8TH LDS FILM FESTIVAL 2009
JANUARY 21-24, 2009 | SCERA CENTER, OREM

FEATURE FILM PRESENTATIONS

Tickets for all events are available beginning Monday, January 12, at 801-225-ARTS, online at scera.org or at the door. Click here for admissions information.

All events are open to the public and take place at the SCERA Center for the Arts in Orem (745 South State Street).

Father in Israel

Drama, 89 minutes, color, 2009
Rating: PG
Official Website: Father in Israel
Writer, Director, Producer: Christian Vuissa; Executive Producer: Christian Vuissa, Farrell M. Smith, David Berdan, Ken McGinnis; Director of Photography: Brandon Christensen; Production Designer: Joshua Ligairi; Original Score: Robert Allen Elliott; Editor: Ludwig Einklang.
Cast: Timothy Threlfall, Pam Eichner, Adam Johnson, Lindsay Bird, Aley Underwood.

Synopsis:
Aaron Young, a father of six, is called to serve as the Bishop of his congregation the same day his daughter gets engaged and his boss asks him to lay off dozens of people at work. Soon he finds himself juggling responsibilities as husband, father, provider, and bishop as he prepares to send a son on a mission, tries to save the jobs of the employees in his company, and visits the sick and elderly. Father in Israel is a tribute to fatherhood and the fast-paced experience of a man's journey through the simple and pivotal moments of life, filled with service, sacrifice, and love.

Q&A with the filmmakers after the screening.

Screenings:
Wednesday, January 21, 7:00 pm, Scera Xango Grand Theatre
Saturday, January 24, 4:30 pm, Scera Showhouse II

Minor Details

Teen Mystery, 90 minutes, color, 2009
Rating: Not Rated (probably PG)
Official Website: Minor Details
Director: John Lyde; Writer: Annie Edwards, Sally Meyer; Producer: John Lyde, Leah Faber, Annie Edwards, Sally Meyer; Executive Producer: Annie Edwards, Sally Meyer; Director of Photography: John Lyde; Production Designer: Dustin Harding; Original Score: Robert Allen Elliott; Editor: John Lyde.
Cast: Kelsey Edwards, Caitlin EJ Meyer, Dani Chuchran, Lauren Faber, Jennette McCurdy, Savannah Jade Gipson, Emma Duke, Brady Edwards, Andrew Cottrill, Elijah Thomas.

Synopsis:
Minor Details is the story of four teenage girls, who attend the prestigious Danforth Academy. Danforth Academy boasts of being the school of choice for the upper crust of teen society. Our four girls, Paige, Abby, Claire and Taylor hail from different backgrounds and economic situations. While struggling for identity and survival in the most popular of popular schools, they form a friendship and alliance that proves to be beneficial to themselves and the reputation of Danforth Academy, as they are called upon to solve mysteries and expose the perpetrators.

Q&A with the filmmakers after the screening.

Screenings:
Friday, January 23, 7:00 pm, Scera Xango Grand Theater

Once Upon A Summer

Drama, 90 minutes, color, 2009
Rating: PG
IMDB Link: Once Upon A Summer
Director: Rob Diamond; Writer: Rob Diamond, Andrea Curtis; Producer: Matthew Reese; Executive Producer: Howard Hayes, Andrea Curtis, Dale Curtis; Director of Photography: John Reed; Production Designer: Sue Rowe; Original Score: Arlen Card; Editor: John Lyde, Davis Geist.
Cast: Heather Beers, Susanne Sutchy, Matthew Reese, Savanna Kylie Lewis, Stefania Barr.

Synopsis:
Is there anything sweeter than childhood memories? Not for Lisa and Andy. In the summer of 1978 these best friends and cousins were inseparable and would embark on the adventures of a lifetime they would never forget. Now as adults they have gone their separate ways, but when Andy finds out she has a terminal illness, she turns to her best friend Lisa, and the two reunite and take a stroll down memory lane where they find love, comfort, and hope in their greatest hour of need. This dramatic adventure of two best friends, which stars Heather Beers (Charly) and Matthew Reese (Beauty and the Beast) is sure to make you laugh, cry, and remind the entire family of what is most important in life - the ones you love.

Q&A with the filmmakers after the screening.

