Directors Notes is delighted to present the inaugural edition of the WeAreDn Awards, a celebration of the best films from Dn’s 2023 official submissions. Taking place from 6:30pm on the 25th of April at Whirled Cinema London, the Dn team have selected 22 films over 8 categories – Drama, Comedy, Music, Documentary, Animation, Buckle Up, British & Student – for our industry jury members to vote on. We welcome all nominees, cast, crew, friends and film lovers to join us as we screen the winning films and present the WeAreDn Awards followed by celebratory networking drinks.
Our Jury
Ella Glendining is a BAFTA-nominated writer and director. Is There Anybody Out There? premiered at Sundance 2023, and has won the Silver Horn for the director of a film on social issues at Krakow Film Festival 2023, the prestigious Fipresci International Film Critics Prize, and the Bring the Change award at Biografilm Festival 2023. In 2024 Ella was nominated for...
Our Jury
Ella Glendining is a BAFTA-nominated writer and director. Is There Anybody Out There? premiered at Sundance 2023, and has won the Silver Horn for the director of a film on social issues at Krakow Film Festival 2023, the prestigious Fipresci International Film Critics Prize, and the Bring the Change award at Biografilm Festival 2023. In 2024 Ella was nominated for...
- 3/14/2024
- by Sarah Smith
- Directors Notes
If you tried to guess the trajectory of the young couple’s idyllic new relationship in Jim Vendiola’s wildly inappropriate yet incredibly close to the heart romantic short Pretty Pickle you wouldn’t even come close. The award-winning Filipino-American filmmaker probes the perils of succumbing to our own insecurities as he takes us beyond that hot and heavy honeymoon period where the rose-tinted glasses start to slip and reveals what happens when we question our partner’s seemingly innocent quirks. Vendiola deftly builds up the tension in his beautifully shot black and white genre blending short before leaving you slack jawed in its final moments. After an impressive festival run Pretty Pickle makes its online premiere on Dn today, alongside an extensive interview with Vendiola where we discuss using black and white cinematography to marry the film’s disparate tones, how he worked on ensuring the digital interfaces didn...
- 7/27/2023
- by Sarah Smith
- Directors Notes
NewFilmmakers Los Angeles has renewed the NewNarratives talent development program that it launched last year with Warner Bros. Discovery’s OneFifty content banner.
The NewNarratives program identifies emerging global artists by tapping into the community of international content creators that Nfmla has cultivated over the past 15 years.
“OneFifty is a long-standing partner of NewFilmmakers LA,” said Axel Caballero, head of OneFifty. “The NewNarratives collaboration has yielded exciting new talent from around the globe and we look forward to the unique voices that will emerge this year.”
The program launched in 2021 and received 200-plus entries from more than 40 countries, leading to substantial funding to support projects from creatives such as Jim Vendiola, Gabriela Ortega, Set Hernandez Rongkilyo and the duo of Nora Mariana Salim and Rami Kodeih. NewNarratives aims to be a fully global program, open to any kind of storyteller and material. From episodic genres to shorts to feature films,...
The NewNarratives program identifies emerging global artists by tapping into the community of international content creators that Nfmla has cultivated over the past 15 years.
“OneFifty is a long-standing partner of NewFilmmakers LA,” said Axel Caballero, head of OneFifty. “The NewNarratives collaboration has yielded exciting new talent from around the globe and we look forward to the unique voices that will emerge this year.”
The program launched in 2021 and received 200-plus entries from more than 40 countries, leading to substantial funding to support projects from creatives such as Jim Vendiola, Gabriela Ortega, Set Hernandez Rongkilyo and the duo of Nora Mariana Salim and Rami Kodeih. NewNarratives aims to be a fully global program, open to any kind of storyteller and material. From episodic genres to shorts to feature films,...
- 8/2/2022
- by Carson Burton
- Variety Film + TV
Chicago – The 29th Chicago Underground Film Festival (Cuff) highlights many short films in several programs, and local filmmaker Jim Vendiola will screen his latest “Pretty Pickle” on July 28th, 2022 in Shorts 2. For ticket information, click Pickle Jim.
