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IFFF_seal1_offselection_BW_hiThe locally-made short film ‘The Maury Island Incident‘ will next screen at the International Family Film Festival in Hollywood on Friday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m.
The movie recently won “Audience Choice Award” for Best Short at the Gig Harbor Film Festival, where it screened Oct. 18.
Based on declassified FBI documents, this 30-minute movie – based on declassified FBI documents – tells the incredible, tragic, and forgotten story of Harold Dahl, who on June 21, 1947, alleged a UFO sighting over Puget Sound, Washington. This sparked ‘the summer of the saucers,’ the modern era of UFO obsession, the first appearance of a ‘Man in Black’ as well as a governmental battle over UFO sighting jurisdiction reaching directly to FBI Executive Director J. Edgar Hoover.
The film – which was Directed/Produced by Scott Schaefer and Written/Produced by Steve Edmiston – was shot in Burien, Des Moines, Tukwila and off the shores of Maury Island during the summer of 2013. It was also awarded the competitive Washington FilmWorks Innovation Lab funding during production. This will be its 11th festival showing.
Featuring Seattle-area actors Tony Doupé, Allen Fitzpatrick, John Patrick Lowrie, and David S. Hogan, the film was also produced by area residents John White (Executive Producer), Scott and Laura Beth Peterson, and Danny House.
SCREENING DETAILS:

  • Shorts Block #7: Friday, Nov. 7 @ 7 p.m. at Rahleigh Studios, 5300 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, CA 90038
  • CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS ($10 each)

More info about the film:

Here’s the trailer:
[vimeo width=”500″ height=”400″]http://vimeo.com/76818293[/vimeo]
Here’s more about the festival:

Celebrating its’ 19th year, the International Family Film Festival will screen 88 films and feature 14 screenplays, representing the U.S.,16 foreign countries, and multiple professionally accredited film schools. The complete lineup and details are available at www.iffilmfest.org. All films and screenplays will compete in the spirit of family values in film.
“What makes our festival unique is our emphasis on themes that define and challenge the definition of family,” says Chris Shoemaker, IFFF Executive Director. “This year’s is a particularly robust festival, and we’re pleased to bring it back to Raleigh Studios.”
Feature highlights
Screenings kick off on November 7th, with opening-night film, Matthew Gratzner’s “Hot Bath an’ a Stiff Drink”. Actor/producer Jeffery Patterson stars in this period western playing two roles – twin brothers Vance and Tom Dillinger – who are separated when their parents are massacred and Tom is kidnapped. To learn more about the film please visit hotbathanastiffdrink.com.
Another of Patterson’s productions, “Finding Harmony” (Billy Zane), is a touching, multi-generational southern drama about the wounds we carry, and those we leave behind.
Also slated is “The Town that Came a’ Courtin'” (Lauren Holly, Cameron Bancroft, and Valerie Harper), in which a small town plays matchmaker for its mayor and a successful author.
In “A Little Game,” (Olympia Dukakis, F. Murray Abraham, and Janeane Garofolo), a 10-year-old girl (Makenna Ballard) who is dealing with being an exceptionally smart child, and finds an unlikely mentor in
a chess master who teaches her life lessons through the game.
Short Film highlights
“The Maury Island incident” tells the incredible, tragic, and forgotten story of Harold Dahl, who on June 21, 1947, alleged a UFO sighting over Puget Sound, Washington, sparking the ‘summer of the saucers’, the modern era of UFO obsession, the first appearance of ‘Men in Black’ and a governmental battle over UFO sighting jurisdiction reaching directly to FBI Executive Director J. Edgar Hoover.

  • Director(s):  Scott Schaefer
  • Cast:  Tony Doupe, Allen Fitzpatrick, John Patrick Lowrie & David S. Hogan
  • Running Time:  30 minutes

“Before It’s Too Late” (Robert Loggia and Eric Roberts) takes a comedic look at how aging affects our driving skills to the point that become unsafe. We must then make one of the most difficult decisions of our lives; to give up our car keys.
In “Simpler Times” (Jerry Stiller and Ann Meara), a recently widowed man in his golden years moves in with his daughter and son-in-law and finds himself trapped in the world of modern technology.
“The Tunes Behind the Toons” features a who’s who of award-winning composers, (Alan Menken, Randy Newman, Richard Sherman, and more), sharing their insights into the role of music in adding character
into animation over the decades.
IFFF/Youth Fest! Day
For youths ages 8-17, the festival presents YouthFest! on Saturday, November 8th. This all-day youth-friendly section features screenings and workshops, including
“Speak-up! The Art of Voice-over” led by award-winning voice-over actor, Bill Farmer (voice of Goofy).
“Safe Stunts for Movies”, led by Kim Turney, swordmaster of the Academy of Theatrical Combat.
“Acting Up” workshop with Lauren Patrice Nadler.
YouthFest! culminates by celebrating the youth finalists and winners from the short film, comic book, and screenplay categories at the IFFF/YouthFest! Awards Ceremony.
Youth Fest! All Day Pass
Panels & Screenwriters Showcase
The 2014 IFFF will also conduct several film panels, offering attendees the opportunity to learn from and network with industry leaders & working professionals. This year’s panels include: The Los Angeles Digital Literacy panel, Indie Film Financing, Indie Film Distribution, Producers Networking brunch, and The Screenwriting 360º panel, covering Film, TV & CGI.
The Screenwriter’s Showcase and Awards ceremony, held on Sunday, November 9th, features industry-working actors, cast by Lauren Patrice Nadler, performing a selected scene from each of the screenplay finalists. Screenplays were submitted from as far away as France, New Zealand, and the U.K. for categories including Drama, Comedy, Animation and Sci-fi/Fantasy.
Panels and Awards Ceremony
The IIFF is a market that creates a positive and well-respected networking opportunity for film distribution deals. Past IFFF’s have drawn over 5,000 film fans and industry professionals. Screenplays that compete in the Screenplay competition are frequently optioned and helmed into short and feature films.
Through its partnership with Freshi Films, a national leader in digital education, the IFFF distributes digital-filmmaking kits to classrooms and after-school programs, helping youth nationwide discover the
art and power of filmmaking.
COST: All-Access Festival Passes are available to the general public for $200. General admission tickets to individual films and events are also available and range from $10-$20. All-day passes for YouthFest! are $25.
All tickets can be purchased here: http://www.eventbrite.com/o/the-international-family-film-festival-6798715185

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