Valley Film Festival Aug. 1-8

Posted on 07/23/2024

 – THE 24TH ANNUAL VALLEY FILM FESTIVAL  CELEBRATES COMMUNITY, CULTURE, AND OVER 70 LOCAL AND  INTERNATIONAL FILMS AUGUST 1-8 (“818”) AT LAEMMLE NOHO 7, IN THE (818). 

The 2024 Valley Film Festival (VFF) unveiled its film  lineup, offering a diverse showcase of narrative and documentary films, filmed locally  across Los Angeles and from all corners of the world. Taking place August 1-8, 2024, to  coincide with The Valley’s area code (818), this will also be VFF’s last festival in North  Hollywood, as the Laemmle NoHo 7, prepares to close its doors.  

VFF kicks off on Thursday, August 1, with the Los Angeles Premiere of A Little Family  Drama, a feel-good story about a Mexican-American family whose lives revolve around  their legendary restaurant and their annual family reunion dinner, oblivious to the fact  that a shattered taco truck dream is about to change everything. Directed by VFF  alumna Nadia Zoe. 

James Khanlariarian’s The Ghost Trap nabs the Centerpiece Screening, with its Los  Angeles Premiere, Saturday, August 3. Based on the novel by K. Stephens, it is the  haunting story of a young lobsterman (Zak Steiner) struggling with the responsibilities of  a head-injured fiancé (Greer Grammar) and mounting trap wars in a small Maine  lobstering community. Featuring Heather Thomas (The Fall Guy) and Xander Berkeley  (Star Wars: Tales of the Empire, The Mandalorian). 

The World Premiere of Tomorrow, You Pretty Ghost, will close out the 24th Annual Valley  Film Festival, which celebrates films “Made in the (818)”. Directed by Alex Morand and  Rocky Pajarito, the suspenseful horror film follows two friends who pull off a prank with  grim consequences. Featuring David Brown (TV’s Jury Duty), Abigail Sims (25 Cents  Per Minute), Everardo Barriga (VFF19’s Lost Treasure of the Valley) and Cricket Arrison  (Give Me Pity). 

“I strongly believe that media has the power to change perspectives and lives and am  committed to delivering a festival program that celebrates storytelling and that sparks  conversation,” VFF founder, Tracey Adlai. Adding, “We continue to be dedicated to  supporting local productions with our signature “Made in the (818)” programming,  spanning the run of the festival, and engaging with our audience through films, from  across the world, in all genres.”  

The 2024 selection of international feature films includes aWake (Ireland); Ciurè (Italy);  Origin (France); Purgatory Jack (Canada); Ray of Hope (Canada) and Under Water (Netherlands). International short films include Camping in Paradise (Norway) from  Oscar-nominated director, Eirik Tveiten (Night Ride); Chairs, directed by James Hughes,  staring BAFTA winners Georgina Campbell (Murdered by My Boyfriend) and Akemnji  Ndifornyen (Famalam), Deadline (Israel); Honeymoon (Kazakhstan); Twenty (UK); Un  Fin De (Argentina) and Yuvalo (Israel). Music videos from outside the U.S. include The 

Niro’s “Un Mondo Perfetto” (Italy) and Fregatter’s “Winter Romance” (Russian  Federation).  

VFF’s documentary showcase includes the Los Angeles Premiere of Origin, which  unfolds the history of House Music, as told by the pioneers in this genre. Directed by  Sebastien Rossi, Origin features Bob Sinclair, Mike Dunn, Laurent Garnier, Marshall  Jefferson, and Terry Hunter. Another Los Angeles Premiere, Ray of Hope, directed by  Ryan Singh and Nikila Cole, offers a Tamil perspective on the 26-year armed conflict in  Sri Lanka. American Pot Story: Oaksterdam, directed by Ravit Markus and Dan Katzir,  chronicles the campaign that brought cannabis into the mainstream and a reminder of  how democracy can work when people come together.  

The final program was 100% selected from submissions and reflect 44% of films  directed by women and 56% directed by men.  

