WILDsound: The Film Podcast

WILDsound interviewed Darcy Birdwhistle Cook, a grade 12 student from the suburbs of Toronto, about her 3-minute film "Cooked," which was accepted into the under-5-minute film festival. The film, which explores a woman trapped in a bad marriage who uses a microwave to glimpse alternative realities, was created as a grade 11 film project and shot in under 5 hours at a family friend's downtown apartment. Darcy discussed her decision to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film Production at Concordia University in Montreal rather than a Bachelor of Arts at McGill and explained how her teacher encouraged her to submit her work to festivals. She shot the film alone with a non-professional actress and used her family friend's actual apartment and fridge for the location, demonstrating impressive technical skill for a high school student. Darcy expressed interest in continuing her film studies and potentially working in the industry, while also discussing her favorite film, "The Social Network" which she has watched approximately 20 times. —— Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod —— Love for you to try the Indy Film Festival AP. • Daily new film festival of the best new films from around the world. New archived festival to watch anytime. • Library of over 500+ award-winning films to watch anytime. Go to https://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the free 3-day trial. Check out the daily film festival (and previous ones from last month) at https://www.wildsound.ca/browse Always an amazing lineup of films. Inspiring for storytellers.

This interview discusses Selena Alvarez's short film "Star," which she wrote, directed, produced, and starred in as her first film festival submission. Selena, a self-taught filmmaker who began as a dancer, explained how the film explores her personal journey of reconnecting with her inner child and re-discovering her love for dance after turning 30. She described keeping the project secret for two years with a cast of 30 trusted friends, filming in both New Jersey and Puerto Rico, and handling all aspects from cinematography to editing herself. The film features her niece playing young Selena and her sister playing the mother role, with a visual style that progresses from bright colors to dark tones before ending with a white church scene. Selena expressed interest in potentially creating a horror-themed dance film next while emphasizing the importance of maintaining joy in dance rather than taking it too seriously at a young age. https://instagram.com/ninamoonlove —— Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod —— Love for you to try the Indy Film Festival AP. • Daily new film festival of the best new films from around the world. New archived festival to watch anytime. • Library of over 500+ award-winning films to watch anytime. Go to https://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the free 3-day trial. Check out the daily film festival (and previous ones from last month) at https://www.wildsound.ca/browse Always an amazing lineup of films. Inspiring for storytellers.

In a dystopian future, two mercenaries steal a legendary katana from the Mexican Yakuza. Hunted by a relentless Cyborg, their concert turns into chaos as they face off in a deadly final showdown. https://www.instagram.com/6superfabs9/ Director Statement K.O. - Malcriada, the first Mexican cyberpunk film, crafted with passion and dedication by an ensemble of talented artists who poured everything into creating this rich, dystopian universe. This film pushes the boundaries of survival, where moral limits are blurred, and technology has merged with humanity in unprecedented ways. Inspired by iconic sci-fi films of the '80s such as Terminator, Akira, Ghost in the Shell, and Blade Runner, Malcriada pays homage to these classics while delivering a fresh perspective uniquely rooted in Mexican culture. Accompanying this visual experience is an electrifying soundtrack by the emerging HyperPunk band, Malcriada, led by the talented Mathilde Sobrino and Pepe Pecas. At Reserva Films, we remain committed to genre innovation, presenting audiences with bold new narratives and aesthetics. We stand firmly behind Mexican talent and independent cinema, fostering a creative community capable of delivering powerful productions beyond traditional industry confines. —— Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod —— Love for you to try the Indy Film Festival AP. • Daily new film festival of the best new films from around the world. New archived festival to watch anytime. • Library of over 500+ award-winning films to watch anytime. Go to https://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the free 3-day trial. Check out the daily film festival (and previous ones from last month) at https://www.wildsound.ca/browse Always an amazing lineup of films. Inspiring for storytellers.

Separate Roads, 14min., Canada Directed by Shalina Saleira When former high school sweethearts Daniel and Tyler meet again years after a painful breakup, they're forced to confront the scars of their past - including Tyler's attempt to 'cure' his love through religious conversion therapy. They try to bury the hatchet and find closure, but old wounds may be too deep to heal. https://www.instagram.com/separate.roads.film https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-feedback-separate-roads —— Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod —— Love for you to try the Indy Film Festival AP. • Daily new film festival of the best new films from around the world. New archived festival to watch anytime. • Library of over 500+ award-winning films to watch anytime. Go to https://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the free 3-day trial. Check out the daily film festival (and previous ones from last month) at https://www.wildsound.ca/browse Always an amazing lineup of films. Inspiring for storytellers.

