SATURDAY OCT 19 at Froggy’s & Corazón

T H E 2 0 2 4 T O P A N G A F I L M F E S T I V A L

AT FROGGY’S

  • TOPANGA HISTORICAL SOCIETY SHORTS SHOWCASE

    SATURDAY OCT 19, 11:00 - 1:00PM at Froggy’s

    FILMS COMING SOON

  • cat.

    SATURDAY OCT 19, 1:00 - 1:10 PM at Froggy’s

    RUNTIME: :9:38

    USA

    Directors: Jessica Redish

    A woman signs up with a dating coach in search of her soulmate only to be met with her deepest desires.

  • JESS PLUS NONE

    SATURDAY OCT 19, 1:15 - 3:00 PM at Froggy’s

    RUNTIME: 1:41:03

    USA

    Directors: Mandy Fabian

    A reluctant maid-of-honor must attend her best friend’s off-the-grid wedding in the woods, where she's forced to confront her ex-girlfriend, all her more successful college friends, and every bad choice she’s made in her life so far. But when someone in the wedding party goes missing, a mysterious park ranger drags Jess into the woods to search for him and Jess discovers that the strongest force of nature at this wedding...might be her.

THE MOST SUBVERSIVE FILM NEVER SHOWN An Improv. Panel Saturday Oct 19, 3:00-4:00 at Froggy’s

A panel of improvising filmmakers discuss their film, production and life on the set of a film and genre suggested by the audience. It's so revolutionary, you've NEVER heard of it.

  • Adam was born and raised in Woodstock, NY. At 18, he moved to NYC to attend the illustrious NYU Film School at Tisch School of the Arts, where he proved to be miserable. After two years, he left the school but stayed in NYC where he would study acting, yoga, various approaches to well-being, and also continue his love affair with cinema. Adam eventually returned to Woodstock where he fell in love with improv comedy and played a significant role in the Woodstock Film Festival's founding and first three years of existence. He moved to L.A. in 2003, then Topanga in 2007. He has continued to act, emcee various events (TFF and Topanga Days are his favorites), perform + teach improv,and be a cinephile of course. He's honored to play an important role in the Topanga Film Festival! If you're interested in hiring him for acting, emceeing, or improv coaching, you can email him at nobleloaf@gmail.com. Cheers and merry movie-making & watching friends!

  • Phoebe, is a visual artist, performer/improvisor and writer. She received her undergraduate Film/TV degree from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and had the opportunity to intern on Saturday Night Live and Good Morning America. Phoebe received her MFA from CSULA, studying painting and installation and worked at Los Angeles’ Museum of Contemporary Art. She has exhibited her paintings, sculptures and installations in solo and group shows in California and New York. Falling in love with comedy improv, Phoebe has been and studying and performing at the world-renowned Groundlings Theatre and School in Los Angeles. She has performed improv in LA and Mexico, and has created and performed live and filmed sketch comedy and has appeared in a variety of short and feature films.

  • John has acted in over 40 commercials including Nintendo, Comcast, Digiorno, Sonos, NFL, Geico, Volkswagen, Panasonic, 76, Dish, and REDD's Apple Ale. As the writer's assistant on "The Wanda Sykes Show," John wrote jokes that aired on FOX and jokes that were performed on The Tonight Show on NBC. John was the head writer and co-creator of the web-series "Fresh Perspectives" starring SNL's Beck Bennett which evolved into the AT&T "It's Not Complicated" ad campaign. John Dardenne is a former writer and sketch performer on an Upright Citizens Brigade Maude Team as well as a former improvisor for a UCB Mess Hall team. He's hosted Nice Show! stand up at The Hayworth and Game Night at iO West. John is a former Harold Team member at the Westside Comedy Theater and long-time, house-team improvisor at LA Connection. His comedy has featured on CNN, TIME.com, Telegraph UK, Funny or Die, UCB Comedy, The Comic's Comic, U.S. News and World Report, The Week, and Huffington Post. He lives in Los Angeles.

  • Jordan Bridges is an American actor, best known as Frankie Rizzoli on Rizzoli & Isles (2010-2016) and most recently in The Old Man, (2022) and Law and Order: Organized Crime, (2022).

    Jordan was born in Los Angeles County, California, and is the son of actor Beau Bridges and Julie Bridges. He is the nephew of Jeff Bridges and the grandson of Lloyd Bridges and Dorothy Bridges. 

    As a child actor, he acted in two television films: The Kid from Nowhere, directed by his father, and The Thanksgiving Promise, starring the entire Bridges family. However, he chose not to continue working as a child actor, so he could be just a “regular kid”.

    Jordan attended the progressive Oakwood school with a strong emphasis on the arts, which got him interested in acting. He ultimately pursued a theater major/literature minor at New York's Bard College.

    Before earning his bachelor's degree, Jordan spent his junior year in England studying at the prestigious London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts, staying at a tiny basement flat in Chelsea, living on chicken soup and attending West End theater productions on free passes.

    Classically trained, he became a "cater waiter" in New York and Los Angeles for a couple of years each, before he started getting numerous roles in television and film.

  • Andrea is a SAG-AFTRA actress, comedian, and writer. When she isn’t deepening her codependent relationship with her dog, Kermit, she’s likely doing sketch or improv at The Groundlings or The Pack Theater. 

  • Jackson is an experienced improviser with over a decade of training and performance, having studied at some of the most renowned schools in the country, including the Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB) in New York City, The Second City in Chicago, and The Groundlings in Los Angeles. In addition to his comedy background, Jackson has honed his skills as an editor, working on a variety of film trailers and short films. A fun fact: he once appeared as an extra on Saturday Night Live. Jackson has proudly called Los Angeles home for the past seven years and can often be found on the road in their Toyota Corolla—one of the best cars on the market, in his opinion.

E Y E O N E X C E L L E N C E

  • THE SERENA VARIATIONS

    SATURDAY OCT 19, 4:30 - 5:30PM at Froggy’s

    RUNTIME: 24:00

    USA

    Director: Warren Fischer

    A young female violinist with undiagnosed autism spirals out of control as she works on a new opus with a domineering composer, embarking on a psychedelic journey that both pushes her to the edge of mental collapse and fuels her creative power.

  • A SUMMER'S END POEM

    SATURDAY OCT 19, 4:30 - 5:30PM at Froggy’s

    RUNTIME: :15

    CHINA

    Director: Lam Can-zhao

    Shortly before the end of the summer holidays, a country boy spends his savings on his dream of a city hairstyle – with surprising results. A story about bidding farewell to childhood and the poetic end of a summer.

  • CROWN

    SATURDAY OCT 19, 4:30 - 5:30 PM at Froggy’s

    RUNTIME: 15:00

    USA

    Director: Dash Kolos

    'After Keith, a young Black sommelier, reenters the world of wine after taking a break to establish himself as a photographer, he is offered a prestigious new job at New York City’s most impressive wine bar. When the manager offers him an ultimatum in the name of ‘tradition’ and ‘professionalism’ to cut his hair, Keith must decide whether losing a crucial part of his identity is worth the hypocrisy of the workplace. As he navigates his dilemma, he finds the hypocrisy weaving into his passion for art as he prepares for a lucrative gallery showing of his work. Shot on 16mm, ‘CROWN’ follows Keith exploring a world that only embraces the art, but not the artist.'

  • FRUCUS

    SATURDAY OCT 19, 4:30 - 5:30PM at Froggy’s

    RUNTIME: 25:54

    USA

    Director: Evan L York will join for a Q&A

    Animated short film about redemption: The life of Chuck LaVallee - Street Hustler turned Hollywood Hustler. One man’s journey of sex, drugs, rockstars and mobsters. Chuck was on the streets, a junkie at 13. He climbed his way off the streets and became a very successful music agent at William Morris, signing bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Alanis Morissette and many others.

CRAFTING THE STORY A FILMMAKERS PANEL Saturday Oct 19, 6:00-7:00 at Froggy’s

  • Born and raised in Woodstock, NY. At 18, he moved to NYC to attend the illustrious NYU Film School at Tisch School of the Arts, where he proved to be miserable. After two years, he left the school but stayed in NYC where he would study acting, yoga, various approaches to well-being, and also continue his love affair with cinema. Adam eventually returned to Woodstock where he fell in love with improv comedy and played a significant role in the Woodstock Film Festival's founding and first three years of existence. He moved to L.A. in 2003, then Topanga in 2007. He has continued to act, emcee various events (TFF and Topanga Days are his favorites), perform + teach improv,and be a cinephile of course. He's honored to play an important role in the Topanga Film Festival! If you're interested in hiring him for acting, emceeing, or improv coaching, you can email him at nobleloaf@gmail.com. Cheers and merry movie-making & watching friends!

  • Phoebe, is a visual artist, performer/improvisor and writer. She received her undergraduate Film/TV degree from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and had the opportunity to intern on Saturday Night Live and Good Morning America. Phoebe received her MFA from CSULA, studying painting and installation and worked at Los Angeles’ Museum of Contemporary Art. She has exhibited her paintings, sculptures and installations in solo and group shows in California and New York. Falling in love with comedy improv, Phoebe has been and studying and performing at the world-renowned Groundlings Theatre and School in Los Angeles. She has performed improv in LA and Mexico, and has created and performed live and filmed sketch comedy and has appeared in a variety of short and feature films.

  • Julie is an actress, singer, comedian and a screen/television writer and songwriter. She attended the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco where she was discovered by Lily Tomlin. After tearing her hair out in the comedy clubs of LA , Julie produced her own album ‘Goddess in Progress” writing cult hits “The Homecoming Queen’s Got a Gun” and “Cause I’m a Blonde, which lead to her writing the movie “Earth Girls are Easy” in which she starred, and her MTV SHOW “Just say Julie” . She also won the Writers Guild Award for her Showtime satire of Madonna called, “Dare to be Truthful”. From there she co-wrote and starred in the Disney Channel original movie “Camp Rock,” with Demi Lovato and the Jonas Brothers. Recently she created and starred in “The Homecoming Queen’s Got a Musical” and a musical version of “Earth Girls are Easy,” which just premiered in Los Angeles. She appeared on numerous TV shows, was Paula Norwood on “The Middle” and is soon to be seen in “Alien Vacation” coming out later this year. She currently lives in the Hollywood Hills where she trains malti-poo’s and does MMA cage-fighting in her spare time.

  • John has acted in over 40 commercials including Nintendo, Comcast, Digiorno, Sonos, NFL, Geico, Volkswagen, Panasonic, 76, Dish, and REDD's Apple Ale. As the writer's assistant on "The Wanda Sykes Show," John wrote jokes that aired on FOX and jokes that were performed on The Tonight Show on NBC. John was the head writer and co-creator of the web-series "Fresh Perspectives" starring SNL's Beck Bennett which evolved into the AT&T "It's Not Complicated" ad campaign. John Dardenne is a former writer and sketch performer on an Upright Citizens Brigade Maude Team as well as a former improvisor for a UCB Mess Hall team. He's hosted Nice Show! stand up at The Hayworth and Game Night at iO West. John is a former Harold Team member at the Westside Comedy Theater and long-time, house-team improvisor at LA Connection. His comedy has featured on CNN, TIME.com, Telegraph UK, Funny or Die, UCB Comedy, The Comic's Comic, U.S. News and World Report, The Week, and Huffington Post. He lives in Los Angeles.

SCAB VENDOR

Confessions of a Tattoo Artist

SATURDAY OCT 19, 7:30-10PM AT FROGGY’S

Followed by a Q&A with producers Sebastian Arrechedera, Enrique Aular and Actor Jonathan Shaw

Born with a silver spoon, Jonathan Shaw chose, at the height of his career as a tattoo artist, to give up on his celebrity lifestyle in order to escape from his own vicious cycle.
In the Bowery neighborhood in Manhattans' Lower East Side he opened Fun City Tattoo, the oldest tattoo shop in New York City, where he specialized in neo-tribal tattoos and tattooed celebrities as Johnny Depp, Iggy Pop, Jim Jarmusch, Kevin Sean Michaels, Max Cavalera and Kate Moss. 
Tattooing, however, had been illegal in New York City in 1961, and wasn't legalized until 1997. Shaw later founded the first magazine exclusively dedicated to tattoos, International Tattoo Art in the 1980s.
In 1990, Jonathan Shaw, Johnny Depp, Iggy Pop and Jim Jarmusch founded the Death Is Certain Club to celebrate their friendship. The club involved each member getting a matching ring and tattoo.

AT CORAZÓN

BANKIE BANX King of the Dune

SATURDAY OCT, 19 11-1PM AT CORAZÓN

Directed by Nara Garber

Bankie Banx: King of the Dune celebrates the colorful life of the Anguillian singer/songwriter known by many as “the Bob Dylan of the Caribbean.” Growing up on an undeveloped island where necessity often dictated life choices, young Clement Banks dared to dream of becoming a professional musician. He honed his skills playing in dance bands, voraciously soaking up everything from British top 40 and reggae to Rastafarianism and the anti-colonial Pan-Africanism of Walter Rodney. In 1978 he released his genre-defying first album Bankie Banx and his Roots & Herbs, and his breakout hit “Prince of Darkness” put both Bankie and Anguilla on the map. Jimmy Buffett and Bob Dylan sailed ashore to jam.

  • INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY SHORTS COMPETITION

    SATURDAY OCT 20, 1:00- 3:00PM at Corazón

    1- Daughter of Mine | Director Vanessa Martino

    2- Crystal: Story of A Girl from Texas | Director Vanessa Martino

    3- Good Enough Ancestor | Director Cynthia Wade

    4- End of The Road | Director Dirk Braun

    5- Between Two Worlds | Director Genevieve Sulway

    6- Saging The World | Directors: Rose Ramirez, Deborah Small, David Bryant

  • INTERNATIONAL NARRATIVE SHORTS COMPETITION

    SATURDAY OCT 21, 3:00 - 5:00 PM at Corazón

    1- Shirin’s Bitter Tears | Director Amin Fallah

    2- Sucker Punch | Director Spencer Slishman

    3- Terrific | Director Mitch Silpa, Lauren Burns

    4- Hold You So Tight | Director Amin Fallah

    5- To Hold The Night | Director Eric Rudnick

    6- Minnows | Director James Mills

    7- Lucifer at Bay | Director Rachel Erin Moore

SATURDAY OCT, 19 5-7PM AT CORAZÓN

Directed by Ben DiGiacomo + Dutty Vannier

BAD LIKE BROOKLYN DANCEHALL

Bad Like Brooklyn Dancehall explores the ‘80s and ‘90s emergence of dancehall as Jamaican immigrants brought the music, dancing, and vibes of their home to New York City. Nicknamed the 15th Parish of Jamaica, New York City became home to an influential movement that saw dancehall rise alongside hip-hop and eventually spread across the country.

Executive produced by Shaggy, this documentary brings in heavy hitters like Sean Paul, Ding Dong, and many more, including Shaggy himself, to tell the story. With never-before-seen archival footage that bridges the journey from Kingston to Brooklyn, this film will delight not just dancehall fans but believers of the power of music to bring people together. The film is an experience that will have you on your feet dancing.

FROGGY’S

 

CORAZÓN