A short film festival created to tear down the systemic barriers that discourage young artists from the art of creation, THE FUTURE OF ART, amplifies new voices that need to be heard. With absolutely no cost to participate, we have gathered artists across multiple mediums into specific groups to create a short film. From producers, to directors, to writers, and everything in between, artists started from scratch to create a new film with an entirely new group we have put together. And for one night only, we would like to showcase what these artists have come together to create.

As we enter a new wave of creativity with our generation, THE FUTURE OF ART aims to create the space for all to share their stories. This idea originally began as a way for us to create art with friends, and then we realized if others were having the same difficulties as us, why not create the opportunity for more to join, to network, and to grow. Now more than ever, we need to be generating atmospheres that allow artists to create without fear. No fear of failure, of embarrassment, of anything, because we offer learning experiences across multiple disciplines.

With your donations to our short film festival, you will be providing artists with the opportunity to showcase their work with the world-- and for some, this will be a world premier/ debut of the films. From event location, to concessions, to photography (making this memory last forever), to providing as much funding possible to each short film group, YOU will be helping magic happen. We cannot do this alone. We don't want to do this alone. This is for all the creatives out there in our community that want to see artists thrive despite socioeconomic challenges that prohibit us from being the natural born filmmakers we are.

The Future of Art is here, now, tapping on your screen. Be a part of the change. Help make art accessible.

**Promotional Partnering with The Club

If you'd like, read below to learn more about the stories of select short films we will be presenting and the mission that drives it's purpose:

★Fleur - Sandra Aka

Mission / Artistic Statement

Through the lens of comedy, drama and experimental structures, my work reflects the questions I grapple with about family, home, identity, belonging and balance between keeping family roots and planting new seeds to bloom elsewhere. There is always an attempt to imbue life into the spaces and objects that surround me, shaping them into vivid characters within stories. At the core of my cinematic vision is a passion for telling African diasporic and transnational stories together with visualizing black people in all of their senses and sensibilities.  

Short bio of your previous work

I have a portfolio of feature length screenplays that span a range of narratives, from teenagers facing prejudices at school due to their accents to the dilemma faced by immigrants whose legal status in the United States lapses forcing them to choose between love and liberty. I also wrote and directed, ‘‘Her Two Right Hands’, a film centered around a woman struggling with self-care who gains another pair of hands when she finally requests time off.  

Why you think the film you are currently making needs to be seen / heard // mission behind the film 

Inspired by the declaration that most men only receive flowers at their funerals, ‘Fleur’ was written. In this film, the exploration of flowers extends beyond their literal representation; I delve into them as symbols of validation, support, acceptance and understanding. Why do we receive less when we’re alive than when we’re dead ? Through the poetry of daily existence and humor, ‘Fleur’ urges individuals to actively involve themselves in the personal and artistic endeavors of their loved ones. 

How funds will help the project 

Funds are essential for ensuring smooth execution of all production stages, from pre- to post-production, enhancing the film's overall quality. Acquiring ample flowers for set design enriches storytelling, with botanical elements symbolizing character journeys. Additionally, funds enable provision of props and costumes, enhancing actor immersion and film atmosphere. Securing funds is also crucial for sustaining cast and crew well-being during the intensive three-day shoot, ensuring everyone receives nutritious meals.

What inspires me?

The poetry of language inspires me. This ability to make words sing and people feel. In the visual medium of film, I want my movies to evoke deep experiences, even when eyes are closed. Furthermore, I try to stay open to the world so that even an encounter with the color blue can inspire a story. 

How you feel storytelling is an essential part of our culture 

Storytelling is an essential part of our culture because it allows each one of us to share ourselves with the world. It signals to the world who we are through our creations and contributions to the world. Through storytelling, we are no longer just created but creating things. 

★Walk Like A Man - Shelby Green 

Why you think the film you are currently making needs to be seen/heard // mission behind the film 

The mission of this film is to blend gender roles and effortlessly blend masculinity and femininity while still being funny and entertaining. 

How funds will help the project 

The entire cast and crew worked for free and all costs came directly out of my pocket. The costs included renting camera equipment, rehearsal space, and a set to film on. Any funds will go towards paying for those out of pocket costs. Anything additional will be equally distributed back to the cast and crew. 

