Pick Of The Litter Slated As Slamdance Opening Night Film
The Russo Brothers To Be Honored with Slamdance Founder's Award
Columbia University’s Digital Storytelling Lab (De)escalation Room Project to Headline Education & DIG Program
Festival to be Presented by DGA as Partnership Celebrates 20 Year Anniversary
December 19, 2017 (Los Angeles, CA) Slamdance announced today the Special Screenings program for their 24th Festival edition. The lineup features provocative work from remarkable talent that celebrates the DIY spirit of Slamdance. In January, the festival will present four features in the Special Screenings Program: Bernard and Huey, directed by Dan Mirvish; Roll With Me, directed by Lisa France; Quest, directed by Santiago Rizzo; and the world premiere of Pick Of The Litter, directed by Don Hardy and Slamdance alumni Dana Nachman. Pick Of The Litter will screen as the festival’s Opening Night Film presentation.
“This year’s special screenings at Slamdance are not about movie stars, big name filmmakers or hot trending topics. They share the common theme of humanity—highlighting issues of disability, mental health, the resonance of friendship, and the extraordinary resilience of human beings,” shares Paul Rachman, Slamdance Co-Conspirator and Special Screenings programmer. “From the extraordinary power of one man’s determination to prove himself in Lisa France’s Roll With Me to the reliance and trust we put in the animals and pets we share the earth with, in Dana Nachman’s The Pick of the Litter, where dogs learn to lead the blind into a more fulfilling life. The message is clear—we are all here to help each other.”
Nachman’s previous film, Batkid Begins, premiered at Slamdance in 2015 and quickly became one of the most successful documentaries of the year. Following the film’s world premiere, Warners Bros. Pictures picked up worldwide distribution rights to the title, as well as the rights to adapt the documentary into a narrative film with Julia Roberts attached to produce and star.
Slamdance will host a filmmaker discussion with Slamdance Alumni, Joe Russo and Anthony Russo. The conversation, moderated by Slamdance Co-Founder and President Peter Baxter, will highlight the filmmaking duo’s history with the fest and impart career insight for the this year’s class of Slamdance filmmakers. During the discussion, Slamdance will also honor the Russo Brothers with the Founders Award, which is presented to a Slamdance alumni who has continued to support the indie spirit of the festival well into their careers. The award was first presented in 2015 to director Christopher Nolan (Inception, Dunkirk).
“Slamdance was born out of a determination to show the direct, unfiltered voice of independent artists to audiences.” said Peter Baxter, Slamdance Co-Founder and President. “Our line-up, and the massive support shown from our alumni and partners, embody who we are; an artist-led and artist-driven organization that influences media culture and discovers commercial trends before others do."
The Special Screenings program will also feature the festival’s closing night film, Bernard and Huey, a narrative feature directed by Slamdance co-founder Dan Mirvish and written by Pulitzer Prize and Oscar-winning cartoonist, playwright, and screenwriter, Jules Feiffer.
Slamdance returns to Park City with the next evolution of Polytechnic, presented by G-Tech. The year-round program offers a series of cutting-edge discussions designed to provide an inclusive learning environment for new ideas and creative methods in filmmaking with an emphasis on technology, development in craft, industry trends, and DIY solutions. In collaboration with University of Utah, Columbia University, Seed & Spark, alumni and industry partners, these daily Polytechnic programs focus on empowering emerging artists working with limited budgets in order to create future success and build long term careers.
The Slamdance showcase DIG (Digital, Interactive & Gaming) returns to Park City and will feature new and unseen works by emerging visual artists and indie game developers from around the world. This year the showcase will feature 3 unique works: BVOVB: Bruising Vengeance of the Vintage Boxer; The Game: The Game, and The (De)escalation Room.
The (De)escalation Room is a unique presentation that will headline both the DIG and Polytechnic program. It is a workshop-style experience will transform audience members into participants, working together to collaboratively explore de-escalation. The project is from Columbia University’s School of the Arts’ Digital Storytelling Lab (Columbia DSL) and School of Social Work’s SAFElab, and is led by storyteller and Slamdance alumnus Lance Weiler and interactive narrative designer Nick Fortugno.