The lesser of two evils… is still evil. After a devastating car accident leaves his wife on the brink of death, Ben Rosen is approached by a mysterious, dying man in a hospital corridor who offers him an impossible bargain: her life in exchange for their future firstborn child. https://darkrose.io/original-ips/nevertellnew https://www.instagram.com/darkrosestudios —— Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod —— Love for you to try the Indy Film Festival AP. • Daily new film festival of the best new films from around the world. New archived festival to watch anytime. • Library of over 500+ award-winning films to watch anytime. Go to https://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the free 3-day trial. Check out the daily film festival (and previous ones from last month) at https://www.wildsound.ca/browse Always an amazing lineup of films. Inspiring for storytellers.

Watch the Best Scene Reading: https://youtube.com/shorts/IwwMYlr7Im4 Sasha, a rising star athlete with Olympic dreams, sees her future derailed after a brutal assault in college leaves invisible wounds that never fully heal #femalefestival #screenplay —— Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod —— Love for you to try the Indy Film Festival AP. • Daily new film festival of the best new films from around the world. New archived festival to watch anytime. • Library of over 500+ award-winning films to watch anytime. Go to https://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the free 3-day trial. Check out the daily film festival (and previous ones from last month) at https://www.wildsound.ca/browse Always an amazing lineup of films. Inspiring for storytellers.

ANJA'S LONGING, 33min., Taiwan Directed by Elen Ji “If I could live my whole life on my own will, what would it be like?” Anja, a 22-year-old biracial film school undergraduate, imagines her ideal life from birth to death. The perfection of her fantasy starkly contrasts with the incompleteness of her reality, highlighting Anja's deep longing and the story of her life. Get to know the filmmaker: 1. What motivated you to make this film? When I worked as a teaching assistant during my postgraduate studies in the Department of Motion Picture, I encountered a 5-minute doc by college student Anja about her original family. The film was short, but I was deeply touched by the unspoken emotions inside. I wanted to do a film about her, but didn't yet know in what form. Later, I attended a course called "Documentary Production", which required finishing a short doc in one semester. I thought to myself, instead of recording something ongoing, what about recording someone's inner world? Anja came to my mind. I wanted to record Anja's longing. So I developed an idea to shoot Anja's fantasy about her ideal life and invited Anja to play herself in this world. 2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film? It takes about nine months. In the first three months, the crew developed the idea, shot the film, and made the rough cut. Then I put the materials aside and turn to prepare my graduation project. It was two years after my graduation that I came back to the materials and re-edited the film. It took another half year to finish the whole work. 3. How would you describe your film in two words!? Authentic & creative. 4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film? Since it was the first time I told a story about another person in a non-fiction way, I needed to tackle the subject more carefully. I tried my best to present Anja's inner world and real life. Meanwhile, I bore in mind that I needed to avoid any possibility of exploiting someone's pain. So, regarding what to tell, how to tell, and where to draw the line are challenges for me. 5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video? The audience feedback is very sincere and insightful, extremely precious to me and the crew members. I was both impressed by their high levels of appreciation and deeply touched by their capacity for empathy. I appreciate that a lot! 6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films? When I was a child, like 5 or 6 years old, my favorite game with my pals was making up stories and acting them out. Now looking back, that "childhood pretend play" is the seed, and it naturally turns into making films. 7. What film have you seen the most in your life? The classic films by world master directors, such as Ingmar Bergman, Andrei Tarkovsky, Krzysztof Kieslowski, David Lean, Ozu Yasujiro, and Abbas Kiarostami. Recently, I've become a fanatic about Martin Scorsese's "Taxi Driver". 8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career? More physical screenings and more audience interaction. 9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site? As always, it is handy and efficient. However, as the platform expands and thus includes more festivals, you need to make a more careful selection. 10. What is your favorite meal? A daily meal cooked by my mum. She emphasizes the original flavor of the ingredients and knows how to make a nutrition-balanced one. Oh, I missed her cooking since we live in different cities right now. 11. What is next for you? A new film? At the moment, I'm working on my first feature-length script, a story about four women's friendship and their entangled destiny. Hope everything goes well, and it will be made into a film in the near future. —— Subsc

Soul of a free woman, 1min., Poland Directed by Magdalena Kołodziej-Olszewska A personal transgression illustrating the universal oppression of women. https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-feedback-soul-of-a-free-woman —— Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod —— Love for for you to try the Indy Film Festival AP. • Daily new film festival of the best new films from around the world. New archived festival to watch anytime. • Library of over 500+ award-winning films to watch anytime. Go to https://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the free 3-day trial. Check out the daily film festival (and previous ones from last month) at https://www.wildsound.ca/browse Always an amazing lineup of films. Inspiring for storytellers.