The full feature film lineup is detailed below. For more updates on programming follow  @ValleyFilmFest and #VFF24 & #UnitedByFilm, on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and  X. Screening schedule and tickets can be purchased at ValleyFilmFest.com 

PRESS CONTACT: [email protected]  

ABOUT THE VALLEY FILM FESTIVAL 

The Valley Film Festival is an all-volunteer non-profit arts organization that supports  local and international voices that advance storytelling. Now in our 24th year, VFF is the  first and longest running film festival in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley, and screens  short films along with narrative and documentary feature films from around the world. In  addition to film screenings, The Valley Film Festival mentors filmmakers through every  stage of their careers, via our Focus On: series of educational panels and professional  development seminars. 

The Valley Film Festival was founded by Los Angeles native, and proud “Valley Girl,”  Tracey Adlai, in 2000, to spotlight locally produced films in response to the San  Fernando Valley’s attempt to secede from Los Angeles. VFF remains the first and  continuously running film festival in The Valley and runs August 1-8, 2024 at the  Laemmle NoHo 7 in North Hollywood. 

U.S. NARRATIVE COMPETITION 

A Little Family Drama, (United States) – Los Angeles Premiere. A Mexican American  family, whose lives revolve around their legendary restaurant, prepares for their annual  family reunion dinner oblivious to the fact that a shattered taco truck dream is about to  

change everything. Directed by Nadia Zoe. Written by Ramón Torres, Nadia Zoe.  Produced by Michael Karp, Nadia Zoe, Ramón Torres. With Alma Martinez, Romi Dias,  Diana Torres, Jeff Meacham, Marissa Reyes, Ramón Torres.  

Bad Generation, (United States) – World Premiere. A Dogma production about a  “family” of homeless teenagers who find themselves torn apart after a brutal discovery is 

made. Written and Directed by Tanner Novotny. Produced by James Abroms, Tanner  Novotny, Frank Smathers. With Grace Petro, Jasmine Aivaliotis, Sawyer Shine, Beau  Hogan, Liam Santa Cruz, Tanner Novotny, Darrian Greene, Abe Khalil, Eric Harrison,  Mike Travers, Mayur Chauhan, Cesar Santamaria Jr., Emma Elle Bird, Ellen Gerstein,  

Steven Fusani. 

Live at the Porpentine: A Comedy of Errors, (United States). Separated by a  shipwreck when they were babies, two sets of identical twins get mixed up in each  other's lives over the course of a day. Adapted from Shakespeare's THE COMEDY OF  ERRORS and re-imagined as an early 1960's technicolor musical comedy. Written and  Directed by David Melville. Produced by Melissa Chalsma, David Melville. With Brent  Charles, Xavi Moreno, Bukola Ogunmola, Carene Mekertichyan, Erika Soto.  

Stakes is High, (United States) – West Coast Premiere. Much like TAXI DRIVER was a  reflection of post-Vietnam America, STAKES IS HIGH captures America right now. Will  Goldin is the everyman of this moment, living off the fumes of a dream, turning to the  gig economy with hopes of a better future only to find a rat race to the bottom. Written  and Directed by Jean-Pierre Caner. Produced by Shaz Bennett, Vicki Syal. With Rahad  Coulter-Stevenson, Kestrin Pantera, Noel Arthur, Larry Clarke, Clayton Farris.  

The Ghost Trap, (United States) – Los Angeles Premiere. Based on the novel by K.  Stephen, the Ghost Trap is the haunting story of Jamie Eugley, a young lobsterman  struggling with the grinding responsibilities of a head-injured fiancé and mounting trap  wars in a small Maine lobstering community. Directed by James Khanlarian. Written by  K. Stephens, James Khanlarian. Produced by Peter Couture, Kaley Stephens, Candace  Cason. With Zak Steiner, Greer Grammer, Sarah Catherine Hook, Taylor Takahashi,  Steven Ogg, Sarah Clarke, Xander Berkeley, Lucinda Jenney 

Tomorrow, You Pretty Ghost, (United States) – World Premiere. Two high school  friends, prone to playing elaborate tricks on their friends, pull off one last prank before  graduation that has grim consequences for their relationship. A horror story about  keeping in touch with your childhood friends, Tomorrow, You Pretty Ghost is a tense  examination of yearning, guilt, and ironic detachment. Written and Directed by Alex  Morand and Rocky Pajarito. Produced by Vincent Jingzhe Wang, Abigail Sims, Alex  Morand, Rocky Pajarito. With David Brown, Abigail Sims, Everardo Barriga, Cricket  Arrison.  

