3500+ Films - 2.5 million words – 1 million viewers! Founder and Curator Carmela selects some of our most talented Filmmakers to watch (1) at We Are Moving Stories. These include filmmakers Christina Raia, Marcellus Cox, Zeke Farrow and Nicole Jones-Dion.

Total length of this section: 20 films.

<CHRISTINA RAIA>

About A Donkey - An inclusive, ensemble comedy about flawed people stuck in various ruts and the donkey that joins their family to shake things up. Length: 1 hour 16 minutes. 20 Director/Producer Christina Raia:

“Our mission is to show that love is love, people’s lives and desires are relevant no matter their age, and struggling with depression is acceptable and normal. And sometimes just taking an action, even one as random as buying a donkey, is exactly what’s needed to get your life going again. I don’t think any film can truly be for everyone. But if any of what I said above resonates with you, then this film makes you feel good. And it may even make you feel seen.”

Affliction - Two coworkers contemplate the aftermath of an encounter. Length: 5.42 minutes. Writer/Producer Kelsey Rauber and Director/Producer Christina Raia:

“Kelsey: I think this film offers a different perspective on how we’ve been discussing consent. It leaves you challenging your own preconceived notion. It’s a quick but intense watch, definitely worth your time.

Christina: And even if it doesn’t challenge your personal perspective, I think it sparks dissection and creates pathways of approaching the subject with someone who maybe wouldn’t normally engage in such a topic.”

The Gaze - An actress is repeatedly catcalled on her way home from a shoot until just the right guy comes her way. Length: 5.25 minutes. Writer/Director/Producer Christina Raia:

“The ideas for my short films are often not something I’m actively looking for. Premises tend to just come to me, usually late at night when I can’t sleep as kind of paths for processing or channeling frustrations I’m feeling at the time. The Gaze was no different. I just started typing; and what came out was a little creepy, a little campy, and a lot of fun in the form of a meta-horror exploring and subverting objectification and the male gaze. When the setup and story excited so many people I told about it, I realized the film needed to be made.”

<MARCELLUS COX>

Mickey Hardaway - A Young Sketch Artist who visits a well renowned psychiatrist as his life begins sprawling out of control after years of Physical and Verbal Abuse has taken a toll on him. Length: 19.23 minutes. Writer/Director/Producer Marcellus Cox writes:

“It’s a relatable story that almost every one can attest to but I really want the audience to watch it as a teaching tool, a character study of how folks can be mentally broken, especially at an early age where it’s already hard enough trying to figure the world out. I want folks to understand that if they give certain people in their lives a chance before they crumble their hopes it could be beyond the sky’s limits. It’s a teaching tool that also deals with race and equality, watching people still have to fight just for the basic laws of justice and to be seen as a human being and not a piece of trash. ”

Living - is an award-winning short drama about an Angel's descent from Heaven to Brooklyn looking to clear the air, bridging a gap, finding common ground: addressing an important key of life between law enforcement and minorities. Length: 13:41 minutes. Writer/Director/Producer Marcellus Cox writes:

“Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.”

<NICOLA ROSE>

(Bloc et Blocage) - A young artist crosses an ocean in hopes of finding her lost creativity — literally. Length: 16 minutes. Writer/Director/Producer Nicola Rose:

“I wanted to make a film about a creative person who loses her creativity. It’s one of the hardest things to go through, since it’s where that sort of person lives. When she can’t create anymore, she doesn’t know what to do with herself. I was drawn to the story and character, and I wanted to see how she would get her inspiration back. Plus, I wanted to make a bilingual film that I could shoot partially in France and partially in the US, and I did.”

In the Land of Moonstones - A young girl looks back on her first love and her friendship with her Russian immigrant grandmother. Length: 38.11 minutes. Writer/Director/Producer Nicola Rose:

“I wanted to make a moment about the incredibly awkward, super-intense moment right between childhood and adolescence. In the Land of Moonstones is based on a short story that captures this moment in all its messy, romantic weirdness. I wanted to cast the film with child actors who were at this exact, fleeting stage of life (blink and you miss it!), and I found them. So we went ahead.”

