Newport International Film Festival 2008

After casting many envious glances at other women, 13-year-old Maeve (fetching Ailish McCarthy) finally gets her first bra, size 32A . To her surprise, she begins to attract the attentions of the local heartthrob Brian (Shane McDaid), a wild and (seemingly) wonderful 16-year-old. Maeve becomes so smitten with Brian that she makes some bad decisions and ends up abandoning her best friends at a moment when they really need her. After getting snubbed by her mates and finding out she is in major hot water at home, Maeve learns some lessons the hard way about what's really important in life. This sweet, brightly shot coming-of-age film covers family terrain with a talented young cast. A favorite among teens at the 2008 Berlin Film Festival, this film is sure to please all. Note: this film contains drug use. Recommended ages: 14+

50,000 balls chronicles the trials, tribulations, and rewards of the boys 12 and under USTA tennis circuit. The film features interviews with players, parents, and coaches interweaved with hard-rocking action footage of the sport's top young athletes. Follow four families as they navigate the globe and the inner workings of competitive tennis. Just curious about how the next generation of world-ranked tennis players are shaping up? See 50,000 balls. Are you interested in playing competitive tennis or want to know what the parents' role is? Read on...

Anita’s story is a triumph. Not only does she make the decision to start going to school, she also finds a way to pay for her own education.

Playing in Shorts Program 3 This is a powerful drama that was inspired by a true story. A bus travels through the Chinese mountains during East Asia’s Mid-Autumn Festival, a yearly celebration of togetherness and abundance. A young woman and her boyfriend are on their way to spend some time with his family. Set against this idyllic time of year, the bus is hijacked, and each passenger must decide how far they are willing to go to preserve their own safety versus the safety of others.

This is a story about the conflict between generations- the bonds of a family are weathered by the changes they undergo. Aging parents and grown children have difficulty expressing both their love and mutual disappointment in each other. The simple story ebbs as leisurely as the Guadalupe River and evolves naturally as life itself, painting a very human face on the undocumented souls of the southwest. Director Chris Eska's script speaks to the heart, and the natural warmth of the film's cinematography and characters illuminate universal experiences. August Evening may not appeal to a multi-plex crowd raised on special effects or to new generation film goers weaned on video games and Quentin Tarantino, but mature audiences who can appreciate heartfelt character drama should hop aboard the bus to check this generational study out. (Winner of the John Cassavettes Independent Spirit Award)

Playing in Shorts Program 1 The Aviatrix is a daring superhero who soars through the far reaches of space. And she exists in the mind of Anne, a young woman battling cancer. Alone with an overbearing mother and a life threatening illness, Anne is plagued by fear and anger. Her only escape is into the world of her comic book imagination. Then she makes a friend with the courage to meet her wherever she may be.

To be announced, Sunday AM, June 8

To be announced Sunday AM, June 8

While the Duplass Brothers were shooting their last feature film THE PUFFY CHAIR, a crew member raised the question “what’s the scariest thing you can think of?” Someone immediately said “a guy with a bag on his head staring into your window.” Some agreed, but some thought it was downright ridiculous and, if anything, funny (but definitely not scary). Thus, BAGHEAD was born, an attempt to take the absurdly low-concept idea of a “guy with a bag on his head” and make a funny, truthful, endearing film that, maybe… just maybe… was a little bit scary, too.