2016 Voices Heard: Hell Date

Hell Date by Marcelo Martinez
Wisconsin 
Running Time: 12 minutes
Screening Time: Friday Sept 9th Voices Heard, 9PM
Drama/Comedy/Horror

The short opens with our protagonist making a sandwich and receiving a call from his friend, inviting him out to a new gay bar in town. The protagonist refuses and insists on going out on a date with someone he just met on the internet, in order to get over his ex. The friend taunts him and warns him to be safe. Our main character gets ready for his date, despite not liking how anything looks on him, and takes a couple drinks to work up the courage. He arrives to “Gymstud’s” home and realizes that this man seems off. What ensues is the worst case scenario of an anonymous date. 

Director's Bio:
Born and raised in Milwaukee, WI, Marcelo Martinez has always had a penchant for telling stories. He has studied film at UW Milwaukee and finished his associates in Tv and Video Production at MATC. Marcelo hopes to make LGBT films from a Chicano point of view.






 

2016 Voices Heard: The Forgotten Fable of Papa L's .38 Special

The Forgotten Fable of Papa L's .38 Special by Rubin Whitmore II
Wisconsin 
Running Time: TBA
Screening Time: Friday Sept 9th Voices Heard, 9PM
Drama

 Papa Legba has put forth a cursed pistol to wreak havoc.

2016 Voices Heard: A Walk Through The Woods

A Walk Through The Woods by Trez Gee
Wisconsin (Wisconsin Premiere)
Running Time: TBA
Screening Time: Friday Sept 9th Voices Heard, 9PM
Drama


Rue takes a walk through the woods and stumbles upon a gruesome discovery that will cause him to have to fight for his life. Will he make it out alive, or will the woodsman seal his fate?


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Director's Bio:
 

He is a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and hopes to help establish a film market equal to that of other strong film markets such as LA, Atlanta and New York, giving local and surrounding talent opportunities at chasing their dreams.

Trez will be showing his short film 'A walk Through The Woods', a thriller about a city that’s full of mystery, beauty, fun and exploration, taking a walk through the woods doesn’t seem like a bad idea. At least not until a group of local thugs begin to victimize the community, causing the woods to be unsafe for human habitation!

2016 Voices Heard: Mikwenim: Remember Your Choices

Mikwenim: Remember Your Choices 
by Lac Courte Oreilles of Ojibwe Nation and Darren Cole
Wisconsin 
Running Time: TBA
Screening Time: Friday Sept 9th Voices Heard, 9PM
Drama

 The Ojibwe youth learn through the always present aura of an elder that the choices they make do matter. Life on the Lac Courte Oreilles reservation presents itself as a wall; that most do not pass. Often during times of trouble, looking to the 7th generation for their teachings is a must. Mikwenim establishes place and identity while exposing our personal comfort in avoiding the issues that affect our community.

2016 Voices Heard: Two Rivers

Two Rivers by Melonie Gartner
Wisconsin 
Running Time: 15 minutes
Screening Time: Friday Sept 9th Voices Heard, 9PM
Drama/Horror

Two Rivers is a story about the destructive relationship between Dirke (Mark Borchardt) and Emma (Melonie Gartner). Dirke is a troubled individual who can’t hold down a job. Haunted by his own demons and coupled with an explosive temper, Dirke is a force to be reckoned with.

Dirke’s uncontrollable attitude also spills into his relationship with Emma, a long-suffering woman. Dirke’s abusive way leaves her cold and broken. Emma neither has anything left to give to their relationship nor any place nor means to escape her situation. She fears and resents Dirke. Her feelings don’t go unnoticed – Dirke can feel Emma is slipping away from him. The thought that he cannot control her feelings makes him out of control all the more.

Two Rivers represents two bodies of water that can’t be merged. It’s Dirke and Emma’s Mesopotamia. A tale of tainted love that has gone past the point of no return.



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2016 Voices Heard: Deserter's North

Deserter's North by Xinhao Liang
Wisconsin (Wisconsin Premiere)
Running Time: 14 minutes
Screening Time: Friday Sept 9th Voices Heard, 9PM
Drama/Adventure

 
Sometime in the future, the war lasted for a long time. In order to runaway the battle, a young deserter hided in the wildness for years. One day, he saw a vague figure in a far distance, so he decide to follow the figure and see whats going on...


Director's Bio:

Xinhao Liang is a director/cinematographer from China. He received his film degree from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. In Past 4 years, he made about 10 short films and 1 feature. Xinhao likes genre films and always try to combine different pop cultures and some experimental elements together in his work.

Xinhao will be showing his short film 'deserter’s North', A fantasy about a young deserter met a girl, who carries a bomb during endless war.

2016 Festival Judges

Dick Grunert was born on April 7, 1974 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. He is known for his work as a writer on Adventure Time (2010), script coordinator on The Boondocks (2005) and the writer on House Call (2014). Dick's previous film, The Trap won "Best Director" at our festival last year.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1275813/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

Van Campbell II, winner of Best Wisconsin Film in 2013 for Mason Jelly Jar, and in 2015 for Hero in Limbo.












Timothy J. Lonsdale, a 30 year vet in the industry. His credits include: Stranger Things as the Unit Production Manager, Drop Dead Diva as the 1st A.D., Charmed as 1st A.D., Alien: Resurrection as 2nd Unit 1st A.D., Species as 1st A.D., Speed as 2nd Unit 2nd A.D., and as J.R's doctor during the Who Shot J.R. story-line on Dallas.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0519570/