Washington DC Independent Film Festival 2009

Award winning documentary Caught in Paint captures painter/sculptor Rita Blitt painting on transparent surfaces while the David Parsons Dance Co. dance in mid-air thru the painting imitating Blitt's paint strokes. Photographer Lois Greenfield shoots dynamic stills during the process. Genres: Alternative, Educational, Women, Dance, Independent, Mature/Adult List of Festivals and Awards for Film: Cleveland Film Festival 03/2004 Aspen Shorts Festival 04/2004 (Grand Festival Award 2004) Ojai Film Festival 10/2004 Berkeley Film Festival 10/2004 (2004 Grand Festival Award in the Arts) Cinema St. Louis 11/2004 High Falls Film Festival 11/2004 Contact: Rita Blitt Production Company: Rita Blitt, Inc. Distributor: Crystal Productions Agent: Amy Woodworth Director's Biography: Rita Blitt has been creating art her entire life, having first been encouraged by the Kansas City Art Institute at age nine, where she continued studying after attending the University of Illinois and graduating from the University of Missouri at Kansas City. Blitt’s films are an outgrowth of her paintings and sculpture, which are in private and public collections worldwide. Her films have been shown in over 120 film festivals, including Cannes, 2008. Her films, paintings and sculpture have received numerous awards. Blitt creates her art in Emeryville, California, Aspen, Colorado and Leawood, Kansas. Filmmaker Rita Blitt will be available on webcast.

A couple argues over the road sign they pass on their way home through the woods, 'S-L-O-W. O-W-L-S,' exposing the cracks in their relationship as they stubbornly refuse to see the signs of trouble ahead. Click Here To View the Trailer on YouTube Genres: Drama, Horror, Magical Realism Contact: Anna Siri Production Company: Carney Ride Creations, LLC Director's Biography: Wade Carney is the writer/director of the short films The Matter (2007) and The Bonding Agent (2008), and the director of the forthcoming feature-length romantic-dramedy Picking Sagittarius, currently in post-production. Wade has also worked extensively in the theatre as both actor and director, having studied acting while obtaining his degree in Radio/TV/Film from Northwestern University (1997). He is currently a freelance director and developing his own upcoming projects. Director Wade Carney & producers Elizabeth Kirkscey and Anna Siri will be in attendance from 3/6 - 3/8.

An award winning surreal animation that describes how romance is like a chainsaw: a very dangerous beast indeed. Genres: Anime, Dramedy List of Festivals and Awards for Film: Stuttgart International Animation Festival 05/2008 Oberhausen International Short Film Festival 05/2008 (Grand Prix) Annecy International Animation Festival 06/2008 Huesca International Film Festival 06/2008 (Grand Prize) Worldwide Short Film Festival Contact: Fiona Cochrane Production Company: f-reel pty ltd Director's Biography: Born in Ipswich, Australia: 1951. After graduating from Queensland University in 1970, Dennis Tupicoff worked as an archivist and teacher before making his first animated film in Toowoomba. He moved to Melbourne in 1977 and completed the Swinburne Film and TV School animation course. After working as writer/director/producer of his own films as well as TV commercials and other commercial and sponsored work, he was appointed Lecturer in Animation at the VCA School of Television (1992-4). Since then he has continued making independent films as writer, director, producer, and (often) animator. These have been both fictional and documentary, animated and live-action, comedy and drama – and sometimes inventive combinations of various categories.

Detroit is a city that has lost a million people since the 1960s. Today, less than a million people remain. We know a lot of bad things happen when a city clears out. But is there anything good about it? This personal documentary from a life-long Detroiter looks at the plus side of having a "city to yourself." Genres: Independent List of Festivals and Awards for Film: Detroit in Focus 12/2008 Contact: Nicole Macdonald

Code Name: Butterflies tells the powerful story of the Mirabal sisters of the Dominican Republic who in the 1950s, under the code name 'Butterflies', created a secret resistance movement against Dictator Rafael Trujillo. When the tyrant had the women assassinated, a country rose up against Trujillo and he was killed. The courage of these women, simple wives and mothers who helped bring freedom and democracy to their country is legendary. Genres: Educational, Hispanic, Latino, Third World, Women, Human Rights, Independent, Student, Youth/Teen, Period/Historical Contact: Cecilia Domeyko Production Company: Accent Media Productions Filmmaker Cecilia Domeyko will be in attendance.

An award winning short that recounts the life of Justin Sayer who struggles with a mental illness that has consumed his life. Genres: Supernatural List of Festivals and Awards for Film: Philadelphia Independent Film Festival 06/2008 (Official Selection) Accolade Film Competition 06/2008 (Best of Show & Honorable Mention - Direction) Action on Film Festival 07/2008 (Best Actor - Brad Renfro / Best Sound Design) HollyShorts Film Festival Contact: Dempsey Tillman Director's Biography: Dempsey James Tillman is the writer, director and editor of the short film "Collector" starring Brad Renfro. Dempsey works as a crew member in the Los Angeles film community. Some of his biggest inspirations in the directing community have been Sam Raimi, Peter Berg, Robert Redford and Len Wiseman.

Writer/Director Adrena Ifill brings us a documentary about the life of Robert Smalls, whose courageous journey from enslavement to election helped shape American democracy into what it is today. Elected one of the first ever African American Congressmen in 1875, Smalls fought tirelessly for civil rights during his five terms in office, and paved the way for current African American politicians like President Barack Obama. This documentary, narrated by actor Sean Patrick Thomas, explores the leadership and legacy of Smalls. Director's Biography: Adrena Ifill has over 15 years experience in documentary video production, marketing, and public relations. In 2002, she founded DoubleBack Productions, LLC due in part to the inspiration and enthusiasm for history passed down to Ms. Ifill by her parents. DoubleBack Productions, LLC manages and consults with cultural and history projects utilizing the benefits of technology to restore and preserve less widely known events in the history of the African Diaspora. Its mission is to inform, preserve and provoke discourse across the globe. A graduate of the competitive Documentary Center of George Washington University in Washington, D.C., Adrena also holds an M.B.A from Howard University and B.A. from Williams College in Massachusetts. She is a board member of the Humanities Council of Washington, DC and the Black Collective for DC History. In addition, she serves on the Alumnae Board of Holton-Arms School. March 13th: Attendees/Panelists: Adrena Ifill – Director/ Exec Producer, Talaya Grimes – Associate Producer, Lindy Birch Director of Special Events & Projects Office of the House Majority Whip Rep. James E. Clyburn.

Luz and Lola are finally going to join their Mami in the United States. But before they can reunite, the young girls must use their wits and courage to overcome the dangers of the road to El Norte. Genres: Alternative, Drama, Latino, Underground, Women, Human Rights, Independent, Student, Youth/Teen, Children Animation, Children Contact: Summer Simpson Student Film