DEAD END POC, 3min., CanadaDirected by Jeffrey AtsusonWhen a trio of deranged, violent misfits invade a seemingly nondescript suburban home on Halloween night and terrorize the owners for the benefit of an elite dark web audience, they soon discover that the real terror already lives inside the house.https://instagram.com/deadendpicture——Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpodhttps://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpodhttps://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod ——Love for for you to try the Indy Film Festival AP.• Daily new film festival of the best new films from around the world. New archived festival to watch anytime.• Library of over 500+ award-winning films to watch anytime.Go to https://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the free 3-day trial.Check out the daily film festival (and previous ones from last month) at https://www.wildsound.ca/browseAlways an amazing lineup of films. Inspiring for storytellers.

WHITE SHADOW, 98min., Singapore Directed by Gloria Chee, Eileen Cheng An untimely diagnosis of a terminal illness sends Ren Jie into a tailspin. Determined to experience love in the limited time she has left, Ren Jie sets out to give her all to Kai Ting, a premature widow still grieving the tragic death of her husband. Through her relentless pursuit, Kai Ting eventually softens. The two friends who have known each other for decades experience the most powerful emotion - love. A moving journey ensues - two individuals learning to trust, communicate, be brave, and vulnerable, but neither are prepared for the agony and heartache in their inevitable separation. https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-feedback-white-shadow https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVgV7SHElHS/?igsh=MTF5MTQwOTRidnN0aQ== —— Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod —— Love for for you to try the Indy Film Festival AP. • Daily new film festival of the best new films from around the world. New archived festival to watch anytime. • Library of over 500+ award-winning films to watch anytime. Go to https://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the free 3-day trial. Check out the daily film festival (and previous ones from last month) at https://www.wildsound.ca/browse Always an amazing lineup of films. Inspiring for storytellers.

Watch the best scene reading: https://youtu.be/DO6c1RbZ9zwDuring the Great Depression, a troubled New Orleans beat cop gets a shot at redemption when he becomes the first Black federal agent in the Bureau of Narcotics—only to discover that the price of his status comes at the cost of persecuting his own community. What is your screenplay about?Reefer Madness is a one-hour historical crime drama set in 1933 New Orleans. It follows Gary O'Neill, a troubled but ambitious Black federal narcotics agent, as he becomes one of the first Black agents in the Federal Bureau of Narcotics and is pulled into undercover work inside the city's jazz clubs, dockside networks, and marijuana underworld.At the same time, Commissioner Harry Anslinger begins transforming marijuana into a national panic, using propaganda, racism, and political fear to build the foundation of what would become the War on Drugs. Tonally, we often describe the series as Boardwalk Empire meets Sinners, with the grounded political-crime engine of Narcos: Mexico: a seductive period underworld, a Black music-driven cultural pulse, and a federal propaganda machine colliding in the making of America's drug war.At its core, the story is about what happens when a man's biggest opportunity forces him to help enforce laws that harm his own community. What genres does your screenplay fall under?Historical crime drama and political thriller. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie/tv series?This story should be made because the history behind marijuana prohibition is still shaping lives today. Cannabis is now legal and profitable in many places, yet many people, especially Black and racialized communities, are still living with the consequences of the laws, convictions, stigma, and policing that came before legalization.That contradiction is at the heart of Reefer Madness: the distance between who profits from the plant now and who paid the price for it then. While developing the project, we travelled to New Orleans and saw advertisements for legal weed in a city deeply tied to jazz, race, policing, and survival, knowing that people are still imprisoned for cannabis-related offences.As a series, Reefer Madness offers a rich and entertaining world of jazz, crime, politics, undercover work, family fracture, and moral compromise, while opening a necessary conversation about propaganda, racism, policing, and historical accountability.——Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpodhttps://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpodhttps://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod ——Love for for you to try the Indy Film Festival AP.• Daily new film festival of the best new films from around the world. New archived festival to watch anytime.• Library of over 500+ award-winning films to watch anytime.Go to https://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the free 3-day trial.Check out the daily film festival (and previous ones from last month) at https://www.wildsound.ca/browseAlways an amazing lineup of films. Inspiring for storytellers.

Watch the best scene reading: https://youtu.be/2bNPp1960pk The true story of the trials and tribulations of Dred and Harriet Scott's fight for freedom and the Supreme Court decision that changed America. What is your screenplay about? It's based on the true story of the trials and tribulations of two slaves from Missouri in the 1800s, Dred and Harriet Scott, and their legal fight for freedom in the Supreme Court. What genres does your screenplay fall under? History - all of the characters and facts are real. The creative part came with trying to fill in the gaps on the lives of Dred and Harriet. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie? The story touches on one of the most impactful Supreme Court rulings in US history. Not only did the outcome contribute to the the sectoral division that lead to the Civil War, but it also was the basis for the introduction of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution which guarantees citizenship for anyone born in the United States, yet there's never been a movie about it. How would you describe this script in two words? Courage and Resilience

UNbecoming is a cinematic exploration of consciousness and identity that challenges the assumption of a separate self. Bridging neuroscience, lived experience, philosophical inquiry, and ancient contemplative traditions, the film examines what happens when the structures that define identity begin to dissolve. Featuring perspectives from leading researchers and thinkers, it moves beyond explanation into direct investigation -inviting the viewer to question the nature of perception, control, and reality itself. Rather than offering answers, UNbecoming creates an experiential confrontation with the question: if the self is an illusion, what remains? —— Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod —— Love for for you to try the Indy Film Festival AP. • Daily new film festival of the best new films from around the world. New archived festival to watch anytime. • Library of over 500+ award-winning films to watch anytime. Go to https://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the free 3-day trial. Check out the daily film festival (and previous ones from last month) at https://www.wildsound.ca/browse Always an amazing lineup of films. Inspiring for storytellers.

