THE DAVID DANCE
David, the host of a local, gay radio show in Buffalo, New York, struggles with self-doubt when his single sister asks him to be the father figure for her soon-to-be-adopted Brazilian child. Past and present intertwine in this bittersweet winter’s tale of a man learning to love and accept himself.
WINNER: AUDIENCE AWARD: BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE FILM - TALLGRASS FILM FESTIVAL.
WINNER: AUDIENCE AWARD: BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE FILM - LONG ISLAND GAY & LESBIAN FILM FESTIVAL (Men's)
WINNER: BEST PICTURE, BEST DIRECTOR, LGBT SPIRIT AWARD - NEW HOPE FILM FESTIVAL
WINNER: JURY AWARD, BEST FEATURE FILM & AUDIENCE AWARD, BEST FEATURE FILM - SENE FILM, MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL
WINNER: JURY AWARD, BEST FEATURE FILM - LONG ISLAND INTERNATIONAL FILM EXPO
WINNER: BEST SCREENPLAY, BEST LGBT FILM, BEST EDITING & BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS - NOVA FILM FEST
WINNER: JURY AWARD: TEA DANCE GAY & LESBIAN FILM FESTIVAL
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Aprill WinneyDirectorThe Fosters, Counting Backwards, Brushfires
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Don ScimeWriter
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Don ScimeProducer
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Don ScimeKey CastThe Will
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Guy AdkinsKey Cast
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Antoinette LaVecchiaKey CastDeliver Us From Evil
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Jordan BakerKey CastAnother Earth
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Tonye PatanoKey CastWeeds
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Project Type:Feature
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Runtime:1 hour 43 minutes
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Completion Date:February 15, 2014
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Production Budget:200,000 USD
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Country of Filming:United States
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:Digital
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Aspect Ratio:2.35
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:No
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Cinequest Film FestivalSan Jose, CA
March 8, 2014
World Premiere -
Newport Beach Film festivalNewport Beach, CA
April 29, 2014
Southern California premiere -
Miami Gay and Lesbian Film FestivalMiami
May 6, 2014
East Coast premiere -
Woods Hole Film FestivalWoods Hole, MA
August 1, 2014
New England Premiere
Runner up - Best Feature (Audience Award) -
Chichester International Film Festival (UK)Chichester, England
August 20, 2014
European Premiere -
Reeling 32 : Chicago LGBT International Film FestivalChicago
September 20, 2014
Midwest Premiere -
Cinema Diverse: Palm Springs Gay and Lesbian Film FestivalPalm Springs, CA
September 20, 2014
FESTIVAL FAVORITE -
Tallgrass Film FestivalWichita, Kansas
October 18, 2014
WINNER: AUDIENCE AWARD: BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE FILM -
Long Island Gay and Lesbian Film FestivalHuntington, New York
November 10, 2014
WINNER: AUDIENCE AWARD: BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE FILM (Men's) -
Rehoboth Beach Film Society / Another Take LGBT Film SeriesRehoboth Beach, DE
February 14, 2015
Delaware Premiere -
Sunscreen Film FestivalSt. Petersburg, Florida
May 2, 2015 -
Outview LGBT Film FestivalAthens, Greece
May 8, 2015
Greece premiere -
SoHo International Film FestivalNew York City
May 15, 2015
NYC premiere
Nominated - Best Feature Film -
New Hope Film FestivalNew Hope, PA
July 30, 2015
Pennsylvania premiere
WINNER - GRAND JURY AWARDS: BEST PICTURE, BEST DIRECTOR, LGBT SPIRIT AWARD -
Connecticut Film FestivalBethel, CT
August 5, 2015
CT Premiere -
Landlocked Film FestivalIowa City, IA
Iowa Premiere -
Fargo-Moorhead LGBT Film FestivalFargo, ND
September 12, 2015
North Dakota premiere -
Golden Door International Film FestivalJersey City, New Jersey
September 25, 2015
New Jersey Premiere -
Out on Film LGBT Film FestivalAtlanta, Georgia
October 2, 2015
Atlanta Premiere -
Richard Harris International Film FestivalLimerick, Ireland
October 25, 2015
Irish Premiere -
Alexandria Film FestivalAlexandria, VA
November 8, 2015 -
50 Giorni di Cinema - Florence Queer FestivalFlorence, Italy
November 14, 2015
Italian Premiere -
Anchorage International Film Festival
December 8, 2015 -
SENE Film, Music & Arts FestivalProvidence, RI
United States
April 22, 2016
Rhode Island Premiere
WINNER: Jury Award, Best Feature Film & Audience Award, Best Feature Film -
Emerge Film FestivalLewiston / Auburn
United States
April 30, 2016
Maine -
Wild Rose Independent Film Festival
United States
May 17, 2016
Iowa
12 Distinctive Achievement Awards including Best Picture -
Twin Cities Fiim Fest Out FestivalMinneapolis, Minnesota
United States
June 11, 2016
Minnesota -
Long Island International Film ExpoBellmore, New York
United States
July 14, 2016
Bellmore
WINNER, Jury Award: Best Feature Film
Aprill won BEST DIRECTOR for "The David Dance" at The New Hope Film Festival. She has directed several episodes of the ABC Family drama, "The Fosters" and the Amazon original series, "Just Add Magic".
On first encounter, “The David Dance” is the story of a man who isn't comfortable in his own skin. Self-doubt prevents him from living the life he is capable of. He relies on his radio personality, “Danger Dave”, to break him out of his shell and speak his mind.
What spoke to me about the story was the complexity of the character and his ever changing outlook. As the story builds, we learn about David’s experiences, both childhood and present day, which explain his fears and hesitations. We also learn about the love and inspiration of his sister, which pull him through his stubborn ways and into the sun. Connecting the dots from past experience to emotional issue, from inspiration to change is the point of view I wanted to explore. We are all a product of where we have come from and what we have lived through. And only after we learn to love ourselves, can we truly love others.
I am very proud of the work we did back in Buffalo and very proud of the work that the post team has done since. From beginning to end this was a truly collaborative process. In looking at the finished product, I see the fingerprints of cast and crew who made this film what it is today. It took the efforts and talents of many to bring this story from the page to the screen. I am grateful to have been the hand that guided that process.
- Aprill Winney