Screening #5 at the fantastic PPMtv. Michael hosting the Q & A with local filmmakers

Film Unbound presents an evening of short films and Q&As with their makers at Portsmouth Public Library, 175 Parrott Ave, Portsmouth, NH 03801 on Thursday, May 29 at 7pm. In the line-up this time are a mix of fiction and nonfiction shorts by filmmakers from New Hampshire, across the country, and around the globe. Admission is free, but donations to help continue the production of Portsmouth Short Film Night are welcome at http://psfn.filmunbound.com — click on the yellow DONATE button at the right-hand side of the page.

Since its inaugural February 2013 event at 3S Artspace, Portsmouth Short Film Night, or “PSFN,” has travelled around town to venues including The Press Room and Strawbery Banke. Most recently, PSFN played to a standing-room-only, 100-person crowd at Portsmouth Public Media. Catherine Stewart and Michael Rodríguez Torrent, owners of Seacoast-based media production company Film Unbound and the organizers of PSFN, are currently making plans for the summer’s event, venue TBA. They plan to return PSFN to its original venue, 3S Artspace, upon completion of its renovation at the end of the year. PSFN receives submissions numbering in the hundreds from all around the world via its website, http://psfn.filmunbound.com. Submissions are always open and are free to filmmakers, but there is a curatorial part of the planning when creating the line-up. “We want to show a great range of films, that is what is so cool about showing shorts,” explains Stewart. “We can show a dark comedy and, if you don’t like it, in four minutes or so you will be watching an experimental documentary about soap — or something else. So there is always something for everyone. We also want to make sure we are highlighting talent at all different stages of their careers, as well as from all around the world, so alongside the submissions we seek out films that are perhaps amazing but underappreciated, or considered not mainstream enough to be available in other locations.”

Not Yet Ripe by Emily Neilson, shot on 16mm film. The filmmaker will be joining us for a Q & A

This month’s lineup includes local screen veteran Alfred Thomas Catalfo’s touching drama Rocketship, about a small boy who befriends an elderly gentleman, as well as Sunbonnet Quilters, a beautiful documentary about a small quilting community in New York state shot on 16mm film by Exeter-based filmmaker Melissa Cooperman. “We have two shorts shot on film this time round,” says Rodríguez Torrent. “It’s great to be able to do that in a time when digital has become king. We’ve had interesting film-based submissions in the past, but Melissa was able to use the medium really well, depicting light and shadow in a way that has a very different quality from digital.” Also included in the lineup is UNH alumnus Liam BIllingham, travelling up for the event from his current home in New York City to participate in the post-screening audience Q&A. Billingham’s film, Future Perfect, recently won the “Audience Choice” award at IndieWorks, a New York City event similar to PSFN. As well as local and national work, the night will also include several international films including shorts from France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Peru. Films range from drama, to comedy, to traditional documentary, to experimental, and include live action, dance, and animation, as well as varying film techniques and technologies. As Stewart said, there really is something for everyone. The evening will last roughly 100 minutes, and families should note that adult themes are explored throughout some of the films that may be inappropriate for young audiences.

About Film Unbound

Film Unbound is a media production company creating documentary, fiction and tailor-made promotional shorts, event coverage and product demonstrations for clients, including educational institutions, businesses, charitable organisations, and individuals. Film Unbound is currently in pre-production with its first feature documentary, following a year with a New Hampshire teacher as he strives to revolutionize the nation’s failing public school system. As well as their own films, Film Unbound produces unique screening events, including the quarterly Portsmouth Short Film Night. Held in a variety of venues, these screenings have brought local and international filmmakers together with moviegoers to share work at various stages of development. They will also be screening the NH Premiere of From Nothing, Something, a documentary by local filmmaker Tim Cawley about creativity, on June 14th at Portsmouth Music and Arts Center (PMAC). For more information on Film Unbound and its work, please visit filmunbound.com. For updates on Portsmouth Short Film Night, check out psfn.filmunbound.com.

About 3S Artspace

Portsmouth Short Film Night is produced in collaboration with 3S Artspace, New Hampshire’s first nonprofit, multidisciplinary contemporary arts space. To learn more about 3S and its upcoming events, to keep apprised of the development of its new space at 319 Vaughan Street, and to download a commitment form for Making Space: The Campaign for 3S Artspace, please visit www.3sarts.org.