"The (De)escalation Room represents an exciting step in furthering Digital Storytelling Lab's mission, exploring future forms and functions of storytelling.” said Weiler. “Stories have the power to do so much more than simply entertain us. They can be used as tools of inspiration, motivation, mobilization, healing and education. This particular project allows us to mine stories from our own lives, and use them to explore real-life opportunities to de-escalate real-life situations – woefully needed in today's heavily polarized landscape."
BVOVB: Bruising Vengeance of the Vintage Boxer by Michal Rostock is inspired by classic arcade brawlers (Double Dragon, Final Fight) with many enemies, some boss fights and a simple storyline. All in the style of old silent movies with a ragtime themed soundtrack. Both characters and backgrounds are based on original black-and-white photos from the ‘20s and ‘30s. The Game: The Game by Angela Washko presents the persistent practices of several prominent seduction coaches (aka pick-up artists) through the format of a dating simulator.
Today, the festival also announced the Directors Guild of America (DGA) as Presenting Sponsor. This milestone celebrates the 20 years of collaboration between Slamdance and the DGA. The careers of several prominent DGA members can be traced back to Slamdance: Joon-ho Bong (Barking Dogs Never Bite), Lena Dunham (Dealing), and Rian Johnson (Evil Demon Golf Ball from Hell!!!), The Russo Brothers (Pieces) and Lynn Shelton (We Go Way Back).
“We stand by Slamdance, the creative community it’s developed among directors with its mantra, ‘By Filmmakers, For Filmmakers’ and eagerly await their next group of filmmakers who will join our ranks.” said Valerie Faris & Jonathan Dayton, Co-Chairs, DGA Independent Directors Committee
The 2018 Slamdance Film Festival will run January 19-25. Both DIG and Polytechnic are free programs, open to the public. All presentations will be held at Treasure Mountain Inn in Park City, Utah.
SPECIAL SCREENING LINEUP
Bernard and Huey
(USA) - Narrative Feature
Director: Dan Mirvish
Screenwriter: Jules Feiffer
Synopsis: From a script by Oscar/Pulitzer-winner Jules Feiffer (Carnal Knowledge), this is the story of two men behaving badly, and the strong women who rein them in.
Cast: Jim Rash, David Koechner, Mae Whitman, Sasha Alexander, Eka Darville, Richard Kind, Nancy Travis, Bellamy Young
Pick Of The Litter
(USA) World Premiere - Documentary Feature
Directors: Dana Nachman, Don Hardy
Screenwriter: Dana Nachman
Synopsis: Pick of the Litter follows a litter of puppies from birth through the day they make it to become a Guide Dog and into the hands of a blind person, or… get cut from the program. The audience comes along on the two-year odyssey as the five dogs train to become guide dogs. Only the best dog will make the cut.
Quest
(USA) Narrative Feature
Director: Santiago Rizzo
Synopsis: Quest is a non-romantic story of love, about a friendship between a 12-year-old graffiti addict who faces constant abuse from his step-father, and a teacher named Tim Moellering who believes there is no such thing as a bad kid — only a bad situation. Based on the stories of their lives, the first draft of Quest was written by director Santiago Rizzo and his teacher Tim Moellering. This is their story.
Screenwriters: Santiago Rizzo, Darren Anderson
Cast: Dash Mihok, Lou Diamond Phillips, Lakeith Stanfield, Betsy Brandt, Greg Kasyan, Marlyne Barrett, Sepideh Moafi, Tobit Raphael
Roll With Me
(USA) Documentary Feature
Director: Lisa France
Screenwriter: Jeff Buccellato, Lisa France
Documentary Subjects: Gabriel Cordell, Christopher Kawas
Synopsis: After hitting rock-bottom, a newly sober paraplegic attempts to save his gang-banger nephew’s life by bringing him along on a 3,100-mile wheelchair trek across the United States. What starts out as a challenge to push an unmodified wheelchair from California to New York, morphs into a transcendent journey.
POLYTECHNIC PROGRAM
● Crowdfunding for Career Independence
With Emily Best & Gerry Maravilla
Friday, January 19 - Noon - 1:30pm
Emily Best and Gerry Maravilla from Seed&Spark are here to share how crowdfunding can be an important tool for raising funds, widening your audience, and communicating with current and future fans in order to ensure that this isn't the only project you make - it's one of many in your lengthy filmmaking career. You'll also find out why data, inclusion, and distro all factor into your success on Seed&Spark, the only platform with a 75% success rate for filmmakers. Learn why crowd-building has to occur before crowd-funding, how to set a realistic campaign goal, how to craft an effective pitch video, what the unique Seed&Spark feedback process is like, and how to continue your connection with your community after your campaign ends.
