Vee (Joanna Ferbrache), a deaf woman, feels her life's mishaps and mistakes are due to her inability to hear. Her boyfriend Aiden (Cory Kays) does his best to communicate with her and show her the truth of how he feels. <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/d39269f4081335c1bb63cab690b2abfe.jpg" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px;" width="150">Director BiographyIndependent Filmmaker Mason Beck out of St. Louis, MO, specializes in Writing &amp; Directing, as well as competent skills in Editing, Acting, and Producing. Beck thrives on creating emotional, intellectual, and/or morally/ethically challenging stories. Graduated with a Bachelor's in Film, Television, and Video Production from Webster University, and multiple-time Festival selectee and winner, Beck strives to create, collaborate, and inspire all those who work with and watch his films. Director StatementAmazing the ways we look at the world; even more so the ways we choose to describe what we see.

English

Getting Through

Join a dedicated Chicago police officer as he reflects on the complexities of his role, striving to embody the essence of a good officer. Unveil the profound influence of his Muslim faith and the unique blend of being both American and a public servant, as he navigates the delicate balance between duty, identity, and community. <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/2d7ea4c57843105bf5d58474faba18df.jpg" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px;" width="151">Director BiographyMykhailo Bogdanov (he/him) is a filmmaker who was born and raised in the small village of Yaltushkiv, Ukraine. On his own, he immigrated to the USA in 2012 at the age of 19. Mykhailo holds a BA in Film and Television from the School of Cinematic Arts at DePaul University. He also has a MS in Environmental Science from DePaul University. His most recent short documentary AVOESIS was selected to screen at the 29th Austin Film Festival and won Best College Short and Best Documentary Short at CSIFF22. Director StatementMykhailo met Mamadou while taking a graduate-level emotional intelligence course in early 2022. After getting to know each other, they decided to collaborate and tell a visual story about Mamadou.

Where the Orchid Grows

We follow the journey of Sara, a struggling artist living in Kazakhstan. One fateful day, while painting on a peaceful mountain top, Sara stumbles upon a mysterious wooden case holding a unique pencil. Little does she know that this seemingly ordinary pencil possesses extraordinary powers. As Sara starts sketching with the pencil, her drawings come to life, blurring the lines between imagination and reality. Filled with excitement, she discovers that this newfound gift holds the potential to solve all her problems and bring her artistic visions to fruition. However, her dreams quickly turn into a nightmarish ordeal when the powers of the pencil unleashes a malevolent demonic creature from Kazakh folklore legends - Zheztyrnaq (trans. 'copper claws'). <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/a30aab29fb657448ac885c556976cacf.jpg" width="150" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px;">Director BiographyThomas Schultz, born in Chicago, Illinois, is a filmmaker with an unwavering passion for the art of cinema. With a diverse skill set, and an education in Film/Video from Columbia College, Thomas has honed his talents to excel in a flourishing film career.Throughout his journey in the film industry, Thomas has worked on various projects, including popular TV shows like Empire, The Chi, Paper Girls, Fargo, Magnum P.I., among others.Alongside his wife Madina, a skilled producer, Thomas embarked on a remarkable journey to create a film in the captivating landscapes of Kazakhstan. Their collaborative effort resulted in a compelling project that showcases their passion for storytelling and their dedication to the craft of filmmaking. Director StatementCreating 'The Pencil' has been a deeply personal and fulfilling journey for me, both as a filmmaker, and as a partner in life with my wife, Madina, who also wrote and produced this film. Our shared passion for storytelling and art brought us together on this creative adventure, making it a true family project.We wanted to explore the idea that art, in its various forms, has the potential to solve problems, and express emotions beyond words. The unique pencil in the film represents a symbol of creativity that holds both promise and peril.Throughout the filmmaking process, my team and I were determined to create a visually captivating experience that transports the audience into Sara's world. We embraced the challenge of seamlessly blending reality with fantasy, as Sara's drawings come to life through the magical pencil.Moreover, the film delves into the rich unexplored folklore of Kazakh legends, infusing a sense of mystique and darkness into the narrative. Zheztyrnaq, the demonic creature represents the dangers of tampering with forces we do not fully comprehend.I am incredibly proud of the dedication and passion shown by our cast and crew throughout this filmmaking endeavor, and I hope that audiences will find themselves immersed in the world we've crafted. <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/68b48a26fc8654d73b87f10e6fe42f5e.png" width="150" style="display: inline; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1em;">Producer BiographyMadina Baimakhanova was born and raised in Almaty, Kazakhstan and grew up with a passion for ﬁlm and the love for travels. She is proud to show off her Producing chops in her producing debut on “The Pencil”.

The Pencil

Sara, a struggling artist who discovers a unique pencil that can solve all her problems. But her dreams turn into a nightmare when a malevolent demonic creature from Kazakh legends gets unleashed.

Chicago based writer, Mina Patel, submitted her story, Between The Silence to Full Spectrum Features and won!The result was the realization of her beautiful story as directed by Juan C. Linares. Despite a language barrier, two socially isolated, immigrant women find companionship while gardening and watching over their grandchildren in their backyards. With small acts of kindness and a desire for connection, a Polish and Indian grandmother's loneliness is alleviated by each other's presence. <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/851097c421ff360cf52874d10892b3a5.jpg" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px;" width="150">Original Story Writer BiographyMina has immersed herself in work with the most vulnerable communities in Chicago. She uses her background in social justice, education, and civic engagement to bring a creative light to underserved voices. The driving force behind her work is to explore how we as individuals create community and a sense of belonging. Her film Between the Silence explores the epidemic of loneliness and yearning for belonging through the lives of two socially isolated immigrant women. A global citizen, she has lived, volunteered, and studied all over the world and has come to the conclusion that people are more or less the same everywhere.

Between The Silence

Short Film Program 5

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