Unspeakable: Beyond the Wall of Sleep, (United States) – U.S. Premiere. Based on  the work of HP Lovecraft, renowned oneirologist, Ambrose London, is requested to  Arkham Asylum to study the strange case of split personality in patient James Fhelleps/ Joe Slater. Written and Directed by Chad Ferrin. Produced by Chad Ferrin, Robert  Miano. With Edward Furlong, Susan Priver, Robert Miano, Bai Ling, Steve Railsback,  Ginger Lynn, Lew Temple. Rated X for nudity, adult themes, sexual assault, and  language. 

INTERNATIONAL NARRATIVE COMPETITION 

aWake, (Ireland) – U.S. Premiere. Anna seeks closure at the funeral of the man who  assaulted her 10 years ago. Written and Directed by Mark McAuley, With Kojjii DeBurca,  Lacy Moore, Sadhbh Larkin Coyle, Mark McAuley.  

Ciurè, (Italy) – Los Angeles Premiere. Salvo is a young father who struggles between  makeshift jobs and a life of crime, to support his son in suburban Palermo, Sicily. When  the spiral of violence turns against him, he runs into Ciurè, a transgender dancer who  helps him find a way out of the underworld.  

Purgatory Jack, (Canada) – Los Angeles Premiere. Purgatory Jack is a neo-noir  mystery thriller set in the afterlife. The latest case for musician turned grizzled private  detective, Jack Marlin, is helping new arrival Viv Vacious, a punk pop star who  overdosed, stay safe as she races against time to find her mother who committed  suicide twenty years earlier. 

Under Water, (Netherlands). Written and Directed by Brett Butler and Jason Butler.  Produced by Brett Butler, Jason Butler, Pasha Patriki. With Tim Rozon, Alexandra  Beaton, Emily Alatalo, Joel Thomas Hynes. 

Under Water, (Netherlands) – Los Angeles Premiere. When a young woman is  locked in a basement with her soon-to-be ex-husband by her mother, an avid doomsday  prepper, she must finally confront the secrets of her family's past. Under Water is a dark  offbeat comedy drama about survival of the fittest, rabbit holes of conspiracy theories  and a challenging childhood. Directed by Edgar Kapp and Kuba Szutkowski. Written by  Simon Weeda, Julia van de Graaff, Kuba Szutkowski, Edgar Kapp. Produced by Julia  van de Graaff, Marc Thelosen. With Elisa Beuger, Julia van de Graaff, Stijn Westenend,  Jack Wouterse, Zouhair Mtazi, Livia Lamers, Liv van Kollenburg, Guido van Hulzen.  

DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION 

American Pot Story: Oaksterdam (United States). American Pot Story chronicles a  campaign that brought cannabis into the mainstream and it’s also an inspiring reminder  of how democracy can work when people come together in an effort to fulfill our pledge  to liberty and justice for all. Directed by Ravit Markus and Dan Katzir. With  Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D CA), Governor Gavin Newsom, Tommy Chong,  Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, Dale Sky Jones, Richard Lee, Kat Murti, Evan Nison, Jim  Gray, Jeff Jones. 

Origin, (France) – Los Angeles Premiere. Origin unfolds the history of House Music as  told by the pioneers in this genre. Directed by Sebastien Rossi. Produced by Koumetio  Fabrice. With Bob Sinclar, Mike Dunn, Laurent Garnier, Marshall Jefferson, Terry  Hunter.  

Ray of Hope (Canada) – Los Angeles Premiere. The 26-year armed conflict in Sri  Lanka compelled numerous Eelam Tamils to seek refuge in foreign nations, notably in  Canada. Among them is Rathika Sitsabaiesan, a former Canadian Member of 

Parliament, who fled the armed conflict in Sri Lanka with her Tamil family as a five-year old child. The anguish and tales of the conflict drove Rathika's advocacy. In 2013, her  visit to Sri Lanka rekindled her own traumatic memories, as she was surveilled by the  very government accountable for widespread suffering. Directed by Ryan Singh, Nikila  Cole. Produced by Ryan Singh, Patricia Scarlett, Nikila Cole. With Rathika  Sitsabaiesan,Maya D'Elia, Sutha Shanmugarajah, Collins Perinpanayagam, Arthi  Sathian, Aranan Sathian.