Shortlisted from a total of 187 short films, Red, White and Blue has made its mark, making it as a finalist in the ‘Live Action Short Film’ category at this year’s Academy Awards, to take place on Sunday 10th March at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. The film exploring Rachel’s story – a moving reality of a single parent in a precarious position forced to cross state lines in search of a necessary abortion. As we learn more about Rachel and the series of events that led to this journey, we learn a heartbreaking truth which means her life will never be the same again. Ahead of this year’s awards, Nazrin tells us more about exploring this sensitive subject further, working with fellow producer Sara McFarlane, cinematographer Adam Suschitzky and the cast consisting of Brittany Snow, Juliet Donenfeld, Redding Munsell, Jud Tylor, Ashley A. Williams, Sloan Muldown, Taryn Leggett, Neil Napier, Peter Breitmayer, Adam Lee and Mo Collins and what she’s learned from creating the film.
With awards’ season well and truly underway, we’re yet again introduced to an array of mainstream and independent works deserving of acknowledgement for the effort put in both onscreen and behind the scenes. Marking Floodlight Pictures – Ross White and Tom Berkeley’s second collaboration (the first, Roy, seeing them make the shortlist of the 75th BAFTA Awards), An Irish Goodbye sees them contend for a spot on the final nominee list of the 95th Academy Awards, due to take place on Sunday 12th March, with the final shortlist drawn up on Tuesday 24th January. Ahead of the final nominee announcement, Ross and Tom tell us more about their heartwarming film – an exploration of estranged brothers Lorcan and Turlough who are forced to reunite following the death of their mother. Lorcan, who has Down Syndrome is left in Turlough’s care, but will only agree to leave the family farm once they have completed every single wish on their mother’s unfulfilled bucket list.
The trials and tribulations of teenagehood can be tough, a time where you’re trying to figure out who you are and where you stand with others and in the world. Whether you have fond memories of your teenage years, or not, this formative period in time has helped to shape who we are. Exploring teenagehood within her screenplay debut Americanized, Erica Eng delivers a short film delving into the life of Eng – a 16 year old teen of Asian descent based in Oakland and a member of her school’s basketball team. Tackling themes of cultural heritage, girlhood and sport – Erica tells us more about the film’s creative process and qualifying to be considered for an Academy Award®.