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    Cinestruct Partners With 18 Film Festivals To Support Emerging Filmmakers Through Inaugural Program

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    • TEDRA, most notable as TT The Artist: Director of “DENIM”

    • Still from “DENIM” of Bishme Cromartie. Director of Photography Bethany Michalski.

    • Keshav Shree: Director of “Where are you really from?”

    • Still from “Where are you really from?” of Keshav Shree (L) and Jenny Johns (R). Director of Photography Estefania Carpio.

    • Alessandro Pulisci: Director of “Hi I Just Moved Here”

    • Still from “Hi I Just Moved Here.” Director of Photography Tyler Bradberry.

    Still from “DENIM,” an episodic short series by TEDRA. Deniim’s story, Animation by Namen Basil.

    New "Debut" program highlighting independent cinema launches November 13, 2024 with filmmaker support initiatives and festival travel giveaway open to all eligible members of the public.

    LOS ANGELES -- (SPW) --

    Cinestruct, LLC announces a groundbreaking partnership with 18 film festival organizations across North America to support independent filmmakers through its new Debut program. The inaugural cycle, running November 13, 2024 through December 3, 2024, combines filmmaker support, community engagement, and innovative funding mechanisms through the company’s Cinevite platform.

    Featured Filmmakers
    The November cycle spotlights three emerging talents:

    • TEDRA (most notable as TT The Artist): Following her Netflix success with “Dark City Beneath The Beat” (produced by Issa Rae), TEDRA presents “DENIM,” a short film and series pilot chronicling the brilliant minds of LGBTQIA+ creatives. The artists featured are: Project Runway All Stars Season 20 winner and alum Bishme Cromartie, music artist Kidd Kenn, and stylist Deniim.
    • Keshav Shree: A London based medical doctor, actor, and director. With his new film “Where are you really from?,” Shree explores his cultural identity as an Indian British immigrant through a comedy that uses accents to explore identity and multicultural idiosyncrasies.
    • Alessandro Pulisci: The program’s “Los Angeles Spotlight” selection, Pulisci transitioned from touring musician to horror filmmaker. His latest film “Hi I Just Moved Here” is a thriller set in the Hollywood Hills.

    Industry Mentorship
    Acclaimed music video director Alexander Bergman, known for his work with Kid Cudi, Busta Rhymes, Usher, and The Roots, joins the cycle as an industry mentor. Bergman, who has successfully transitioned to feature film directing while mentoring emerging filmmakers, joins Cinestruct founder Mikhail Howell for a video podcast discussion on navigating the independent film landscape.

    Virtual Community Events
    During the November cycle, Cinestruct will facilitate scheduled virtual community events through its Cinevite technology platform, where the public can engage directly with TEDRA, Keshav Shree, Alessandro Pulisci, and their collaborators in real-time discussion. Event dates will be announced by Cinestruct on Instagram and on the Cinevite platform.

    Program Innovation
    The Debut program introduces two key initiatives:

    • Matching Pledge Grant: Cinestruct supports participating filmmakers by matching contributions made by their supporters through the Cinevite platform, effectively doubling the impact of community support.
    • Travel Giveaway: Members of the public who support this cycle’s spotlighted filmmakers or participate in the virtual community events will have the chance to win:
      • $500 cash prize
      • Two complimentary passes to one film festival of their choice from a list of 17 partner festivals featured on the Cinestruct website.
      • Festival options spanning from January through September 2025
      • Premium access opportunities, including Palmyra passes to the Academy-qualifying Mountainfilm festival

    Festival Partners:

    1. Mountainfilm (May 22 – 26, 2025) – Academy Qualifying Festival
    2. Wicked Queer 41 (April 4 – 15, 2025)
    3. Denton Black Film Festival (January 29 – February 9, 2025)
    4. Port Townsend Film Festival (September 18 – 21, 2025)
    5. Short. Sweet. Film Fest. (February 24 – March 2, 2025)
    6. Julien Dubuque International Film Festival (April 24 – 28, 2025)
    7. San Diego International Children’s Film Festival, located at and occurring during Comic-Con International (July 27 – August 2025)
    8. NOHO CineFest (August 28 – 31, 2025)

    For a complete list of partner festivals and more information about the Debut program or to participate in virtual community events, visit www.cinevite.com.