ANGOISSE, 4min. Thriller Poetry film. USA Plagued by relentless anxiety, a woman is caught between the weight of the past and the grip of the unknown—until the voices of her ancestors become the only path home. Conversation with director Araeia Robinson & star/writer Sabrina Revelle —— Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod —— Love for for you to try the Indy Film Festival AP. • Daily new film festival of the best new films from around the world. New archived festival to watch anytime. • Library of over 500+ award-winning films to watch anytime. Go to https://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the free 3-day trial. Check out the daily film festival (and previous ones from last month) at https://www.wildsound.ca/browse Always an amazing lineup of films. Inspiring for storytellers.

Vanishing: A Love Story, Documentary Feature Vanishing: A Love Story is a documentary about award-winning novelist Cai Emmons and her loving, open-hearted journey towards death. In 2021, at the age of 70, Cai was diagnosed with ALS. Taking place in 2022, during the last six-months Cai's life, the film is, first and foremost, a story about the agency of expression —having a voice to create a legacy in the world. "Sandra Luckow's 'Vanishing' offers an almost shockingly close-up view of a life well lived and arguably well ended. Focused raptly on the late author Cai Emmons, the film is documented from so deep within her home and intimate circle that at times it also seems to have been shot from inside her head. Emmons is the intellectual driver of Vanishing—but it's Luckow's principled humility before her subject, and before the inescapable realities of illness and death, that enable this film to begin in voicelessness and dissolution and end in eloquent affirmation. --Stuart Klawans, Film Critic, National Magazine Award winner for Reviews and Criticism —— Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod —— Love for for you to try the Indy Film Festival AP. • Daily new film festival of the best new films from around the world. New archived festival to watch anytime. • Library of over 500+ award-winning films to watch anytime. Go to https://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the free 3-day trial. Check out the daily film festival (and previous ones from last month) at https://www.wildsound.ca/browse Always an amazing lineup of films. Inspiring for storytellers.

BALL LIGHTNIING, 12min., USA Directed by Catriona Trina Baker Ball Lightning is the true story of a refugee who fled the personal and social effects of Soviet run East Germany after the end of WWII and immigrated to the United States in the 1960s. The story is told through the eyes of the surrogate daughter that she raised after she was forced to give away her own infant daughter as the iron curtain rose. Gusta serves as an example of survival, kindness and the fortitude of human resilience. The film is dedicated to her lost daughter, Esther, a reminder that the children separated from families because of war are never forgotten by those who love them. https://www.instagram.com/ball.lightning_film https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-feedback-ball-lightning —— Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod —— Love for for you to try the Indy Film Festival AP. • Daily new film festival of the best new films from around the world. New archived festival to watch anytime. • Library of over 500+ award-winning films to watch anytime. Go to https://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the free 3-day trial. Check out the daily film festival (and previous ones from last month) at https://www.wildsound.ca/browse Always an amazing lineup of films. Inspiring for storytellers.

Watch Poetry Movie HANDS FREE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dtiTChQVVI Poem by Rhonda Yates Voice Over by Val Cole Visual Design & Editor by Kaitlin Manalili Produced by Matthew Toffolo —— Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

Watch Today's Reading: https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/esquisse-of-affliction DANNY, a 23-year-old college graduate, returns to his childhood home in Monterey, California, following the sudden passing of his Mother, LORRAINE. After the funeral, Danny, his sister KATY, returned from LA, and their Dad, WAYNE talk about their plans for the immediate future. They run into GAIL, Lorraine's former colleague, who has found Lorraine's body at home. She tells Danny and Katy that Lorraine has some stuff left in her office, advising them to pick it up sometime. —— Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

THE SINGULARITY PROTOCOL, 40min., USA Directed by Craig McCourry Hong Kong, 1941. Trapped in a bombed-out underground bunker, two soldiers, William Kwok and Charles Evans await death. But their final hour takes a chilling turn when a voice from the future breaks through: Cosmos, an AI Singularity from 2046, reaches back through time to fulfill an enigmatic protocol. As Cosmos shares unsettling truths about history, love, and humanity's place in the universe, William and Charles confront mortality, destiny, and leave behind a stark warning for the future. https://www.instagram.com/banyantreemovies —— Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

