In each episode, the C.E.O. of WILDsound, Matthew Toffolo, chats about all things storytelling and film. Conversations with talented individual from all around the world.
Dancing With Waves, 29min., USA
Directed by Emmitt Thrower
Tammi Judge, the founder of a transformative dance program, leads young dancers on a journey of self-discovery and personal growth, using the power of movement to heal, inspire, and change their lives forever.
Watch Emmitt’s other short film, DISABLED ARTIST SHOWCASE: https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/watch-disabled-artist-showcase
https://www.instagram.com/truth_thrower
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Routine, 5min., Canada
Directed by Abo Fall
Meet Benedicte, a happy young woman living in a beautiful, heavenly garden where she doesn't have a single worry in the world. She loves to wander around, lay on the grass and simply live in the moment.
What motivated you to make this film?
In an ironic way, I think I was trying to get out of a routine myself. It had been a minute since I made any short film or even attempted to finish old scripts. I started feeling trapped in the 9 to 5 life and saw that, unless I made the effort to pursue my passion despite the obvious obstacles, the current life I'm living would be it forever. It pushed me to get out of my comfort zone and make things happen. We filmed this short film with an iphone and a very restricted budget.
From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
I'll say about 4 months. The main issue was that I work in Nunavik but wanted to shoot the short film in Montreal. So, there was a moment where I had everything ready from the script to finding the right team but had to wait for the occasion to fly back to Montreal and finally get to shooting. But once I was on site, things went fast. We shot the entire script in 3 weeks, mainly because we had to work around everyone's availability. And then I spent about 2 months with Vincent Loiselle-Latour, who worked on the sound engineering and Julien Ferland who worked on the score, to create an atmosphere for the film that we would all be satisfied with.
How would you describe your film in two words!?
''Literally me''
What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
Time! There was never enough time and, as I said, I work in Nunavik. I had to shoot everything before it was time for me to go back and I had exactly 3 weeks !
What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
I was thrilled the entire time! I really loved one of the critic's comment, when he said the movie inspired him to want to go make movies himself, that's what's up ! That's what it's all about at the end of the day. Hopefully the story pushes more people to want to try something new and get out of their own ''Routine''!
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FIELD REPORT | FLACK FAMILY FARM, 15min., USA
Directed by Travis Limoge
Nestled in the hills of Enosburg Falls, Vermont Flack Family Farm has been contributing to the vibrance of their community through their symbiotic work in the soil for nearly a half a century.
https://www.instagram.com/underblkflag/
https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-feedback-field-report
What motivated you to make this film?
As a Chef I have spent the last decade of my career dedicated to researching and implementing community based solutions to the industrial food complex. I have made many impactful relationships with farmers who are working hard to revitalize their local food sheds and felt inspired to share their stories as the majority of the documentaries currently available on food and food production are either glossy or focused on a specific problem rather than demonstrating the collaboration between farmer, soil, and community, the struggles they face and the actions of resilience they take on a daily basis.
From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
We had a good idea of the message we were trying to relay in the film and when we set out on the farm to shoot the story unfolded chronologically as we were working hand in hand from harvest to production of the fermented products, when we got to post it was quick work as we were smitten with the story we had captured, all told the whole film from start to finish took a month.
How would you describe your film in two words!?
Thought Provoking
What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
The organic nature of the production didn't really come with obstacles, just lessons, Flack Family Farm welcomed us in and took the reins, we just followed along.
What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
It was wonderful to receive feedback from the audience, it was touching that they were able to really connect with the message and the feedback let us know that we had captured the story we were trying to tell.
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Sweet Dreams, 34min., USA
Directed by Gary Alvarez
Set in the near future when most people can no longer dream, "Sweet Dreams" follows the story of Esperanza, a young woman who's excited to be a mom for the first time. Weeks before the baby is due, her partner Kiké goes missing. As she searches for him and her savings dwindle, she comes across an opportunity to make some quick money: surrogate dreaming, a new technological advancement which allows her to sell the dreams of her unborn child through a dreamcatcher clinic. After a trial run, Esperanza begins to suspect that the clinic is somehow connected to Kiké's disappearance.
https://www.instagram.com/sweetdreams_film/
What motivated you to make this film?