Screenings:
Saturday, January 24, 7:30 pm, Scera Showhouse II

The Sinking of Santa Isabel

Comedy, 89 minutes, color, 2008
Rating: Not Rated
Trailer: The Sinking of Santa Isabel
Director: Jacob Hamblin, Michael Hamblin.
Cast: Maclain Nelson.

Synopsis:
The Sinking of Santa Isabel is a charming look into the life of a man attempting to recapture his childhood. Webster, 27, unemployed and recently jilted, is determined to start over. He returns home to finish a goal he made when he was twelve - live inside of a tree house, twenty-three hours a day for ninety-two days - the length of a summer. The Sinking of Santa Isabel is a sincere and damaged comedy that irresponsibly tackles issues of death, betrayal, forgiveness, and friendship - leaving us to understand that it's not always how you live but where you live that matters most.

Q&A with the filmmakers after the screening.

Screenings:
Friday, January 23, 7:30 pm, Scera Showhouse II

One Man's Treasure

Drama/Comedy/Missionary, 83 minutes, color, 2009
Rating: Not Rated
Official Website: One Man's Treasure
Director: John Lyde; Writer: Sally Meyer, Craig Clyde; Producer: John Lyde, Brian Brough; Executive Producer: AJC Pennyworth, Elisa Jan; Director of Photography: John Lyde; Original Score: Robert Allen Elliott; Editor: John Lyde.
Cast: Darin Southam, Charan Prabhakar, Paul Hunt, Dustin Harding, Chantel Flanders, Shalaina Fotheringham.

Synopsis:
Four Elders and two sister missionaries are transferred into a small suburb of Philadelphia. The area has not had missionaries for several years and success looks to be difficult. But all this changes when the missionaries discover a journal that takes them on an adventure to discover a missionary treasure.

Q&A with the filmmakers after the screening.

Screenings:
Saturday, January 24, 7:00 pm, Scera Xango Grand Theater

Diantha's Crossing

Drama, 59 minutes, color, 2008
Rating: Not rated (probably PG)
Director: Tom Russell; Writer: Barta Heiner, Tom Russell; Producer: Eric Anderson, Courtney Russell; Executive Producer: Thomas Lefler; Director of Photography: Derek Pueblo; Production Designer: Whitney Donald; Original Score: Lance Montgomery; Editor: Kristi Shimek.
Cast: Barta Heiner, Hank Florence, Jason Purdy, Alexis Wardle, Sarah Cousins, Kristen Jensen.

Synopsis:
The year is 1858. Salt Lake City has been abandoned by order of Brigham Young in anticipation of the arrival of U.S. armed forces. Diantha Clay is left behind and converses with a quiet stranger. Over the course of the day and night, she must confront her fears, her prejudices, her guilt, and ultimately her own mortality.

Q&A with the filmmakers after the screening.

Screenings:
Saturday, January 24, 3:15 pm, Scera Showhouse II

Dragon Hunter

Fantasy/Adventure, 96 minutes, color, 2008
Rating: Not Rated
Official Website: Dragon Hunter
Writer, Director: Steve Shimek; Producer: Jake Sorensen, Timothy Gutierrez; Executive Producer: Maclain Nelson, Jason Faller; Director of Photography: Cole Webley; Production Designer: Tatiana Taylor; Original Score: Tom Shimek; Editor: Kristi Shimek; 1st Assistant Director: Michelle Mikami; Visual Effects: Rob Field, Matt Hoffman, Mikhail E. Merkurieff; Unit Production Manager: Katy Baldwin.
Cast: Maclain Nelson, Erik Denton, Kelly Stables, Orlando Seale, Isaac C. Singleton Jr., Slate Holmgren, Jake Suazo, Adam Johnson, Jason Purdie, David Morgan, Newell Alexander, Reese Purser, Brad Johnson, Brian King, Derrik Shakespear, Trevor Winn.

Synopsis:
Orphaned as a baby when his parents were killed in a vicious orc attack, Kendrick of Elwood was raised by his elder brother, Darius. Though only nine at the time, Darius devoted his life to Kendrick's care and to purging orcs from their land. As Darius grew into a great warrior, he sheltered Kendrick from all possible harm. Now, after years of absence, a new danger emerges, more lethal than the threat of orcs or men. Reports of dragon attacks spread like wildfire through the panicked land. In memory of his mother's prophesies of a mighty Dragon Hunter in their bloodline, Darius leads Kendrick on a perilous journey to the castle of Ocard - the Dragon Hunter training grounds. Will dragons completely decimate the countryside? Only the Dragon Hunter will decide!

