Cinequest’s Summer Festival 2023

Cinequest’s Summer Festival Returns with New Venues, AI Forums, and Stellar Film Premieres

Cinequest Film & Creativity Festival

August 15-30, Silicon Valley

The Cinequest Film & Creativity Festival returns for a sizzling summertime experience. Riveting film screenings, red carpets, live events, and swanky soirees will pop off August 15th–30th. In addition to Cinequest’s spectacular San Jose venues, festival goers can also experience exhilarating screenings at the state-of-the-art Showplace ICON Theatre in Mountain View. After presenting the world’s most expansive and original Virtual Film Festival (called Cinejoy) in March, Cinequest’s in-person festival continues its legacy of showcasing the technologies that revolutionize media-making and distribution. In particular, Cinequest’s upcoming “Artificial meets Human Intelligence” thought leadership forums will bring AI luminaries together for presentations and debates prior to select film screenings.

The theme for 2023 is Energized, as Cinequest is invigorated to discover the latest and greatest films, technology, and artists from around the world, and to engage its radically inclusive and influential audience with great works and the artists who made them.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Two Opening Nights: Since Cinequest has expanded into Mountain View, there will be not one, but two, opening nights:

Tuesday, August 15th, San Jose: Cinequest kicks off at the California Theatre and includes a star studded red carpet, the screening of the drama Fresh Kills (featuring a Q&A with Jennifer Esposito), and an exciting after party.

Fresh Kills | Drama | Jennifer Esposito’s filmmaking debut shines a light on the never-before-seen women of the beloved mob movie genre. | Country: United States | Director(s): Jennifer Esposito | Producer(s): Leslie Owen, Jennifer Esposito, Samantha Sprecher, Christine Crokos | Principal Cast: Emily Bader (“Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin”), Odessa A’zion (“Hellraiser”), Jennifer Esposito (“Crash,” “Blue Bloods”), Domenick Lombardozzi (“The Irishman”), Annabella Sciorra (“The Sopranos,” “Truth Be Told”), Nicholas Cirillo (“She-Hulk”)

Thursday, August 24th, Mountain View: Cinequest’s second opening night occurs at the ICON ShowPlace Theatre and also includes a red carpet, a screening of the drama Sometimes I Think About Dying starring Daisy Ridley (“Star Wars: The Force Awakens”), and a swanky meetup after.

Sometimes I Think About Dying | Comedy, Romance | A funny and romantic story about drawing one’s own roadmap in life. | Country: United States | Director(s): Rachel Lambert | Producer(s): Alex Saks, Daisy Ridley, Dori Rath, Lauren Beveridge, Brett Beveridge | Principal Cast: Daisy Ridley (“Star Wars: The Force Awakens”), Dave Merheje (“Ramy”), Parvesh Cheena (“Shining Vale”), Marcia Debonis (“Orange Is The New Black”), Meg Stalter (“Hacks”), Brittany O’Grady (“The White Lotus”)

Breakwater, World Premiere w/ Party: On Saturday, August 19th, the buzzy thriller Breakwater starring Dermot Mulroney, Darren Mann, Alyssa Goss, Sonja Sohn, and Mena Suvari makes its World Premiere at Cinequest with a screening at the California Theatre followed by a spectacular after party under the summer stars.

​​​Breakwater | Thriller | An atmospheric thriller in which a young ex-con risks his freedom to track down the estranged daughter of a fellow inmate, and unknowingly brings a devil from her past straight to her doorstep. | Country: United States | Director(s): James Rowe | Producer(s): Larry Hummel, Dana Lustig, Matt Paul, Edward Winters | Principal Cast: Dermot Mulroney, Mena Suvari, Alyssa Goss, Darren Mann, Sonja Sohn | World Premiere

Closing Night: On Tuesday, August 29th, Cinequest’s Closing Night Film, Story Avenue starring Luis Guzmán screens at the ICON in Mountain View followed by an after party celebrating the works of this year’s visionaries and rising stars.

​​​​​​Story Ave | Drama | A teenage graffiti artist from the South Bronx runs away from home and holds up a Puerto Rican MTA conductor in a robbery-gone-right that will change their lives forever. | Country: United States | Director(s): Aristotle Torres | Producer(s): Jamie Foxx, Lizzie Shapiro, Aristotle Torres |Principal Cast: Luis Guzm án (“Traffic,” “Boogie Nights”), Asante Blackk (“This Is Us”), Melvin Gregg ( “Snowfall,” “Share?”)