What inspires you 

In the age of hyper self expression and everyone having so much to say and having such easy access to platforms to say it I am keenly interested in expression and feeling through the body. Artists like Charlie Chaplin and Donald O’Connor, who were not necessarily dancers, but used their bodies to express so much really inspire me. 

How you feel storytelling is an essential part of our culture 

Life is storytelling. History is just stories that are true and without the ability to tell our stories we will not be able to have empathy for what people have gone through. 

★The Collector - Tom Marin

Mission/artistic statement from the director

What started as a spontaneous shoot to merely test the color capabilities of our newest camera, turned into a lovely short film following the daily life of a physical media collector in his natural habitat. Featuring/written by Dan Levine and shot/edited by Tom Marin – this short is proof of what can be done with just two people and a camera. No stock audio or footage, no artificial lighting, just natural sights and sounds. Truly a happy accident in the artistic process.

Short bio of your previous work

Suspension Media is a video production company where innovation and storytelling come together. We offer a wide range of creative services including videography, photography, editing, visual effects, FAA-licensed drone content, motion/graphic design, as well as production management. Bridging the gap between storytelling and story-making (in other words creative and production) for our clients: local businesses, global brands, artists, non profit organizations, real estate, and live events. We bring people's visions from concept to fruition, all under one roof, while making the process both enjoyable and easy. Anything is possible when you suspend a little disbelief, and everyone has a story that deserves to be told no matter what industry, demographic, or place you’re in.

Why you think the film you are currently making needs to be seen/heard // mission behind the film

In the age of artificial intelligence, streaming platforms, social media, and minimalism that we currently find ourselves in – the maximalist physical media collector truly stands out as a modern enigma. A late millennial/early zillennial clinging to the world he knew as a child, despite the clutter it may bring with it, is something we can all relate to in some form or another. We as humans find serenity in a comforting past more than a chaotic present or uncertain future. The world as a whole, the stories we consume, and the way we consume them are evolving at a rapid pace unlike ever before. Even technology and tales from the early 2000s are perceived as antiquities in the 2020s. No matter how old, we all find ourselves feeling behind or pulling the "when I was a kid..." card ad nauseum. A wild phenomenon that can be difficult to reconcile, much less find time to process. While there was no apparent mission beyond camera-testing when we initially set out to shoot this day-in-the-life short, it ended up revealing a universal truth that stuck with us: sometimes the most genuine stories are the ones that don't require planning or fabrication, just a camera and an interesting subject to follow. 

How funds will help the project

Any funds would go toward further distribution of the short, as well as submitting to festivals. 

What inspires you 

As a production team, we (Dan and Tom) are most often inspired by each other which is what allows us to work so well together as friends and collaborators. From spontaneous ideas, to intricately planned-out narratives, and everything in between. Additionally, we find a great deal of inspiration in the subtle and generally overlooked nuances of daily life in NYC, Colorado, and abroad. There's a story in everyone and everything, depending on how closely you look and –more importantly– listen. 

How you feel storytelling is an essential part of our culture 

Storytelling is everything. It defines the way we conduct our lives, interpret our natural thoughts/emotions, and reflect on the past/present/future. Sharing stories with each other is the most intrinsically human act we take part in, and it is absolutely essential to our culture. Storytelling transcends time and space, with the power to unite people from all walks of life – whether close in proximity or thousands of miles away.

★Uptown Girl - McKenna Dersam

-Support my first short film, Uptown Girl! In collaboration with New York based creative community, The Club, I have been blessed with the tools of the people and collaborative ideas for this project but am in need of funding to see it to fruition. Art is important! The future of art is in your hands ;) 

-Previous work includes writing, producing, and co-directing The Club Cabaret, Co-producing Home: An Art Exhibition, Margot in The Better Part (2022) feature film, Anne Frank in SMU Theatre’s The Diary of Anne Frank, and Eponine in Les Miserables. 

-I believe Uptown Girl is a film that should be seen by any young woman struggling with her 20s, mental health, and remembering what it means to follow your dreams. 