Watch the best scene reading: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnpDiGCQBd4 Get to know the writer: What is your screenplay about?A professionally trained chef stuck in a dead-end diner job gets a shot at culinary stardom when he's chosen as a wildcard contestant in a prestigious fine dining competition. As he rises through the ranks, he must confront his self-doubt and the truth he's been hiding about where he comes from. What genres does your screenplay fall under?Drama, with elements of comedy and ensemble-driven storytelling. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?It fits in a space that is currently underserved. Character-driven, mid-budget stories with a clear hook. The culinary competition world provides a built-in engine and audience familiarity, while the execution focuses on grounded, performance-driven storytelling. It is contained enough to be produced efficiently, while still offering scale through the competition setting. It also offers strong ensemble roles, which creates multiple opportunities from a casting standpoint. From a business perspective, it is the kind of film that can travel well across festivals, streaming platforms, and word-of-mouth audiences who connect with character-first storytelling. —— Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

STORIES FROM THE STREET, 30min., Canada Directed by Andrea Ramolo Filmed over the duration of a year, this documentary gives voice to a handful of currently or previously homeless Torontonians surviving the harsh realities of unaffordable housing. Within a tapestry of shared stories and experiences, the film also closely follows Brent, an older gentleman who is granted transitional shelter in a Tiny Tiny Home and eventually his very own apartment after living on the streets on and off his entire life. https://instagram.com/byheartproductions

Watch best scene reading: https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/crime-mystery-festival-best-scene-flight-17-by-richard-geiwitz-interview After surviving what seems to be a terrorist attack on an airplane, a woman must go under the radar as she stumbles on something much larger. —— Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

Cheap$kate, 6min., USA Directed by Calvin Catania While a crafty detective teaches you his unique style of catching criminals, another criminal is on the run and heading down a dark alley he shouldn't be going down. In the end, someone has to pay for their crimes —— Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

A DANCE AWAY, 14min., USA Directed by Maxwell Gilbert A Dance Away tells the story of Ava, a college dancer who breaks her ankle during a performance a few months prior. Still traumatized and scared to go back on stage, her best friend, Riley, gives her a strange necklace, which mysteriously transports her into a realm. From there, she meets three dancers who give her a dance away. https://www.instagram.com/adanceawayshortfilm/ —— Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

Watch best scene reading: https://youtu.be/IhdiRMQznCY Get to know the writer: What is your screenplay about?When Lizzie Franks, a gorgeous African-American paraplegic, is fired from her job at a company she helped start and her fiance dumps her, she joins The Iron Maiden, a women-only gym to find a reason to go on. But Brandon Wickie, the brilliant, ultra-wealthy owner of the gym kidnaps her. He uses a unique nannite technology he's invented to assemble his ideal mate from the body parts of women bodybuilders he kidnaps from his gym and he attaches Lizzie's head to his creation. Meanwhile, Mathew Tran, a Chicago detective, is hot on Brandon's trail as he tries to discover who has been kidnapping women bodybuilders and who killed George Johnson, the husband of one of the women and also a Chicago Detective. The movie culminates in a fight to the death between Lizzie and Brandon, both of whom have super-human strength and healing powers due to the nannites in their veins. Lizzie, in her unfamiliar body, must find a new inner strength and push herself beyond her limits to save herself and Detective Tran. What genres does your screenplay fall under?Horror/thriller Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?The simplest answer is because it will be a money-maker if it's done right. It can be made as a low-budget horror film, which are extremely popular worldwide. It can also be produced as a high budget superhero origin story with A-list actors such as Zandaya as Lizzy Franks and Michael Cera as Brandon Wickie. It could also be the first in a series of movies following Lizzie's adventures, it could be turned into one or a series of graphic novels, and it would make a great animated film or series. In addition, it has a multi-racial cast of quirky characters, its heroine is uniquely different from any other superhero or female movie lead, the world of female bodybuilding is an unusual environment, and it combines humor with mystery, intense action and a bit of grisly horror, so it will keep an audience emotionally engaged and guessing about what comes next. Finally, it explores important topics such as the danger of tech-bros with too much money (looking at you, Bezos and Musk), the dangers and benefits of AI-based technology, and female empowerment, so it's more engaging than if it were just a whiz-bang popcorn movie. —— Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

I WISH I WAS A DOG, 12min., CanadaDirected by Katherine CostalWhen a young woman's desire to become a true member of her favourite art club turns her into a dog, she finds the newfound relationship between her and the members poses a different kind of challenge. https://www.instagram.com/kat_costal/ —— Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