It’s the story of Sam and Sam – Samuel and his new girlfriend, Samantha – during the “honeymoon phase” of their relationship. As Samuel sinks further down an Othello-like spiral while privately dwelling on one of Samantha’s persisting quirks, he is led to a nightmarish discovery. Part horror, part comedy of manners, part romance, “Pretty Pickle” is a provocative probe of 21st Century dating paranoias and insecurity, and the timeless unpredictability of human secrecy.
‘Pretty Pickle,’ Written & Directed by Jim Vendiola (inset)
Photo credit: 29th Cuff
Jim Vendiola is an award-winning Filipino-American filmmaker, who has been named one of Chicago Newcity Magazine’s Film 50 of 2016, 2018, and 2020. “Pretty Pickle” is his latest of seven...
It’s the story of Sam and Sam – Samuel and his new girlfriend, Samantha – during the “honeymoon phase” of their relationship. As Samuel sinks further down an Othello-like spiral while privately dwelling on one of Samantha’s persisting quirks, he is led to a nightmarish discovery. Part horror, part comedy of manners, part romance, “Pretty Pickle” is a provocative probe of 21st Century dating paranoias and insecurity, and the timeless unpredictability of human secrecy.
‘Pretty Pickle,’ Written & Directed by Jim Vendiola (inset)
Photo credit: 29th Cuff
Jim Vendiola is an award-winning Filipino-American filmmaker, who has been named one of Chicago Newcity Magazine’s Film 50 of 2016, 2018, and 2020. “Pretty Pickle” is his latest of seven...
- 7/28/2022
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Array Releasing Acquires Sterlin Harjo’s ‘Love and Fury’
Array Releasing, the distribution arm of Ava DuVernay’s Peabody Award-winning narrative change collective, announced its acquisition of award-winning filmmaker Sterlin Harjo’s documentary feature “Love and Fury.”
The company acquired North American, UK, Australian and New Zealand rights and will release the film on select screens and on Netflix beginning December 3rd. The announcement was made by Tilane Jones, President of Array.
“Array Releasing is proud to bring celebrated filmmaker Sterlin Harjo’s documentary film ‘Love and Fury’ to audiences around the world, just in time for Native American Heritage month,” said Jones. “This lovingly made film explores the complex artistry of multiple Native American artists’ while offering texture, nuance and insight into Native identities and perspectives.”
The film had its premiere at the Hot Docs International Documentary Festival, and was an official selection of the Seattle International Film Festival,...
Array Releasing, the distribution arm of Ava DuVernay’s Peabody Award-winning narrative change collective, announced its acquisition of award-winning filmmaker Sterlin Harjo’s documentary feature “Love and Fury.”
The company acquired North American, UK, Australian and New Zealand rights and will release the film on select screens and on Netflix beginning December 3rd. The announcement was made by Tilane Jones, President of Array.
“Array Releasing is proud to bring celebrated filmmaker Sterlin Harjo’s documentary film ‘Love and Fury’ to audiences around the world, just in time for Native American Heritage month,” said Jones. “This lovingly made film explores the complex artistry of multiple Native American artists’ while offering texture, nuance and insight into Native identities and perspectives.”
The film had its premiere at the Hot Docs International Documentary Festival, and was an official selection of the Seattle International Film Festival,...
- 11/24/2021
- by Selome Hailu
- Variety Film + TV
Update, November 23: NewFilmmakers Los Angeles has announced the recipient of its inaugural NewNarratives grant, a program supported by WarnerMedia’s OneFifty division created to support and develop emerging global storytellers. Filmmaker Jim Vendiola will receive $40,000 for the development of his feature “Argus,” about a disaffected private eye who is hired to reinvestigate the case of a missing teen long thought to have run away. It shifts points of view between the detective, an obsessive killer, and the pre-abduction life of the victim and is described by Nfmla as a “subversive, Bipoc, female-driven reimagining of 1970s Neo-noirs.”
The Chicago-based Vendiola, a first-generation Filipino-American, is a writer, director, and development exec who has thrice been a Newcity Film 50 honoree. He’s also a Nfmla alum
“I’m truly ecstatic and grateful to Nfmla and OneFifty for this incredible opportunity. For years I’ve taken meaningful risks with the form and content of my work,...
The Chicago-based Vendiola, a first-generation Filipino-American, is a writer, director, and development exec who has thrice been a Newcity Film 50 honoree. He’s also a Nfmla alum
“I’m truly ecstatic and grateful to Nfmla and OneFifty for this incredible opportunity. For years I’ve taken meaningful risks with the form and content of my work,...
