Santa Cruz Film Festival 2009

A biting, but ultimately tender, comedy of a young boy’s trials and tribulations over one pivotal summer. 10 year-old Fetus and his best friends Reckless, Grandpa and Toast are known as the camp’s tricksters and outcasts. Along with the other misfits in their cabin, they spend their days concocting all manner of mischief always keeping a step ahead of the maniacally disciplinarian Assistant Camp Director. When Sundae, the camp’s preteen beauty, arrives Fetus’ world is turned upside down. His misguided efforts to gain her affection are both comic and tragic particularly when his crew’s leader, Reckless, finds out and actively seeks to undermine poor Fetus. The results are searingly funny and bittersweet. Narrated by John Cusack and featuring energetic performances by its young cast, Summerhood joins Meatballs and Little Darlings as among the best camp comedies ever made. Be forewarned - this tuneful, nostalgic joyride “featuring” your children is in no way “for” your children!

Tibet’s Cry for Freedom explores both past and present in Tibet’s long suffering non-violent freedom struggle. Inspired by a burning passion to raise awareness of the Tibetan freedom struggle and using the Beijing Olympics as the springboard, first time filmmaker Lara Damiani quit her job, sold her clothes and furniture, maxed out several credit cards, used her life savings, grabbed a camera and embarked on a journey across India, Tibet and Beijing, interviewing the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan Prime Minister in exile, Chinese dissident and pro-democracy activist Wei Jingsheng, former political prisoners who’d spent up to 27 years in prison, and many more.