Shawna Shea Film Festival

04/11/2023

Tip of the hat to Turner Classic Movies: TCM because right now they are showing Maya Deren’s Meshes In The Afternoon. (1944)
It’s a must see.

15/10/2023

Hope to see you and stop by our booth. Got Shawna Shea Film Festival swag plus physical media of both Trinity the Movie and SEEDS a New England Folk Horror Movie from BayView Entertainment and VIPCO! Get ‘em while they last!

14/10/2023

Very cool to be able to give the great Lynn Lowry her Shawna Shea Film Festival Best Performance Award for Richard Burgin’s Fang at MonstahXpo 3D!

13/10/2023

See you tomorrow at MonstahXpo 3D! It beats therapy.

09/10/2023

We chatted with Courtney Sanello, who won the Women in Film Fellowship Award and used it to make her first film, First Refusal. We talked about applying for the Fellowship, how she created the unique storytelling and visual styling for the film, and about some of the things she learned as a first time filmmaker. If you would like to apply for the Women in Film Fellowship, you can do so at the link below.

We chatted with Courtney Sanello, who won the Women in Film Fellowship Award and used it to make her first film, First Refusal. We talked about applying for...

03/10/2023

SSFF2023: It's a wrap! Get photos and learn our plans for 2024 - https://mailchi.mp/de8cbcc91627/ssff2023itsawrap

21/09/2023

Day two of the The Shawna Shea Film Festival is happening now at Studio 50 at 90.5 WICN and the Hilton Garden Inn Worcester! See you there!

20/09/2023

Just an FYI to everyone associated with this years The Shawna Shea Film Festival and you’re emailing me at the festivals account… Too late. I’m not even looking at it.

20/09/2023

Getting ready for opening night of the The Shawna Shea Film Festival at starlite. Join us tonight with host Patrick Bracken and myself with Anna Chinappi and Demetri Kasperson (Shawna E. Shea Memorial Foundation, Inc. Board members) as we kick things off!

20/09/2023

We talked to Chris Mckinney about Gnashing in Gehenna, his film which has been nominated for Best Long Short at the 2023 Shawna Shea Film Festival. We discussed the look of the film, the challenges of shooting in 16mm, and the advantages of having Lynn Lowry on your set. Gnashing in Gehenna is screening as part of Shorts Program #2 on Thursday, September 21st at 7PM at the Hilton Garden Inn in Worcester, MA. For tickets and a complete schedule see the link below.

We talked to Chris Mckinney about Gnashing in Gehenna, his film which has been nominated for Best Long Short at the 2023 Shawna Shea Film Festival. We discus...

20/09/2023

Today is the opening of the 11th annual Shawna Shea Film Festival! Tonight at 6PM at starlite in Southbridge, MA, you will see a great collection of shorts, including:

The Harrows - A man goes looking for something in the woods, and unfortunately for him, he finds it;
Out: A Short Film - A young man tries to find the courage to come out to his parents;
Get In - A pothead teams up with a luxury cheese thief;
S.P.I.C - A young boy navigates his crime-ridden neighborhood in a desperate attempt to free his mother from I.C.E.;
Witness - A daughter tries to buy witnesses to testify on her father's behalf at his trial;
Worth It - Two "friends" try to come to terms with their relationship;
The Garden - A beautiful retelling of the Garden of Eden story, done in the style of Georges Méliès and early silent cinema.

It's only $10 (or get a festival pass!), and several of the filmmakers will be on hand tonight for a Q&A after the screening. For tickets and a complete festival schedule: https://www.shawnafoundation.org/ssff-film-festival. Tickets will also be available at the door.

We are excited to screen the premiere of a film by our 2022 Women in Film Fellow Courtney Sanello of Atlantic Beach, NY, who has been working all year on her first film.  

18/09/2023

We had a great conversation with Doug E. Doug (Cool Runnings) and Clayton Allis about their film In the Weeds, for which they've been nominated for Best Director at the 2023 Shawna Shea Film Festival. We talked about the power of plants, the challenges and rewards of filming in New York during COVID, and the hilarious difference between working within the Hollywood system and outside of it. In the Weeds, which is also nominated for Best Picture and has 2 nominations for Best Performance (Doug E. Doug and Jazmine Villegas) will be screening at the festival on Friday, September 22nd at Studio 50 at WICN, 5pm in Worcester MA. Clayton will be on hand to talk about the film and answer questions. Tickets are going fast! Get yours at the link below.

