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Not Approved For Cancer Treatment

“Not Approved For Cancer Treatment” follows an elderly man, with his wife of 50 years, who finds out from his doctor that he has cancer. A new treatment has been discovered that cures all cancers, but the FDA will not approve it for cancer treatment, which means Medicare will not pay for it. The couple could pay out of pocket, but they cannot afford to, forcing them to choose a more common treatment that may or may not work.

  • Michael Thomas Cain
    Director
    Eliminated, Jordey The Movie, Jazz John, Outta This World
  • Michael Thomas Cain
    Writer
    Eliminated, Jordey The Movie
  • Michael Thomas Cain
    Producer
    Eliminated, Jordey The Movie, Jazz John, Outta This World
  • Chaz McCormack
    Key Cast
    "Tim/Husband"
    Eliminated, Thumb Wrestler, Jazz John
  • Gloria Sangirardi Jung
    Key Cast
    "Donna/Wife"
  • Eureka Nakano Grimes
    Key Cast
    "The Doctor"
    Outta This World
  • Chris Hart
    Cinematographer
    Eliminated, Jazz John
  • Chris Hart
    Editor
    Eliminated, Thumb Wrestler, Jazz John, Outta This World
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Short
  • Runtime:
    16 minutes 24 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 13, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    2,000 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:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Austin Revolution Film Festival 2023
    Austin, Texas
    United States
    February 9, 2023
    World Premiere
    Nominations: 1. Best Short Drama 2. Best Editing (Christopher Hart) 3. Best Actor in a Short Film (Chaz McCormack) 4. Margaret Ann Garza Actor of the Year (Chaz McCormack)
  • LA Underground Film Forum 2023
    Los Angeles, California
    United States
    Honorable Mention
  • Experimental Forum 2023
    Los Angeles, California
    United States
    Honorable Mention
  • The Indie Gathering International Film Festival 2023
    Cleveland, Ohio
    United States
    August 20, 2023
    Ohio Premiere
    Official Selection
  • The Chelsea Film Festival 2023
    New York, New York
    United States
    October 13, 2023
    New York Premiere
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Michael Thomas Cain

Michael Thomas Cain is a writer, director, producer, and sometimes actor working mostly in and around New York City.

Presently, Michael is circulating his Award-Winning short screenplay "Killing The Small Family Farmer," and he wrote and directed the Award Winning short films "Eliminated" and "Jordey The Movie." "Jordey The Christmas Movie" and " Restructuring," which Michael wrote and directed, are in post-production. Michael is also circulating the Award-Winning short films "Jazz John," "Outta This World," and "Oatmelio's," directed by Michael Thomas Cain and written by Mark Levitt.

Michael's short screenplay titled “Killing The Small Family Farmer” has won awards and received recognition at film festivals:
-2nd Place Winner-Short Drama. 25th Indie Gathering International Film Festival. Virtual/Ohio. 2020.
-Award Nominee. Austin Revolution Film Festival. Austin, Texas. 2020.
-Finalist. Hollywood Just4Shorts Film and Screenplay Competition. Hollywood, California. 2022.
-Finalist-Short Script. Las Vegas International Film and Screenwriting Festival. Las Vegas, Nevada. 2020.
-Official Selection. New York Script Awards. New York, New York. 2022.
-Official Selection. Chicago Script Awards. Chicago, Illinois. 2022.

Michael directed the short-film "Outta This World:"
-2nd Place Winner-Best Short Sci-Fi. The 27th Indie Gathering International Film Festival. Cleveland, Ohio. 2022.
-3rd Place Winner-Best Short Sci-Fi. The 11th International Horror Hotel Film Festival and Convention. Cleveland, Ohio. 2022.
-Official Selection at the End of Days Film Festival (Orlando, Florida/2022).
-Official Selection. Shockfest Film Festival. 2022.

Michael directed the short-film "Jazz John:"
-2nd Place Winner-Best Short Comedy. The 26th Indie Gathering International Film Festival. Westlake, Ohio. 2021.
-Runner-Up-Best Concept. The Brightside Tavern Shorts Film Fest. Jersey City, New Jersey. 2021.
-Nomination-Best Director (Michael Thomas Cain) Comedy. The Brightside Tavern Shorts Film Fest. Jersey City, New Jersey. 2021.
-Nomination-Best Comedy. The Brightside Tavern Shorts Film Fest. Jersey City, New Jersey. 2021.
-Nomination-Best Actor (Mark Parsia) Comedy Short. The Brightside Tavern Shorts Film Fest. Jersey City, New Jersey. 2021.
-Nomination-Best Writing in a Short Film (Mark Levitt). The Shorts Film Awards. South Orange, New Jersey. 2021.
-Nomination-Best Editing in a Short Film (Christopher Hart). The Shorts Film Awards. South Orange, New Jersey. 2021.
-Honorable Mention at the Australia Film Festival (Australia/2022).
-Honorable Mention at the International Film Festival Manhattan (New York, New York/2021).
-Official Selection at the Lit Laughs International Comedy Film Festival (Harrogate, Yorkshire, England/2021).