A conversation I had with my wife when she was about 6 months pregnant with our son, Sol. We discovered that he was dreaming in the womb and that idea blew my mind! I thought it would make a good story and I started writing the script later that night.
From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
3 years and 5 months.
How would you describe your film in two words!?
Must watch!
What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
Post-production: from false starts on VFX to losing an AE to scheduling sound design and raising funds to pay for all of it!
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KHENTOPIA, 72min., USA
Directed by Job Michiel van Zuijlen
Khentopia is a peaceful society on the planet Zeeray, where ethereal energy generated through chanting at Harmony Center is used to feed a protective shield that envelops the planet. All is well, until one June morning in 2502, the crew of raider ship Space Wolf is intent on breaking through the shield to carry out a pillage mission. They succeed in obliterating the ethereal power generation and so the protective shield. On top of that, a parallel universe emerges with an alternate Khentopia that is harsh and hostile.
http://khentopia.com/
Get to know the filmmaker:
What motivated you to make this film?
The idea for Khentopia already existed for another story, but the inauguration of Trump 1 in 2017 made me think that we had entered a parallel world. I developed a new story with that in mind.
From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
It took about seven years. To get the story itself right was a challenge. I knew the beginning and the end, but I struggled with the middle.
How would you describe your film in two words!?
Khentopia regained.
What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
Because it took such a long time, the biggest challenge was to stay interested. It is also a lot of work, and some scenes are necessary but kind of tedious to do.
What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
I was pleasantly surprised by the insightful comments, especially from the second woman. She was able to distill various elements that I had put into the story and expressed them clearly.
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STAYCATION, 93min,. USA
Directed by Russell Emanuel
How is the world affected by a catastrophic event? Everyday people live through a government mandated quarantine during a global pandemic while desperate scientists race to find a cure before it’s too late.
https://russem.com/
https://www.instagram.com/russem31/
Hannah Ehman chats with the lead actor of the award winning feature film STATCATION
Tanya Hobson-Williams Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shaybutta823/
——
Follow Interviewer Hannah Ehman on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ehmanhannah/
Watch Hannah’s commercial spots: https://www.ispot.tv/topic/actor-actress/bP8/hannah-ehman
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Shame, 5min., USA
Directed by Kelly Lynn Warren
When a woman is sexually assaulted by a mutual friend the night before, her confrontation with her best friend leads to tragic consequences.
https://www.instagram.com/shametheshortfilm/
Get to know actor/writer/produer Ashna Sharan:
What motivated you to make this film?
I was a peer counselor in college and know of people in my life who have been sexually assaulted. I wanted to raise awareness of the issue and show it from the perspective of two friends instead of focusing on the assailant. The ultimate goal of Shame was to take it to universities and spark dialogue among students.
From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
9 months
How would you describe your film in two words!?
must-see, impactful
What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
One of our actors had an emergency and had to back out of filming on Day 1, so I had to recast the same night because we were shooting the next day. Our actor, Sophia Cofino, stepped in and nailed the part.
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The Interrogation, 5min., USA
Directed by Kyle Riggs, Dylan Lighthall
A Russian mob interrogation goes awry when an over-eager enforcer tries to pitch in, but can't get his mind out of the gutter.
www.instagram.com/dylanlighthall
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Tendon, 13min,. USA
Directed by Jannik Ehret
Recovering addict Rene sees a creature poison the city’s water supply and has to convince his skeptical sister and her no-nonsense boyfriend to stay away from the tap water.
Get to know the filmmaker:
What motivated you to make this film?
I grew up in Germany from where Los Angeles always felt like a mythical place in another world. Through a street racing video game I was first introduced to the LA river; a concrete channel that splits Los Angeles in such a crude and inorganic way. At the time I thought it was an invention of the game designers. Why else would there be a perfect drag racing track going right through the city. Ten years later, when I first saw the LA river in person, I became enchanted by its otherworldly existence.
