, actors, editors and comedians in a high-energy psychedelic ride.
tic(K)
filmmakers Alastair Thorne and Rob Thorne
Comedic short film
A loopy, Anglo-Appalachian comedy, about a womanís battle against her own biological clock. Set to a punchy bluegrass soundtrack and shot in a Victorian lunatic asylum. Official website.
Is There A Cure For My Friend
dir. Natasha Maidoff and Liza Lauber
Lyrical short film
This film is a poetic documentary about two best girlfriends and how their friendship is affected when one of them learns the other is HIV positive.
Out of Control
dir. Tao Ruspoli
Live Action/Animated short film
The organizers of this festival thought this film was a “hyper-frenetic journey into the cataclysmic divide between culture and the super-ego, set to a pulsing techno beat.” I thought it was just about a girl….
Hardcore Action News
dir. Niles Alpert
prd. Ed Lavelle
Mocumentary short film
A vulnerable pregnant teenager finds herself the unwitting subject of a bizarre exploitative news program that seeks to install the world’s first in-utero advertising system on her unborn baby. Official Website.
Succubus
dir. Bill Kelman
prd. John Venturini
Trashy sci-fi comedic short film
After a botched attempt to create a lesbian super-race in her back alley sperm bank, a mad scientist returns from the looney bin to finish what she started…global domination. Official Website
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