Q&A with the filmmakers after the screening.

Screenings:
Thursday, January 22, 7:30 pm, Scera Showhouse II
Thursday, January 22, 9:45 pm, Scera Showhouse II

Expiration Date

Comedy/Drama, 94 minutes, color, 2008
Rating: PG
Official Website: Expiration Date
Director: Rick Stevenson; Writer: Hamish Gunn, Rick Stevenson; Producer: John Forsen, Rick Stevenson; Executive Producer: David Fulton, Patrice Auld; Director of Photography: Bruce Worrall; Production Designer: Charlie Armstrong; Editor: Mark Fulton; Composer: BC Smith.
Cast: Robert Guthrie, Sascha Knopf, Dee Wallace, David Keith

Synopsis:
Charlie Silvercloud III has a problem. His father and grandfather were both killed by milk trucks on their 25th birthdays, and Charlie is about to turn 25. He has accepted his fate and is going about shopping for caskets and returning his library books when he meets a girl who won't let him die in peace.

Q&A with the filmmakers after the screening.

Screenings:
Friday, January 23, 9:30 pm, Scera Xango Grand Theater

Mario's Conviction: One Man's Journey from Mafia to Mormon

Documentary, 80 minutes, color, 2008
Rating: Not Rated
Production Company: Avalanche Studios
Director: Jason Conforto; Producer: Dave Lindsay; Executive Producer: Lyle Mortimer; Director of Photography: Dave Lindsay; Original Score: Taylor Griffin; Editor: Jason Conforto, Dave Lindsay; Co-Producer: Jason Conforto, Dean Hale; Historical Advisor: Scott M. Burnstein; Title Design: Brent Barson.
Cast: Narrated by Frank Gerrish.

Synopsis:
Mario Facione lived a life a crime and master-minded several scams for the Detroit Mafia. But after a series of life-changing events, he wanted out. He’d soon discover that the only thing harder than working for the mob is getting out alive. Mario’s Conviction is the amazing true story of one man’s journey to change his life, without losing it.

Q&A with the filmmakers after the screening.

Screenings:
Thursday, January 22, 12:00 pm, Scera Showhouse II

Scout Camp

Comedy, 87 minutes, color, 2009
Rating: PG
Official Website: Scout Camp
Writer, Director: Garrett Batty; Producer: Drew Gilliland, Garrett Batty, Kirby Heyborne; Executive Producer: Drew Gilliland, Garrett Batty; Director of Photography: Jeff Lambright; Production Designer: Whitney Donald; Original Score: Micah Dahl Anderson, Alex Boyé; Editor: Mat Gerow, Connor O'Malley; UPM, 1st AD: Drew Champion; 2nd AD: Jake Van Wagoner; Associate Producer: Robert Starling.
Cast: Kirby Heyborne, Shawn Carter, Tanner Mudrow, Nate Harper, Charlie Fratto, Taylor Moulton, Elijah Thomas, Parker Hadley, Curt Doussett, Starlee Holman, and Trent Krumenacher.

Synopsis:
When the Fire Dragon patrol heads to Scout Camp, they are prepared for the best week of their lives. But when the 'Spirit Stick' of Camp Rakhouta unexpectedly disappears, the entire tradition and legacy of the prestigious camp is threatened. Now the Fire Dragons, and their intrepid leader, must do whatever it takes to find the stick and restore all order to the camp, no matter the cost. Scout Camp is a coming-of-age comedy starring Shawn Carter (High School Musical 3) and Kirby Heyborne (Saints and Soldiers).

Q&A with the filmmakers after the screening.

Screenings:
Friday, January 23, 4:30 pm, Scera Xango Grand Theater

The Adventures of Food Boy

Comedy, 90 minutes, color, 2008
Rating: PG
Official Website: The Adventures of Food Boy
Director: Dane Cannon; Writer: Marc Mangum; Producer: Marc Mangum, Sam Mangum, Melissa Brady; Executive Producer: Marc Mangum; Director of Photography: Ryan Cannon; Production Designer: Justin Partridge; Original Score: Bill Wandel; Editor: Sam Mangum.
Cast: Lucas Grabeel, Brittany Curran, Kunal Sharma, Jeff Braine, Noah Bastian, McCall Clark, Ryne Sanborn, Curt Dousett, Michael Buster, Joyce Cohen, Anne Sward, Chris Miller, David Morgan, Craig Everett, Sila Agavale, Paul Etuk.