We had a great conversation with Doug E. Doug (Cool Runnings) and Clayton Allis about their film In the Weeds, for which they've been nominated for Best Dire...

17/09/2023

We interviewed ETA, Writer/Director of the terrifying White Gaze, which has been nominated for Best Long Short at the 2023 festival. We talk about his how the pandemic helped him focus his idea, the subtlety of microaggressions, and gentrification. White Gaze will be playing as part of the Shorts Program #3 on Friday, September 22nd, 7:30 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Worcester. Don't miss this one!

We interviewed ETA, Writer/Director of the terrifying White Gaze, which has been nominated for Best Long Short at the 2023 festival. We talk about his how t...

16/09/2023

We talked with Kristina Thomas, the writer/director of Worth It, which has been nominated for Best Short Length Film at this year's Shawna Shea Film Festival. She discusses the origins of the film, how to pack years of history and emotion into just 8 minutes, and offers a Hollywood writer's advice on how to make it in the film industry. Her short is fantastic, and you can see it as part of the opening night block of shorts Wednesday, September 20th, 6:00PM at Starlite in Southbridge, MA.

We talked with Kristina Thomas, the writer/director of Worth It, which has been nominated for Best Short Length Film at this year's Shawna Shea Film Festival...

12/09/2023

Some of you may have already seen posts out there! The 2023 SSFF nominations are in!

Congratulations to all who were nominated!

Get your tickets now and see all of the very cool movies. Some not nominated are the coolest!

Best Director Richard Griffin for Disorienting Dick Richard Burgin for Fang Clayton Allis & Doug E. Doug for In The Weeds Yana Klimova-Yusupova for OnlyHuman Alexandra Clayton & Michal Sinnott for Unpacking Joe Badon for The Wheel of Heaven 

11/09/2023

We had a fascinating conversation with Joe Badon, who created "controlled chaos" in his film Wheel of Heaven, having its WORLD PREMEIRE at the SSFF Tuesday, September 21st, 2PM, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Worcester. Joe talks about how the film's unusual structure, creating multiple visual styles, and why he turned himself into the bad guy. Joe is a Shawna Shea Film Festival favorite, and the complex, hilarious "anti-film" shows why.

We had a fascinating conversation with Joe Badon, who created "controlled chaos" in his film Wheel of Heaven, having its WORLD PREMEIRE at the SSFF Tuesday, ...

11/09/2023

Join us for a great conversation with Richard Griffin, SSFF favorite and writer/director of Disorienting Dick, which will have a special late night screening Thursday, September 21st. 9:30PM at the Hilton Garden Inn in Worcester. It's a hilarious, daring, and provocative film perfect for a late screening. Richard and I talk about the interesting look of the film, why he choose to go to extremes, and how he tries to find the humanity in all of his characters, even his villains.

Join us for a great conversation with Richard Griffin, SSFF favorite and writer/director of Disorienting Dick, which will have a special late night screening...

10/09/2023

We talked to Mary Ferrara, director of the hilarious ensemble comedy Wallie's Gals, which will be screening at the festival on Thursday, September 21st, 4:30PM, at Studio 50 at WICN in Worcester. The film is about a group of women who reunite 30 years after the shop they all worked at closed. Mary talks about directing her first feature, the genesis of the film, and the joys of writing comedic roles for actors in their 50s. Don't miss this one - it's a lot of fun, and Mary will be there to meet you and answer your questions.

We talked to Mary Ferrara, director of the hilarious ensemble comedy Wallie's Gals, which will be screening at the festival on Thursday, September 21st, 4:30...

10/09/2023

We interviewed Richard Burgin about his brilliant new horror film Fang, which will be screening at the festival Thursday, September 21st, 4:30PM at the Hilton Garden Inn in Worcester. The film is about a man who is bit by a rat and then begins to transform into one - but it is so much more than that too. Richard talks about his autism and how it informed the plot and his main character, how his crew achieved some of the amazing practical effects, and about what it was like to work with the one and only Lynn Lowry.

We interviewed Richard Burgin about his brilliant new horror film Fang, which will be screening at the festival Thursday, September 21st, 4:30PM at the Hilto...

