The Greenwich
International Film Festival (GIFF) celebrated its
sixth anniversary and Luxury Experience was there to help celebrate albeit
virtually, with their inaugural Virtual Film Festival, due to the
2020 coronavirus pandemic. Over the course of three days, May 1 - 3, 2020, we
watched 25 out of a possible 29 films offered, with lots of popcorn eaten to
accompany the screenings. Documentaries, Narrative Films,
and Short Films deftly captured our attention and kept us glued
to our seats. Luxury Experience is proud to share our film highlights
from the Greenwich International Film Festival 2020.
The Greenwich International Film Festival is held annually in
Greenwich, Connecticut. Celebrating its sixth festival in 2020, Luxury
Experience has had the pleasure and honor of attending this exceptional festival
for the past 4 years. For 2020, with the coronavirus pandemic forcing the
cancellation of gatherings, the fearless female-founded Greenwich International
Film Festival team, decided that the "show must go on" and presented a virtual
film festival.
We had the pleasure of partaking in the 2020 Greenwich
International Virtual Film Festival and screened 25 out of 29 films presented
over the course of 3 days, from May 1 - 3, 2020. We watched films in all
categories including documentaries, narratives, and shorts. Of course, lots of
popcorn was consumed as we binge watched these amazing the films.
GREENWICH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL RECIPIENTS OF THE 2020
VIRTUAL FESTIVAL AWARDS:

A PELOTON OF ONE
A PELOTON OF ONE, a documentary feature directed
by Steven E. Mallorca and John Bernardo, won the new JP Morgan Chase Audience
Award which is accompanied by a $1,000 cash prize.
MUSIC GOT ME HERE, a documentary feature directed
by Susan Koch, received the Festival's Best Social Impact Film Award
presented by the Bill & Ann Bresnan Foundation. This prestigious award is
accompanied by a $10,000 cash prize.
THE OTHER SIDE, a short film directed by Josh Leong,
received the Best Connecticut Short Film Award, presented by the
Connecticut Office of Film, Television & Digital Media and will receive a
$1,000 cash prize."
A FEW OF THE AMAZING FILMS LUXURY EXPERIENCE SCREENED
DOCUMENTARY FILMS
BASTARDS'
ROAD, Social Impact Award Nominee, USA. Directed, produced, and edited by
Brian Morris, Screenwriter: Mark Stafford, Key Subjects: Jon Hancock, Brian
Britton, Dustin Kieschnick, Seth Bai, Roseanna Powers, Dianne Layfield, Chris
Macintosh, Taylor Wiley. BASTARDS' ROAD is the heartbreaking
story of Marines veteran Jon Hancock, who survived intense combat battle then
struggled for several years in his attempt to return to civilian life. As a way
of regaining power and control of his life and fighting his demons, he undertakes
an epic journey walking across the United States. His journey will take him almost
6,000 miles stopping along the way the way to visit his fellow 2/4 Marines, a
unit called The Magnificent Bastards. His walk not only provides him with the comfort
of reconnecting with his fellow Marines, it is also about his survival, and ultimately
his redemption, as he in turn helps his unit and the families of fallen 2/4
Marine brothers.
BULLIED, USA. Directed,
produced, and edited by Thomas Keith, Director of Photography: James Bustamante
and Ray Wolf, Key Subjects: Jennifer Pozner, Kirk Smalley, Carol Todd, Ron Avi
Astor. BULLIED is a
powerful portrayal of bullying in the United States and how it negatively
affects the lives of its victims, their families, and those who must live with
the shame and consequences of their actions whether the bullying is done
in-person, by handwritten notes or email, or by social media. With bullying
victims as young as 8 years committing suicide because they are no longer able
to cope with the abuse, the film opens one's eyes that this very real and rampant
issue must be stopped immediately and forever.
DRIVEN TO
ABSTRACTION, USA. Directed, produced, and edited by
Daria Price, Directors of Photography: Peter Sova and Daria Price, and Key
Subjects: Patricia Cohen, Michael Shnayerson, Eileen Kinsella, Laura Gilbert,
Luke Nikas, Martha Parrish, James Kelly. DRIVEN TO ABSTRACTION is
the amazing story of an incredible forgery in the art world, a scandal that
rocked the art world to the tune of $80 million. Who was to blame for this
elaborate hoax that brought down the highly renowned and venerable Knoedler gallery
in New York, which opened in 1846 and closed in 2011 amid lawsuits of fraud and
forgery? Was it the gallery for not demanding proof of authenticity of the paintings
from the con-artist who brought a seemingly endless collection of paintings
throughout the years to the gallery to sell stating that the paintings were from
an anonymous collector? The artist who made the convincing replicas of paintings
by Jackson Pollock, Lee Krasner, Mark Rothko, and many others, painting them in
his home in Queens, New York and supplying them to the con-artist? Or perhaps, should
blame be laid at the foot of the collectors who clamored for the opportunity to
add these rare abstract paintings to their collections, paying several million
dollars for them, without requiring authenticity from the gallery? Whatever the
backstory, it was an incredible hoax that that brings the proverb, caveat
emptor (buyer beware) prominently to mind.
