Baton Rouge Film Festival

Closing night celebration for the inaugural Baton Rouge Underground Film Festival.

PUBLIC ACCESS revisits New York City’s radical experiment in open media, when uncensored voices filled the airwaves decades before the internet. Told entirely through rare archival material and first person accounts, the film charts Public Access as a social and cinematic experiment – one that tested the limits of expression, provoked legal battles, and revealed enduring tensions between freedom, power, and control that continue to shape today's battles over platforms and free speech.

Participate in a conversation with Wrapbook Co-Founder Cameron Woodward, FilmUSA President Katie Patton Pryor, and Joe Carleton about payroll, incentive management, and insurance for productions and how Wrapbook serves to improve this area of a fast-paced industry.

Animation and Puppetry Shorts, and Music Videos

• Sorrow Doesn't Sleep At Night (9 min) Directed by Josefina Montino, Martín André
• A Bird Hit My Window and Now I'm a Lesbian (8 min) Directed by Carmela Murphy, AJ Dubler
• Dobrina (5 min) Directed by Hannes Rall
• The Fragility Of A Lonesome Crow (10 min) Directed by Emanuel Fernandez
• Gruff (9 min) Directed by Julian Curi
• Sorry I Missed Your Call (5.5 min) Directed by Hae Ji Cho
• Bayou Lafourche (4.5 min) Directed by Dustin Paul Robichaux
• DEVOTION (3 min) Directed by Marcelle Tiblier
• Wasting Away by Final Essay (5 min) Directed by Kolby Kember
• HA (Gabaldon) (4 min) Directed by Nuno Belmar

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A collection of Short Films, listed below in screening order.

• Jazz Infernal (16.5 mins) Directed by Will Niava
• On a Sunday at Eleven (9 min) Directed by Alicia K. Harris
• Spank Patrol (3.5 min) Directed by Kevin Ralston
• DISC (14 min) Directed by Blake Rice
• We're All Black Down Here (15.5 min) Directed by James William Mellors
• Beaks (23 min) Directed by Xavier Demoulin
• cowabunga! (2 mins) Directed by Jacob Staudenmaier

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State of the Film Industry in Louisiana w/ Film Louisiana

Join Film Louisiana, and local Film Labor Unions IATSE and SAG, as they discuss the state of the Film Industry in Louisiana.

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Presented by NOVAC, Behind the Lens: Inside the Camera Department is an engaging session with camera department professional Sienna Pinderhughes, offering an inside look at the people, roles, and collaboration that keep a production camera-ready.

Through real-world experiences from productions including Sinners, Where the Crawdads Sing, One Night in Miami, Queen & Slim and more, Sienna will explain how the department works alongside DP’s and Directors, and offer an in-depth look at the responsibilities of the First and Second Assistant Camera roles. Attendees will also gain practical knowledge about on-set readiness, kit equipment essentials and set etiquette. The program concludes with both moderated and audience Q&A, giving participants the opportunity to ask questions and learn directly from Sienna's experience.

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• Will This Last Forever (16 min) Directed by Christian Naquin
• In the Light of a Miracle (13.5 min) Directed by OJ Parker
• $5 Margaritas (16.5 min) Directed by Abigail Lestrade
• Tick (16.5 min) Directed by William Hill VanDuzee
• At What Cost? (20 min) Directed by Ant Roberson
• Tachyon Deliverance (21 min) Directed by Connor Wright

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In a fading Louisiana town, Jerome dreams of Hollywood while Terry seeks escape from a troubled home. United by desperation, they train for a high-stakes bodybuilding competition that becomes their shot at something more. Filmed over 18 months, West of Greatness blazes a bold new trail in cinematic storytelling, blending raw documentary with scripted drama. It's a haunting, human story of ambition, survival, and the quiet bond that forms when there's nothing left to lose.

DRIFTING

FREE ENTRY TO THE PUBLIC. REGISTER TO SAVE YOUR SPOT.

