Yak About Film

With pictures, anecdotes, and costume breakdowns- David and Susan give an inside look at all of the happenings at the 2022 Vero Beach Film Festival! 

"From The Vine" is the story of a downtrodden CEO experiencing a moral crisis that travels back to Italy to recalibrate his moral compass. Combining magic realism and Italian neorealism, and set against the backdrop of wine country Italy, the film is about finding your roots in your family when you're at the bottom of the barrel. Sean Cisterna is a multi award-winning Canadian filmmaker who recently produced and directed "From the Vine" (2019), an international coproduction set around the world of Italian wine, starring Emmy winner Joe Pantoliano. Cisterna produced and directed the critically acclaimed teen cancer drama Kiss and Cry (2017), which topped the English-Canadian box office upon its release, and is currently streaming on Netflix to emotional worldwide audiences. His 2015 project Full Out, starring the iconic Jennifer Beals, is a feature based on the true story of gymnast Ariana Berlin, also on Netflix, as well as NBC in the U.S. and Disney Europe. Cisterna was recognized by the federal government with a Canada 150 Citizenship Award for Thought Leadership for “dedication to and community engagement in the arts”. His works are frequently screened at recognized international festivals and often find homes with broadcasters and distributors worldwide.

"Delivering Hope" is a feature film documentary that tells the ultimate story of people coming together for something bigger than themselves. On November 16, 2019, eight days before his 50th birthday, ultra-runner Kevin Kline set out to become the first person in history to run the northernmost 300 miles of Alaska's dangerous Dalton Highway, in winter, to raise awareness for children battling pediatric cancer. When Kline's body shuts down after 200 miles, the crew is faced with a life-changing dilemma. A native Texan, Jordan Orsak began FilmPro Inc. in 2014 as a production company focusing on commercial and independent video projects in the Austin area (now including productions in Los Angeles, CA). Orsak’s passion for story telling allowed him to expand his reach to include projects like short form movies, music videos, and the documentary "Delivering Hope." His additional involvement through Sunflower Production and Blissful Films allow him to continue to do projects in any form or genre. "365" was created while filming for the documentary “If the Ocean Could Talk” off the coast of North Carolina, the crew hoped to tell the story of one of the most endangered species on the planet, but were launched into an unexpected journey of something hidden from the world. As the Director of Science, Research and Academic Partnerships for Plastic Ocean Project, Inc. as well as the Executive Director, Bonnie Monteleone is a researcher who has collected plastic marine samples globally including four of the five main ocean gyres, the Caribbean, and has extended this work to Pyramid Lake, outside of Reno, Nevada.

"I Mustache You" is a whimsical magical realistic comedy, inspired by Buster Keaton, Looney Tunes, and NYC about Abby, a woman with social anxiety, OCD and agoraphobic tendencies who receives an invitation to love, self acceptance, and the outside world. Shara Ashley Zeiger is an award winning Jewish actor/filmmaker from Philadelphia residing in NYC. Shara's played roles on "The Plot Against America" (HBO), "BULL" (CBS), "The Last OG" (TBS), various indie films, Off Broadway, Regional Theatre, and National Tours. "The Punishment" depicts a grief-stricken father whom hunts down the boy responsible for the events which led to his son’s murder but finds himself unable to escape the consequences of his own violent actions. Chris is an Assistant Professor of Film & Program Manager of the Digital Cinema A.S. at State College of Florida.

Alex Kanter is from Indian River State College and presented "Making the Cut Special Presentation" about the future of the Film and media industry and education.  From "Lives on the Line" Kyle is an Afghanistan war veteran, suffering from chronic pain, who falls victim to a broken system while seeking treatment at the VA. At his breaking point, he meets a disillusioned VA employee who has seen what happens when the promises made to veterans are broken. Steve Stein is an award-winning filmmaker from Chicago with a career rooted in advocacy storytelling.

Winner of five best feature awards including Grand Prize Winner Culver City Film Festival, Los Angeles. When single mom Anna Russell, a ceramic artist, discovers that her son Stan, an outstanding college diver and academic star is unraveling, she must act quickly to avoid tragedy. In denial and mysteriously out of reach, Stan suddenly disappears. Anna must find him on a journey that highlights the key role caregivers play helping those in need survive a mental emergency and return to wellness. The film also focuses on the special challenges of balancing high stakes athletics with academic excellence. 

"Feeling Through", the first film to star a DeafBlind actor, is a coming of age story that follows Tereek, a teen wandering the streets of New York, desperate for a place to crash when he encounters Artie, a DeafBlind man in need of help getting home. From an awkward meeting between strangers emerges an intimate bond, and a journey that forever changes Tereek. "Connecting the Dots" is a Film tracking the 7-year journey from chance encounter to the creation of the first film ever to star a DeafBlind actor. The story behind the story of the Oscar-nominated short film "Feeling Through." Doug Roland is an Oscar-nominated director for his film "Feeling Through". His short film Jada became a viral sensation with over 24 million views on YouTube. Doug produced the feature film Life Hack which won 16 awards on the festival circuit, including Best Independent Feature at the Cleveland International Film Festival. He studied film at the University of Wisconsin Madison and FAMU in Prague.

Rob and Steven Waldman are the sons of the late Myron Waldman, a great American animator. Myron is known for his famous works such as Betty Boop, Superman, Casper the Friendly Ghost, Popeye and so many more.  "Code Red" is a whimsical, coming-of-age film that deals with the lack of easy accessibility to feminine hygiene products in schools for girls. It’s a fun and bold way to show the bittersweetness of growing up. Born and raised in Hong Kong, Jada Poon is interested in using comedy to tell stories that are fun, yet reflective of our world. She graduated from Ringling College of Art and Design in 2020 with a BFA in Film. 

In the 1940s and '50s, Havana boasted more movie theatres than even New York City. Almost all of them showed Hollywood films. Errol Flynn’s Ghost chronicles this phenomenon, while recalling the last great real-life adventure of the legendary Hollywood swashbuckler: the Cuban. Gaspar González has produced and directed documentary programming for PBS, the BBC, ESPN, and others. Javelina Run is a Comedy Short Film about two idiot ranch hands pretending to be fugitive train robbers to get attention from the ladies at an old west saloon. Lisa is an award-winning writer, director, and actor and has worked both in Hong Kong and the US. Her short comedy western called Javelina Run is just beginning its festival run. She’s also the founder of Austin based production company Jump Rock Pictures and is in development on a feature she will direct that has been greenlit for 2020.

"Into the Flames" is a Film about young, active and retired firefighters as tell their stories as first responders and how trauma has affected their mental health. Experts help paint a bigger picture for how we thought mental health affected people, the way society has changed over the past twenty years, and what is being done now to try and continue to improve the health and lives of the first responders around the country. "Eevy Ivy Over" is a Dramatic Short Film about a little girl who, after a fight with her mother, starts to hear a familiar voice in the closet after bedtime.