Summary
It is an honor and a privilege to bring you the worldwide premiere of the 5th Annual Stage 32 Short Film Program on Stage 32!
Our seven winning filmmakers hail from all over the world, and we could not be more excited to share their undeniable talents with you. We were proud to screen these films in the 2020 Oscar-qualifying Hollyshorts Film Festival and the Raindance Film Festival in London. And, we're even more proud to showcase the international premiere to all of the development executives, agents, managers and agents that work with us.
Since 2016, the Stage 32 Short Film Contest has served as an unparalleled incubator for finding talented filmmakers and helping them forge connections that make their careers blossom. Our past finalists have gone on to be signed by Paradigm, APA, Gersh, Verve, Echo Lake, Circle of Confusion and more!
Congratulations to all the 5th Annual Short Film Contest winners, we cannot wait to see where your talents take you.
What You'll Learn
In this special Stage 32 webcast you'll get to meet some of the talented filmmakers of the Stage 32 short film program and learn more about their journeys.
Congratulations to the 2020 Winners!
| Burton Chaikin | CAPSULES |
| Jim St. Germain | FATHER'S DAY |
| Michael Hull | PENDULUM |
| Micah Coate | SHIRI |
| Leo McGuigan | THE INVENTION |
| Gwenn Joyaux | TOMORROW ISLAND (GRAND PRIZE WINNER) |
| Will Niava | ZOO |
Q&A with Amanda
Who Should Attend
All levels of directors (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to learn about the emerging voices in filmmaking.
All levels of writers (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to learn about the emerging voices in filmmaking.
Producers looking to learn about the emerging voices in filmmaking.
Actors looking to learn about the emerging voices in filmmaking.
Executive
As Managing Director for Stage 32, Amanda oversees operations and partnerships for the global business. She has curated over 1,500 hours of online education created exclusively for Stage 32, and works with hundreds of entertainment industry executives from around the world to serve as educators and mentors. She has spearheaded partnerships with such prestigious organizations as the Cannes Film Festival Marché du Film, American Film Market, SXSW, Austin Film Festival, Raindance Film Festival, Hollyshorts Film Festival, PGA, WGA and DGA, as well as brands such as AT&T, Peerspace, Pond5, Mandy, Bondit Media Capital and her personal favorite partnership, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, which is the official vodka of Stage 32.
As a film producer, Amanda has worked on the holiday film Paradise Falls: A Christmas Story filmed in Costa Rica, the psychological thriller What Lies Ahead starring Rumer Willis and Emma Dumont, Metaphorms, a Hungarian film, which premiered at the Raindance Film Festival and Dolphin Girl which premiered at the Oscar qualifying Hollyshorts Film Festival. She has also helped incubate Chick Fight, starring Malin Akerman, Alec Baldwin and Bella Thorne and 10-31 which is being produced by Eli Roth and Orion Pictures. She is an Executive Producer on Vagic with Amy Baer at Gidden Media, as well as My Clone's an A*Hole with National Lampoon. As a television producer, she recently sold an unscripted show to a major US network.
Amanda has spoken all over the world at the Cannes Film Festival (France), Hollyshorts Film Festival (US), Raindance Film Festival (UK), Hamburg Film Fest (Germany), Trinidad & Tobago Film Commission (Trinidad), Fest Festival (Portugal) and Harvard (US) on the business of the entertainment industry.
SARA ELIZABETH TIMMINS, EDUCATION PRODUCER
Sara Elizabeth Timmins is a veteran film and television producer who recently was on the producing team, along with Mark Wahlberg’s production company, of the Emmy-nominated HBO series MCMILLIONS. Her latest film, THE UPSIDE OF FALLING DOWN, was introduced at Cannes and stars Antonia Gentry (GINNY & GEORGIA), Calum Lynch (LORD OF THE RINGS, BRIDGERTON), and award-winning director Oran Zegman (HONOR SOCIETY, MARRIAGE MATERIAL).
She established her production company Life Out Loud Films to create quality, inspiring impact films that champion women. Her films have been seen in theaters, HBO, The Hallmark Channel, Starz, Showtime, and internationally. She has worked with Oscar & Emmy-winning talent like Jane Seymour, Ellen Burstyn, Chris Cooper, Josh Lucas, and Mackenzie Foy, as well as writers like NY Times Best Selling Author David Baldacci.
Every film she has produced has featured award-winning talent and secured international distribution. She has leveraged her success and experience in producing to educate and inform the global entertainment industry through producing Stage 32 education and her consulting firm No Film School. No Trust Fund. No Problem.
Sara Elizabeth has spoken worldwide about the entertainment industry, including Stage 32 Education, the Cannes Film Festival Marche du Film, FilmTT in Trinidad and Tobago, and the Black Nights Film Festival: TV Beats Edition in Estonia.
Believing she has a responsibility through film to spark conversations that inspire action and ignite change. She specializes in Dramas, Rom Coms, Family, Biopics, Young Adult, and Female-driven features and television movies.
SYDNEY S. MARKETING COORDINATOR
Sydney is the hippy Marketing Educator Coordinator at Stage 32 who loves to learn & has a zest for life!
Prior to joining Stage 32 Sydney worked in production management and coordination for White Label Television Productions on various shows and projects for FOX, Amazon Prime Video, ABC, iHeart and Hulu. She was featured in Deadline for her contribution to the production team which included the former Netflix physical production executive and SVP. Sydney also enjoys yoga, nature, the beach, sustainable living and Ayurveda practices!
I am loving getting to know our community more, add me to your network!
KAYLA BLANTON, EDUCATION ASSISTANT
Kayla is an avid photographer and started her career behind the camera. She joined Stage 32 on the creative services team and has a decade of experience working hand in hand with clients to make sure that she is adopting a "client first" model. Her mission is to provide extraordinary customer service to all of our community.