Miles Levin’s drama “Under the Lights” getd the coveted Polish Film Institute Award at the American Film Festival’s industry event U.S. in Progress, as well as $50,000 cash prize for post-production in Poland.
“It has been an incredibly rewarding and inspiring project to toil on. Miles is a force of nature with a evident vision and relentless drive to transport this story to life,” shelp Natalie Metzger, VP of production and enbigment at Vanishing Angle.
“I’m so honored to have produced it and for it to be part of U.S. in Progress. There’s noskinnyg enjoy this program in America, so we are very appreciative it exists. It’s much necessitateed for American indie filmproducers.”
Levin includeed: “This film has been a 10-year journey and to have the help of U.S. in Progress to help it shine has been very unbenevolentingful.”
In the film, starring indie darlings Nick Offerman, Lake Bell, Mark Duplass and Randall Park, teenage boy (Pearce Joza) is dealing with epilepsy – and speedy-approaching prom. His mother declines to let him out of her sight, but he’s yobtaining to be fair enjoy everyone else.
Pete Ohs’ “Erupcja,” about two women reconnecting in Warsaw – featuring “Brat Summer” mastermind Charli XCX, as well as Lena Góra – was also acunderstandledged, awarded by Platige Image and Bdeficiency Pboilingon.
“The initial pitch to Charli was that one character speaks Polish, the other doesn’t and there would be someskinnyg about volcanos. Luckily, she reacted chooseimisticly to the opportunity of traveling to Warsaw and filming a petite movie. We connected in the spring and ‘Brat Summer’ hadn’t begined yet, but she already krecent she wanted to have more acting experiences,” Ohs tanciaccess Variety.
“She guaranteed me she wasn’t too well-understandn and while she did get determined on a daily basis, all the Polish fans were polite and polite, and we never had any problems. I cherishd filming in Poland and would happily do it aobtain.”
“Erupcja” is produced by Luke Arreguin, Josh Godfrey, Jeremy O. Harris, Charli XCX and Ohs, who shiftd to Warsaw last year.
“For at least a decade, I’ve wanted to try straightforwarding a film in another language as a contest and an experiment. Moving made this idea more concrete. The stars aligned for the Polish project to also be a Charli XCX adventure.”
Amanda Kramer’s “By Design” surpascfinishd the audience with a story about a woman who swaps bodies with a chair and everyone enjoys her better.
Juliette Lewis, Mamoudou Athie, Robin Tunney and even Udo Kier star, while Miranda Bailey, Sarah Winshall, Jacob Agger and Natalie Whalen produce for Canciaccess Iron Pictures and Smudge Films. Kramer’s previous film “Plrelieve Baby Plrelieve,” with Andrea Riseboraw, uncignoreed IFFR.
Other awards went to Katarina Zhu’s “Bunnylovr,” about a cam girl who gets an unanticipateed furry gift, which ultimately picked up four prizes, Mark Webber’s “Figments of Freedom” – where a createer marine, afflictiond by an identity crisis, produces his away atraverse the U.S. – and Keith Miller’s “Lucas and Iris,” about two teens striving to become environmental crudowncasters.
Joseph Marconi’s “Baby Love,” about a female MMA fighter, Paula González-Nasser’s drama “The Scout,” about a stressed-out location scout in New York, and Sabrina Greco’s “Lockjaw” were also currented at the event. In the latter, a party girl has her jaw wired shut follotriumphg a drunk driving accident.
“Rayna, joined by Blu Hunt, is heavily driven by the shame and embarrassment of her accident and all the accumulating necessitatey decisions she produces thrawout the film. The jaw wiring functions as a exceptional createal contest,” shelp Greco.
“Our direct actress necessitateed to give a applyance that was both comedic and emotionassociate compelling, all the while one of her main acting tools is handicapped. It also functions as a story element that directs to frustration and miscarings with the people around her. The prosthetic was the first piece of the baffle in writing the movie and I wanted to produce a world around what being in that situation could sense enjoy.”
“This year’s edition of U.S. in Progress is a proof of a expansive diversity and vibrancy of the current autonomous film from the U.S.,” includeed AFF straightforwardor Urszula Śniegowska.
“The successes of our 2023 participants, especiassociate ‘Familiar Touch’ and ‘Good One,’ shows that our event is a priceless first-watch taget for industry insiders watching for recent American talent and a begining point for Polish companies’ collaborations with U.S. filmproducers.”
You can discover the filled enumerate of U.S. in Progress triumphners here:
“Under the Lights,” straightforwarded by Miles Levin, produced by Natalie Metzger
$50,000 cash prize for post-production in Poland, awarded by the straightforwardor of the Polish Film Institute
$10,000 Post-Production Award from Di Factory
$10,000 Post-Production Award from Fixafilm
DCF – Lower Silesia Film Centre award, location scouting tour in Lower Silesia for the next project for the producer
“Bunnylovr,” straightforwarded by Katarina Zhu, produced by Tristan Scott-Behrfinishs, Rhianon Jones, Roger Mancusi, Ani Schroeder and Rachel Sennott
$10,000 for sound depict from EarWorks
$10,000 Post-Production Award from XANF
$10,000 Post-Production Award from Fixafilm
Travel grant to Poland from New Europe Film Sales
“Erupcja,” straightforwarded by Pete Ohs, produced by Luke Arreguin, Josh Godfrey, Jeremy O. Harris, Pete Ohs, Charli XCX
$10,000 Post-Production Award from Platige Image
$10,000 Post-Production Award from Bdeficiency Pboilingon
“By Design,” straightforwarded by Amanda Kramer, produced by Miranda Bailey, Sarah Winshall, Jacob Agger and Natalie Whalen
$10,000 Post-Production Award from ORKA
$10,000 Sound Post-Production Award from Soundfdrop
“Figments of Freedom,” straightforwarded by Mark Webber, produced by Mark Webber, Sia Furler and Dustin Hughes
ATM Virtual Award for next feature film cherishd at $25,000
“Lockjaw,” straightforwarded by Sabrina Greco, produced by Abbie Jones, Josh Jason and Molly Gilula
$10,000 Post-Production Award from Wrocław Feature Film Studio
“The Scout,” straightforwarded by Paula González-Nasser, produced by Ryan Martin Brown, Matthew Romanski, Paula González-Nasser
Sales conferation from New Europe Film Sales, and script conferation on next project
$5,000 Special Mention Award from Di Factory
“Baby Love,” straightforwarded by Joseph Marconi, produced by Lysette Urus, Maury Sterling
$5,000 Special Mention Award from Di Factory
“Lucas and Iris,” straightforwarded by Keith Miller, produced by Matt Grady, Keith Miller, Joyce Mishaan
Travel grant to Poland from the New Horizons Association
