The Filmmakers
Jason Cortlund Screenplay, Co-director, Cast (Lucien EchevarrÃa)
Jason Cortlund studied film and writing at University of Oregon and earned a Master’s in screenwriting at University of Texas. He was 1998 postgraduate fellow at the James Michener Center for Writers. He also served as a programmer for Cinematexas International Film Festival (founded by Athina Rachel Tsangari) from 1997-2004. His films (made with collaborator Julia Halperin) have shown at festivals, museums, and arts institutions around the world. Cortlund’s work has been honored by Texas Filmmaker’s Production Fund, Texas Commission on the Arts, Texas Filmmakers Showcase, City of Austin Cultural Contracts, Hershey Foundation, Pacific Northwest Writer’s Association, Centrum Institute, and US in Progress (Special Jury Mention). His script Lumberjunkies received an honorable mention for the 2012 San Francisco Film Society Hearst Screenwriting Grant.
Julia Halperin Producer, Co-director, Editor
Julia Halperin received her B.A. summa cum laude from Hunter College and her M.F.A from the University of Texas. She was a programmer for Cinematexas International Film Festival (founded by Athina Rachel Tsangari) from 1997-2004. Julia’s work has earned support from the Texas Filmmaker's Production Fund, Liberace Foundation, City of Austin Cultural Contracts, and The Texas Commission on the Arts. She was also a finalist for a 2004 Rockefeller Media Art Fellowship. Her films (made with collaborator Jason Cortlund) have screened at International Film Festival Rotterdam, SXSW, Austin Film Festival, Directors Guild of America, Pacific Film Archive, Chicago Filmmakers, Houston Museum of Fine Art, Aurora Picture Show, and US in Progress (Special Jury Mention). Julia has also worked as an editor for Greta Schiller, Heather Courtney, and Redmond Entwistle.
Jonathan Nastasi Director of Photography
Jonathan Nastasi is a cinematographer, camera operator, and documentary filmmaker based in New York City. His credits include Food Network’s Chopped, TLC’s What Not to Wear, feature documentaries Ni Una Mas and In The Woods, the independent narrative feature Dream Girl, and numerous shorts. He learned filmmaking at Brooklyn College, the International Film and Television Workshops, and through years of professional work.
Kit Bland Producer
Kit Bland co-produced the feature film adaptation of The Aspern Papers, and was associate producer on Daylight. Kit produced the shorts “The Line,” “Slipaway,” “Through the Door.” He served as first assistant director on Circumstance, On the Ice, May the Best Man Win, El Camino, and Handsome Harry.
Rebbie Ratner Co-Producer
Rebecca Ratner studied semiotics at Brown University and graduate film production at the University of Texas. She served as a producer on Margaret Brown’s film 99 Threadwaxing. She works as a director and visual artist in Brooklyn, NY.
Monternia Co-Producer (Poland)
Based in Warsaw, Monternia.pl is one of Poland’s leading post-production studios. Created by filmmakers for filmmakers in 2005, the company specializes in providing finishing services for complex HD workflows. Monternia.pl also does editing and broadcast post-production for Polish television.
New Europe Film Sales World Sales Agency
New Europe Film Sales is a boutique film distributor based in Warsaw, Poland but working across the world. The company holds full worldwide rights to a number of short films and works with theatrical, TV, VOD and internet buyers. NEFS has so far specialized in short films' sales and worked with award-winning directors, such as Ruben Östlund, Tomek Baginski and Jonas Odell. Currently, the company sells, among others, the Oscar-shortlisted animation Paths of Hate by Damian Nenow. Now, Forager (USA, Poland, 2012) is the company’s first full-length feature. www.neweuropefilmsales.com