● Two Brothers, Twenty Years: The Russo Brothers' Past and Future
With Joe and Anthony Russo
Saturday, January 20 - Noon - 1:30pm
From their 1997 Slamdance premiere to their establishment of The Russo Brothers Fellowship at Slamdance 2018, Anthony and Joe Russo have seen the film industry change more (and more quickly) than it ever has before.
While working on myriad projects over two decades, the Russos have seen old-fashioned theater-going give way to pocket computers, streaming services, and endless OnDemand options. Amidst these changes, the brothers rose to studio heights while retaining the authenticity and artist-driven focus of independent filmmakers.
As mentors and partners, Anthony and Joe spend lunchtime with us, deconstructing the mythology of their own “indie success story,” and openly sharing the challenges they’ve faced and wisdom they’ve gained.
● (De)escalation Room by Columbia DSL
With Lance Weiler
Sunday, January 21 - Noon - 2pm
What if we built an environment inspired by negative conversations and behaviors found on social media platforms and in the real world? Inside of this environment, situations quickly escalate. But this time, we would be able to do something about it.
The goal of the (De)escalation Room project is to design a creative framework that allows people to take the lead in creating their own immersive, collaborative experiences. Within these experiences, they’ll be able to teach each other how to identify escalating situations and safely de-escalate them; change norms around escalation; and leave room for self and group reflection on the process.
At Slamdance this January, Columbia DSL will present the next iteration of the (De)escalation Room. This workshop-style experience will transform audience members into participants, working together to collaboratively explore de-escalation.
● When I Was You I Wish I Knew: The Ins and Outs of Distribution
With John Charles Meyer & Cullen Hoback
Monday, January 22 - Noon - 1:30pm
Slamdance alums John Charles Meyer (Dave Made a Maze) and Cullen Hoback (What Lies Upstream) remember how exhausting, overwhelming, and scary a time like this can be, no matter what sort of distribution possibilities you’re considering.
DIG LINEUP
● (De)escalation Room Columbia University’s School of the Arts’ Digital Storytelling Lab and School of Social Work’s SAFElab, and is led by storyteller, entrepreneur and Slamdance Alumnus Lance Weiler.
The goal of the (De)escalation Room project is to design a creative framework that will allow people to take the lead in creating their own experience. Within these experiences, they’ll be able to teach each other how to identify escalating situations and safely de-escalate them; change norms around escalation; and leave room for self and group reflection on the process
● BVOVB: Bruising Vengeance of the Vintage Boxer by Michal Rostocki
Your glory days as a boxer are long gone. Once a champ, now a bum. All you care about is beer and your dog - Max the Rottweiler. Unfortunately your faithful dog has been stolen and you must get him back and punish the ones responsible.
The game is inspired by classic arcade brawlers (Double Dragon, Final Fight) with many enemies, some boss fights and a simple storyline. All in the style of old silent movies with a ragtime themed soundtrack. Both characters and backgrounds are based on original black-and-white photos from the ‘20s and ‘30s.
● The Game: The Game by Angela Washko
The Game: The Game is a video game presenting the practices of several prominent seduction coaches (aka pick-up artists) through the format of a dating simulator. In the game these pick-up gurus attempt to seduce the player using their signature techniques taken verbatim from their instructional books and video materials. The game sets up the opportunity for players to explore the complexity of the construction of social behaviors around dating as well as the experience of being a femme-presenting individual navigating this complicated terrain.
Washko hopes to add levels of complexity to public conversations around both pick-up and feminism which have both found themselves most often presented in highly polarized, dichotomous positions in mainstream media.
