Indie Memphis 2008

David hosts a potential new fling Brandi, and a definite old friend Eric on the same weekend. A coincidence in scheduling that leads to personality conflict. An unrelated epilogue to the feature film, TEAM PICTURE.

Attempting to get some perspective on the passing of a monumentally bad year, the filmmaker gives a true-life account of what went wrong and when. Did it kill him or make him stronger? Winner, Li'l Film Fest 8 !

REGIONAL PREMIERE The story of the residents of a black neighborhood in Julia, South Carolina who are being forced out of their homes to make way for a multimillion-dollar golf course development. Race relations are strained just as they were thirty years before when a black civil rights activist was assassinated in the town. GOSPEL HILL’s characters’ lives intertwine to create a gripping, revealing and dramatic tale touching on issues of race, eminent domain, and the power of the human spirit to overcome the pain and hatred of division. Director's Bio: As an actor, Giancarlo Esposito has distinguished himself in such film’s as THE USUAL SUSPECTS, Wayne Wang's SMOKE and THE LAST HOLIDAY, opposite Queen Latifah. He has also starred opposite actors Paul Newman in TWILIGHT and Clive Owen in DERAILED. He received a nomination for an Independent Spirit Award for his performance in FRESH and his memorable performances in several Spike Lee movies are legendary, including: DO THE RIGHT THING, MO’ BETTER BLUES and MALCOLM X. His extensive career in television includes most notably, “Homicide: Life on The Streets,” “Law and Order” and “Kidnapped.” GOSPEL HILL is his feature film directorial debut.

The mafia Don, finds new ways to entertain himself and punish his victims. The roots of the game goes back to centuries but the improvisations are his own. The stakes are high and the game isn't always fair. Are you ready for the challenge?

Heavy Load are Lewes' answer to the Ramones, a punk outfit subject to the combustible flux of ego, ambition, fantasy, expectation and desire that fuels any emerging band. But they're also, uniquely, made up of musicians with and without learning disabilities, which makes the bands' survival a precarious negotiation between two different worlds: on the one hand the institutional timetable of day centers, work placements and social workers; on the other the chaotic slacker life of rehearsal rooms, studios and gigs. Home life and band-life; from invisibility to stardom of a sort and back again. Director's Bio: After ten years as Producer-Director of broadcast documentaries with a focus on arts, mental health and education, Jerry Rothwell co-directed (with Louise Osmond) the documentary feature, DEEP WATER, released theatrically in the UK by Pathe in 2006 and by IFC in the US in 2007. DEEP WATER won best feature documentary at the 2006 Rome Film Festival and a Grierson Award for best cinema documentary 2007. Directing credits prior to this included "The Late George Shaw," a half hour film for Channel 4's Art Show series, two short films in the Modern Painters series for Channel 4 and "Fact Plus Fiction" for the Arts Council/Channel 4. Jerry is now in pre-production on THE GREAT ETHIOPIAN RUN and GREENPEACE - HOW TO SAVE THE WORLD.

REGIONAL PREMIERE Meet Ryan Avery – the milk and cookies connoisseur, the photo booth artist, the fake mustache aficionado, and the punk rock performance artist. Faced with the battles of adolescence, Ryan takes happiness into his own hands, determined to make his life awesome. Discovering the therapeutic power of entertaining others, he begins a constant involvement in a preposterous number of bands, performance groups, and art projects, steadily pushing the boundaries of decency, absurdity and safety – forcing all in his path to consider the universal question: “What is art?” Some herald Ryan as a creative genius. Others consider him a nuisance that poses a danger to himself and others. One thing is certain – his antics and chosen path to find “Pure Awesome” have left an indelible imprint on his city’s art scene. HI MY NAME IS RYAN gives a glimpse into this cherubic lad’s life and his madcap quest for happiness. Sponsored by Les Edwards & Emily Trenholm.

Told in a lyrical multi-textured fashion built on a narrative poem, HOLLYWOOD JEROME is the story of a 14-year old who is enthralled and bamboozled by pop-culture depictions of gang culture. When he finds himself the focus of a police standoff he must decide which are stronger, his fantasies or his dreams.

REGIONAL PREMIERE Shot in Nashville, THE HUMAN TRACE is a mystery / thriller where the murder victims are found with no apparent cause of death. Because local law enforcement is under suspicion, county detective Kyle Fishburn is sent undercover to find the killer. Kyle discovers a frightening twist to Solace’s secrets when he realizes that the murders are not standard homicides. An evil is gripping the town, and soon it will come for him.