Michael directed the short-film "Oatmelio's:"
-3rd Place Winner-Best Short Comedy. The 27th Indie Gathering International Film Festival. Cleveland, Ohio. 2022.
-Honorable Mention at the Australia Film Festival (Australia/2022).

Michael's short-film titled “Jordey The Movie” that he wrote, directed, and produced has won awards and received screenings at film festivals:
-Silver Medal-Best Animal Actor. Global Independent Film Awards. 2020.
-3rd Place Winner-Best Family Film. The 24th Indie Gathering International Film Festival. Medina, Ohio. 2019.
-Finalist. Global Independent Film Awards. 2020.
-Finalist-Best Children/Family Category. Various Artists Independent Film Festival. Chicago, Illinois. 2019.
-Finalist. Peak City International Film Festival. Apex, North Carolina. 2019.
-Nomination-Best Family Short. Action on Film International Film Festival and Writer’s Celebration. World Premier. Las Vegas, Nevada. 2019.
-Nomination-Best Children’s Film. Action on Film International Film Festival and Writer’s Celebration. World Premier. Las Vegas, Nevada. 2019.
-Nomination-Best Family Short. Hollywood Dreamz International Film Festival and Writer’s Celebration. Las Vegas, Nevada. 2019.
-Nomination-Best Children’s Film. Hollywood Dreamz International Film Festival and Writer’s Celebration. Las Vegas, Nevada. 2019.

Michael's short-film titled “Eliminated” that he wrote, directed, and produced has won awards and received screenings at film festivals:
-Award Winner/2017/Experimental Short/22nd Indie Gathering International Film Festival
-Semi-Finalist/2017/Colorado International Activism Film Festival
-Honorable Mention/2017/LA Underground Film Forum
-Honorable Mention/2017/Experimental Forum
-Official Selection/New York Premiere/2017/Chelsea Film Festival
-Official Selection/2017/BLOW-UP International Arthouse Film Festival Chicago

Michael directed the short-film "Thumb Wrestler:"
-Best Comedic Short/2019/The Lost Insanity Film Festival
-Award Winner/2018/Comedy Short/23rd Indie Gathering International Film Festival
-Nominated for Best Concept Film/2018/The Brightside Tavern Film Festival
-Special Mention Award/2018/London-Worldwide Comedy Short Film Festival
-Honorable Mention Award/New York Premiere/2017/International Film Festival Manhattan
-Honorable Mention. Night of Comedy Shorts. Milan, Italy. 2021
-Honorable Mention. Australia Film Festival. 2022.
-Official Selection. Comedy Shorts Film Festival. 2017.

Michael directed the short-film "Thumb Wrestler II: The Second Thumbing:"
-Award Winner/2019/Comedy Short/24rd Indie Gathering International Film Festival
-Official Selection/New York Premiere/2018/International Film Festival Manhattan
-Official Selection/2018/The Brightside Tavern Film Festival

Michael wrote, directed, and produced his one-act play titled "Not Approved For Cancer Treatment" in spring 2022 as part of the New York Theater Festival.

Also in 2017, Michael directed and produced FIFTEEN MINUTES WITH ELLEN, written by Andrew Selig, as part of the Planet Connections Theatre Festivity in NYC, receiving a respectable review and a Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor (Winner) nomination.

In recent years, Michael wrote and directed WHERE ART LIVES (performed at UNDER St. Marks Theater) and “Eliminated” (performed at Manhattan Repertory Theatre) for the stage, and he directed two Marlin Thomas plays titled “I Never Heard Such Silence” (performed at Manhattan Repertory Theatre and the 13th Street Repertory Theatre) and “Germaine and Diane” (performed at the Jewel Box Theater as part of the Midtown International Theatre Festival).

In 2012, Michael wrote, directed, and produced ENOUGH’S ENOUGH at La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club as part of the NY International Fringe Festival, receiving a respectable review.

In addition, Michael is the founder of Forgotten Artist Productions and has earned an M.F.A. in Dramatic Writing from Adelphi University and a B.A. in Communications/Theatre from Augusta College.

In addition to his creative pursuits, Michael is a college/university educator in and around New York City.

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