-Fueled by making art a lifestyle, I am inspired by the human experience and the natural wonders of the world. I love the joy of creativity, I am deeply passionate, and I will follow my heart wherever it takes me.

-Storytelling has always been apart of our culture. From written text, to music, to pieces of theatre, dance, opera, and film. It has the power to change, challenge, and inspire us if we allow ourselves be vulnerable enough to accept what is being told. 

★Killing Vogue - Jonas Whalen 

Artistic statement from director/writer

Combining artistic mediums and pushing to never compromise the quality of one medium for the other is where I find the most fulfillment and success in my art. This is also the direction I think art is heading, a multidisciplinary market of multifaceted artists who understand visual mediums, storytelling structure, performance theory and anything else they can find to study and practice. That’s the art world I wanna live in.  

Short bio of your previous work

My work in recent years includes being a founding cast member of Circus Foundry, working 8 years as a stagehand & carpenter with IATSE Local #7, performing a featured act with Circo Hermanos Corona and in the first Club Cabaret from The CLUB, and taking part in the development and creation of the entertainment department as a Cast Lead and the Entertainment Coordinator for the recent reopening of Casa Bonita. 

Why you think the film you are currently making needs to be seen/heard // mission behind the film 

This film needs to be shared to show audiences that unconventional performance mediums can be used in narrative film to create a new form of multidisciplinary storytelling. 

How funds will help the project 

Funds for this project will be used to directly compensate actors, a videographer, and a post-production editor. The initial production budget , including a minimum $50 stipend for all cast and crew, is being funded by the writer/director. All additional funds donated to this project will be distributed between all cast and crew equally after the donation period has ended and funds have cleared. 

What inspires you 

The discoveries and progressions we make in daily practice, cultivating a routine of activities that stimulate creativity and learning is what inspires me. 

How you feel storytelling is an essential part of our culture 

I think storytelling is how we save important aspects about life within our culture. How we maintain the lessons that remain important and need to be shared even when their outright announcement is out of fashion or shameful. Don’t get taken advantage of, don’t accept any false rulers, create your own success - things that we can be or should be proud of in our culture. It’s also where we question the voids in our culture - Why does our success blind us to others suffering? Why do we never feel sated in our pursuits?

★Stained - Karima Kakori

Mission/artistic statement from the director

An artistic multi-hyphenate, Karima's passions traverse a diverse spectrum encompassing theater, digital media, and visual art. However, at the core of every endeavor beats her unwavering commitment to accessibility and inclusiveness. Her identity as a first-generation artist deeply informs her mission to create spaces where underrepresented voices are not only included - but amplified and celebrated. Through her work, she strives to empower individuals who have historically been marginalized within the artistic landscape.

Short Bio of Your Previous Work 

Karima Karkori is a director, producer, and writer based in Brooklyn, New York. Notable credits include assistant director for "South Pacific" at Goodspeed Opera House and serving as the inaugural Directing Apprentice on "Light in the Piazza," "Oliver," and "Dear World" at New York City Center. Additionally, she produced the short film "June," premiered at LA Short, and is currently proding a play for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2024.

Your support will play a vital role in elevating our short film project to its fullest potential. By contributing, you're enabling us to enhance every aspect of our production - from securing top-tier equipment to assembling a talented cast and crew, and post-production editing.

What Inspires You 

I actually based my short film off of a quote "A true artist is not one who is inspired, but one who inspires others” (Salvador Dalí). I am constantly inspired by my environment, sharing stories, and celebrating the human experience. Moreover, my inspiration stems from my roots, which are deeply intertwined with my identity as a first-generation artist. In the art I create I strive not only to express my own ideas but also to inspire and connect with audiences on a deeper level.

How you feel storytelling is an essential part of our culture 

I believe story telling is how we pass down wisdom, learn from our history, and foster empathy and understanding. Thought storytelling we are able to connect across different generations, languages, and borders by finding common ground in our shared human experience. 

★ Augmenting Realities - Joe Cahill 

Artist Statement 

My mission is to create art that brings people together. My collaborative projects involve many artists of different backgrounds to achieve a vision only possible with their help. My medium for creating is musical composition and filmmaking. My process is to write a  piece of music and build a story around it.  

