Private Project

A BOOK BY THEIR COVER

A BOOK BY THEIR COVER is a 32-minute indie-short film that addresses a tween girl identifying their orientation, educating herself with a book, and how the town reacts. A BOOK BY THEIR COVER addresses how LGBTQIA+ young people must learn about themselves, and how this must stop being a covert awakening.

  • John Tedeschi
    Director
  • John Tedeschi
    Writer
  • The Continental Shoemakers
    Producer
  • Eva Ferreira
    Key Cast
    "Samantha Hartt"
  • Kevin Bartini
    Key Cast
    "Alex Hartt"
  • Annie Kerins
    Key Cast
    "Molly Hartt"
  • John Tedeschi
    Key Cast
    "Carl Stallings"
  • Steve Gagliastro
    Key Cast
    "Keith Veritas"
  • Wanda Libardi
    Key Cast
    "Joanna Herder"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama
  • Runtime:
    29 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    July 7, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    4,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • LuminaFlicks International Short Film Fest
    Tirana
    Albania
    Winner - Best 20-40 Minute Short
  • Crown Point International Film Festival
    Chicago, IL
    United States
    Winner - Best Narrative Short
  • Athens International Monthly Film Festival
    Athens
    Greece
    Honorable Mention
  • Pride Aroostook Film Festival
    Fort Fairfield, Maine
    United States
    Official Selection
  • South Film and Arts Academy Festival
    Rancagua
    Chile
    Official Selection
  • Virginia Queer Film Festival
    Norfolk, VA
    United States
    Semi-Finalist
  • Indo Dubai International Film Festival
    Kolkata, West Bengal
    India
    Best LGBT Short
  • Makizhmithran International Film Festival
    Alampattu
    India
    Best Child Actress
  • Five Continents International Film Festival
    Anzoategui
    Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of
    Best LGBT Short Film
  • International Motion Picture Awards
    Brooklin, Ontario
    Canada
    Official Selection
  • Chicago Cinema Awards
    Chicago, Illinois
    United States
    Official Selection
  • Anthology Film Festival
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    Official Selection
  • World Cinema Awards

    Official Selection
Director Biography - John Tedeschi

John Tedeschi has created and directed his first film, A BOOK BY THEIR COVER, with his team of dedicated artisans, The Continental Shoemakers, who create didactic-indie-film, and hope to participate in, and screen at a strong collection of festivals and theatres. John has directed opera, theatre, fashion, and art to promote equality and empathy, and to elicit progress in humanity.

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Director Statement

Young people often ask - what is sex, where do babies come from, what are the birds and the bees - sometimes they are not answered, and oftentimes they are only told the cis-heteronormative version. We need to inform children of the full continuum with inclusion of more possibilities that reflect human nature factually, scientifically, socially, and sexually. A young person needs acceptance and not conditioning of a unilateral existence.

Young people often feel shame that surfaces without knowledge of what shame is…this must stop, forever. Sexual education at home and at school must include the spectrum of who people are; and facilities of education, including books for varying age groups, must be available to young people without censor or ban. Governments, boards, towns and homes need to provide safe space, without rejection, confiscation, policing, and violence.

A BOOK BY THEIR COVER addresses Queer discovery, boldly asking questions and sharing identity (when ready and self permitted), providing a book as an educational resource, the flow of that acceptance suddenly thwarted, perverted, and rejected with contempt, shifting to societal discussion leading to empathetic knowledge and awareness of all - instead of merely what was once and is frequently only deemed - normal. From A BOOK BY THEIR COVER there is a heroes-journey that is illustrated for all to learn, open, and progress.