09/09/2023

I spoke with Writer/Director/Producer/Actor Shoko Ito about her film Drawing in the Sky, which will be showing at the festival on Thursday, September 21st, 7PM at Studio 50 at WICN in Worcester. This film is one of my favorites this year and represents everything that makes SSFF great. Hear Shoko talk about her time-travelling, genre-busting film in which she plays all 18 parts to hilarious and touching effect. Don't miss this one! For tickets and a complete festival schedule go to https://www.shawnafoundation.org/ssff-film-festival.

09/09/2023

Since we screened THE GOD INSIDE MY EAR (2017), Joe Badon has been one of our favorite filmmakers. We've screened every movie he has directed. He is one of those filmmakers who embodies everything we are about.

And this year we are thrilled to announce that we will host the World Premiere of his new feature THE WHEEL OF HEAVEN. That is very cool!!!

You really don't want to miss this! Check out the trailer!

Schedule and ticket info here: https://www.shawnafoundation.org/ssff-film-festival

https://youtu.be/teqCiI8mbJw?si=PurBnWtE-35yQTwC

The Wheel of Heaven Coming Soon 2022! Directed by Joe Badon Written by Joe Badon and Jason Kruppa Cinematography by Daniel Waghorne Edited by Joseph Estrade ...

05/09/2023

We interviewed Michal Sinnott and Alexandra Clayton, the directors/stars of the fantastic film "Unpacking". They talk about the unusual way the film came together, discuss their collaborative process, and offer great advice for female filmmakers. Unpacking will be showing September 22nd at 5PM at the Hilton Garden Inn in Worcester, MA, and Michal and Alexandra will be there in person. to answer your questions and get your feedback.

Complete Shawna Shea Film Festival schedule and ticket options in the link below.

We interviewed Michal Sinnott and Alexandra Clayton, the directors/stars of the fantastic film "Unpacking". They talk about the unusual way the film came t...

03/09/2023

One of the cool things we love about our film festival is watching the success of films and filmmakers we've screened. We had a short called THE DOOR that was one of our favorites and were thrilled when we were able to screen the feature length version Showdown In Yesteryear the movie. Both the short and feature were fan favorites & award winners. And now you can see it on Amazon Prime, VUDU and on Spectrum Cable On Demand.

Don't miss it!

An aspiring cowboy encounters a mysterious door in the middle of nowhere on a ranch. Upon opening it and stumbling through, he's suddenly thrust back into time - 160 years back in the old west - where outlaws rule and life is extremely dangerous...

01/09/2023

And we are live!!! Here is the full line up and links to purchase tickets which went on sale at midnight - and people have already started buying them!

Come and see us at starlite, Studio 50 at WICN and the Hilton Garden Inn on Sept 20-23 for some of the best indie - and we mean real indie - features and shorts made locally and from around the globe!

As always we have our very cool and very popular Horror Shorts and Experimental Shorts Blocks as well as some of the best fringe cinema made today.

And diverse! Over 50% of the projects accepted were made by women and if you add in POC and the LGBTQ+ community we are at nearly at the 2/3rds mark. Very cool!

Tickets are only $10.00 and can be bought online or at the door. Cash only. That's how we roll.

You can find the full schedule with links to purchase tickets below!

Come and join us as we celebrate fringe & indie cinema while celebrating the indie spirit of Shawna.

See you there!

2:00PM A woman caught up in predatory relationships is thrown into a multi-layered world of choices after she discovers a mystical book in a thrift store.

07/08/2023

Submissions close today for the 11th Annual SSFF! Let's see what you've got!

The Shawna Shea Film Festival (SSFF) is a fringe independent international film festival. We love quirky and experimental films as much as we love straight n...

01/05/2023

Submissions are coming in for SSFF 2023! Let's see what you've got!

The Shawna Shea Film Festival (SSFF) is a fringe independent international film festival. We love quirky and experimental films as much as we love straight n...

