Under pressure, wild emotions come to the surface. Here are characters on the verge of a discovery, of getting caught, losing control, finding healing and falling apart.

An artist reflects on the summer when she turned 12, haunted by a trauma that she will overcome through her art. Her rebellious creativity and fantasies clash with the gaze of adults who begin to consider her as a woman. Inspired by the life of feminist icon and artist Niki de Saint Phalle (1930-2002). About the Director:<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/7f934b5ead99d7f08e97186633f8c84f.jpg" width="225" style="display: inline; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1em; float: right;">Lara Panah-Izadi is an award winning writer and director of French-Iranian descent. She began directing for the stage by putting on an Opera at age 19. Her first play was selected for the 2014 Yale Playwright’s Festival. In 2015, she directed and edited a documentary based on The Seagull by Chekhov featuring Kevin Kline. Lara continued learning her craft by assisting on set for Barry Levinson and Quentin Tarantino. In 2017, she directed her first narrative short film Chloe, and moved to LA to work in creative development at Paramount Television. Her latest short film The Summer of Snakes, inspired by the life of artist Niki de Saint Phalle, was produced by Levantine Films (Hidden Figures, Beasts of No Nation). Lara holds a BA degree in Mathematics and Philosophy and Theater Studies from Yale and recently graduated from the prestigious AFI Directing Workshop for Women program. She is currently developing two feature films and one TV show. Film Contact: larapanah@gmail.cominstagram: lalapana

The Summer of Snakes

An artist revisits a childhood summer haunted by a trauma that she will overcome through her colorful art. (Inspired by the life of Niki de Saint Phalle)

Searching for food, a boy breaks into a neighborhood home. But when the homeowners return, he becomes trapped inside with those he's stealing from. About the Director:<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/8e489d8cba8126946e91322c61ffce9d.jpg" width="130" style="display: inline; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1em; float: right;">Brian Lawes is an American film director, writer, and producer. He is known for Lost Kings (2020), Rock Paper Scissors (2018), and Tempo (2017). His films have played all across the world, earning multiple jury awards, with notable premieres at Oscar Qualifying festivals like Cleveland International Film Festival, Indy Shorts International Film Festival, and Calgary International Film Festival. His most recent film, Lost Kings, won the grant support of the Community Builders Grant, the OVAC Artist Grant, and was made possible by the support of a Jury Award prize for his previous film, Rock Paper Scissors. Brian is currently in development on his first feature film.

Lost Kings

Searching for food, a boy breaks into a neighborhood home. But when the homeowners return, he becomes trapped inside with those he's stealing from.

A drug addicted young couple steal a kilo of heroin from a local drug dealer, but the plan soon unravels when the boy overdoses and the girl is left all alone with criminals closing in on her. About the Director:<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/566dd09a6f2813da79f11a4c2dadd692.jpg" width="201" style="display: inline; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1em; float: right;">Kieran Wheeler has worked in the Australian film industry for over ten years. Although he has been a writer for most of his life, after going to film school he spent years working in camera and lighting departments, networking and watching how other directors work. Now focusing solely on writing and directing, his short films have played at festivals all around the world and received numerous awards. He is currently working towards getting his first feature film made. He is also a true cinephile who watches films non stop and is always in awe of the power of stories and the innate need that people have to tell and hear stories.

Jungle

A young woman awakens to find herself in the midst of a living nightmare.

A referee struggles to maintain control over a 2nd grade basketball game. About the Director:<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/fd1d619dc486e6a9f4e7159fe4de8d08.jpg" width="131" style="display: inline; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1em; float: right;">Peter Edlund is a writer and director based in Seattle, WA. His films have premiered at festivals around the world, including Aspen, Clermont-Ferrand, Palm Springs and Raindance. His 2017 film Mixtape Marauders was awarded Short of the Week’s Comedy of the Year and was nominated for Vimeo’s Best Comedy of the Year. Additionally the film was a Webby Honoree. He is currently developing the feature adaptation with support from the Sundance Institute and The Gotham (IFP).

The Ref

A referee struggles to maintain control over a 2nd grade basketball game.

Vlada goes to London follows the story of a Ukrainian immigrant Vlada, who works as a pizza delivery girl in Haifa, Israel, and dreams of becoming a famous DJ. She’s lucky to get an invitation from a little festival in London, but she must urgently get funds for a flight ticket. Vlada doesn't have money in the bank. Her single mother works as a cleaner, and her roommate doesn't work and doesn't pay bills. This fast-paced provocative social drama sheds light on the nervous job of the deliveries and the struggles of young creative immigrants. About the Director:<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/22e27d4f7dca96fe72598b440ca6327b.jpg" width="155" style="display: inline; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1em; float: right;">Arti Savchenko is an Israeli filmmaker who was born in USSR, Ukraine and emigrated to Israel at age 14. He finished Tel-Aviv Minshar School of Art with Honorable Mention. His graduate film Vlada Goes to London had its world premiere at Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival and international premiere at Palm Springs ShortFest. Arti has a background in music, theatre, writing, and worked as a script supervisor in several feature films. Among others: Esau with Oscar-nominated Harvey Keitel and Shake Your Cares Away with Oscar-nominated Bérénice Bejo. Arti is currently developing his first feature-length script in Tel Aviv.

Vlada Goes to London

Vlada is a pizza delivery girl who lives in Haifa and dreams of becoming a famous DJ.

Peter Edlund (Director,The Ref), Kieran Wheeler (Director, Jungle), and Brian Lawes (Director, Lost Kings) discuss their short films with Warren Etheredge.

On the Verge - Shorts Q&A

On the Verge - Shorts 

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BendFilm Festival 2021

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