LR Film Fest: Golden Rock Narrative Award

short-term-12-brie-larson-sliceShort Term 12, Destin Daniel Crettin’s film which opened the Little Rock Film Festival, captured the Golden Rock Narrative Award. Set in a foster-care facility, it explores the lives of some of the kids as well as the supervisors as they wrestle (often with honest humor) with life.

The film features Brie Larson, John Gallagher Jr., Kaitlyn Dever, Keith Stanfield, Stephanie Beatriz, Rami Malek, Alex Calloway, Kevin Hernandez, Lydia Du Veaux, Frantz Turner, Diana Maria Riva, Harold Cannon, Silvia Curiel, Bran’dee D’Allen and Melora Walters.  Crtittin both wrote and directed the film.  Brett Pawlak is the cinematographer, Nat Sanders the film editor and Joel P. West composed the score.

Short Term 12 has won awards at several other festivals.  Cinedigm has announced plans to release the film later in the summer.

The other nominees were David Riker’s The Girl, Josh Barrett and Marc Menchaca’s This Is Where We Live, Daniel Patrick Carbone’s Hide Your Smiling Faces and Barmak Akram’s Wajma—An Afghan Love Story.

LRFF 2013 – Day 1

Slide-523x350The 2013 Little Rock Film Festival kicks off tonight and runs through Sunday, May 19.

Tonight’s opening movie, Short Term 12, plays twice. It starts at 6:30pm at the Argenta Community Theatre and 7:30pm at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre.  Following each showing, members of the cast and crew will be present.

Short Term 12 is told through the eyes of Grace (Brie Larson), a twenty-something supervisor at a foster-care facility for at-risk teenagers. Passionate and tough, Grace is a formidable caretaker of the kids in her charge – and in love with her long-term boyfriend and co-worker, Mason (Tony Award winner John Gallagher Jr). But Grace’s own difficult past – and the surprising future that suddenly presents itself – throw her into unforeseen confusion, made all the sharper with the arrival of a new intake at the facility: a gifted but troubled teenage girl with whom Grace has a charged connection. While the subject matter is complex, this lovingly realized film finds truth – and humor – in unexpected places.

The film is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. It is in contention for the Golden Rock Narrative Award, which will be presented the final evening.

Following the film, at 9:30pm, the Kick Off party will commence in the lobby of the Arkansas Repertory Theatre.  In addition to an opportunity to mingle with filmmakers and other film patrons, the evening features music by Little Rock’s own world-wide acclaimed Bonnie Montgomery.  Food is provided by The Fold Botanas Bar. This event is open to Gold, Silver, Sponsor and Filmmaker Badges, as well as Ticket holders for Short Term 12.