From the creators of Senior Prank, come participate in a live production of an Original Musical in a staged reading format! More details to be shared soon…

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Cramps! A Period Piece Directed by Brooke H Cellars

A blossoming young woman, Agnes Applewhite, gets a job as a shampoo girl at lively beauty salon, which goes against the wishes of her traditional family which includes her sanctimonious mother and tightly wound sister. As she begins this newfound journey, she starts to deal with debilitating menstrual cramps which blurs the line between reality and nightmare.

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Enjoy a night of fun and relaxed glamor as we celebrate the future of the Baton Rouge Underground Film Festival. Dance the night away to local artists from FREQUENCY and enjoy complementary wine and a cash bar. Pajamas STEEPLY RECOMMENDED!!

• Unseen Olympiad (54 mins) Directed by Casey Shaw
• The Sight Unseen (40 mins) Directed by Shawn Antoine II

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How Indie Films Get Financed, Made, and Sold Today presented by Stephen Mastrocola

As the independent film market rapidly evolves, early-stage filmmakers must rethink how they finance, produce, and position their projects for long-term sustainability.

This workshop breaks down how independent films have traditionally been financed, how soft-money incentives and projected value have shaped budgets, and where those models are actively shifting. We’ll explore what is realistically achievable for emerging filmmakers over the next five years, and how expectations around budgets, sales, and distribution are changing.

Using real-world case studies from recent films, we’ll examine outside-the-box fundraising strategies, early career-appropriate financing structures, and emerging areas of growth and opportunity. The session is designed to demystify the business side of filmmaking and help filmmakers make smarter, more strategic decisions as they move into the next phase of their careers.

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• PU EKAW TNOD (6 min) Directed by Rebecca Culverhouse
• Coffin Therapy (18 min) Directed by Zéré Turlykhanova
• Shard (10.5 min) Directed by Pablo Cabel
• Mukbang (11 min) Directed by Joe Grode
• The Knight (10.5 min) Directed by Lotte Sweeney
• LEMON-AID (15.5 min) Directed by Sumner McMurtry
• Scissors (12.5 min) Directed by Hannah Alline
• The Tempest (12.5 min) Directed by Jacob Allen Denton

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How do you stay rooted while building a career that takes you around the country? Join director Cierra "Shooter" Glaude for an inspiring conversation about forging a career in television while remaining deeply connected to her Southern roots. An Alabama native with family ties to Baton Rouge, Shooter began her journey as a Production Assistant on Queen Sugar before becoming an in-demand episodic television director. Her directing credits include The Chi, Riverdale, Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, Walker: Independence, Power Book III: Raising Kanan, Suits LA, and more.

Baton Rouge native Mike James Gallagher, an Emmy-nominated sound designer and creator of INDEPTH Sound Design, is bringing two-time Oscar winner Mark Mangini to Baton Rouge to headline a live INDEPTH conversation at BRUFF.

Mark Mangini is a two-time Academy Award winning and six time nominated Sound Designer known for films including Blade Runner 2049, Star Treks I,IV,&V, The Fifth Element, and Gremlins. He has spent his 45 year career in Hollywood imagining and composing altered sonic realities for motion pictures. He is a frequent lecturer, an outspoken proponent for sound as art and a guitarist and songwriter with compositions in sex, lies and videotape, Star Trek IV, Picard. and others. He is a member of AMPAS, MPSE, SAG, SMPTE, and ASCAP.

There's a full-circle twist. Mangini received a special thanks in the credits on Sex, Lies, and Videotape, the Soderbergh debut shot in Baton Rouge that won the Palme d'Or and helped launch American independent film. Mangini was Soderbergh's landlord in LA at the time, and he wrote and performed the guitar piece that opens the film. Dedicated to the success of American independent film, Mangini gave Soderbergh run of his editorial company for the duration of the film at a price that helped make this iconic indie film possible.