FILMS, FILMS, FILMS

Cinequest’s dynamic film lineup will showcase 253 films (82 of which are World or US Premieres) along with hundreds of presenting artists from over 50 countries.
Film Highlights include:

Daddy | Comedy, Sci-Fi | A wonderful and heartfelt comedy that takes place in a dystopian society where the state has the power to determine who can and cannot father children. | Country: United States | Director(s): Neal Kelley, Jono Sherman | Producer(s): Sophia Kalin, Neal Kelley, Jono Sherman, Albee Zhang |Principal Cast: Neal Kelley, Pomme Koch, Yuriy Sardarov, Jono Sherman, Jacqueline Toboni | World Premiere

Egghead & Twinkie | Comedy | 17 year-old Twinkie takes off on a road trip to meet her online crush with the help of her nerdy best friend, Egghead. As they make their way across the country, Egghead wrestles with his unrequited feelings for Twinkie, while Twinkie learns to embrace her identity as a gay mixed-Asian woman. | Country: United States | Director(s): Sarah Kambe Holland | Producer(s): Danielle Fountaine, Sarah Kambe Holland, Valerie Starks | Principal Cast: Sabrina Jie-A-Fa, Louis Tomeo, Asahi Hirano, Ayden Lee | World Premiere

Fallen Drive | Thriller | In a small town, a group of former classmates gather at an Airbnb on the night of their 10th high school reunion, but things take a dark and violent turn. | Country: United States | Director(s): Nick Cassidy, David Rice | Producer(s): Nick Cassidy | Principal Cast: Jakki Jandrell, Phillip Andre Botello, Donald Clark Jr., Nick Cassidy, Josh Thrower, Maryana Dvorska | World Premiere

Going Places | Thriller, Comedy, Drama | After covering up a hit-and-run on the way to their valedictory desert trip, three high school graduates face the true test of their friendship when they become entangled in a deadly crime ring imbroglio. | Country: United States | Director(s): Max Chernov | Producer(s): Greg Silverman, Charles Rapp, Guiliano Musacchio, Max Chernov | Principal Cast: Ethan Cutkosky, Chloe East, Spence Moore II, Alysia Reiner, Miranda Rae Mayo, Mimi Kennedy | World Premiere

Hope, Soledad | Drama | In Oaxaca, Mexico, Hope, a college student seeking a sense of self in her mother’s land after being displaced from the US, meetsSoledad a woman struggling to free herself from the ghost of her deceased lover and end her marriage. Together, they walk in communion with local pilgrims to ease their suffering. | Country: Mexico | Director(s): Yolanda Cruz | Producer(s):Luis Fernando Guizar, Yolanda Cruz | Principal Cast: Frida Cruz, Karen Daneida

How to Ruin the Holidays | Comedy | A hilarious comedy following the craziness that ensues when families gather for the holidays. | Country: United States | Director(s): Arlen Konopaki | Producer(s): Kevin Gillese | Principal Cast: Amber Nash (“Archer”), Colin Mochrie (“Whose Line Is It Anyway?”), Luke Davis (“That Was Awesome!”), Kate Lambert, Aisha Tyler, Ronny Chieng, Henry Zebrowski | World Premiere

Midnight At the Paradise | Drama, Romance | In one evening, three couples at various stages of their relationships come to appreciate that all marriages require equal doses of delusion, forgiveness, laughter, hope, and sexual chemistry in this magical romantic drama. | Country: Canada | Director(s): Vanessa Matsui |Producer(s): Bill Robertson | Principal Cast: Liane Balaban, Allan Hawco, Kenneth Welsh, Ryan Allen, Emma Ferreira, Kate Trotter | United States Premiere

Privacy | Thriller, Mystery | A social thriller set in and out of Mumbai slums that follows the story of Roopali, an operator at the Mumbai surveillance command and control center. Things get complicated when Roopali ignores protocol and investigates a robbery/murder that takes place on her watch. | Country: India | Director(s): Sudeep Kanwal | Producer(s): Shlok Sharma, Navin Shetty, Lalit Prem Sharma | Principal Cast: Rajshri Deshpande, Nishank Verma, Sandesh Kulkarni, Saurabh Goyal, Chhaya Kadam | World Premiere