Gabrielle - When 13-year-old Gabrielle signs up for ballet class, she encounters bullying both from her teacher and true friendship where she least expects it. A story about resilience, body image, finding what moves you, and knowing your worth. Length: 13.31 minutes. Writer/Director/Producer/Editor Nicola Rose:

“Gabrielle is — although not exclusively! — a film for children. It is definitely a film about children. My hope is that kids who’ve experienced something similar to what Gabrielle goes through will see the film and feel a little less alone. I want to get it into as many children’s festivals as possible.”

Goodbye, Petrushka - Claire moves impulsively from NYC to Paris, where she nannies for the family from hell, battles wacky French bureaucrats, embarrasses herself in front of her Parisian crush and navigates a toxic relationship - among other faux pas. Length: 1 hour 40 minutes. Writer/Director/Producer Nicola Rose:

“I wanted to tell a story about a young woman going through a very messy stage of growing up. I’ve always been attracted to coming-of-age stories, especially about girls and women, but speaking very generally, we don’t get to see women being messy and flawed and goofy onscreen. Yet that’s exactly how we often are in real life. I wanted to write about a young woman who was a total goofball, whose innocence bumps up against life and culture shock in an uncomfortable way. I wanted to make a comedy of errors and discomfort, and one where love doesn’t necessarily tie up with a bow.”

Daughter explores the way women are viewed in society by following three female characters on a Friday night out in on the town. Each woman varies in age, culture, wealth, education and social status, but on this fateful night, the women's lives will become entwined and affected by an act of violence. Length: 28.23 minutes. Writer/Director Sarah-Jayne:

“I want Daughter to be a part of a movement that promotes changes in our society in terms of how we view victim blaming and gendered violence in our communities and society as a whole. And equally important is how we start to educate our children on issues such as gender roles and respect for others which lead to violence in our communities if not talked about. We want to start a discussion and plant positive seeds. ”

Friends, Foes & Fireworks - Friendships, like fireworks, can fizzle or fly. Feature Film length. Writer/Director: Sarah Jayne & Ivan Malekin:

“The audience should watch this film because it is a character driven piece that reflects real life, the situations we find ourselves in and conversations we get pulled into while socialising with friends. Sometimes these situations force us to look at ourselves and our actions, sometimes the subject discussed is awkward, sometimes the conversation is fun and enjoyable and sometimes we hurt others with our words.”

Cats of Malta - Cats of Malta celebrates the Mediterranean island’s stray cats and the people who, through volunteering, art and folklore show the cats unconditional love and support. Feature length. Filmmakers Sarah Jayne Porteli and Ivan Malekin:

“You should watch Cats of Malta because it is not just a film about cats. Cat’s of Malta is a film about humanity and the connection between humans and cats set on an island that is unique and charming. It’s also very entertaining, features adorable cats and stories we hope are highly addictive like cat nip!”

<ZEKE FARROW>

Possessions - Zeke decides to sell everything he owns and make an art project about it. He soon discovers that some possessions are easier to get rid of than others. Length: 17:43 minutes. Writer/Director/Producer Zeke Farrow:

“I was sick. I couldn’t get out of bed. I was sleeping sixteen hours a day. Something was wrong with me. My doctor ran a bunch of tests and assured me there was nothing physically wrong with me. He told me I was depressed and I should think about adjusting my medications. I resisted at first, because when you’re depressed, sometimes the easiest things - like picking up the phone and making more doctor’s appointments - feel impossible.