Final Transmission, 10min., UKDirected by Sean ColemanAlone aboard a crippled transport drifting through deep space, Commander Elias Walker records what will become humanity's final message. Earth is gone, and the ship, once a vessel of hope, now carries only failure and silence. As oxygen fades, Elias begins a calm mission log, clinging to duty and procedure. But as systems die around him, the truth surfaces. He isn't just facing his own death, he's witnessing the extinction of mankind.https://www.instagram.com/sean_coleman7/ —— Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

CROWDED RIVER, 9min., AustraliaDirected by Andrew M SullyWhen Jane, a mid-career novelist racing a looming deadline, accepts a last-minute dog-sitting stay in a secluded riverside home — the perfect hideout to finish her book, or so she thinks — ordinary moments begin to feel charged with unease. The quiet quickly curdles. A stranger arrives, claiming to be ‘maintenance.' No phone signal. A river sealed in ice. Footprints in the snow. What starts as a working retreat becomes a tightening psychological trap.https://www.instagram.com/crowdedriver —— Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

Watch the Best Scene of THE MEMORY TAX: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDLcReloL8k A 14-year-old girl with an experimental neural implant can access the entirety of human knowledge with her mind, but every ‘download' costs her a piece of her past. While hiding in plain sight from the shadowy corporation that created her, she must decide how much of herself she is willing to forget to save the people she loves. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie? I would clarify that The Memory Tax is actually written as a one-hour television pilot, although I believe the concept is cinematic enough to work in a visual medium. It should be produced because it has a strong, immediately understandable science-fiction hook with deep emotional consequences. The central idea involves a teenage girl who can access unlimited knowledge but loses her memories every time she does is both high-concept and character-driven. The story also speaks to modern anxieties about technology, identity, artificial intelligence, medical ethics, corporate ownership, and the cost of constant access to information. But instead of telling that story through machines or institutions alone, it filters everything through a vulnerable teenage girl who simply wants to live a normal life. That gives the project both genre appeal and emotional accessibility. How would you describe this script in two words? Costly knowledge. What movie have you seen the most times in your life? E.T. is one of the films I've returned to the most. I've always admired how it takes a science-fiction premise and grounds it in childhood, loneliness, friendship, and family. That is something I tried to bring into The Memory Tax. The genre concept matters, but the emotional experience of the child at the center matters even more. —— Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

REDLINING, 18min., USA Directed by Jason Stuart REDLINING is about a black & white family who live on the same property during the 1970s in the Georgia REDLINING era. The film explores the themes of generational wealth, prejudice, homosexuality, women's rights and the legacy of discrimination in the American South. Who gets to live where? What happens when the parents pass? Who gets the house? And why? https://www.instagram.com/thejasonstuart/ —— Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

Watch the best scene reading: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3d7ULGYSPk What is your screenplay about? In 1947 a 19-year-old female genius is rejected for every job she applies to. She gets recruited into a covert military program working alongside peaceful alien refugees. When a test flight goes wrong, she's the only one who can save the two men, including the one who spent months harassing her. She learns the hard way that in order to get respect, she first has to give it. What genres does your screenplay fall under? Soft Sci-Fi and Drama. The alien and technology are just the hooks. It's really about the characters. —— Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

AN AFTERNOON IN KNIFE SELLING WITH PSYCHO SAMMY, 10min., Canada Directed by George Yonemon 18-year-old Jesse shadows a professional at his new kitchen knife-selling summer job. https://www.instagram.com/ge_orangeyonemori/ https://www.georgeyonemori.com/writing —— Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

JC Bratton's Dollhouse, 19min., USA Directed by Ken Zheng, Livi Zheng In the wake of a mysterious family death, a couple's night of mourning is interrupted by a strange delivery containing an antique dollhouse and a terrifying tale about its lone occupant. http://bluemilk.co/ —— Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

The Offering, 3min., Canada Directed by Banpreet singh https://www.instagram.com/banpreet_gill 
Setting: Canadian streets at night. 
The Protagonist: a man living on the razor's edge of poverty, working gruelling hours for wages that barely cover his rent in an increasingly expensive urban landscape. 
The Conflict: After a particularly lean month, protagonist finally treats himself to a modest meal from a local grocery store—a rare moment of indulgence intended to quiet the persistent ache in his stomach. As he starts to eat food outside the store, he notices a figure sitting nearby road. —— Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

Learning to Cuss, 4min., USA Directed by Corey Foxx Two young boys decide it is time to learn the ways of speaking like an adult. https://instagram.com/austinfoxx11/ —— Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

THE HARPIES, 4min., Canada Directed by Rogan Lovse The Harpies was written, filmed, and edited in 48 hours as part of the 2024 Run N Gun: Vancouver's 48 hour Film Competition. Winner of the Run N Gun's Best Cinematography and Best Art awards, as well as, being nominated for Best Picture, Best Editing, Best Sound, and Best Direction. https://www.instagram.com/the_harpies_horror_short_film/ —— Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

