Frank Kelly’s recent short, ‘Raise My Hands’, has been officially selected for the Sonoma International Film Festival in California this month.
The five-day event will be held from 11-15 April, with writer Elliot Kotek confirmed to attend. BCFE graduate Kelly, whose first short ‘Emily’s Song’ went on to win three awards internationally in 2006, has received critical acclaim for his latest project.
‘Raise My Hands’, screening ahead of Luc Besson’s ‘The Lady’ at the Sonoma fest, is a documentary based on a collection of photographs by New York photographer Scott McDermott, who captured some of the most well-known faces in modern history pledging to improve the planet. In the iconic shots, actors Clint Eastwood, Forest Whitaker, Robert De Niro and Morgan Freeman can all be seen raising their hands in oath. The photos were taken during Nelson Mandela’s birthday reception.
Kotek, who also narrates the documentary, reflects on the pledges behind the hand-raising – such as war, peace, disease and freedom.
‘Raise My Hands’ has already been officially selected at this year’s Byron Bay International Film festival in Australia, as well as Heartland Film Festival in Indianapolis.
Kelly’s latest project, ‘Derelict’, is currently in post-production with John Murphy (King of the Travellers) editing.
More at siffguide.org