Scrap | Drama | The engrossing story of a young single-mom who, after getting laid off, finds herself living in her car and struggling to hide her homelessness from her estranged brother and his wife. | Country: United States | Director(s): Vivian Kerr | Producer(s): Vivian Kerr, Rachel Stander | Principal Cast: Vivian Kerr (“Grey’s Anatomy,” “Criminal Minds”), Anthony Rapp, (“Rent,” “Star Trek: Discovery”), Lana Parrilla (“Once Upon a Time”), Beth Dover, Khleo Thomas | United States Premiere

Share? | Sci-Fi | A gripping Sci-Fi about a man who struggles to survive after awakening alone in a society connected only by a primitive computer network, where the ability to entertain is the only currency. | Country: United States |Director(s): Ira Rosensweig | Producer(s): Carissa Buffel, Kevin Matusow, Ira Rosensweig | Principal Cast: Melvin Gregg, (“ The United States vs. Billie Holiday”), Bradley Whitford (“Get Out”, “The West Wing”), Alice Braga ( “Suicide Squad”), and Danielle Campbell (“Tell Me a Story”) | World Premiere

Tabula Rasa | Drama | In India, Divya, a juvenile home warden, and Vivek, an actor struggling to create art, meet Sandhya, a 14 year-old girl with a dark past. Together, these three lost souls create a home away from home. | Country: India | Director(s): Nawneet Ranjan | Producer(s): Malti Lal, Radha Raman Lal, Nawneet Ranjan, Anil Somaia, Zarna Somaia, Donna Laemmlen | Principal Cast: Rajat Kapoor, Swastika Mukherjee, Aishani Yadav | United States Premiere

Till Love Do Us Part | Drama | During a work trip to Prague, 30 year-old college lecturer Shu falls madly in love with a theater director Fan, despite the fact that she has a fiancé to marry and a decent middle-class life in China. | Director(s): Ran Li | Producer(s): Ran Li, Michal Sikora | Principal Cast: Liang Cuishan, Zhang Ninghao, Ren Bin | United States Premiere

WHAT’S NEW AT CINEQUEST

Expanded Venues: At this year’s summertime festival, audiences can experience film screenings and events at either Cinequest’s traditional San Jose venues or the Showplace ICON Theatre in Mountain View. Located just five minutes from Google’s campus, the ICON offers stadium-style seating, reclining lounge chairs, and dining-at-your-seat options.

“Artificial meets Human Intelligence” Forums: Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Cinequest is the festival “where tech meets film.” This year, Cinequest will produce a compelling conversation series that explores the provocative topic of what happens when AI intersects with human creativity. AI luminaries will examine how filmmakers in particular can prepare for the future of storytelling.

Representation in Cinema: This year Cinequest continues its legacy of showcasing the works of artists from over 50 countries and all walks of life. The majority of films have been directed/produced by women and members of the Asian, Black, LatinX, and LGBTQ+ communities.

MAVERICK SPIRIT AWARD
Cinequest’s highest honor, the Maverick Spirit Award, reflects the best of the worlds of innovation and artistry. It has been received by J.J. Abrams, Tatiana Maslany, Nicolas Cage, Sir Ian McKellen, Rosario Dawson, Harrison Ford, Michael Keaton, Sir Ben Kingsley, Spike Lee, Elle Fanning, Gemma Arterton, Neil Gaiman, and Jim Gaffigan. Stay tuned for a special announcement on the 2023 Maverick Spirit Award Winner!

MORE STAR-STUDDED FILMS
Abruptio— Starring James Marsters (“Buffy The Vampire Slayer”), Jordan Peele (“Get Out”), Christopher McDonald (“Thelma and Louise”), Robert Englund (“A Nightmare on Elm Street”), and Sid Haig (“House of 1000 Corpses”)

The Adults—Starring Michael Cera (“Juno,” “Superbad”), Hannah Gross (“Joker,” “Mindhunter”), and Sophia Lillis (“It,” “Dungeons and Dragons”)

Billion Dollar Babies: The True Story of the Cabbage Patch Kids—Narrated by Neil Patrick Harris (“A Series of Unfortunate Events,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “Gone Girl”)

Bobcat Moretti—Starring Tim Realbuto (“Yes,” “The Sopranos”), Vivica A. Fox (“Kill Bill,” “Soul Food”), Taryn Manning (“Orange is the New Black,” “Hustle and Flow ”), Matt Peters (“Weeds”), Coolio, and Sally Kirkland (“Anna”)

Bolan’s Shoes—Starring Timothy Spall (“Harry Potter”), Leanne Best (“Star Wars: The Force Awakens”), and Mark Lewis Jones (“Star Wars: The Last Jedi”)

