Papichulo
written/directed by Marquis Smalls
SUMMARY
When Chulo, a young Puerto-Rican father, gets pressure from his family to give up his dreams for the reality of a "real job", he must persevere to overcome all obstacles to achieve what he believes is rightfully his.
Previous screenings: Premiered at the HBO NY Latino Film Festival in 2008; Urbanworld Film Festival in 2008; Inaugural International Puerto Rican Heritage Film Festival NYC 2010
ABOUT MARQUIS SMALLS
Marquis Smalls was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, where he attended Brooklyn Technical High School. He then went on to graduate from The Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in African/African-American Studies and a minor in Sociology. Upon graduating from Penn State, Marquis joined Teach for America in 1994 as an 8th grade math teacher in Paterson, NJ and concurrently enrolled at New York University’s continuing education screenwriting program to enrich his skills and gain knowledge that would later afford him the opportunity to pursue his passion of becoming a championship winning coach in High School Football, Boys and Girls basketball and an award-winning screenwriter, director, and producer.
Marquis has written eleven feature screenplays, four original TV pilots, five episodes of an online hip-hop comedy series called The Chronicles that he produced as one of the first recognized web-series in 2005. He has successfully written, directed and produced 14 short films that have won various awards and have screened at over 50 film festivals.
As a 2013 New York Foundation of the Arts Screenwriting Fellowship award recipient, Marquis won a grant for his screenplay MOMMAS BOY. In 2014 Marquis directed his first feature length documentary film titled, HATING OBAMA, which was released in May 2015 by Moguldom Studios and screened on the STARZ channel. He also executive produced the Back to Natural documentary in 2017 that is now available on Revolt TV. Marquis currently owns Street dreams films and is writing and developing a slate of feature film, documentary and episodic TV/streaming projects in various stages of production. He can be reached at www.streetdreamsfilms.com and on most social media platforms.
Veronica
written by Tanya Perez; directed by Reiko Aylesworth
SUMMARY
VERONICA's seemingly perfect life is thrown in to chaos when she realizes that in order to be her most authentic self, she must become someone else...literally. This dramedy about a Latinx woman grappling with an existential crisis is a brash examination of what it really means to 'be yourself'. She seeks understanding and community and finds understandable bewilderment. Finally, a friend emerges unexpectedly from Veronica's past, also perplexed by her circumstances but providing a touchstone to motivate her forward.
Awards: Tanya Perez - Best Actress StoryMode Independent Short Film Awards; Best Screenplay OutLanta Con; Best LBGTQ+ short of Best Shorts CompetitIon
ABOUT TANYA PEREZ
Tanya Perez is an award-winning actress, writer, and producer of the stage and screen around the world. Most recently appeared in Different Translation's production of The Baby Monitor in Italy and will be featured in season 3 of EVIL on Paramount +. Her writing has been highlighted in the Beloved Economics podcast The Light Ahead and in Conch Shell's RESET series in 2021.
ABOUT REIKO AYLESWORTH
Reiko was born in Chicago, IL.. She and her younger brother were raised by their mother who worked in a methadone clinic and later ran a jail. When Reiko was 13 yrs. old, they met the man who would become her stepfather and would introduce her to acting and theater. The family soon moved to Springfield, IL briefly then on to Seattle, WA. where she spent most of her teen years. While attending the University of Washington, at age 19 she was scouted and cast in an ABC soap opera and flown to NYC. She soon fell in love with the city and decided to stay and pursue an acting career. While working in regional and off-Broadway theater, she supported herself by working many and various day jobs. By her mid twenties, she was able to live on her acting income but her breakthrough role came with the role of Michelle Dessler on the hit show 24. She has also had ongoing roles on ER, Lost, Damages, Hawaii 5-0 and has worked on many other television shows, films and plays. Her British husband Rob Clare is a well-respected Shakespeare teacher and director who received his doctorate from Oxford University and has taught at leading universities in the US and around the world. They have recently moved from NYC to the Los Angeles area, with their adopted son Andre who was born in Omaha, Nebraska in September 2014.
About Conch Shell International Film Fest:
Presented by New York City-Based, Conch Shell Productions, Conch Shell International Film Fest's goal is to infuse unique Caribbean Diaspora and Caribbean filmmaker voices into the American film industry. To do so we create a space to bring together diverse film lovers, industry experts and artists for 3-days of dialogue, learning about the current industry trends, and celebrate films that inspire social change and challenge preconceptions about diverse multicultural people. Our aim is create a space for free, empowering, positive and inspirational exchange about the craft, and the power of film to create room for people of diverse cultures and ethnicities to share new thoughts.
CSIFF's 3-day online ( August 26-28, 2022) event celebrates work produced by our community of artists with 3 days of on-demand screenings; and sparks dialogue during informative panels, artist chats and masterclasses that broaden the perspectives of all who attend. Each event day concludes our afterparties brings together diverse featured filmmakers, media and industry experts in live & interactive parties featuring a live DJ.
CSIFF2022 short film submission late deadline is JUNE 3, 2022. SUBMIT YOUR PROJECTS ON FILMFREEWAY.COM
For Conch Shell International Film Fest 2022 fest passes and to learn more visit www.conchshelliff.com