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Hear from NOVAC alumni working in physical production as they share how they got their start, launched their careers in Louisiana, and continue to contribute to the local film community. This conversation will highlight the behind-the-camera talent, workforce development, and opportunities available right here in Louisiana.

Indie Filmmaker Panel: Nate Tape (Off Ramp, NPC); Andrew van den Houten (Mercy, Mercy, Me); Jared LaReau (West of Greatness); Brooke Cellars (Cramps! A Period Peace)

Join the creators of Louisiana shot feature films to hear their insight on filmmaking in the Boot!

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Peeping Todd Directed by Josh Munds

When his peeping passions become compromised, Todd decides he’ll do whatever it takes to continue stalking his beloved Claire. An obsessive HOA fleet and a dense boyfriend are obstacles Todd must dance around if he wants to sing his way into Claire’s heart. As Claire gets wrapped up in the lies of her fiance and the web of her stalker, she must escape the two most toxic relationships she’s ever faced.

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Louisiana Genre Shorts

• Collect Call (15 mins) Directed by Wesley Boone
• Hivemind Deluxe (10 mins) Directed by Chris Alan Evans
• Convulsions (22 min) Directed by Adrien Picquenot, Pierrot du Saillant
• The Void Within (5 min) Directed by Adrian Jordan Jr
• Hustlevania (10.5 min) Directed by Clayton Nepveux III
• Bluescreen (9 min) Directed by Darrell C. Forest
• American Woman (7:47) Directed by Matison LeBlanc, Ashley Wehrs
• Plastic Cowboy (9 min) Directed by Jan Winters

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Join Baton Rouge Film Commissioner and Co-Founder of Film USA, Katie Patton Pryor for an update on Film USA and where the industry stands on a national scale.

Louisiana Shorts

• Batter Up, Queen! (14 min) Directed by Cameron M Brown
• Dead Air (20 min) Directed by Trevor L. Poole
• The Trade Off (5 min) Directed by Adrian Jordan Jr
• Last of the Shrimpers (14 min) Directed by Jonathan Presson
• ManBooBs (14 min) Directed by Luke Alexander Harris
• So That's a Maybe (5 min) Directed by Nathan S. Hall

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Mercy, Mercy, Me Directed by Wes Miller

In 1985, ex-criminals Mercy and Khaos are dragged back to their old life for one risky job, facing mobsters, a corrupt cop, and their past misdeeds.

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“A Hands-On Introduction to 35mm” Presented by Shawscope

In this workshop, you’ll get a crash course in shooting celluloid film, and then you’ll be able to get your hands on 35mm movie cameras that were used on movies like “Queen and Slim”, “City of God”, “A Clockwork Orange”, and “Cramps! A Period Piece” (screening at BRUFF!). Each workshop participant will get a chance to shoot a shot on 35mm, and receive a downloadable digital file of the workshop footage for their own use.

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Three Colors: Pan African Directed by Elijah Davis, Allison A. Waite, Tyler Ocascio Holmes

THREE COLORS: PAN-AFRICAN is an anthology feature film where the main theme of each chapter takes its meaning from the themes behind the colors of the Pan-African flag.

Three Black children play freely at their grandmother’s home until a hypnotic TV rerun depicting a Black family performing racist caricature captures their attention. When the kids repeat disparaging language they heard on the show at the breakfast table, their grandmother shares stories of strength, community, and character to instill pride in their Blackness. The children’s vivid imaginations bring these stories to life.

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It Needs Eyes Directed by Zack Ogle, Aaron Pagniano

Suffering from a traumatic event, teenager Rowan is whisked away from home and taken to her estranged aunt's oceanside home indefinitely. Racked with guilt and unable to enjoy a normal summer, she drowns out the noise with increasingly bizarre, violent internet content. Soon, Rowan comes across videos of a missing woman known only as Fish Tooth, who she believes is calling out through the screen for help. Despite a budding relationship with her camgirl neighbor, Alex, Rowan’s obsession with Fish Tooth will lead her to something sinister lurking at the bottom of this twisted internet rabbit hole…

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