Double Down South—Starring Lili Simmons (“Banshee,” “True Detective,” “Ray Donovan”), Kim Coates (“Sons of Anarchy”), Igby Rigney, Tom Bower, Justin Marcel McManus, Rebecca Lines, and Cameron Cowperthwaite (“American Horror Story, “Shameless”)

East Bay—Starring Constance Wu (“Crazy Rich Asians,” “ Fresh Off the Boat”)

The Effects of Lying—Starring a top tier British-Asian cast including Ace Bhatti, Laila Rouass, Lauren Patel, Navin Chowdry and Shaheen Khan, as well as Mark Williams (“Arthur Weasley” from The Harry Potter franchise)

Gringa—Starring Steve Zahn (“The White Lotus”), Jess Gabor ( “Shameless”), Judy Greer (“Jurassic World”), and Rosalyn Sanchez (“Fantasy Island”)

The Grotto—Starring Betsy Brandt (“Breaking Bad”) and written and directed by award-winning Joanna Gleason (“Into the Woods”)

Land of Gold—Starring Nardeep Khurmi, Karen David (“Barry,” “Fear the Walking Dead,”), Caroline Valencia (“Only Murders in the Building”), and Tina Parker (“Better Call Saul,” “Breaking Bad”)

Miranda’s Victim—Starring Abigail Breslin (“Little Miss Sunshine” ), Ryan Phillippe (“Crash”), Luke Wilson (“The Royal Tenenbaums”), Emily VanCamp (“Revenge ”), Mireille Enos (“Lucky Hank”), Enrique Murciano (“Without a Trace”), Josh Bowman (“Revenge” ), Taryn Manning (“Orange Is The New Black”), Nolan Gould (“Modern Family”), Andy Garcia (“Ocean’s Eleven ”), and Donald Sutherland (“The Hunger Games”).

Scrapper—Starring Harris Dickinson (“Triangle of Sadness”) and newcomer Lola Campbell

Shadow of the Night—Starring Radhakrishnan Parthiban, music by legendary composer A.R. Rahman

7000 Miles—Starring Wendie Mallick (“Just Shoot Me,” “Hot In Cleveland”), and directed by San Jose State Professor Amy Glazer

“What differentiates Cinequest started from its founding: a dynamic team of artists, technologists, and leaders. You’ll find this reflected in our Leadership Council which includes legendary innovators Steve Wozniak (co-founder Apple Inc.) and Marty Cooper (father of the cell phone), as well as producers, writers, educators, and entrepreneurs. The commonality is creativity and a commitment to open access and opportunity to all people.” –Halfdan Hussey, Co-Founder & CEO

Cinequest Partners: Jay Paul Company, The Wolff Family, Adobe Foundation (ADBE), City of San Jose, Valley Health Foundation, James Boyce Trust & Kris Otis, Applied Materials (NASDAQ: AMAT), Kaiser Permanente, Campbell Foundation, GOOGLE (NASDAQ: GOOGL), California Arts Council, Urban Community, Westbank, Metro Silicon Valley, NBC Bay Area, Telemundo 48, Capital Group, The Continental Bar Lounge & Patio, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Agile Ticketing Solutions, ShowPlace ICON Theatre, iHeartMedia, El Observador, San Mateo Journal, Content Magazine, YELP, Topo Chico, TETRA Hotel, AC Hotel Sunnyvale Moffett Park, Signia by Hilton, Hotel Citrine, AC Hotel Palo Alto, Sares-Regis Community Foundation, The Morrison & Foerster Foundation, ZOOM (NASDAQ: ZM), Loop & Tie, J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines, Drake’s Brewing Company, and Redwood City Arts Commission. (This is a partial list.)

About Cinequest: Cinequest fuses innovation with the arts to empower great creations and to connect audiences, youth, artists, and innovators with these creations and with each other—forging community, joy, and our future. Set in Silicon Valley, Cinequest’s uniqueness, impact, and legacy result from applying this powerful integration of creativity and technology to democratize opportunity and to transform lives. Cinequest does this through the Cinequest Film & Creativity Festival, Cinejoy Virtual Festival, Maverick Studio, and Picture The Possibilities global youth programs.

About Creatics: Creatics Enterprises is a Cinequest partner, providing the online platform for the Cinejoy Virtual Festival.

Cinequest Film & Creativity Festival occurs in San Jose and Mountain View CA / Silicon Valley

Cinejoy featuring the Artists & Films of Cinequest occurred virtually March 1-12, 2023

For info visit: cinequest.org