Short Films
Program 8 – “Houston Hitters”
Join us for a collection of short films made by some of the brightest and upcoming filmmakers.
Filmmakers will be in attendance for a post screening discussion.
Undocumented: A Dream of Education
USA / 2021 / 19 min / Documentary / Houston Premiere
Synopsis
This short documentary is a touching tale about the struggles of an undocumented Colombian immigrant and the dream of getting an education in the United States. Diana Barrero-Burgos shares her personal journey seeking education to obtain her American dream. Through this documentary, we hope to inspire and encourage the undocumented community with a successful story of grit, perseverance, and passion for education. Sí se puede!
About the Director
Elisa Herrmann is a filmmaker from Brazil, with a degree in Art Education from Federal University of Parana, a specialization in Audiovisual Communication from Pontifical Catholic University of Parana, and a Master of Fine Arts in Mass Communication and Media Arts from Southern Illinois University. Elisa is currently pursuing an EdD in Higher Education Leadership at Sam Houston State University. Elisa’s awarded short documentary “Rodrigo Herrmann – Life and Works” premiered in Curitiba, Brazil, during the prestigious 34th Music Festival of Curitiba, and screened at several international film festivals, including the 2016 Cannes Film Festival – Short Film Corner. Elisa is also an awarded screenwriter with her short screenplay “Death Expectancy” and feature screenplay “The Great Adventure of the Bentley Girls”. Elisa is an Associate Professor of Mass Communication and the Coordinator of the BA in Film at Sam Houston State University, where she teaches film production, advises students, promotes the program, and continues to produce her own films.
Marleny’s Secret
USA / 2022 / 6 min / Documentary / U.S. Premiere
Synopsis
After crossing the border and suffering deportation of her husband, Marleny Aleelayn was left alone in Houston, Texas with a newborn and no money. Ten years later, she became a successful executive with 25 million followers on social networks. In this short film Marleny will reveal how she tricked destiny and succeeded in the American dream.
About the Director
Andrea Sambuccetti is a psychologist, musician, journalist, editor and documentary filmmaker with a National Emmy Award.
Change Me
USA / 2022 / 17 min / Drama / World Premiere
Synopsis
Joshua Taylor, a young man who longs to fix his broken relationship, finds out his ex-girlfriend changed her personality using a groundbreaking futuristic medication. Joshua seeks answers from the personality change program searching for a way to possibly change her back.
About the Directors
Charlie G specializes in directing, cinematography, screenplay writing, producing, and editing. Within the past 10 years Charlie G has produced and directed music videos for national and international music artists and directed ads for companies such as the Houston Galleria. His latest achievements included many film festivals selections, and awards including a Best Short Film award for his 2021 short film drama 10th Floor which he produced, directed, wrote, and edited. He won The Best Video Editing award for the 2020 short film In My Head, starring Jason David Frank, the original green ranger from Power Rangers. He was also the cinematographer for the 2020 sci-fi action film Ark Exitus, starring Johnny Yong Bosch and Jason Narvy from the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. His latest film to write and direct, Change Me, is currently being submitted to film festivals.
The Music of the Wiwa People
La Música de los Wiwa
Colombia / 2022 / 12 min / Documentary
Synopsis
The Wiwa are an indigenous people living in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia. This short film explores the musical practices of the Wiwa Community of Gotsezhy. Wiwa music is directly related to nature, spirituality and healing. According to Wiwa mythology, their ancestral musical practices ensure harmony and well-being among all living beings by restoring order in the universe. The Wiwa live in remote villages of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta with limited influence from the outside world, holding on to their cultural and religious traditions. Although most members of this community learn Spanish in a small village school, the language of everyday communication is still their Wiwa language (damana). Their villages are part of a larger network of indigenous communities in this area and are largely self-sustaining.
About the Directors
Michael Brims is a documentary filmmaker & video artist from
Germany living in Houston, Texas. He is also an associate professor for Art, Communication & Digital Media Studies at the University of Houston Clear Lake. His documentary work focuses on Latin American musical traditions and as aspects of sustainability.
Jaime Bofill is a musicologist and an assistant professor at the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico. His research focuses on Latin American music and the relationship between sound, music and environment.
Wading for Change
USA / 2022/ 12 min / Documentary / Texas Premiere
Synopsis
For Latino conservationist and angler Jr Rodriguez to become “like the pictures he saw in magazines,” he had to leave behind what he loved the most. This is his story of pursuing his dream to become a fly fisherman and his efforts to make the sport more inclusive. By juxtaposing Jr’s origins in Houston, Texas, and his current home in the world-renowned fly fishing hub of Jackson Hole, we share his perspective of what it is like to participate in outdoor sports in Western mountain towns as a person of color.
About the Director
Sofia Jaramillo is a Colombian-American documentary photographer and filmmaker based in Jackson, Wyoming. As a Colombian-American, her mission is to uplift and tell the stories of BIPOC athletes in film and photography. Her mission is to tell the stories she wished she’d seen as a kid. Jaramillo got her start in photography working for newspapers and is trained in telling stories through still photography and video. She works as a Director and Executive Producer in filmmaking.
In the Forest of Nisene Marks
USA / 2022 / 14 min / Drama
Synopsis
A father and mother live off the grid in a forest cabin with their daughter Sophie. The parents have creative spirits and work as Clown Street performers. The combination of having such interesting, creative parents and the responsibility of being the only hearing member of the family has allowed Sophie to begin developing telekinetic powers.
About the Director
Jason Leal graduated in Marketing from the University of Houston and has written/directed five short films since entering the film industry in 2013. His work has won awards and screened in festivals domestic and international. Jason received two grants from the city of Houston and led four successful Kickstarter campaigns. His 2020 project, “Spindletop” is a period piece with over 100 cast and crew. The new project “In the forest of Nisene Marks” with all deaf cast has completed production in San Francisco Fall 2021.