My parents are spiritual teachers. Witnessing their clashes with “the regular world” has forced me to contemplate the role of “the real” in our emotional lives. To an extent, the “real” is irrelevant if its effect is tangible. The fear we feel from the monster under the bed is happening regardless of the presence of the monster. With that in mind, people should treat the fears of others, no matter how otherworldly, with empathy. Tendon is the merging of my love of sci-fi, the LA river, the homelessness epidemic and my take on the deep seeded fear of not being believed.
From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
I played around with the script for about five years. Once I landed on something I liked it only took about a month to get the project to the editing stage. Sound designing and composing was tricky since the film lives between genres but after another 4 months the project was done.
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As Long As You Want, 22min., Canada
Directed by Matt Santos
For as Long as You Want is a tender, conversation-driven short film about two actors, Liz and Brad, running lines in a quiet basement one afternoon. What starts as a simple rehearsal slowly turns into something deeper as they begin to open up about their relationships, their dreams, and the things they’re afraid to admit out loud. Liz is in a relationship that no longer feels right, with someone who doesn’t really see her. Brad’s charming, grounded, and unexpectedly honest. As they talk, laugh, and share food, the connection between them grows easy, real, and a little bit electric. With Liz’s train out of the city approaching, she has to decide whether to go back to the life she’s been trying to make work, or stay in this moment just a little longer. Quiet, raw, and full of heart, For as Long as You Want is about timing, chemistry, and the things we don’t plan for.
www.instagram.com/check_please_productions/
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She Loves Her John, 7min., USA
Directed by Ivan Alejandro Rivero
“She Loves Her John” is a story about redemption, the feelings that arise after betrayal, and the thoughts of moving forward.
https://facebook.com/shelovesherjohn
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Triggered 2.0, 22min,. USA
Directed by Mario Ricardo Rodriguez, Marcus Nel-Jamal Hamm
A diabolical madman known as The Director 2.0, with a vendetta against Wolverine, plots a way to take his powers and use him as a distraction as he enacts his ultimate means of destroying all superpowered beings, by pitting him against his one ally, Blade, in a fight to the death. Lucas Bishop must find a way to break free of his control so he can save his friends and the rest of humanity.
https://instagram.com/triggeredfanfilm
Conversation with writer/co-director/actor Marcus Nel-Jamal Hamm.
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Submit your film or screenplay to the WILDsound Festival today: https://filmfreeway.com/WILDsoundFilmandWritingFestival
What is a Screwball Comedy?
A comedy that is characterized by fast-paced, witty dialogue, farcical situations, and romantic storylines that often involve a battle of the sexes. They emerged in the 1930s and became popular in the 1940s.
How is it different than a straight up romantic comedy?
Screwball is a genre that focuses less the romantic courtship between two people, and more on the battle of the sexes. It always has a strong female protagonist, and usually a male protagonist trying to keep up with her.
It puts the emphasis on the spoofing of love, rather than the "will they get together" plot.
Where did the term "screwball" come from?
It gets its name from the baseball pitch "the screwball". For those unfamiliar with baseball, it's a pitch a pitcher throws to a batter that moves in the opposite direction than a typical baseball pitch like a fastball, curveball, or slider.
A screwball is an oddball pitch, like the female leads in the 1930s comedy films where they played the "opposite" of your typical female stereotype that were back in the day.
Instead of wanting to find a husband, birth a few babies and be a homemaker - the female leads in the "screwball comedy" are strong, independent from men, and want to focus their life on their passions.
They are attracted to men, but will only begin a courtship of any kind if it was on their terms - not the mans.
Famous screwball comedy films?
It Happened One Night (1934)
Directed by Frank Capra. Starred Clark Gable & Claudette Colbert
Bringing Up Baby (1938)
Directed by Howard Hawks. Starred Katharine Hepburn & Cary Grant
The Philadelphia Story (1940).
Directed by George Cukor. Also Starred Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant. With James Stewart added to the mix.
The brand declined in popularity through the years, but it still shows up in its style. The Coen Brothers have made a few with "Intolerable Cruelty", "The Hudsucker Proxy", and "Hail Caeser"
Bridesmaids (2011), written and starring Kristen Wiig is considered a screwball comedy.
Is any one a fan of Amy Sherman-Palladino TV shows?: Gilmore Girls. The Marvelous Mr. Maisel. Étoile.