FOR WALTER
AND JOSIAH, USA. Directed by Jamie Elias, Producers: Trent Cooper, Benjamin
Blank, Jamie Elias, Addison Neville, Kurt Anderson, Editor: Stephanie Yang,
Jamie Elias, Director of Photography: Addison Neville. FOR WALTER AND
JOSIAH opened our eyes to the fact that the state of Montana
has the highest suicide rate in the United States, with Native American
reservations ranking at 22% higher than the state rate. This heartbreaking film
focuses on the suicide of two beloved members of the local high school
basketball team and how the team rallies up to honor their friends and find
strength and purpose in their own lives.

MUSIC GOT ME HERE
MUSIC GOT
ME HERE, Best Social Impact Film Award Winner, Family
Friendly, USA, English with occasional subtitles for clarity. Director Susan
Koch, Producers: J. Wendy Thompson- Marquez, Gary Mather & Christina Co
Mather, Lysa Burke Hutton, Teresa Wheeler, Zak Kilberg, Irwin Winkler,
Screenwriter: Susan Koch, Editor: Georgia Koch, Directory of Photography: Neil
Barrett. Key Subjects:
Forrest Allen, Tom Sweitzer, Rae Stone, Kent Allen, Austin Allen, Tolliver. MUSIC
GOT ME HERE is the incredible story of Forrest Allen, a personable
athlete who has a horrific snowboarding accident at the age of 18 that results
in an extremely traumatic brain injury that will forever change his life and
that of his family. Trapped in his body without use of his limbs or voice for
nearly 2 years despite 15 surgeries and various methods of physical therapy,
his mother contacts music therapist Tom Sweitzer whose own life was "saved" by
music. This bittersweet heartbreaking story is the power of the human spirit
and the positive impact that music can make and change our lives.
NARRATIVE FILMS
THE BLACK EMPEROR OF BROADWAY, USA,
Drama. Director/Screenwriter: Arthur Egeli, Producers: Arthur Egeli, Heather
Egeli, and Judith Richland, Screenwriter: Ian Bowater, Editor: Philip Norden,
Director of Photography: Jonathan Mariande, Key Cast: Shaun Parkes, John
Hensley, Nija Okoro, Liza Weil, Nick Moran, Nick Dorr, Eve Annenberg, Alexandra
Foucard, Heather Egeli, John Clayton, Lonnie Farmer, Tim Misuradze, Sarah
MacDonnell, Daniel Washington. THE BLACK EMPEROR OF BROADWAY is
the story of actor Charles S. Gilpin who rose to fame and became "the most
famous Black man in America. In 1920, his portrayal of Brutus Jones in Eugene
O'Neill's play, The Emperor Jones, was hailed as "revelatory." He became the
first African-American dramatic star in a lead role on Broadway and was named
one of its finest actors." By 1930 however, this talented actor's career was on
the decline.
FAMILY MATTERS (HEMELRIJKEN), US Premiere - Netherlands/Drama/Dutch with English subtitles. Director:
Stanley Kolk, Producer: Floor Onrust, Screenwriter: Chris Westendorp, Editor:
Moek de Groot, Director of Photography: Luuk Zonnenberg, Key Cast: Esmée van
Kampen, Jennifer Welts, Maarten Heijmans, Tim Olivier Somer, Ayrton Kirchner,
Fred Goessens. FAMILY MATTERS (HEMELRIJKEN), is a film about
family obligations to one another, as in, I am my brother's (or in this film),
my sister's keeper. When Kelly is released from prison, her sister Samantha takes
the financial responsibility of taking care of her even at a huge cost as she
is barely making it herself. Kelly's brother has a wife and although better off
financially than Samantha, he sees no reason why his own family should do
without to help Kelly. With no one else to turn to, Samantha sees it as her
responsibility to help Kelly as she believes that is what families do for one
another. She provides Kelly with food and a place to live, and finds her a job,
it is not long before bad girl dreamer Kelly takes up dealing drugs again, and life
continues to downslide from there at a cost to all.