Synopsis:
Ezra (Lucas Grabeel/High School Musical 1, 2 & 3) discovers he has a unique ability to make food appear in his hands. Ezra quickly uses his new super powers to impress his friends and to become popular around school for the first time in his life. His life gets turned upside down when he can’t control his gift and turns his high school into a major food fight zone. While coping with his disintegrating life, Ezra must decide whether he will give up the food gift forever or if he will embrace his new identity and become Food Boy.

Q&A with the filmmakers after the screening.

Screenings:
Saturday, January 24, 2:00 pm, Scera Xango Grand Theater

Justin Time

Action/Adventure, 90 minutes, color, 2008
Rating: Not Rated
youtube: Justin Time
Director: Rob Diamond; Writer: Troy Hinckley, Rob Diamond; Producer: Troy Hinckley; Executive Producer: Troy Hinckley, Ryan Andersen, Kyle Bennett; Director of Photography: Jacob Brumfield; Production Designer: Thayne Wheeler; Original Score: Sam Cardon; Editor: John Lyde, Troy Hinckley; 1st AC : Scott Winn; Key Grip: Chad Busath; Location Sound : Richard Mallard lll.
Cast: Chris Laird, Michael Flynn, Shareece Pfeiffer, Alyx Gaudio, Danny Trejo, Brian Wimmer, Mike Hildebrandt, Matthew Reese, Michael Christian, Roger Benally, Taylor Cummins, Dave Martinez, Alex Egbert, J. Omar Hansen, Bronzell Miller.

Synopsis:
Justin Time is an action-adventure film that is targeted to young adults. It is a story of a Native American boy, Justin, who was orphaned at a young age and is left a magical amulet. He soon discovers its special power, the ability to stop time, but he is blissfully unaware that others are looking for his amulet as well. They will do anything to obtain it. One of those is a beautiful girl, Angelic, and her father Michael, who is hiding a dark secret. Justin must get the pieces of the magic disc and amulet, before Michael has the chance to reunite them. Along the way Justin will meet new friends and learns what it means to become a man.

Q&A with the filmmakers after the screening.

Screenings:
Saturday, January 24, 11:30 am, Scera Xango Grand Theater

Baby Boomerang

Documentary, 60 minutes, color, 2008
Rating: Not Rated
Official Website: Baby Boomerang
Writer, Director, Producer: Mark Arnett.

Synopsis:
Mark Arnett starts Baby Boomerang with a simple goal: Make a documentary about World War II for people, like himself, who don't like documentaries. So he begins the film in a way that he is sure baby boomers can relate to: he makes the film about himself. But after 14 years in production, Mark gets to the heart of his father's story and loses the self-centered vision. Baby Boomerang is a very personal story that explores faith, courage, love, and the inescapable fact that, in many ways, we all turn into our parents in the end.

Q&A with the filmmakers after the screening.

Screenings:
Saturday, January 24, 12:00 pm, Scera Showhouse II

The Inheritance of War

Documentary, 72 minutes, color, 2008
Rating: Not Rated
Official Website: The Inheritance of War
Director: Ashley Karras; Producer: James Parkinson; Director of Photography: Ashley Karras; Editor: Ashley Karras.

Synopsis:
Stories of hardship and survival as experienced by WW II prisoners of war reveal the almost forgotten historical events that followed the largest military defeat in United States history. Abandoned by their leaders, starved, brutalized, enslaved and silenced - 55 years later their story was finally told in the U.S. courts.

Q&A with the filmmakers after the screening.

Screenings:
Friday, January 23, 2:00 pm, Scera Xango Grand Theater

Uphill Both Ways

Documentary, 85 minutes, color, 2008
Rating: G
Director: Mario DeAngelis; Producer: Mario DeAngelis, Antonio Lexerot; Executive Producer: Mario DeAngelis; Director of Photography: Mario DeAngelis; Original Score: Peter Parente Richard Smith; Editor: Mario DeAngelis.

Synopsis:
One Utah family must battle two life-changing events at the same time. With a small support group, the family does not know they will house their family of five after being eveicted from their black-mold infested house.

Q&A with the filmmakers after the screening.

Screenings:
Thursday, January 22, 11:30 am, Scera Xango Grand Theatre