Watch the best scene reading: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNOF8lNvsOc After the death of her father and the loss of her racing partner, a veteran off-road driver enters an all-women desert rally with an unlikely teammate. Get to know the writer: 1. What is your screenplay about? DESERT BELLES is about a mature woman pushing herself to win an off-road desert auto race to save the family business and in doing so rediscovering her passion for the sport. 2. What genres does your screenplay fall under? Action adventure. 3. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie? DESERT BELLES is based on a real women-only off road competition, The Rebelle Rally. The world is exciting, dangerous, physically and mentally challenging and shows that women are strong and resourceful competitors. We've had 100 plus years of men in movies having grand adventures. Now it's time for women, and women of an age, to be the lead. 4. How would you describe this script in two words? Exhilirating competition. —— Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

The Enigmatic Crew, 40min., USA Directed by Mark Buerck Five best friends: Tony, Leo, Jimmy, Jason, and Kevin reunite during spring break of March 2024 after being drifted apart due to their commitments of their College Education. They all spend the whole day together, hanging out, catching up on life, and discuss their past and their plans for the future. Especially their future plans to go on vacation together. As the day goes by, they see plans won't go their way, they fight, but eventually get through it as best friends should. —— Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

WHEN FIGHTING MONSTERS, 18min., USA Directed by Sherill Quinn A bereaved detective struggles to make sense of his daughter's untimely death. https://www.instagram.com/when_fighting_monsters_movie Get to know the filmmaker: 1. What motivated you to make this film? I've always believed that to make art is to make sense of the world you live in. The things you've experienced and the lessons you've learned. When Fighting Monsters was meant as a portrait of grief, and a reminder to be there for your loved ones amidst the growing mental health crisis in America. 2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film? Two years. The original idea I'd had was a solo scene. I wrote that scene while on an airplane, then basically forgot about it for a year. Then in 2024, I picked it up again and thought, why don't I just finish this? Once I started writing, I couldn't stop. I finished the first draft in a few days and reached out to a producer friend to see if he would be interested in working on it. Fortunately he said yes, and pre-production quickly followed. We finished principal photography three months later, and the film was finalized almost exactly a year after I'd finished writing it. 3. How would you describe your film in two words!? Dark, Gritty 4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film? I think the biggest obstacle was learning to trust myself. I spent all of pre-production terrified that I was going to screw it up, or that something would go terribly wrong in the middle of filming. Then once we had finished filming, I had to trust myself to edit the film. This was equally daunting, knowing that everyone's time and hard work was all wrapped up in a tiny hard drive on my desk. I think that's a natural part of every creator's journey. You don't know what to expect until you jump in. —— Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

SHE WAS, 20min., Germany Directed by Abril Andrea Arnauda Appel When a migrant songwriter dies of an apparent suicide, her voice echoes the truth. https://www.instagram.com/shewas_shortfilm —— Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

THE SEA, 10min., Canada Directed by Son Roberts This experimental short film is a "Jazz Monologue" presented by an elusive oracle. Through rage and reflection, incendiary prose and inspirational poetry, he reminds us of the legacy of lies that define our human journey. And he insists that we embrace the redemptive power of truth, from generation to generation. https://www.instagram.com/thesonroberts/ Get to know the filmmaker: 1. What motivated you to make this film? I came on board because our co-producer and the writer of the monologue, Frank Francis, is a long time friend and collaborator. My admiration for Frank, and our collective efforts to tell relevant stories about human rights and social justice lit the fire for this project. 2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film? About 18 months. 3. How would you describe your film in two words!? Haunting and necessary. 4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film? Financing it. 5. There are 5 stages of the filmmaking process: Development. Pre-Production. Production. Post-Production. Distribution. What is your favorite stage of the filmmaking process? Shooting and post-production are tied for my favourites. 6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films? I started making motion pictures in high school, pursued the art form in commercial work for decades. Now, it is my primary focus.. 7. What film have you seen the most times in your life? The Third Man 8. In a perfect world: Who would you like to work with/collaborate with on a film? Charlize Theron, Ethan Hawke, Sean Penn, Hailee Steinfeld, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Mahershala Ali, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Emily Blunt, Meryl Streep, Masanobu Takayanagi, Jomo Fray. 9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site? Excellent. FF offers a Seamless, professional and wide reaching portal. 10. What is your favourite meal? Pretty much anything my girlfriend cooks. 11. What is next for you? A new film? Two music videos and a music documentary are in post-production. A short film and feature film are in Development. ——- Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

The Rules of Life., 13min., United Arab Emirates Directed by Larry Neale Max still lives under his parents' roof, drifting through life with no direction. He spends his days immersed in the digital world, avoiding the real one entirely. The dreams he once chased have faded, and now he's stuck; unmotivated, uninspired, and unsure how he got here. https://www.instagram.com/papillonfilms20 ——- Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