- 11/23/2021
- by Chris Lindahl
- Indiewire
NewFilmmakers Los Angeles and WarnerMedia OneFifty have named the winning writers for its NewNarratives content program.
Filmmaker Jim Vendiola has been honored with the NewNarratives inaugural grand award for 2021 and will receive $40,000 for the
development of his latest narrative feature film Argus. The program, which kicked off in June 19, 2021, drew from NewFilmmakers’ exisitng pool of talent and sought to provide one winner with a grant ranging from $10,000 to $100,000.
Vendiola was the winner among over 200 entries ranging from feature narrative, documentary, and animated works as well as scripted and unscripted series. Applicants hailed from over 40 countries and 6 continents.
Vendiola’s Argus is the story of a washed up private eye who is hired to reinvestigate the case of a missing teen long thought to have run away. Shifting POVs between the detective, an obsessive killer, and the pre-abduction life of the victim in question, Argus is a subversive, female-driven reimagining of 1970s neo-noirs.
Filmmaker Jim Vendiola has been honored with the NewNarratives inaugural grand award for 2021 and will receive $40,000 for the
development of his latest narrative feature film Argus. The program, which kicked off in June 19, 2021, drew from NewFilmmakers’ exisitng pool of talent and sought to provide one winner with a grant ranging from $10,000 to $100,000.
Vendiola was the winner among over 200 entries ranging from feature narrative, documentary, and animated works as well as scripted and unscripted series. Applicants hailed from over 40 countries and 6 continents.
Vendiola’s Argus is the story of a washed up private eye who is hired to reinvestigate the case of a missing teen long thought to have run away. Shifting POVs between the detective, an obsessive killer, and the pre-abduction life of the victim in question, Argus is a subversive, female-driven reimagining of 1970s neo-noirs.
- 11/22/2021
- by Alexandra Del Rosario
- Deadline Film + TV
Chicago – Filmmakers from Chicago get their moment in the spotlight via the new YouTube series “The Work.” Hosts Curtis Matzke and Bradley Power, also local filmmakers, have created episodes featuring in-depth perspectives from their industry guests. Access the series by clicking The Work.
Centered around topics like “Ideas,” “Confidence,” “The Producer’s Philosophy” “Strategy” and more, Matzke and Powell reached out to their filmmaker colleagues Sam George, Kevin Pickman, LeLe Park, Jim Vendiola, Mishu Hilmy, Grace Hahn, Robert Bruce Carter and Emily Lape. They are wrapping up the first month of episode releases, and will have a free and open-to-all Virtual Wrap Party that can be accessed by clicking here.
Curtis Matzke and Bradley Powell of ‘The Work’
Photo credit: Facebook.com/TheWorkChicago
Curtis Matzke is a Chicago director/screenwriter, as well as cinematographer and producer, and is the founder of Unfurnished Films. In 2018, Curtis was named “Most Diabolical” by...
Centered around topics like “Ideas,” “Confidence,” “The Producer’s Philosophy” “Strategy” and more, Matzke and Powell reached out to their filmmaker colleagues Sam George, Kevin Pickman, LeLe Park, Jim Vendiola, Mishu Hilmy, Grace Hahn, Robert Bruce Carter and Emily Lape. They are wrapping up the first month of episode releases, and will have a free and open-to-all Virtual Wrap Party that can be accessed by clicking here.
Curtis Matzke and Bradley Powell of ‘The Work’
Photo credit: Facebook.com/TheWorkChicago
Curtis Matzke is a Chicago director/screenwriter, as well as cinematographer and producer, and is the founder of Unfurnished Films. In 2018, Curtis was named “Most Diabolical” by...
- 2/22/2021
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Chicago – In what has become an annual happening, Chicago arts power couple Rebecca Fons and Jack C. Newell bring back “Destroy Your Art,” an event in which a filmmaker creates a film, shows it once to the audience, and then destroys it forever. Destroy Your Art takes place on August 10th, 2019, at Inside Town Space in the West Town neighborhood, Chicago. For more information, including tickets, click here.