Music can be a pathway into our subconscious mind to help us create or unite us. It is the  medium that makes the most sense to me. I cannot sit at a computer and write a story without  writing the music. When listening to music, writing a story becomes second nature. 

Through my compositions and stories, I want audiences to feel empowered and accept  every part of who they are. I want them to feel the importance of human connection and never let  that go.  

Short Bio of Your Previous Work 

The last project I directed and created was a unique musical experience titled: "The  Galaxy Brain Experience.” This 45-minute musical involved a twenty-person cast and crew that  combined elements of hip-hop music, chamber music, animation, and dance. It followed our  main character, Astris, on a psychedelic journey into space, where she learned to love herself  while living alongside her mental illness. This blend of art forms and exploration of mental  health issues set it apart from conventional musicals.

This musical premiered at the Charm City Fringe Festival in October 2023, where it won  “The Audience Choice Award.” I also made it into a concert film, and it has been selected as a  “Semi-finalist” for the Indie Short Fest and the San Francisco Arthouse Short Festival.  

What Inspires You 

The inspiration for “Augmenting Realities” came from a thought-provoking Apple Vision  Pro commercial. The ad's main sales pitch was to enhance human connection, which irked me.  How can a product that covers half of your face enhance human connection? This insight  sparked the concept for our film, which aims to explore the potential consequences of such  technological advancements on our society through song and dance.  

In addition, the theme of my story is heavily influenced by the episode “Striking Vipers”  in Black Mirror. The juxtaposition between what the user experiences in the video game and how  it looks externally is deeply disturbing, and my film will play with it.  

Why do you think the film you are currently making needs to be seen/heard //  mission behind the film.

Audiences will see this film and feel the importance of human connection. The vision pro immerses us in our own realities, taking us out of the one we live in. In the film, we will see how wearing the Vision Pro will obstruct dance, a bridge for  human connection. If every dancer dances to their own music, how will they connect? 

How you feel storytelling is an essential part of our culture 

Storytelling opens our minds and teaches us life lessons on a subconscious level. It can be  used as a device to help us relax, work through our issues, or learn something new. Most  importantly, it can bring a bunch of strangers into a theater and give them something to talk  about. 

★ I Put on Sunscreen Everyday - Grace Brady

"The reality of mental illness often gets lost in trendy psycho-babble. Misrepresentations of mental illness in film confuse viewers, spread false understanding, and leave those suffering feeling even more alone. 

“I Put on Sunscreen Everyday” seeks to harness the power of film to extend and deepen understanding of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) by portraying a contained moment of obsession and compulsion.

This piece was written and directed by Grace Brady. Grace studied Psychology and Media and hopes to combine both areas in artistic projects like this one. With industry experience in development and content creation, this is her first project as director. Grace is inspired by what unites us in the human experience and how stories breach time and place to create connection. Differences are real but so is understanding and stories line the pathway to understanding and to peace. 

This project uses lighting, cinematography, setting, sound, and editing among many other tools to communicate the anxiety around an obsessive thought and the struggle to take even one step forward. The goal is to help the audience feel a little bit of what OCD could feel like to inspire empathy. Carefully crafted by students and unemployed LA transplants, financial support for this film means you agree that the world needs this kind of understanding. Monetary support will go towards gas money and the artists who want to continue this important work of growing understanding through film. “

★ Nothing Felt Like Her - Lu Fine + Annabella Leonetti

Artist statement:

Lu Fine (they/them) is a Brooklyn based writer, director, and gaffer from Hood River, Oregon. Lu’s work is inspired by awkward stories of self-discovery, transness, and displacement from home.

Bio of previous work:

Lu's directing work has been screened at The San Francisco Transgender Film Festival, as well as at the Tag! Queer Shorts Festival. In collaboration with indie-rock band Talon, Lu's debut music video, 'Blondie', has been released on online platforms, and premiered at TV Eye in Brooklyn. You can also find their prose work online at The Fiction Pool.

Why you think the film you are currently making needs to be seen/heard // mission behind the film:

Our goal is to fill a hole in queer cinema and present a relatable piece of film to a sapphic audience who rarely get to see themselves on the big screen.