Roxy & The Man, 17min., USA Directed by Joey Medina A terminally ill Vietnam veteran finds solace and purpose in rescuing an abused dog no one else wanted, rediscovering the meaning of life and the profound power of companionship. Get to know the filmmaker: 1. What motivated you to make this film? I wanted to make a film about two broken souls that together become whole. 2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film? From thinking about the project, to the finished product probably took two years. 3. How would you describe your film in two words!? Beautifully sad. 4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film? Finding the right dog to play the lead. I never intended to use my own. 5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video? I know they got it. They understood the message. 6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films? In fifth grade after watching a super 8 film my teacher made with his class the period year. 7. What film have you seen the most in your life? Rocky. Best film ever made. 8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career? Exposure and feedback are key. 9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site? The platform is the easiest way to submit and keep track of submissions. 10. What is your favorite meal? Seafood of any kind 11. What is next for you? A new film? Yes , working on my first dramatic animation called, #SAY-HER-NAME. ——- Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

Echoes of Antietam, 6min., USA Directed by Christopher Vallone Echoes of Antietam is a haunting post–Civil War horror short film set on the blood-soaked farmlands of Maryland. https://www.instagram.com/valloneworks/ Get to know the filmmaker: What motivated you to make this film? I love history and a good father son story, so I thought that we really haven't seen a “zombie civil war” film. So I thought one night before bed about a father and his two sons defending their home against an army of confederate zombie soldiers, the next day, I started writing! From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film? About 2 months. ——- Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

CAUGHT, 8min., USA Directed by Kevan Doyle Caught is a short documentary filmed in Sri Lanka that explores how building economies around recycling can inspire sustainable change in developing communities. Directed by Kevan Doyle, the film was featured in his TEDx talk after the organizer was so moved by its message, she insisted it be shared with the audience. Caught is a hopeful portrait of how local action can spark global impact—turning ocean waste into opportunity. https://www.kevandoyle.com/caught Get to know the filmmaker: What motivated you to make this film? I was really motivated to create something I genuinely cared about. I grew up by the ocean, so the environment has always been a big part of my life. This film felt like an opportunity to highlight a real solution, showing how one organization is tackling the climate crisis in a meaningful way, especially in developing countries. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film? The project came together over a few months. I spent about a week shooting in Sri Lanka, and then around three months in post-production shaping the story. How would you describe your film in two words!? Inspiring change. ——- Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

The Architect's Dream, 8min., Israel Directed by Einat Graitser In a future where happiness is mandatory and grief is flagged as a system error, the architect of the city's ‘Serenity Algorithm' faces an impossible choice: purge the memory of her late sister to survive, or destroy the perfect utopia she built to remind humanity that pain is proof of life. Get to know the filmmaker: What motivated you to make this film? For the past two years, I have been teaching cinema with a specific focus on science fiction and AI. After teaching the theory and exploring these generative tools with my students, my fingers were simply burning to create something of my own and put everything into practice. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film? It took about a month. This is actually the first film where I functioned as a complete one-woman studio—from the initial story and script to the final visual execution. How would you describe your film in two words!? Digital Dreamscape. ——- Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

The Sanctuary of the Leatherback is the continuing stories, following the first documentary, The Story of the Leatherback. This documentary will raise an important issue, relating to the recent death of mother Tai Meaung, a mother leatherback turtle along with her 136 unhatched babies in her belly. The incident is heartbreaking. Losing her has been a major blow for the conservation efforts for this turtle specie, one of the critically endangered animals in Thailand. The documentary further addressed an important study report that has been purposed by The Committee on Land, Natural Resources and Environment, House of Representatives. The report proposed an expansion of the jurisdiction of the Khao Lampi-Hat tai meung National Park to include the Coral Line, which is an important habitat for the Leatherback and other sea turtles during nesting season. Combining the coral line to be a part of the national park will be an essential step towards protecting these beautiful endangered species and its pristine habitats both on land and sea. If the effort can be realized, it will ensure the place to be the true “Sanctuary of the Leatherback” and to preserve biodiversity and bring back balance to the world for future generations. ——- Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

ACT!, 13min., USA Directed by Freddy Barouh Ten minutes before showtime, a theatre group unravels into warm-up disasters, personal drama and backstage chaos as they scramble to survive opening night. ——- Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

RED CLOUD: A NEW DAY, 80min., USA Directed by Alex Kruz Based on Red Cloud Comic Book Issues 1-6. Vigilante contractor Jake Red Cloud wages a covert war against the Yakuza sponsored human trafficking in the golden triangle. Retaliation by the criminal organization strips Jake of his family, forcing him on the run. While in hiding he forms a deep, spiritual bond with neglected young Anne Parker, becoming the protector she never had—until a violent confrontation with his enemies forces him to make a devastating choice that shatters her childhood. ——- Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod