.: Spirit Quest Film Festival: May 7th -9th Erie Playhouse, Erie, PA:.

An animation about the perils of having faith in nonsensical beliefs. Set in a pop-up book world, it's the story of Ted, a lonely and isolated man, who becomes obsessed with changing his luck after breaking a mirror. So he takes drastic measures to horde good luck talismans. But luck is only percieved, and its only a matter of time before he realises this.

A grandmother will learn the hard way that deception to help a loved one, is still deception.

"Hope Without Future?" (Documentary/Singapore /85 mins) [World Premiere]
Directed by Duncan Jepson

"Hope Without Future" introduces Raju and Mamina, a young Nepalese couple who, like many children in Nepal, spent their youth without parents and living at great risk. Now both in their early twenties, they have each made it through many personal hardships - poverty, abuse and drug addiction - to find one another and love. They have worked hard to build a life together and start a family and believe that they can have a future. Yet their hopes for a better life are reliant on Nepal finding political stability.

Is it possible to process grief through a whirlwind scientific study? Malia attempts to answer the question in record time.

"Running Back to Forward" (Drama/USA/13 mins)
Directed by Steve Horswill-Johnston

Christine mysteriously finds herself in a dark, claustrophobic room with no way out. Calling out for her her husband David, she feels trapped. She is forced to learn for herself why she is there, directed only by an unidentifiable figure, a shadowy voice that just confuses her more with the statement "The choices you make are who you become". Where is she?

Guardian angels reveal they're as lost, fallible and heartbroken as those they watch over in this collection of impossible monologues. The mysterious Guardian of the Roads tells of their true purpose while the beautiful Guardian of the Mist offers hope to everybody who's ever been touched by grief. The Guardian of Fear puts terror into our hearts. The lonely Guardian of Level 3 worries that he has no ultimate purpose while the forlorn Guardian of John Gray has succumbed to the most human of all traits by falling in love with someone she shouldn't have.

The Living Matrix film features over 16 of today's most innovative researchers, authors and health practitioners. Among those expanding the boundaries of alternative medicine: • researcher and author of The Field, Lynne McTaggart explains the zero point field and its link to our health • cell biologist and The Biology of Belief author Bruce Lipton talks about what controls our biology -- and it's not our genes • biophysicist James Oschman helps us understand 'the living matrix,' the dynamic fabric of the body he brought to light • discoverer of the human body field Peter Fraser describes how the body uses holographic information to maintain a state of balanced health. • world renowned healer Dr. Eric Pearl shares the power of reconnective healing The Living Matrix is the first film to present the work of scientists from around the world whose research questions the exclusive role of biochemistry and genetics and reveals evidence that energy and information fields also control our health and wellbeing.

"Breaking Boundaries: The Art of Alex Masket" (Documentary/USA/19 mins)
Directed by Dennis Connors

Breaking Boundaries; the Art of Alex Masket chronicles the story of Alex Masket, a unique and extraordinary artist who has created a deep and varied body of work despite a disability that inhibits what most might consider to be 'normal' human interaction. Alex is a young adult with severe autism and makes what we in the verbal world call 'art'. Is he expressing himself? Is this his language, and is it our disability if we can't understand it?

"My Life: Living with Autism" (Documentary/USA/15 mins)
Directed by Jon Michael Shink

"My Life: Living with Autism" profiles a day in the life of the Fox family and

their son, Donovan, who has autism. The film explores the daily struggles of raising a child with autism as well as providing perspective on the undeniable strains the disability can place on family dynamics. Yet, despite these inherent struggles, the Fox family provides an inspiring example of the instrumental bond between parent and child prevailing in the face of challenges.

Panel discussion following the film with The Barber National Institute's Maureen Barber-Carey, Ed.D., M. Eileen McNamara, MD, Cindy Priester, OTR/L, M.S., Education Program Coordinator; Ann Ellison, M.A., BCBA, Coordinator, Behavior Specialist; and Martha Eichenlaub, Psychologist and Kate and John Fox, the family featured in the film. Filmmaker Jon Michael Shink will also be in attendence.

Awards Ceremony (Best Films & Screenplays announced)
Best Feature Film Award sponsored by the Barber National Institute. Best Short Film Award sponsored by the Film Society of NW Pa.

Through the eyes of a Los Angeles Times journalist, the story of a high school shooting rampage unfolds in a series of tense and suspenseful documentary style interviews. This provocative and haunting film penetrates the everyday lives of the shooter's best friends and family while discovering what triggered the violent act. In the pursuit of learning how to prevent future high school tragedies the audience is confronted with the dilemma of who is really to blame.

Panel discussion following the film with director James Bruce, best-selling author Walter Dean Myers, actor/producer Taylor Nichols, FBI profiler Jim Clemente (Criminal Minds)

Erie School Superintendent Dr. James Barker, Erie School Board member Gary Horton, Amy Blackman of the Erie Crime Victim Center and Justin Fletcher, eyewitness and survivor of school related shooting in Edinboro, Pennsylvania in 1998.

Animated Frankenstein monster has a few things to say about being brought back to life. Black & white short animated cartoon by Mike Salva, voiced by Nashville standup comedians Ryan Williams (Monster) Sean Parrott (Doctor).

Francis, a young man with an ethical dilemma, decides to rob a liquor store. He discovers it's been robbed already and while he's there it gets robbed again. Thrown at the mercy of merciless urban cops he finds life is more valuable than it seems and he can play a bigger role in an ongoing plot of life. [Parental Advisory:Strong language and violence]

A young businessman from New York (Layne Edelman) visits a diner in Topeka while on a business trip through the Midwest. Layne quickly notices something 'unusual' about this diner as he eavesdrops on the townsfolk conversations. When he returns to his table to find his belongings stolen, Layne's 'small town experience' spins mercilessly out of control... [Parental Advisory:Strong language]

"En Tus Manos (Into Your Hands)" (Drama/Columbia/28 mins)
Directed by Ron Jacobs

Carlos, a young man who lives in a violent neighborhood in Bogota and faces constant beatings by his drunken father at home, decides to join a notoriously vicious gang in an attempt to defend himself against the hostility that has engulfed his life. As part of his initiation into the gang, Carlos is ordered to murder a local Pastor considered to be a threat to their reign over their neighborhood. This cold-blooded task pushes Carlos into the depths of despair as he searches for the strength necessary to finally take his destiny into his own hands. [Parental Advisory: Strong language and violence]

"Saving Carren: A Documentary on Meth Addiction" (Documentary/USA/53 mins)
Directed by Deborah Gregory and Heather Arment

Saving Carren documents the true story of a retired cop who watches his daughter fall prey to the destructive power of methamphetamines, a young woman whose father risks everything to save her, and the love that brings them both back from the brink of death. Alternating between intimate filmed monologue and stark animation Saving Carren is at once haunting and beautiful. [Parental Advisory: Adult themes]