TEAM MARCO, USA, Family, Comedy, Drama. Director: Julio
Vincent Gambuto, Producer: Sam Sandweiss, Screenwriters Julio Vincent Gambuto,
B.R. Uzun, Editor: Nick Garnham Wright, Director of Photography: Powell Robinson,
Key Cast: Owen Vaccaro, Anthony Patellis, Anastasia Ganias-Gellin. TEAM
MARCO centers around a divorced mother, her hyper-technology obsessed
pre-teen, and her recently widowed father who comes to live with them. Fun and
games start when the grandfather demands that his sedentary and isolated
grandson put aside technology and virtual friends and accompany him to watch he
and his friends play bocce. With much effort, real and lasting friendships
develop over the time-honored game of bocce.
BEST CONNECTICUT SHORTS FILMS
CONVICTION, USA, Documentary,
21 minutes. Director: Jia Wertz, Producer: New York Film Academy, Editor: Jia
Wertz, Director of Photography: Trishna Mahtani, Key Subjects: Jeffrey
Deskovic, Dan Horace E. Anderson Jr. CONVICTION is about Jeffrey
Deskovic who was wrongly convicted at age 16 of the rape and murder of a fellow
classmate and sent to prison for 16 years. This film shows his courageous
spirit that ultimately prevailed in his fight for freedom. Tragically, while he
was incarcerated, the actual murderer committed a second murder while Jeffrey
was serving time.
ELVIS, USA, Drama,
Comedy, 16 minutes. Directors: Matt Valade, Connor Rog, Producer: Cathryn
Schara, Screenwriter: Matt Valade, Editor: Connor Rog, Director of Photography:
Andrea Van Niekerk, Key Cast: Doug Goldring, Jenn Sapozhnikov, Anthony Misiano,
Kam Perez. ELVIS: A dog is man's best friend, and Elvis is clearly
Doug's much-beloved dog. When Elvis dies, Doug has a hard time dealing with his
loss that is compounded by a senseless robbery at his home. When his neighbor's
dog also suddenly goes missing, Doug rises to the occasion.

THE OTHER SIDE
THE OTHER
SIDE - Best Connecticut Short Film Award, USA, Ethiopia/Drama,
17 minutes. Director: Josh Leong, Producers: Sofia Bara, Bemnet Yemesgen,
Augustine Hong, Jonathan Ferguson, Khalil-El Ghoul, Sounil & Gracie Yu,
Daniel & Carolina Bara, Jin & May Leong, Screenwriter and Editor: Josh
Leong, Director of Photography: Tom Ingwersen, Key Cast: Ethan Herisse, Wayna,
Adonai Kelelom. THE OTHER SIDE was inspired by a true story. While
turning 18 in many countries is a time of celebration, for children living in
orphanages in Ethiopia, once they turn 18 years of age they must leave and live
on their own. For 2 brothers living in the orphanage, their only hope is that
someone will adopt them together rather than be separated. Will an adoptive
couple come before the older brother's 18th birthday or will he need
to leave behind his younger brother as he makes his way in the world?
WAX PAUL
NOW, USA, Comedy, Mockumentary, 16 Minutes. Directed, produced, and
written by Val Bodurtha, Sophie Mann, Rebecca Shaw, Editor: Debbie McMurtrey,
Director of Photography: Wolfgang Held, Key Cast: Val Bodurtha, Sophie Mann,
Rebecca Shaw, Paul Giamatti, Trevor van Uden, Richard Brevard. WAX PAUL
NOW is a bright and witty short that reminded us of a 1930s screwball
comedy in a good sense. Three friends visit Madame Tussauds Times Square in New
York, and when they discover that their favorite actor, Paul Giamatti, is not
among the celebrities featured, they start a campaign to have the museum
include him; the result is pure comedic relief.
Until next
time!
ABOUT THE
GREENWICH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
"Greenwich
International Film Festival (GIFF) is an all-female founded and run 501(c)3
non-profit organization that hosts a world-class film festival in Greenwich,
CT. GIFF's mission is to provide an effective platform for filmmakers to expose
their work, while harnessing the power of film to serve the greater good by
supporting causes that relate to basic human rights, education, the environment
and health care. In 2020, GIFF held its first-ever virtual Festival May 1st to
3rd, featuring an exciting line-up of narrative and documentary features and
short films from 8 countries, as well as exclusive interviews with film talent.
For additional information, please visit www.greenwichfilm.org."
For more information and tickets for the next
Greenwich International Film Festival, please visit the website: www.Greenwichfilm.org
Greenwich International Film Festival
0 Horseneck Lane
Greenwich, Connecticut 06830
United States
Telephone: +1-203-717-1800
Website: www.greenwichfilm.org
Instagram: @greenwichfilm
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Festival on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/GreenwichFilm
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