“Destroy Your Art” will feature five filmmakers – Amir George, Jim Vendiola, Kaitlin Martin, Juliette Strangio and Molly Hewitt – as they show their seven minute or less short films. After that One Showing, the films will be destroyed forever (via blow torch) never to be seen again. The concept challenges the notions of permanency, images, expression and our perception of what time/space means. Audience participants, and the filmmakers themselves, will be the only witnesses to the final products, before they are never shown again.
“Destroy Your Art” will feature five filmmakers – Amir George, Jim Vendiola, Kaitlin Martin, Juliette Strangio and Molly Hewitt – as they show their seven minute or less short films. After that One Showing, the films will be destroyed forever (via blow torch) never to be seen again. The concept challenges the notions of permanency, images, expression and our perception of what time/space means. Audience participants, and the filmmakers themselves, will be the only witnesses to the final products, before they are never shown again.
- 8/8/2019
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Held earlier this month on May 13-17, the epic 22nd annual Chicago Underground Film Festival gave out eight awards and six honorable mentions.
The big winner was Jennifer Reeder who took home this year’s Best of the Fest award for Blood Below the Skin, a 38-minute short film about three teenage girls who forge a special bond in the wake of an unanticipated incident. This marks back-to-back wins for Reeder who won the Best Short Award last year at Cuff for her previous film A Million Miles Away.
Other winners include Iva Radivojevic’s rumination on asylum seekers in Cyprus, Evaporating Borders, which won Best Feature; while David McMurry’s meditation on the world’s first nuclear town, Arco, Idaho, Atomic City, won Best Documentary. Also, ethnographic documentarian Ben Russell won the Poseidon’s Trident Award for Experimental Mythologies for Atlantis; and Laura Harrison’s animated The Lingerie Show...
The big winner was Jennifer Reeder who took home this year’s Best of the Fest award for Blood Below the Skin, a 38-minute short film about three teenage girls who forge a special bond in the wake of an unanticipated incident. This marks back-to-back wins for Reeder who won the Best Short Award last year at Cuff for her previous film A Million Miles Away.
Other winners include Iva Radivojevic’s rumination on asylum seekers in Cyprus, Evaporating Borders, which won Best Feature; while David McMurry’s meditation on the world’s first nuclear town, Arco, Idaho, Atomic City, won Best Documentary. Also, ethnographic documentarian Ben Russell won the Poseidon’s Trident Award for Experimental Mythologies for Atlantis; and Laura Harrison’s animated The Lingerie Show...
- 5/26/2015
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
The 22nd annual Chicago Underground Film Festival presents five days of devastating celluloid provocations on May 13-17 at the Logan Theatre.
The fest kicks off on May 13 with the incredibly haunting short film Echoes by Jaimz Asmundson and the Filipino romantic crime drama Ruined Heart: Another Lovestory Between a Criminal and a Whore by the single-named director Khavn.
Highlights of the fest include the new slacker-ific comedy by Lev Kalman and Whitney Horn, L for Leisure; the Spanish socio-political documentary Speculation Nation by Bill Brown and Sabine Gruffat; the pastoral friendship drama For the Plasma by Bingham Bryant & Kyle Molzan; and the joyful pop doc Living Stars by Gastón Duprat and Mariano Cohn.
There are also loads of un-missable short films, such as the gritty modern film noir Bite Radius by Spencer Parsons; and amazing new films by Jennifer Reeder (Blood Below the Skin), Zachary Epcar (Under the Heat Lamp...
The fest kicks off on May 13 with the incredibly haunting short film Echoes by Jaimz Asmundson and the Filipino romantic crime drama Ruined Heart: Another Lovestory Between a Criminal and a Whore by the single-named director Khavn.
Highlights of the fest include the new slacker-ific comedy by Lev Kalman and Whitney Horn, L for Leisure; the Spanish socio-political documentary Speculation Nation by Bill Brown and Sabine Gruffat; the pastoral friendship drama For the Plasma by Bingham Bryant & Kyle Molzan; and the joyful pop doc Living Stars by Gastón Duprat and Mariano Cohn.
There are also loads of un-missable short films, such as the gritty modern film noir Bite Radius by Spencer Parsons; and amazing new films by Jennifer Reeder (Blood Below the Skin), Zachary Epcar (Under the Heat Lamp...
- 5/11/2015
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.