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The Trial of Ben Barry

THE TRIAL OF BEN BARRY explores the reunion of an estranged father and son after twenty years. The son, in and out of prison his whole life but now a changed man, returns home to help his elderly father face up to the mistakes of his past – including the killing of a voter’s rights organizer 35 years earlier – leading to both men’s reconciliation, redemption and salvation.
THE TRIAL OF BEN BARRY stars Richard Roundtree (SHAFT) as Ben Barry and Lawrence Gilliard, Jr. (HBO’s THE WIRE, THE DEUCE and A&E’s THE WALKING DEAD) as his son, June. The film is produced & directed by Shea E. Butler who adapted the script from an original play by Aaron Iverson.

  • Shea E. Butler
    Director
    The Waystation, Trouble Creek, Brad's Untitled Restaurant Project
  • Shea E. Butler
    Writer
    The Waystation
  • Shea E. Butler
    Producer
    Trouble Creek, The Waystation
  • Jane Loughman
    Producer
  • Richard Roundtree
    Key Cast
    "Ben Barry"
    Shaft
  • Lawrence Gilliard, Jr.
    Key Cast
    "June Barry"
    The Wire, The Deuce, The Walking Dead
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    33 minutes
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Red
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Action On Film International Film Festival 2012
    Monrovia, CA
    United States
    Best Female Filmmaker - shorts, Nominated Best Actor (Richard Roundtree), Nominated Best Screenplay
  • Alexandria Film Festival - 2012
    Alexandria, VA
    United States
  • American On-Line Film Festival
    On-Line
    United States
  • Anchorage International Film Festival - 2012
    Anchorage, Alaska
    United States
    Nominated Best Short Film
  • Bayou City Inspirational Film Festival - 2012
    Bayou City, Texas
    United States
    Runner Up Best Short Film
  • Bend Film Festival 2013
    Bend, Oregon
    United States
  • Cincinnati Film Festival 2012
    Cincinnati, Ohio
    United States
    Winner Best Screenplay
  • Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival 2013
    Cleveland, Ohio
    United States
    Nominated Best Short Film
  • Hollywood Dreamz International Film Festival 2017
    Las Vegas, NV
    United States
  • Hollywood and Vine Film Festival 2013
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    Winner - Best Acting Cast, Nominated Best Short Film
  • Idyllwild Cinemafest 2013
    Idyllwild, CA
    United States
    Nominated Best Actor (Richard Roundtree), Nominated Best Sound
  • Manhattan Beach Film Festival 2013
    Manhattan Beach, CA
    United States
  • Mumbai International Women's Film Festival 2013
    Mumbai
    India
    Winner Best Director Short Films
  • NOVA Film Festival 2015

    United States
    Winner Best Screenplay Short Films, Winner Best Actor (Lawrence Gilliard, Jr.), Runner Up Best Director Short Films, Nominated Best Short Film, Nominated Best Actor Short Films (Richard Roundtree)
  • Pan African Film Festival 2013
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    Nominated Best Short Film
  • Portland Oregon Women's Film Festival
    Portland, Oregon
    United States
  • San Antonio Film Festival
    San Antonio, TX
    United States
  • San Diego Black Film Festival 2013
    San Diego, CA
    United States
    Nominated Best Short Film, Nominated Best Actor (Lawrence Gilliard, Jr.)
  • San Francisco Black Film Festival 2012
    San Francisco, CA
    United States
    Runner Up Best Short Film
  • Santa Fe International Film Festival 2012
    Santa Fe, NM
    United States
  • Half Fest Initiative Director's Showcase 2017
  • HollyShorts Monthly Screenings January 2018
Director Biography - Shea E. Butler

Shea is an award-winning filmmaker for her short films “The Trial of Ben Barry,” “The Waystation,” and the 2017 web series, “Trouble Creek.” She recently completed the short film, “Finding Home” and the feature film script, “Dare,” which she plans to direct in 2019.

Shea’s an alumni of Ryan Murphy’s Half Foundation Directing Fellowship and the Warner Bros. Television Director’s Workshop. She’s been a development executive, a segment producer for reality TV and a script supervisor for television and film with an MA in TV & Film. She’s a member of the Writers Guild, IATSE 871, Alliance of Women Directors and the Television Academy of Arts and Sciences, Sisters In Crime and the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators.

She is a certified scuba diver and avid horsewoman and was on a polo team that won a U.S. National 5 Goal Polo Championship. Born in Cairo, Egypt to American parents living abroad, Shea has traveled extensively throughout the world, her most recent trip being a horseback riding safari through the Okavango Delta in Botswana. Website: http://www.thebutlerdiditproductions.com

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