By Shaun Ryan
The curtain goes up Sunday, Oct. 18, on JaxFuse, with Film Day.
JaxFuse is a celebration of the creative economy held at the link in Nocatee; it will be conducted on three days over three consecutive weekends.
Filmmakers, attendees and judges will gather at the link at 4:30 p.m. for a period of networking and to enjoy food and beverages.
The keynote presentation delivered by Monique Madrid, creator of the LOL JAX Film Festival, will follow at 5:30 p.m. Then, workshops will be offered in four categories: A.I. & Micro Dramas with creative strategist Tery Spataro, Post-Production Fundamentals with filmmaker Carlos Smith II, Social Justice and Film Making with award-winner Dana Michelle Maule and Creative Expression in Youth with Ivana Barnes.
Submitted films will be screened in four blocks beginning at 7 p.m. At this writing, there are 13 films, though that could change if more come in. Film submissions are free and open to independent filmmakers, students and anyone with a short film rated PG-13 or under. All genres are welcome — the focus is creativity and story. Email info@thelink.zone.
A panel discussion moderated by filmmaker Adam Madrid will be held during a break in the screenings. The focus will be the future of independent filmmaking, technology and A.I. in storytelling, Jacksonville’s growing film ecosystem and building sustainable creative careers.
An awards ceremony will conclude the evening. Three winners will receive a “Night @ The Link.”
A closing reception will follow.
For information and to see the night’s schedule, go to jaxfuse.com/film.
Tickets are available at: jaxfuse.com, app.thelink.zone and Eventbrite.
The link is located at 425 Town Plaza Ave., Ponte Vedra.
Here’s a look at the filmmakers signed up as of press time:
FILMMAKER BEN STONE
- Plot: After his friend Scott accidentally spoils a film for him, Marshall goes on a crazy revenge spree against Scott. Genre: Comedy
- Plot: An underappreciated detective intern gets an important case but discovers the dark truth about it. Genre: Noir
FILMMAKER CALEB LOPEZ
- Plot: When a deranged gang leader becomes obsessed with a duck, he kidnaps Bryce Baker, setting off a bizarre and dangerous chain of events. Genre: Action
FILMMAKER JATINDER BHAN
- Plot: The story of a girl whose mother got killed and how she manages to escape! Genre: Drama
FILMMAKER TERY SPATARO
- Plot: “The Bride” is a cinematic poem that brings together Greg Masters’ evocative poetry, Vito Ricci’s haunting music and my A.I.-composed visuals and cinematography. Moving from stark black-and-white into vivid color, the film explores love, memory, longing and transformation through a surreal and deeply human visual journey. Genre: Experimental
- Plot: “White Out” is an evocative artistic video that delves into the essence of dystopia. Utilizing assisted A.I. animation, sound and music, this piece communicates an abstract redefinition of dystopian landscapes. Moving beyond the traditional sci-fi cyberpunk imagery, “White Out” reimagines dystopia through the lenses of suppression of individuality, lack of emotional depth, control and surveillance, loss of hope and the psychological impact of a world devoid of depth and absence of color. Genre: Experimental
- Plot: Lily Madison drummer May steps into the vortex with M3LT, a hypnotic drum solo set inside a swirling pink sky of clouds, butterflies and cosmic motion. A sensuous rhythmic pulse builds as nature and sound spiral together in a surreal dreamscape. Lily Madison is an A.I. conceived band. Genre: A.I.
FILMMAKER GILLES BOVON
- Plot: A mother abandons her two sons in the woods. Is it an act of pure evil or misguided love? Genre: Drama
FILMMAKER ROYCE FREEMAN
- Plot: Mike is looking for a place to live. He responds to an ad looking for a roommate. The terms seem too good to be true. But there is a catch. Does he have what it takes? Genre: Musical
FILMMAKER DJ REMARK
- Plot: A group of friends survive in the apocalypse when a stranger arrives. Genre: Drama
FILMMAKER CLAIRE LOUISE HUDER
- Plot: When a young boy's careless birthday wish for his sister to vanish is granted, it unleashes the Shadowman, a dark entity who seeks to erase all siblings from existence. Now, with the help of Lumenara, an entity that shines brightly with sibling love, the boy must confront his own guilt in order to stop the monster that he has created and save his younger sister before his wish is complete. Genre: Action
FILMMAKER AIMEE ORTIZ
- Plot: A father and son discover that the best part of their annual trip isn’t what they set out to find, but the memories they make along the way. Genre: Family
FILMMAKER ANNA VINO
- Plot: Written by my 8-year-old daughter, “Shenanigans!” is a wacky workplace comedy about how different personalities get along to reach a common goal. Genre: Comedy