Those television shows are more definitely classic Screwball Comedies. From the characters. plot points. fast paced dialogue. Even the way the shows are directed - are classic screwball!
Enjoy the past, present, and future of the Screwball Comedy!
New York Times Co. v Sullivan, 10min,. Canada
Directed by Yanjia Yang
In the heat of the Civil Rights Movement, a full-page ad in The New York Times sparked a legal battle that would redefine freedom of the press in America. Through archival footage, this short film explores how the case reinforced First Amendment protections and shaped journalism as we know it today. A must-watch for anyone interested in media, law, and the enduring power of free speech.
Get to know the filmmaker:
What motivated you to make this film?
I was driven by a desire to revisit the New York Times Co. v. Sullivan case not just as a historical legal milestone, but as a powerful reminder of how fragile our freedoms truly are. In an era where misinformation, polarization, and censorship continue to challenge democratic ideals, I felt a strong responsibility to explore the balance between rights and responsibilities. I wanted my generation to understand that free speech is not abstract; it is something we must actively reflect upon.
From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
This was my very first documentary, and as an 11th-grade student, it was a steep learning curve. From research to editing, the process took about three months. There were moments of doubt, technical setbacks, and challenges in simplifying complex legal ideas. Though it required a lot of effort and time commitment, I pushed through and was able to find the true meaning of creating this film.
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THE COMMUTER, 11min., USA
Directed by Joseph Sauchelli
A protagonist struggles to cope with a rough commute in the only way she knows how.
https://www.instagram.com/jsauch/
Get to know the filmmaker:
What motivated you to make this film?
Really the urge to make something, particularly for cheap. When you know you are going to go down that route, you begin looking around at what you can use for free. Hoboken has this old fashioned train station I always admired and found cinematic, so I began to build a story around it. With college and my job I have commuted for quite some time, so I tried to bring that experience to this film – which immediately turned into a stressful thriller.
From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
The idea for “The Commuter” is several years old, however it took some time to feel ready and finally take the step towards making the movie myself. As I reflect on the finished product a lesson I have taken away is that no one is ever really ready to make a film, and it is a risky mindset to subscribe to. On one hand you want to make sure your script and pre-production planning is to the best it could be, however you must be careful not to lean on the excuse that “it’s not ready” like a crutch.
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Med Selkies, 11min., UK
Directed by Kelly Ann Buckley
Med Selkies is a poetic film exploring a near-future climate crisis where land is ravaged, and a lone human drifts at sea. Succumbing to the depths, the human encounters an ancestral, aquatic force – beings who once diverged from humanity to adapt to life beneath the waves.
https://www.instagram.com/k_a_b_art_n_sound
Get to know the filmmaker:
What motivated you to make this film?
~ This was an expansion of a project I did for Focal Point Gallery – a wonderful contemporary arts gallery in SouthendonSea, UK. I was lucky enough to be commissioned to create an exhibition for their FPG Sounds programme. My project – Echoes in the Fossils – was a sound-led audiovisual 5 part piece – focused on rising sea levels and lost past & imagined future soundscapes, ranging from Mesolithic to Anthropocene epochs, which touched upon futuristic polymer-human hybrids. Med Selkies was a continuation of that exploration, after Echoes in the Fossils had finished. I am interested in the Aquatic Ape theory and the idea that there may be some human cousin out there in parts of the ocean we don’t know about. Med Selkies evolved from my thinking about that, and what may happen if we are forced to return to the ocean, living with them, because of climate change. This was combined with the thinking about humans carrying micro plastics in their bodies vs the plastic eating microbes scientists are now working with. What if these grow huge, and we become the food? It’s all very mixed up thinking and dreamlike and I suppose this vibe was carried through to the film
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STAYCATION, 93min,. USA
Directed by Russell Emanuel
How is the world affected by a catastrophic event? Everyday people live through a government mandated quarantine during a global pandemic while desperate scientists race to find a cure before it’s too late.
https://russem.com/
https://www.instagram.com/russem31/
Get to know the filmmaker:
What motivated you to make this film?
It was the Covid Pandemic. Everything was shut down so my late filmmaking partner Emile Haris (who unfortunately passed away during post-production in July 2023) and I went about to create a film about a pandemic against what seemed insurmountable odds (nothing was open).