###
Facebook: SlamdanceFilmFestival
Twitter: @slamdance
Instagram: @slamogram
Additional References: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slamdance_Film_Festival
Photos/Images:
Slamdance Logo: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/9nekxn78u2vdyuf/AAC48cgUrZRZN2mgxowkj-WTa?dl=0
Special Screening, Polytecnic, DIG press release and film stills: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/740rqb0mczmmy4j/AADgpH51WPBICLwVGSfGJ0PTa?dl=0
PRESS CONTACT:
After Bruce PR
Eseel Borlasa
eseel@afterbruce.com
562-881-6725
Tracy Nguyen-Chung
tracy@afterbruce.com
503-701-2115
The Russo Brothers To Be Honored with Slamdance Founder's Award
Columbia University’s Digital Storytelling Lab (De)escalation Room Project to Headline Education & DIG Program
Festival to be Presented by DGA as Partnership Celebrates 20 Year Anniversary

“This year’s special screenings at Slamdance are not about movie stars, big name filmmakers or hot trending topics. They share the common theme of humanity—highlighting issues of disability, mental health, the resonance of friendship, and the extraordinary resilience of human beings,” shares Paul Rachman, Slamdance Co-Conspirator and Special Screenings programmer. “From the extraordinary power of one man’s determination to prove himself in Lisa France’s Roll With Me to the reliance and trust we put in the animals and pets we share the earth with, in Dana Nachman’s The Pick of the Litter, where dogs learn to lead the blind into a more fulfilling life. The message is clear—we are all here to help each other.”
Nachman’s previous film, Batkid Begins, premiered at Slamdance in 2015 and quickly became one of the most successful documentaries of the year. Following the film’s world premiere, Warners Bros. Pictures picked up worldwide distribution rights to the title, as well as the rights to adapt the documentary into a narrative film with Julia Roberts attached to produce and star.
Slamdance will host a filmmaker discussion with Slamdance Alumni, Joe Russo and Anthony Russo. The conversation, moderated by Slamdance Co-Founder and President Peter Baxter, will highlight the filmmaking duo’s history with the fest and impart career insight for the this year’s class of Slamdance filmmakers. During the discussion, Slamdance will also honor the Russo Brothers with the Founders Award, which is presented to a Slamdance alumni who has continued to support the indie spirit of the festival well into their careers. The award was first presented in 2015 to director Christopher Nolan (Inception, Dunkirk).
“Slamdance was born out of a determination to show the direct, unfiltered voice of independent artists to audiences.” said Peter Baxter, Slamdance Co-Founder and President. “Our line-up, and the massive support shown from our alumni and partners, embody who we are; an artist-led and artist-driven organization that influences media culture and discovers commercial trends before others do."
The Special Screenings program will also feature the festival’s closing night film, Bernard and Huey, a narrative feature directed by Slamdance co-founder Dan Mirvish and written by Pulitzer Prize and Oscar-winning cartoonist, playwright, and screenwriter, Jules Feiffer.
Slamdance returns to Park City with the next evolution of Polytechnic, presented by G-Tech. The year-round program offers a series of cutting-edge discussions designed to provide an inclusive learning environment for new ideas and creative methods in filmmaking with an emphasis on technology, development in craft, industry trends, and DIY solutions. In collaboration with University of Utah, Columbia University, Seed & Spark, alumni and industry partners, these daily Polytechnic programs focus on empowering emerging artists working with limited budgets in order to create future success and build long term careers.
The Slamdance showcase DIG (Digital, Interactive & Gaming) returns to Park City and will feature new and unseen works by emerging visual artists and indie game developers from around the world. This year the showcase will feature 3 unique works: BVOVB: Bruising Vengeance of the Vintage Boxer; The Game: The Game, and The (De)escalation Room.
The (De)escalation Room is a unique presentation that will headline both the DIG and Polytechnic program. It is a workshop-style experience will transform audience members into participants, working together to collaboratively explore de-escalation. The project is from Columbia University’s School of the Arts’ Digital Storytelling Lab (Columbia DSL) and School of Social Work’s SAFElab, and is led by storyteller and Slamdance alumnus Lance Weiler and interactive narrative designer Nick Fortugno.
"The (De)escalation Room represents an exciting step in furthering Digital Storytelling Lab's mission, exploring future forms and functions of storytelling.” said Weiler. “Stories have the power to do so much more than simply entertain us. They can be used as tools of inspiration, motivation, mobilization, healing and education. This particular project allows us to mine stories from our own lives, and use them to explore real-life opportunities to de-escalate real-life situations – woefully needed in today's heavily polarized landscape."
