Making Peace

MAKING PEACE
Sometimes what you're afraid of, is what will set you free.

Introducing
KOURTNEY GEORGE (HurtBae, Trunk)
with
NATHANIEL BUZOLIC (Hacksaw Ridge, Vampire Diaries, The Originals)
and
DANTE BASCO (Hook, The Last Airbender)

"The Twilight Zone meets Quentin Tarantino" ~ Mike Sica

It's 1969, and Janis is stranded on the side of a desolate, desert road, where she's picked up by a stranger, Dennis, who helps her come to terms with the reality of her life, and death.

Summery:

Janis believes growing up without a father has led her down a destructive path of rebellion and bad choices. She wound up in an abusive relationship, so bad, that one day she came home to her child dead on the floor. Out of anger, she grabbed a gun, and shot the man… but, he overpowered her, seized the gun, and shot back.

Dennis left his baby daughter, Janis, to join the military, and provide for his family. After dying in the Korean War, his only regret is leaving Janis behind, as he roams in purgatory.

Now, it's 1969, and unaware that she's dead. Janis joins her father in purgatory, to engage in a lengthy discussion, as they travel through a barren desert. By the end, Dennis helps Janis discover, she must accept the mistakes she's made, in order to pass on to the other side. Thereby, he can fulfill his desire to be there for his daughter, as she makes peace with death,
and join her in the afterlife.

NO PREMIER OF THE FILM / FILM HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED TO PUBLIC

Honors:
​2018 Hollywood International Moving Pictures Film Festival - Best Script
2018 Los Angeles Film Awards - Official Selection
2018 Just4Shorts Film Festival - Official Selection
2018 New Media Film Festival - Top 3 Scripts
2018 Los Angeles Film Awards - Best First Time Screenwriter
2018 Austin Revolution Film Festival - Official Selection
​2018 Action In Film Festival - 1st Place - Best Short & Faith Based Script Official Selection
2018 Script Summit Screenplay Contest - 2nd Place & Best Concept Official Selection
2018 Fade in Awards - Finalist
2018 The Film Empire's Diversity Screenwriting Contest - Semi-finalist
2018 Oaxaca Film Festival - Industry Partners program
2018 Oaxaca Film Festival - Finalist
2018 Manhattan Film Festival - Semi-finalist
2018 London Short Series Film Festival - Official Selection
2019 Southern California Screenplay Competition - Semi-finalist
2019 Olympus Film Festival - Best Original Concept Short Film
2019 HollyShorts Film Festival - Official Selection
2019 Script Summit - 3rd Place
2019 Filmmatic Screenplay Competition - Finalist
2019 Los Angeles CineFest - Best Screenplay
2020 Industry Next: Diversity 2 - Award Winner
2020 LA Film Fest - Official Selection
2020 Austin Revolution Film Festival - Official Selection
2021 Short To The Point Film Festival - Official Selection
2021 JELLYFest - Best Actress
​2021 Asian Cinematography Awards - Best Short Film
2021 Canadian Cinematography Awards - Best Drama Film
2021 European Cinematography Awards - Winner
2021 Nukhu Awards - Official Selection
2021 London International Web & Film Festival - Best Short
2021 New York Cinematography Awards - Best Short, Best Poster, Best Producer, Best Cinematography, Best Sound
2021 ARFF International / Berlin - Best Short Film
​​2021 Los Angeles Cinematography Awards - Finalist
2021 ​International Independent Film Festival - Official Selection
2021 Utah Film Awards - Best Actor
2021 Onyko Awards Films - Honorable Mention
2021 Golden State Film Festival - Best Director
2021 World London Film Festival - 1st Place / Gold Winner
2021 International Christian Film Festival - Official Selection
​2021 Venice Shorts Film Awards - Best US Director
2021 Marina Del Rey Film Festival - Best Supernatural Short
2021 NYLA Film Festival - Best Film Of The Month
2021 Kalakari Film Festival - Winner
​2021 Carmarthen Bay Film Festival - Official Selection
2021 Richmond International Film Festival - Official Selection
2021 Green Mountain International Film Festival - Award Winner
2021 Something Wicked Film Festival - Official Selection
2021 L'Hospitalet-Barcelona International Film Festival - Official Selection Best Short / Best Director
2021 Tylerman Film Festival - Official Selection
2021 Orlando International Film Festival - Official Selection
2021 REEL HeART Film Festival - Best Short Film
2021 Z-Shorts International Film Festival - Official Selection
2021 AFIN International Film Festival - Best Visual Effects Finalist
2021 Pasadena Film Festival - Official Selection
2021 Lift-Off Los Angeles Film Festival - Official Selection
2022 Austin Revolution Film Festival - Official Selection
2021 Muestra Intergaláctica - Official Selection
2021 ​Culver City Film Festival - Official Selection
2021 Toronto Film Festival - Official Selection
2021 Festival Angaelica - Official Selection
2021 LA Live Film Festival - Best Short / Best Director
2021 Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival - Official Selection
2021 Blow-Up International Arthouse Filmfest • Chicago - Official Selection
2021 Goldenhorn Film Festival & Market - Official Selection
2021 Around International Film Festival - Best Short Film
2022 Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema - Nominations for Best Featurette, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography
2022 Cleavland International Film Festival - Official Selection
​2022 Australia Film Festival - Winner, Honorable Mention
​2022 UPIKE Film and Media Arts Festival - Finalist

More about the filming of Making Peace:
Making Peace is a supernatural, psychological, drama. It deals with acceptance, family, life, death, moving on, and the idea that after we die, someone we know meets us in the afterlife, at the start of the transition. It takes place in 1969, and was filmed on an Arri Alexa, with vintage Kowa anamorphic lenses, at an aspect ratio of 2:39. The soundtrack features covers of classics, like "Paint It Black" and "Rising Sun", licensed by Deep Six. We shot on location in the Mohave desert, and some scenes in an original Loyd Wright house. The cast is very diverse, with a black, female, protagonist, a Filipino antagonist, and a co-star from Australia. The crew is just the same, with a Russian, Jewish Director, Italian Cinematographer, and Mexican Key Gaffer. All locations, vehicles, decor, and costumes used, are authentic and vintage.

It is the directorial debut for Judah Ray.