Portland Film Festival 2020

Stepping Out: A Female Gaze Short Films Block

Expired November 21, 2020 7:45 AM
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7 films in package
Lotus
Practice
A dystopian story of two young girls who face mounting pressure from their school's administration after a moment of sexual experimentation is documented by the body cameras pinned to their uniforms.
Esperanza's Turn
A 12-year-old immigrant farm worker taps into her imagination to confront a bully at school.
Shoot the Duck
Twelve-year-old Mia has her sights set on winning the local skating rink's "8th Annual Shoot the Duck Skate Contest." With competition super fierce this year, she must rely on her friends for support, and keep her cool under pressure, or lose the race before it even begins.
Adelina
A story about a girl and her encounter with art.
Giving Up the Ghost
Dear Jesus
Dear Jesus is the coming-of-age story of Ella. After forming a connection to Jesus Christ and being crowned the lead of the school play, young Ella begins to believe she can control the outcomes of her life. After tragedy strikes Ella believes it was her own prayers that were the cause.
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While working the blueberry fields of the Pacific Northwest, 12-year-old Esperanza is exposed to pesticides and a lecherous foreman. Hoping to find refuge at school, she faces a bully who makes her life hell. But Esperanza has a secret weapon—her imagination. She’ll have to tap into it if she wants to defeat her bullies and find strength for the future.

  • Year
    2019
  • Runtime
    11 min. 46 sec.
  • Language
    English
  • Country
    USA
  • Rating
    PG
  • Note
    We cast the kids in the film from Portland's Robert Gray Middle School's Drama Program.
  • Director
    Melissa Gregory Rue
  • Screenwriter
    Melissa Gregory Rue
  • Producer
    Melissa Gregory Rue
  • Executive Producer
    David Rue
  • Co-Producer
    Christine Autrand Mitchell
  • Filmmaker
    Melissa Gregory Rue
  • Cast
    Niku Edlund-Farsad - Esperanza, Nelda Reyes - Sofia, Tom Avila - Foreman/Talent Show Host, Maxwell Sivers Boyce - Lance, the Bully, Laura Onizuka - Teacher/Flamenco Dancer, Michael Galen - Hip Hop Dance Guru, Roberto Astorga - Guitarist
  • Cinematographer
    Padraic O'Meara
  • Editor
    Heidi Zimmerman
  • Animator
    Katie Cote
  • Production Design
    Scott Braucht with Melissa Gregory Rue
  • Composer
    Hamid Drake and Alex de Grassi; Eric Stern, Pete Miser & Five Fingers of Funk
  • Sound Design
    Kelley Baker
  • Music
    "Esperanza's Old Time Jazz Fantasy" by Eric Stern; "Whoose Loadin' by Five Fingers of Funk, Courtesy of Pete Miser & Five Fingers of Funk; "Esperanza's Theme" by The Gallop Trio, performed by Hamid Drake & Alex de Grassi.
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