			2010 Spirit Quest Film Festival Schedule Saturday, May 8th: 11:00am - 1:00pm $6.00 admission "Superstitious?" (Animation/UK/4 mins) An animation about the perils of having faith in nonsensical beliefs. Set in a pop-up book world, it's the story of Ted, a lonely and isolated man, who becomes obsessed with changing his luck after breaking a mirror. So he takes drastic measures to horde good luck talismans. But luck is only percieved, and its only a matter of time before he realises this. "Complications" (Drama/USA/32 mins) Directed by James Gallagher A grandmother will learn the hard way that deception to help a loved one, is still deception. "Hope Without Future?" (Documentary/Singapore /85 mins) [World Premiere] Directed by Duncan Jepson "Hope Without Future" introduces Raju and Mamina, a young Nepalese couple who, like many children in Nepal, spent their youth without parents and living at great risk. Now both in their early twenties, they have each made it through many personal hardships - poverty, abuse and drug addiction - to find one another and love. They have worked hard to build a life together and start a family and believe that they can have a future. Yet their hopes for a better life are reliant on Nepal finding political stability. 1:30pm - 3:30pm $6.00 admission "Speed Grieving" (Drama/USA/13 mins) Directed by Jessica Daniels Is it possible to process grief through a whirlwind scientific study? Malia attempts to answer the question in record time. "Running Back to Forward" (Drama/USA/13 mins) Directed by Steve Horswill-Johnston Christine mysteriously finds herself in a dark, claustrophobic room with no way out. Calling out for her her husband David, she feels trapped. She is forced to learn for herself why she is there, directed only by an unidentifiable figure, a shadowy voice that just confuses her more with the statement "The choices you make are who you become". Where is she? "Secrets of Angels" (Drama/UK/11 mins) Directed by Toby Meakins Guardian angels reveal they're as lost, fallible and heartbroken as those they watch over in this collection of impossible monologues. The mysterious Guardian of the Roads tells of their true purpose while the beautiful Guardian of the Mist offers hope to everybody who's ever been touched by grief. The Guardian of Fear puts terror into our hearts. The lonely Guardian of Level 3 worries that he has no ultimate purpose while the forlorn Guardian of John Gray has succumbed to the most human of all traits by falling in love with someone she shouldn't have. "The Living Matrix" (Documentary/USA/85 mins) Directed by Greg Becker The Living Matrix film features over 16 of today's most innovative researchers, authors and health practitioners. Among those expanding the boundaries of alternative medicine: • researcher and author of The Field, Lynne McTaggart explains the zero point field and its link to our health • cell biologist and The Biology of Belief author Bruce Lipton talks about what controls our biology -- and it's not our genes • biophysicist James Oschman helps us understand 'the living matrix,' the dynamic fabric of the body he brought to light • discoverer of the human body field Peter Fraser describes how the body uses holographic information to maintain a state of balanced health. • world renowned healer Dr. Eric Pearl shares the power of reconnective healing The Living Matrix is the first film to present the work of scientists from around the world whose research questions the exclusive role of biochemistry and genetics and reveals evidence that energy and information fields also control our health and wellbeing. 4:00pm - 6:00pm Special Presentation Focusing on Autism Admission: $6.00 "Breaking Boundaries: The Art of Alex Masket" (Documentary/USA/19 mins) Directed by Dennis Connors Breaking Boundaries; the Art of Alex Masket chronicles the story of Alex Masket, a unique and extraordinary artist who has created a deep and varied body of work despite a disability that inhibits what most might consider to be 'normal' human interaction. Alex is a young adult with severe autism and makes what we in the verbal world call 'art'. Is he expressing himself? Is this his language, and is it our disability if we can't understand it? "My Life: Living with Autism" (Documentary/USA/15 mins) Directed by Jon Michael Shink "My Life: Living with Autism" profiles a day in the life of the Fox family and their son, Donovan, who has autism. The film explores the daily struggles of raising a child with autism as well as providing perspective on the undeniable strains the disability can place on family dynamics. Yet, despite these inherent struggles, the Fox family provides an inspiring example of the instrumental bond between parent and child prevailing in the face of challenges. Panel discussion following the film with The Barber National Institute's Maureen Barber-Carey, Ed.D., M. Eileen McNamara, MD, Cindy Priester, OTR/L, M.S., Education Program Coordinator; Ann Ellison, M.A., BCBA, Coordinator, Behavior Specialist; and Martha Eichenlaub, Psychologist and Kate and John Fox, the family featured in the film. Filmmaker Jon Michael Shink will also be in attendence. 6:30pm - 7:00pm Free admission (with ticket stub or pass) Awards Ceremony (Best Films & Screenplays announced) Best Feature Film Award sponsored by the Barber National Institute. Best Short Film Award sponsored by the Film Society of NW Pa. 7:00pm - 9:15pm $7.00 admission "Case 219" (Drama/USA/93 mins) Directed by James Bruce Through the eyes of a Los Angeles Times journalist, the story of a high school shooting rampage unfolds in a series of tense and suspenseful documentary style interviews. This provocative and haunting film penetrates the everyday lives of the shooter's best friends and family while discovering what triggered the violent act. In the pursuit of learning how to prevent future high school tragedies the audience is confronted with the dilemma of who is really to blame. Panel discussion following the film with director James Bruce, best-selling author Walter Dean Myers, actor/producer Taylor Nichols, FBI profiler Jim Clemente (Criminal Minds) Erie School Superintendent Dr. James Barker, Erie School Board member Gary Horton, Amy Blackman of the Erie Crime Victim Center and Justin Fletcher, eyewitness and survivor of school related shooting in Edinboro, Pennsylvania in 1998. 9:30pm 11:15pm $6.00 admission [Recommended for Mature Audiences] "Back to Life" (Animation/USA/3 mins) Directed by Mike Slava Animated Frankenstein monster has a few things to say about being brought back to life. Black & white short animated cartoon by Mike Salva, voiced by Nashville standup comedians Ryan Williams (Monster) Sean Parrott (Doctor). "The Stranger" (Drama/USA/7 mins) Directed by Leann Bowen Francis, a young man with an ethical dilemma, decides to rob a liquor store. He discovers it's been robbed already and while he's there it gets robbed again. Thrown at the mercy of merciless urban cops he finds life is more valuable than it seems and he can play a bigger role in an ongoing plot of life. [Parental Advisory:Strong language and violence] "Topeka" (Drama/USA/16 mins) Directed by Eric Steele A young businessman from New York (Layne Edelman) visits a diner in Topeka while on a business trip through the Midwest. Layne quickly notices something 'unusual' about this diner as he eavesdrops on the townsfolk conversations. When he returns to his table to find his belongings stolen, Layne's 'small town experience' spins mercilessly out of control... [Parental Advisory:Strong language] "En Tus Manos (Into Your Hands)" (Drama/Columbia/28 mins) Directed by Ron Jacobs Carlos, a young man who lives in a violent neighborhood in Bogota and faces constant beatings by his drunken father at home, decides to join a notoriously vicious gang in an attempt to defend himself against the hostility that has engulfed his life. As part of his initiation into the gang, Carlos is ordered to murder a local Pastor considered to be a threat to their reign over their neighborhood. This cold-blooded task pushes Carlos into the depths of despair as he searches for the strength necessary to finally take his destiny into his own hands. [Parental Advisory: Strong language and violence] "Saving Carren: A Documentary on Meth Addiction" (Documentary/USA/53 mins) Directed by Deborah Gregory and Heather Arment Saving Carren documents the true story of a retired cop who watches his daughter fall prey to the destructive power of methamphetamines, a young woman whose father risks everything to save her, and the love that brings them both back from the brink of death. Alternating between intimate filmed monologue and stark animation Saving Carren is at once haunting and beautiful. [Parental Advisory: Adult themes] Click HERE for Sunday's schedule.

		Copyright © 2009 Spirit Quest Film Fest - All Rights Reserved