16/04/2023

And that’s a wrap! Thank you all to our filmmakers who joined us for the past 4 days in Southbridge & Worcester! Your films are amazing, keep on creating and don’t forget, submissions are open for 2024! We love you! Next on deck: in September! 🎬💕🎬

13/04/2023

Filmmaker q&a sessions are the best, we learn all sorts of unconventional things— .
Much more to come Friday and Saturday! Come by the or 🎬🎬💕💕

13/04/2023

DAY2! Ready to roll film at starting at 2p today! Lots of movies! Lots of fun! Lots of cool 🎬🎬 we are so unconventional 🤪

12/04/2023

This is why loves ☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️🎬🎬🎬🎬

12/04/2023

Here we go! Back at the mothership 🎬🎬🎬👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 movies at 7p

10/04/2023

on the air with Tom Shaker right now! Tune in to hear great soul music and us talking about a great 🎬🎬🎬

06/04/2023

Wonderful reading by at the . If you missed it no worries! She’ll be back at the tomorrow night, Thursday, at 7pm. See you there! Celebrate with us! Thank you

28/09/2022

SSFF2022 10th Anniversary a Smashing Success – Thanks to All of You! - https://mailchi.mp/cf411ba6a749/10th-ssff-a-smashing-success

25/09/2022

The winners of the 10th Anniversary of the Shawna Shea Film Festival are...

Shawna Spirit Awards


The Shawna Spirit Award can be given to any film/screenplay or person we feel exemplifies a true independent, bold and unconventional spirit where art is the primary reason for the creative process.



Screenplays

Still - Short Screenplay

Avalon Farms Academy - Feature Screenplay



Projects


Shorts

Even The Darkness Has Arms

King Of Imaginations

No Good Deed

Horizon

Dead Language

Night Owls

You Don’t Have to Take Orders From The Moon



Features

Chicken House

Kamaloca

Pink Rabbit

Showdown in Yesteryear




Production Companies

Coviro Creative

Mass Grave Pictures

OTC Industries

Ash Mountain Films



Individuals

Shayna Connelly

Luigi Cozzi
Gregory Lamberson
Jerry Landi

Izzy Lee
Farah Rose Paterson-Cisco

Shawn Shea Film Festival Awards


Best of Fest Feature

Guns of Eden


Best of Fest Short

Subscribed

Best Feature

True Believer


Best Director

Cate Jones - Chicken House


Best Comedy Feature

Goodbye Petrushka


Best Horror Feature

Bitter Taste of Ginger


Best International Feature

Mask of the Devil


Best Ensemble Cast

True Believer


Best Female Performance

Alexandra Faye Sadeghian - Guns of Eden


Best Male Performance
Chinaza Uche - How to Rob


Best Experimental Feature

Chicken House


Best Documentary

Devils Among Angels


Best International Documentary

The Skids: Revolution


Best Mobile Device Feature

As Brabas Do Funk


Best Screenplay

Nicola Rose - Goodbye Petrushka


Best Short 

MarriageFit 


Best International Short 
Welcome to Candy’s (France) 


Best Short Documentary 

DACA: The Story Of Dreamers


Best Local Short 

Guidance

Best Horror Short 

A Best Man 


Phil “Skippy” Adams Award

Jordan Pacheco 


Best Local Horror

Reverberance


Best Long Short

Maurice


WTF Award

Facecrusher 2


Best Underground Short

Norma Doesn't Know She's Magic 


Best Comedy Short
Sitting Duck 


Best Experimental Short

Emoticon


Best Crime Short

New York Minute 


Best Episodic/Chapter Short 

Agent Stone


Best Animation Short

Homeward Clown 


Best Student Short

Good Cuban Girls


Best Dance Short

Through the Dust


Best Movile Device Short

If Any


Best Music Short

Moon Shadow


Best Unrpoduced Feature Screenplays 

Winner: New Moon Killer by Dean Harakas

1st Runner Up: Typhoid Maria by Timothy Porter

2nd Runner Up: Emily in the Wild by Graham Galloway-Chapa

Best International Unproduced Screenplay

Bitter Honey Sins by Amanda Öman


Best Unproduced Short Screenplay

Winner: Teacup by Michael R Neel

1st Runner Up: The Babysitter by Jim Dalglish 

2nd Runner Up: Ocean Child by Marilyn Swick & Laura Koons

24/09/2022

More Q & A with host

24/09/2022

The next generation of ! The made a cameo appearance at for The next generation of directors! 💕💕💕🎬💕💕💕

24/09/2022

Scenes from SSFF.

23/09/2022

This is a very special award, close to our hearts—the Skippy Adam’s Award. Skippy was a genius FX guy who was well known across the industry but more than that, he was a beautiful soul, kind and selfless. He worked up to the day he passed, and his absence is palpable. is proud to present this year’s award to filmmaker .
Thank you Jordan for giving us some great !! 🎬👏🏻🎬👏🏻🎬👏🏻