BALLAD OF A BREAKUP (USA) BY LAUREN LOESBERG

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Synopsis: An experimental short reflecting on past breakups in friendships. Running time: 00:03:08.

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Selections/awards: Student Academy Awards, SIDE/LOT Experimental FF, Mosaic World FF, PBS Guam/Guam IFF Select Showcase, Maine Student Ff, Festival Angaelica.

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About the director: Lauren Loesberg is a writer and director whose work focuses on the complexities of the female experience in nature and society. She's a recent graduate of Northwestern University with a degree in Radio/TV/Film as well as a minors in Dance, Integrated Marketing Communications, and Acting for the Screen. Amonst many other things she has worked as an AD and PA on independent projects, including 2020 Academy Award Winner “The Neighbor’s Window”.

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FAILURE TO PROTECT (USA) BY JEREMY PION-BERLIN

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Trailer

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Synopsis: Failed by a system that unfairly tears apart low income, marginalized families, five parents - Anna, Rheta, Trish, Ernst and Rosa - fight to reunify with their children. But what does it take to get your children back after they’ve been taken by the Child Protective Services? Failure to Protect is an in-depth look at the child welfare system through the forgotten lens of parents, further contextualized by experts in the field to unpack a pressing socioeconomic issue that affects hundreds of thousands of families everyday. Running time: 01:37:59.

Selections/awards: Oceanside IFF (Best Feature Documentary & Best Directing in a Feature), Frozen River FF (Best of Fest), Awareness FF (Audience Award Feature Doc), Falcon IFF (Best Documentary & Best First Time Director).

About the director: Jeremy Pion-Berlin is an award-winning filmmaker committed to pushing creative boundaries. Currently the Co-Executive Producer on the 4th season of Discovery's "Murder in the Heartland." Jeremy’s diverse skillset is reflected in the projects he's worked on: Hulu’s newest documentary series "Defining Moments," Vice TV's feature documentary "Bernie Blackout," and two seasons of A&E’s "24 to Life." 

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