How funds will help the project:

Funds would help us send deferred payments to our incredible crew!

What inspires you:

I'm inspired by my talented community of filmmakers who are dedicated to producing meaningful, honest, and invigorating cinema. 

How you feel storytelling is an essential part of our culture:

Telling honest and unbiased queer stories is crucial to liberation from a heteronormative framework of cinema.

Artist statement:

Annabella Leonetti (she/her) is a New York City based Writer and Producer. Annabella's work aims to highlight and celebrate stories of those who are underrepresented in Film & TV, with emphasis on queer and sapphic stories. 

Bio of previous work:

Annabella's professional background in Film includes several years working primarily as a 1st/2nd AC and Camera Operator. Some of her professional credits include Television shows filmed at the Universal Studios Stages & Backlot in Los Angeles, CA, as well as several music videos, on-camera dance concept videos, and indie short films. More recently, Annabella worked for NBC Universal in Late-Night Comedy, on shows such as Saturday Night Live. Transitioning from the Camera Department to Writing, 'Nothing Felt Like Her' is her first narrative project as both a Writer and Producer. 

Why you think the film you are currently making needs to be seen/heard // mission behind the film:

Our goal is to fill a hole in queer cinema and present a relatable piece of film to a sapphic audience who rarely get to see themselves on the big screen.

How funds will help the project:

Funds would help us send deferred payments to our incredible crew, as well as help us pitch 'Nothing Felt Like Her' as a proof-of-concept to be turned into a Feature Film. 

What inspires you:

We are inspired by our talented community of filmmakers who are dedicated to producing meaningful, honest, and invigorating cinema. 

How you feel storytelling is an essential part of our culture:

Telling honest and unbiased queer stories is crucial to liberation from a heteronormative framework of cinema.

★Confession - Christopher Sibona

Artistic statement:

           I make it because I truly do not think there is another option for me. It is and always has been, the main way I have been able to exist anywhere outside of the confines of my own skull.

           I make because I want to understand myself and I make because I want to understand people who are nothing like me. I want to know the world and why it is and who else is here with me. 

          I make because I know art is a community and I want to be part of the conversation.

Short bio of your precious work

          All of my previous works are linked by deep character exploration and an apparent love of one word titles, they include the short films: Abyss (the story of a man stuck in a well with his own demons), and Messy (the story of one woman’s odyssey of discovery after a breakup), as well as the short play Monster (about a man being interrogated by police over the death of wife). 

Why you think the film you are currently making needs to be seen/heard // mission behind the film 

       I believe that the learn from our mistakes, and that perhaps, the only truly safe space to make a mistake where you don’t hurt anyone in the process is within fiction. 

        Confession is a story about one of the biggest mistakes anyone can make: failing to see other people as fully and human as we see ourselves.

             Or at least not until it is already far too late…

         This is a cautionary tale with a message that I feel has always and will always be relevant to us as a society. This is why I choose to tell Confession and why I hope you choose to help us.

How funds will help the project 

         Funds will be used to cover a wide range of production needs, including:

• Compensating our talent and crew
• Securing shooting locations 
• Transit costs 
• Special effects
• Props
• Technical equipment 
• 
  

What inspires you 

While I was writing the script:

• Carrie
• Psycho
• A half remembered dream
• The idea for our opening shot that I’m honestly really excited to show everyone

While I’m making the short film:

• My Producer Nadel Henville and my DP Ronnie Gilmore- they’re work, energy, and craft has already taken what started as 8 pages and helped to grow it into so much more and I feel very privileged that I get to watch them both weave more of their magic in the work that’s yet to come for us.

Constantly:

• My partner, Claire.

How you feel storytelling is an essential part of our culture 

       Storytelling isn’t an essential part of our culture, it is our culture. 

        Our beliefs are the stories we tell ourselves and our collective beliefs are what intertwine together like muscle and sinew to birth the Tulpa that is our society.

         Everyone contributes to this God-Tulpa and has a role in the chorus whether they know it or not. Storytelling, in its more standard definition, is how to try to serve the song.