Miles Levin’s drama “Under the Lights” received the coveted Polish Film Institute Award at the American Film Festival’s industry event U.S. in Progress, as well as $50,000 cash prize for post-production in Poland.
“It has been an incredibly rewarding and inspiring project to work on. Miles is a force of nature with a clear vision and relentless drive to bring this story to life,” said Natalie Metzger, VP of production and development at Vanishing Angle.
“I’m so honored to have produced it and for it to be part of U.S. in Progress. There’s nothing like this program in America, so we are very grateful it exists. It’s much needed for American indie filmmakers.”
Levin added: “This film has been a 10-year journey and to have the support of U.S. in Progress to help it shine has been very meaningful.”
In the film, starring indie darlings Nick Offerman, Lake Bell, Mark Duplass and Randall Park, teenage boy (Pearce Joza) is dealing with epilepsy – and fast-approaching prom. His mother refuses to let him out of her sight, but he’s yearning to be just like everyone else.
Pete Ohs’ “Erupcja,” about two women reconnecting in Warsaw – featuring “Brat Summer” mastermind Charli XCX, as well as Lena Góra – was also noticed, awarded by Platige Image and Black Photon.
“The initial pitch to Charli was that one character speaks Polish, the other doesn’t and there would be something about volcanos. Luckily, she responded positively to the opportunity of traveling to Warsaw and filming a small movie. We connected in the spring and ‘Brat Summer’ hadn’t started yet, but she already knew she wanted to have more acting experiences,” Ohs told Variety.
“She assured me she wasn’t too famous and while she did get recognized on a daily basis, all the Polish fans were polite and respectful, and we never had any problems. I loved filming in Poland and would happily do it again.”
“Erupcja” is produced by Luke Arreguin, Josh Godfrey, Jeremy O. Harris, Charli XCX and Ohs, who moved to Warsaw last year.
“For at least a decade, I’ve wanted to try directing a film in another language as a challenge and an experiment. Moving made this idea more tangible. The stars aligned for the Polish project to also be a Charli XCX adventure.”
Amanda Kramer’s “By Design” surprised the audience with a story about a woman who swaps bodies with a chair and everyone likes her better.
Juliette Lewis, Mamoudou Athie, Robin Tunney and even Udo Kier star, while Miranda Bailey, Sarah Winshall, Jacob Agger and Natalie Whalen produce for Cold Iron Pictures and Smudge Films. Kramer’s previous film “Please Baby Please,” with Andrea Riseborough, opened IFFR.
Other awards went to Katarina Zhu’s “Bunnylovr,” about a cam girl who receives an unexpected furry gift, which ultimately picked up four prizes, Mark Webber’s “Figments of Freedom” – where a former marine, plagued by an identity crisis, makes his away across the U.S. – and Keith Miller’s “Lucas and Iris,” about two teens striving to become environmental crusaders.
Joseph Marconi’s “Baby Love,” about a female MMA fighter, Paula González-Nasser’s drama “The Scout,” about a stressed-out location scout in New York, and Sabrina Greco’s “Lockjaw” were also presented at the event. In the latter, a party girl has her jaw wired shut following a drunk driving accident.
“Rayna, played by Blu Hunt, is heavily motivated by the shame and embarrassment of her accident and all the accumulating poor decisions she makes throughout the film. The jaw wiring functions as a unique formal challenge,” said Greco.
“Our lead actress needed to give a performance that was both comedic and emotionally compelling, all the while one of her main acting tools is handicapped. It also functions as a story element that leads to frustration and misunderstandings with the people around her. The prosthetic was the first piece of the puzzle in writing the movie and I wanted to build a world around what being in that situation could feel like.”
“This year’s edition of U.S. in Progress is a proof of a wide diversity and vibrancy of the current independent film from the U.S.,” added AFF director Urszula Śniegowska.
“The successes of our 2023 participants, especially ‘Familiar Touch’ and ‘Good One,’ shows that our event is a valuable first-look market for industry insiders looking for new American talent and a starting point for Polish companies’ collaborations with U.S. filmmakers.”
You can find the full list of U.S. in Progress winners here:
“Under the Lights,” directed by Miles Levin, produced by Natalie Metzger
$50,000 cash prize for post-production in Poland, awarded by the director of the Polish Film Institute
$10,000 Post-Production Award from Di Factory
$10,000 Post-Production Award from Fixafilm
DCF – Lower Silesia Film Centre award, location scouting tour in Lower Silesia for the next project for the producer
“Bunnylovr,” directed by Katarina Zhu, produced by Tristan Scott-Behrends, Rhianon Jones, Roger Mancusi, Ani Schroeder and Rachel Sennott
$10,000 for sound design from EarWorks
$10,000 Post-Production Award from XANF
$10,000 Post-Production Award from Fixafilm
Travel grant to Poland from New Europe Film Sales
“Erupcja,” directed by Pete Ohs, produced by Luke Arreguin, Josh Godfrey, Jeremy O. Harris, Pete Ohs, Charli XCX
$10,000 Post-Production Award from Platige Image
$10,000 Post-Production Award from Black Photon
“By Design,” directed by Amanda Kramer, produced by Miranda Bailey, Sarah Winshall, Jacob Agger and Natalie Whalen
$10,000 Post-Production Award from ORKA
$10,000 Sound Post-Production Award from Soundflower
“Figments of Freedom,” directed by Mark Webber, produced by Mark Webber, Sia Furler and Dustin Hughes
ATM Virtual Award for next feature film valued at $25,000
“Lockjaw,” directed by Sabrina Greco, produced by Abbie Jones, Josh Jason and Molly Gilula
$10,000 Post-Production Award from Wrocław Feature Film Studio
“The Scout,” directed by Paula González-Nasser, produced by Ryan Martin Brown, Matthew Romanski, Paula González-Nasser
Sales consultation from New Europe Film Sales, and script consultation on next project
$5,000 Special Mention Award from Di Factory
“Baby Love,” directed by Joseph Marconi, produced by Lysette Urus, Maury Sterling
$5,000 Special Mention Award from Di Factory
“Lucas and Iris,” directed by Keith Miller, produced by Matt Grady, Keith Miller, Joyce Mishaan
Travel grant to Poland from the New Horizons Association
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