So, there I was, lying in bed, and I looked around and saw all of my things, I’d collected over the years, my possessions. They were staring down at me... Like demons. And then it hit me. I suddenly knew what I was going to do. I was going to sell everything I own. I was going to sell everything I own and I was going to make an art project about it. ”

Megan’s Shift - It’s never too late to give up. Length: 10.52 minutes. Writer/Director/Star Zeke Farrow:

“One thing you learn serving hundreds of thousands of people over a career, is that people are horrible when they’re hungry. They don’t mean to be horrible. They just are. We all are. We can’t help it. I hope people who see Megan’s Shift think about their lives, their behavior, and how hard it is for their server to maintain a valuable identity while serving others. Also, I hope people relate to the story and believe that it’s true. ”

Ride or Die - Zeke and Christine thought their Doomsday escape plan was perfect… Until Kristin showed up. Length: 10 minutes-ish. Writer/Director Zeke Farrow:

“Do you have an escape plan for the fall of civilization…?”
<NATALIE RODRIGUEZ>

The Extraordinary Ordinary - Three young adults, their history with mental health, and how they cope with it through the arts. Feature length. Writer/Director/Producer Natalie Rodriguez:

“Something that an audience member can take away from the film is the reality that there is no ‘pre-requisite’ in one’s recovery or coping mechanism when it comes to anxiety and depression. Everyone’s journey is supposed to be different. However, that does not make one “damaged, doomed, or messed up”. At the end of the day, we all have “problems”, and no one is perfect or better than the other. I hope that is something in which the audience can take away from the characters – Erica, Bianca, and Alex – the core team who are individually coping with their own history with mental health and trauma, including both primary and secondary survivors.”

The D & The C-quel - In The D, a twenty-something-year-old cannot enjoy a kickback that his friends force him to have because his ex-girlfriend starts blasting "revenge" posts on social media. The saga continues in the C-quel with Omari and Calvin who awaken after a hard night of partying and deal with the aftermath of heartbreak and loss. Length: (The D) 13 minutes; (The C-quel) 15 minutes. Writer/Director/Producer Natalie Rodriguez:

“It could spark a conversation about how men, in general, deal with dating. That was something brought to my attention was how male characters are not typically given the validation when it comes to breakups, and are rarely told that it is ‘okay’ for them to grieve.”

Young Dario - In this twelve-episode Groundhound Day style story, a young Hispanic boy, named Dario, encounters various life situations. He turns to his Grandmother ('Abuelita'), who guides him through the travails of childhood. Length: 48.21 minutes. Writer/Director/Natalie Rodriguez:

“As of Hispanic descent myself, like DARIO, my cousins and I were close with our grandmother (Abuelita in the series). Like DARIO, many of us turned to our grandmother for advice or to simply talk about her upbringing and stories. Those were some of my cherished childhood memories. It definitely inspired the drive to bring DARIO’s story to life.”

<NICOLE JONES-DION>

SCARS - A suicidal young woman being held in isolation in a psych ward wakes up in the middle of the night to find a mysterious stranger in her room. As she struggles to unravel the mystery of the man's identity, she discovers he has a dark secret that inexplicably binds them together. Short film. Password-protected. Director/Producer Nicole Jones-Dion:

“Our goal in making SCARS is to present a different side of mental illness that isn’t often portrayed in the media. I think anyone who suffers from mental illness will see a little of themselves in this film. At the end of the day, we hope we’ve done the subject matter justice, and will help people understand and empathize with people who are struggling on a daily basis.”

In The Deathroom - Fletcher, a reporter from The New York Times, is captured by members of a South American dictatorship and brought into a "deathroom" for interrogation. Length: 18.47 minutes. Based on the short story by Stephen King. Password protected. Writer/Director/Producer Nicole Jones-Dion:

“If you’re into Stephen King, definitely check it out. But for non-horror fans, In The Deathroom isn’t your “typical” Stephen King story. It’s very much grounded in reality — there are no ghosts or demons, nothing supernatural. The monsters in this film are the people. Like in his stories Misery and The Green Mile, the horror comes from the atrocities that everyday people are capable of doing to each other. And like any good Stephen King tale, there are rich, layered characters and unexpected twists and turns along the way.”