Slamdance Film Festival 2009

Two men walk through visually abstracted scenes that escalate a theme of frozen, manipulated time. Experimentation of in-camera techniques allow the men to manipulate and pose other people in the scene who are frozen in time. The poses come together to create a sculptural composition reminiscent of a classical painting.

Robert R. Mutt has never had it easy. His family thinks he’s a moron, the neighbors think he’s a pervert, and almost everyone else thinks he’s a total douche bag. He’s failed at everything he’s ever tried to accomplish, including his own suicide. If that wasn’t enough, he’s just been kicked out of the only place where he’s ever felt at home, the depression ward of the Riverside Mental Hospital… for being too happy. Despite all this, Robert is determined to prove that he’s “a real somebody,” and on the advice of his childhood hero (former local baseball hero Clinton Manitoba), he sets out to attain the three keys to success – some money, a girl, and a championship ring. This sets Robert on a madcap adventure involving a drug racket, a roller-skating transvestite, a bar-mitzvah and an air hockey tournament which leads to heartbreak and unexpected triumph. This flick delivers big belly laughs from the very beginning to the wickedly outrageous end. Full of oh-no-they-didn't comedy, director Simon Ennis is still able to ground the film's ridiculousness with a sense of reality. Granted, this reality is full of catatonic mothers and suicidal pervos. - Tom Hodges, Film Programmer

Emily Hagins is making a zombie movie. It’s feature-length, it’s bloody, and the zombies don’t run; just like it should be. But there’s just one difference between her film and other zombie movies: Emily is twelve. With the help of her mother as agent, crew, and biggest fan, Emily launches an epic adventure in genre filmmaking, battling everything from budget shortfalls to self-doubt, all while coming of age as a teenager. Emily has the vision, and her mom has the driver’s license. Together, their journey is an enlightening look at a growing world of young moviemakers and the bloodiest mother/daughter story you’ve ever seen. It’s rare that a film can capture both the passions of our youth and the passions of our adult lives. But this heartwarming and nerve racking documentary captures all of the stress of low-budget indie filmmaking and all of the wonder of childhood ambition and excitement. - Sam Roberts, Director of Film Competitions