From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
Emile Haris and I started with a short film called “Routine” which we filmed in April 2020 at the start of the pandemic when even SAG-AFTRA was shut down and we couldn’t go outside. So he and I took it upon ourselves to film a 5-minute proof of concept prequel called “Routine” at my condo with a non-SAG-AFTRA actress Paige Laree Poucel and we hired an amazing DC/Marvel Comics Artist Dave Beaty to “draw” the third act which took place outside and hired two amazing voice actors Bill Victor Arucan and Alan Courtright. Due to the success of this film, along with head executive producer Bill Victor Arucan (who reprised his role of ‘Rob Peterson’ from “Routine” and the Peterson name itself is a running gag in all my 6 feature films), we successfully raised the money to do “Staycation” and started filming in November 2024 when SAG-AFTRA was re-opened but with severe Covid restrictions. We then filmed piecemeal over 2 years, finally completing shooting in November 2022.
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La Ghostification, USA, Musical
Directed by Lena Glikson
A surreal and symbolic journey through the inner world of a girl processing abandonment and emotional distress. Through haunting imagery — from mirrored selves red to threads like tears and disturbed dancing — the video explores the psychological aftermath of being ghosted. Set to a dark, emotionally charged track, the visuals blur the line between dream and nightmare, revealing a desperate attempt to communicate with someone who has vanished without a trace.
https://www.instagram.com/lena_glikson_mx/
Get to know the filmmaker:
What motivated you to make this film?
I was going through a very dark and isolating period in my life, where I felt completely abandoned. As a musician, creating music has always been a natural form of healing for me. I wrote, produced, and recorded the song as a way to process those emotions—but it didn’t feel complete. Since I spend most of my professional life shaping music for films as a film and TV music editor, it felt instinctive to add a visual layer to the storytelling. That’s how the music video for La Ghostification was born.
From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
It took around two and a half months to complete the project, with most of that time spent in pre-production. I initially planned for just one shoot day in a photo studio, but during the editing process I realized we needed more footage to fully support the visual story—so we went back and shot additional material.
Since I normally edit music to picture, it was exciting (and intense) to work the other way around—editing picture to music. I’m incredibly grateful to my editor and cinematographer, Eduard Asaturov, who trusted me and gave me the space to be as detailed and specific as I needed to be.
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Bay for Blood, 18min., USA
Directed by Harry Waldman
James and Rob are hiding out in isolation to fix their mutual issues. As time progresses, the two reveal facts regarding their disturbing past relationship. An acquaintance of James’, Jessica, finds herself in an uncomfortable position as she contemplates the best way to handle the situation.
https://www.instagram.com/hwaldman18/
Get to know the filmmaker:
What motivated you to make this film?
-I had a pretty toxic relationship with a friend in high school. He pretended to be my friend, but seemed to enjoy watching me suffer more than anything. His behavior around me was very fickle, sometimes being really kind to me, and at other times, being the complete opposite. I felt that I needed to get this story off of my chest, which has been very cathartic.
James is actually very loosely based on myself at my worst moments. Of course, I don’t condone anything he does throughout the film and have never hurt anyone the way he hurts Rob and Jessica, but I empathize (even though I also fear and despise him) with the character in that he feels that he is always being let down by those around him. In general, I believe that creating complex characters often requires giving them flaws that can make them unlikeable at times, and I always do my best to try to walk in the shoes of the anti-hero or villain in order to portray them in a more genuine manner.
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SILENT TOKEN, 14min., USA
Directed by Camilla Della Vecchia
When Sonia, a descendant of a secretive law enforcement group becomes the target of a ruthless enemy from the past, she must uncover the truth about her family’s legacy. Guarded by the fiercely loyal protector Michael Stone and the powerful coin that she inherited. As danger closes in she must decide whether to stay hidden or embrace her destiny in the fight against corruption.
https://www.instagram.com/silent_token_film
Get to know the filmmaker:
I’ve worked in the film industry for the last 6 years, and for the last few years I’ve been working full time on a popular widely watched syndicated tv show. That experience inspired me to create a character and develop a short film with a compelling story of my own.
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