BVOVB: Bruising Vengeance of the Vintage Boxer by Michal Rostock is inspired by classic arcade brawlers (Double Dragon, Final Fight) with many enemies, some boss fights and a simple storyline. All in the style of old silent movies with a ragtime themed soundtrack. Both characters and backgrounds are based on original black-and-white photos from the ‘20s and ‘30s. The Game: The Game by Angela Washko presents the persistent practices of several prominent seduction coaches (aka pick-up artists) through the format of a dating simulator.
Today, the festival also announced the Directors Guild of America (DGA) as Presenting Sponsor. This milestone celebrates the 20 years of collaboration between Slamdance and the DGA. The careers of several prominent DGA members can be traced back to Slamdance: Joon-ho Bong (Barking Dogs Never Bite), Lena Dunham (Dealing), and Rian Johnson (Evil Demon Golf Ball from Hell!!!), The Russo Brothers (Pieces) and Lynn Shelton (We Go Way Back).
“We stand by Slamdance, the creative community it’s developed among directors with its mantra, ‘By Filmmakers, For Filmmakers’ and eagerly await their next group of filmmakers who will join our ranks.” said Valerie Faris & Jonathan Dayton, Co-Chairs, DGA Independent Directors Committee
The 2018 Slamdance Film Festival will run January 19-25. Both DIG and Polytechnic are free programs, open to the public. All presentations will be held at Treasure Mountain Inn in Park City, Utah.
SPECIAL SCREENING LINEUP
Bernard and Huey
(USA) - Narrative Feature
Director: Dan Mirvish
Screenwriter: Jules Feiffer
Synopsis: From a script by Oscar/Pulitzer-winner Jules Feiffer (Carnal Knowledge), this is the story of two men behaving badly, and the strong women who rein them in.
Cast: Jim Rash, David Koechner, Mae Whitman, Sasha Alexander, Eka Darville, Richard Kind, Nancy Travis, Bellamy Young
Pick Of The Litter
(USA) World Premiere - Documentary Feature
Directors: Dana Nachman, Don Hardy
Screenwriter: Dana Nachman
Synopsis: Pick of the Litter follows a litter of puppies from birth through the day they make it to become a Guide Dog and into the hands of a blind person, or… get cut from the program. The audience comes along on the two-year odyssey as the five dogs train to become guide dogs. Only the best dog will make the cut.
Quest
(USA) Narrative Feature
Director: Santiago Rizzo
Synopsis: Quest is a non-romantic story of love, about a friendship between a 12-year-old graffiti addict who faces constant abuse from his step-father, and a teacher named Tim Moellering who believes there is no such thing as a bad kid — only a bad situation. Based on the stories of their lives, the first draft of Quest was written by director Santiago Rizzo and his teacher Tim Moellering. This is their story.
Screenwriters: Santiago Rizzo, Darren Anderson
Cast: Dash Mihok, Lou Diamond Phillips, Lakeith Stanfield, Betsy Brandt, Greg Kasyan, Marlyne Barrett, Sepideh Moafi, Tobit Raphael
Roll With Me
(USA) Documentary Feature
Director: Lisa France
Screenwriter: Jeff Buccellato, Lisa France
Documentary Subjects: Gabriel Cordell, Christopher Kawas
Synopsis: After hitting rock-bottom, a newly sober paraplegic attempts to save his gang-banger nephew’s life by bringing him along on a 3,100-mile wheelchair trek across the United States. What starts out as a challenge to push an unmodified wheelchair from California to New York, morphs into a transcendent journey.
POLYTECHNIC PROGRAM
● Crowdfunding for Career Independence
With Emily Best & Gerry Maravilla
Friday, January 19 - Noon - 1:30pm
Emily Best and Gerry Maravilla from Seed&Spark are here to share how crowdfunding can be an important tool for raising funds, widening your audience, and communicating with current and future fans in order to ensure that this isn't the only project you make - it's one of many in your lengthy filmmaking career. You'll also find out why data, inclusion, and distro all factor into your success on Seed&Spark, the only platform with a 75% success rate for filmmakers. Learn why crowd-building has to occur before crowd-funding, how to set a realistic campaign goal, how to craft an effective pitch video, what the unique Seed&Spark feedback process is like, and how to continue your connection with your community after your campaign ends.