    About Cinestruct
    Founded by Mikhail Howell and Veronica Gonzalez Howell, Cinestruct developed the Cinevite platform to create community around cinema and to solve the biggest challenges that affect filmmakers after they make their films. Launched in spring 2024, the Cinevite platform offers comprehensive tools for marketing, fundraising, and community building throughout the festival circuit.

    Meet Cinestruct’s Debut November 2024 Spotlight Films & Filmmakers

    Video Description

    Meet the extraordinary filmmakers that are putting fresh new stories together and get a taste of their completed projects coming to film festivals in 2025.

    DENIM: a docu series, by visionary director TEDRA, illuminating the brilliant minds of LQBTQIA+ creatives; with stories uniquely shared through art, music, fashion and film.

    Where are you really from?: a dark comedy on accentism, exploring accents as identity…with a whole lot of humor by director Keshav Shree.

    Hi I Just Moved Here: our Los Angeles Spotlight selection. director Alessandro Pulisci examines the patriarchy in his feminist horror thriller. 

    Video Credits

    “DENIM” Director: TEDRA, most notable as TT The Artist.
    “DENIM” Director of Photography Bethany Michalski.
    “DENIM” Stills: Kidd Kenn & Bishme Cromartie

    “Where are you really from?” Director: Keshav Shree

    “Where are you really from?” Director of Photography: Estefania Carpio

    “Hi I Just Moved Here” Director:Alessandro Pulisci
    “Hi I Just Moved Here” Director of Photography: Tyler Bradberry.

    Company Contact

    Veronica Gonzalez Howell

    Co-Founder
    Cinestruct
    Contact via email
    SPW Category:Film FestivalsNew ScreenworkScreenings
    Tags:CinestructIndependent FilmmakersEpisodic ShortsMountainfilmCinevite



    Jeff Osborne Premieres Bold Short “Anesthesia” at North Hollywood CineFest

    Monday, August 11, 2025
    Still from “Anesthesia,” a short film directed by Jeff Osborne. Director of Photography: Jeff Osborne.

    Jeff Osborne’s directorial debut, “Anesthesia,” will make its world premiere on Thursday, August 28, 2025 at North Hollywood CineFest, marking a milestone for the award-winning writer and director. Anchored by a powerhouse ensemble that includes Aaron Staton (Mad Men), Marianne June Noscheze (FBI: Most Wanted), Arthur Waite (The SpongeBob Movie), and Tim Neff (Westworld), “Anesthesia” is a high-concept short written by John Harden that blurs the line between emotional trauma and psychological suspense. The film follows a business executive who meets his childhood mother in an anesthesia app.

    “I made ‘Anesthesia’ to entertain, but also to inspire hope and balance in an uncertain future ruled by tech billionaires.” says Osborne. “This short is my showcase piece as a multi-hyphenate director, where I doubled as the DP, editor, and VFX Artist. It was a bet on myself. If I was going to ask anyone to believe in my voice, I had to prove I believed in it first.”
    Osborne is no stranger to accolades.  His pilot screenplay, "The Isthmus," ranked in the top 1% on Coverfly and won Best Screenplay at the 2024 New Media Film Festival TITAN Awards, earning the attention of industry leaders, including HBO and producers Basil Iwanyk (Sicario) and Shannon McIntosh (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood). Osborne’s credits include Associate Producer and VFX Supervisor for "The Hill" (Dennis Quaid) and VFX Producer on "Sweetwater" (Cary Elwes, Jeremy Piven). He was an editor for "Love Me Dead" (RJ Mitte, Dove Cameron) and "Never Heard" (David Banner). He was also the Director of Photography for... Read More

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