SUNDAY | BLOCK J | 9:30
Jouska (6 min) dir: Wynter Rhys

#1: Can you describe your movie and why somebody should see it in less than 280 characters?

Audiences should watch Jouska because of its interactive nature. The level of pain and guilt seen in the main character depends upon what each viewer has experienced in their lifetime.

#2: What do you want the Borrego Springs Film Festival audience to know about your film that isn’t obvious from its title?

That this film was written, directed, and edited by a 17 year old girl within 48 hours to a prompt drawn from a hat.

#3: What is your movie making background?  Tell us about yourself.

I directed my first film at 14, and over time I realized my vision remained aesthetically consistent across all platforms. I was self-taught and come from no lineage of filmmakers. Now I am about to embark on directing my debut feature film in Atlanta.

#4: What was the biggest lesson learned in getting your film made?

Well, Jouska was created for the Seattle 48 Hour Film Festival. This means I drew a surprise category from a hat and then had 48 hours to write, direct, edit and turn in the entire film. This was a huge learning experience because I am a major perfectionist and usually plan every moment of a film second-by-second. It was both freeing and terrifying to not have this privilege for Jouska.

#5: What does the future hold for your film and you?

For Jouska, the future resides in the film festival circuit, which I'm so thrilled has been received so well. 

Best Sound, Best in City Runner Up Seattle, 2016

George Lindsey UNA Film Festival, Florence Alabama, Vanguard Award Finalist, March 2017

Francis Larkin McCommon Scholarship Winner, full-tuition SCAD, March 2017

Emergencia Youth Film Competition 20th Cine Las Americas International Film Festival, Austin TX, May 2017

The Young Filmmakers Grand Jury Prize, Nashville Film Festival, Nashville Tennessee, April 2017

National Film Festival for Talented Youth (NFFTY), Seattle WA, April 2017

Dances With Films June 2017, Hollywood CA

National YoungArts Cinematic Arts Winner, 2017, Miami FL

Best Experimental, CineYouth Chicago International Film Festival, Chicago IL, May 2017

Hollyshorts Film Festival, Hollywood CA, August 2017

Sidewalk Film Festival, Birmingham Alabama, August 2017

Long Beach Indie International Film, Media, and Music Festival, Long Beach, CA August 2017

Best Experimental, Feel The Reel International Film Festival, Glasgow, United Kingdom, August 2017

Best Youth Film, FilmQuest, Provo Utah, September 2017

The Bushwick Film Festival, Brooklyn NY, October 2017

BendFilm Festival, Bend Oregon, October 2017

Citizen Jane Film Festival, Columbia Missouri, October 2017

Director of the Year, Rockland Youth Film Festival, Rockland NY, November 2017

As far as my future films, a lot of weight is carried in my debut feature film to be shot in Atlanta with the same budget as Moonlight. My producers' last film won Jury Prize in Sundance, so our goals are similar but more ambitious. We hope to tackle Cannes as well and other raw or prestigious film festivals, and also gain international distribution specifically targeting the European market.