● Two Brothers, Twenty Years: The Russo Brothers' Past and Future
With Joe and Anthony Russo
Saturday, January 20 - Noon - 1:30pm
From their 1997 Slamdance premiere to their establishment of The Russo Brothers Fellowship at Slamdance 2018, Anthony and Joe Russo have seen the film industry change more (and more quickly) than it ever has before.
While working on myriad projects over two decades, the Russos have seen old-fashioned theater-going give way to pocket computers, streaming services, and endless OnDemand options. Amidst these changes, the brothers rose to studio heights while retaining the authenticity and artist-driven focus of independent filmmakers.
As mentors and partners, Anthony and Joe spend lunchtime with us, deconstructing the mythology of their own “indie success story,” and openly sharing the challenges they’ve faced and wisdom they’ve gained.
● (De)escalation Room by Columbia DSL
With Lance Weiler
Sunday, January 21 - Noon - 2pm
What if we built an environment inspired by negative conversations and behaviors found on social media platforms and in the real world? Inside of this environment, situations quickly escalate. But this time, we would be able to do something about it.
The goal of the (De)escalation Room project is to design a creative framework that allows people to take the lead in creating their own immersive, collaborative experiences. Within these experiences, they’ll be able to teach each other how to identify escalating situations and safely de-escalate them; change norms around escalation; and leave room for self and group reflection on the process.
At Slamdance this January, Columbia DSL will present the next iteration of the (De)escalation Room. This workshop-style experience will transform audience members into participants, working together to collaboratively explore de-escalation.
● When I Was You I Wish I Knew: The Ins and Outs of Distribution
With John Charles Meyer & Cullen Hoback
Monday, January 22 - Noon - 1:30pm
Slamdance alums John Charles Meyer (Dave Made a Maze) and Cullen Hoback (What Lies Upstream) remember how exhausting, overwhelming, and scary a time like this can be, no matter what sort of distribution possibilities you’re considering.
DIG LINEUP
● (De)escalation Room Columbia University’s School of the Arts’ Digital Storytelling Lab and School of Social Work’s SAFElab, and is led by storyteller, entrepreneur and Slamdance Alumnus Lance Weiler.
The goal of the (De)escalation Room project is to design a creative framework that will allow people to take the lead in creating their own experience. Within these experiences, they’ll be able to teach each other how to identify escalating situations and safely de-escalate them; change norms around escalation; and leave room for self and group reflection on the process
● BVOVB: Bruising Vengeance of the Vintage Boxer by Michal Rostocki
Your glory days as a boxer are long gone. Once a champ, now a bum. All you care about is beer and your dog - Max the Rottweiler. Unfortunately your faithful dog has been stolen and you must get him back and punish the ones responsible.
The game is inspired by classic arcade brawlers (Double Dragon, Final Fight) with many enemies, some boss fights and a simple storyline. All in the style of old silent movies with a ragtime themed soundtrack. Both characters and backgrounds are based on original black-and-white photos from the ‘20s and ‘30s.
● The Game: The Game by Angela Washko
The Game: The Game is a video game presenting the practices of several prominent seduction coaches (aka pick-up artists) through the format of a dating simulator. In the game these pick-up gurus attempt to seduce the player using their signature techniques taken verbatim from their instructional books and video materials. The game sets up the opportunity for players to explore the complexity of the construction of social behaviors around dating as well as the experience of being a femme-presenting individual navigating this complicated terrain.
Washko hopes to add levels of complexity to public conversations around both pick-up and feminism which have both found themselves most often presented in highly polarized, dichotomous positions in mainstream media.
###
Facebook: SlamdanceFilmFestival
Twitter: @slamdance
Instagram: @slamogram
Additional References: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slamdance_Film_Festival
Photos/Images:
Slamdance Logo: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/9nekxn78u2vdyuf/AAC48cgUrZRZN2mgxowkj-WTa?dl=0
Special Screening, Polytecnic, DIG press release and film stills: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/740rqb0mczmmy4j/AADgpH51WPBICLwVGSfGJ0PTa?dl=0
PRESS CONTACT:
After Bruce PR
Eseel Borlasa
eseel@afterbruce.com
562-881-6725
Tracy Nguyen-Chung
tracy@afterbruce.com
503-701-2115