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20 Ways

A satire about crossing borders.

The image says, 1930’s Europe but is it? A lone border guard stops a horse drawn wagon driven by Hymie. The border guard soon uncovers Hymie isn’t in fact traveling alone, leading the border guard to deploy the start of 'twenty ways to spot an illegal immigrant’ in this social justice comedy built around the absurdity of observation.

  • Peter M. Kershaw
    Director
    Wilfred, The Astronomer's Sun, Henry and the Animals
  • Peter M. Kershaw
    Writer
    Wilfred, The Astronomer's Sun, Henry and the Animals
  • Peter M. Kershaw
    Producer
    Wilfred, The Astronomer's Sun, Henry and the Animals
  • John Flax
    Key Cast
    Henry and the Animals
  • Joe Feldman
    Key Cast
  • Christopher Dempsey
    Key Cast
  • Kathryn Phipps
    Key Cast
  • Omar Lux
    Key Cast
  • Freddie Lopez
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, satire
  • Runtime:
    16 minutes 30 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 4, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    40,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Super 16mm Film
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Black & White and Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Phoenix Shorts - JAN 2022
    Ontario
    Canada
    January 28, 2022
    Canada Premiere
    Winner - Best Comedy Shoirt
  • Mexico International Film Festival
    Baja, Mexico
    June 10, 2015
    Silver Palm Award
  • Samobor International Film Festival, Croatia
    Samobor, Croatia
    October 9, 2013
    European Premiere
    Lifetime achievement award for the film's composer, Gerald Fried
  • NM Filmmakers Showcase
    Albuquerque, NM
    October 10, 2012
    North America Premiere
    Winner for Best New Mexican Drama
  • Winner of New Mexico, New Visions & Panavision Production Awards
    Santa Fe, NM
    Production Awards
    Production Awards
Distribution Information
  • Duchy Parade Films LLC
    Distributor
    Country: United States
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Peter M. Kershaw

Based in Flagstaff AZ, Peter M. Kershaw is an English filmmaker, an international award winning director. A filmmaker with over 100 screen credits. His films such as Cinema of Horror 2, Wilfred, and Psyche Ascending have played in 300 national and international film festivals. Over 30 years as a producer/director in television, 35 awards including 2 prestigious Royal Television Society NE Awards for ITV in the UK. Peter's current indie feature Bear Song, an environmental animation feature.

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Director Statement

A comic satire on crossing borders.

As a filmmaker, one of the elements of story that appeals to me is that of identity.

20 Ways is an entertaining story about a serious global issue, and the danger of profiling of a people, seen in 20 Ways through the metaphor of a Jewish family fleeing 1930s Europe. I like that the film has a Jewish humor. It is a film about the absurdity of observation, while also dealing with serious lessons from history.

Shot on black and white film with historic lenses to create the cinematic look of period film before the comic conclusion with a return to color and satirical reveal. 20 Ways uses humor to expose the absurdity of 'twenty ways to spot an illegal immigrant' employed here in Arizona to spot immigrants crossing the US border from Mexico and South America.

The film features an original score by NY’s legendary Composer, Gerald Fried. Fried also composed the scores for director Stanley Kubrick's first five films. Fried fled Poland as a boy ahead of the Nazis and is a living experience of this very story.

With all that is going on today in Europe with the displacement of people, 20 Ways is a healthy reminder of the spirit of humanity’s endurance (which is something the world of 2023 very much needs) and the importance of laughter as a coping mechanism for the often-absurd reality of the worlds we find ourselves living in.

https://www.petermkershaw.com/filmmaker/