Yes, “Dreams Awake” is in a continuing news cycle about all the film festivals we are getting into. So for now, we are just enjoying it while we can because we realize it will come to an end soon enough. Probably by the end of the year it will mostly fizzle out.

Anyway, to the news. We just finished up being down in South Texas. Harlingen to be exact, where it just so happens my Dad lives. And there is a story (of course) that goes along with that.

He recently had major heart surgery, and on that very same day we got notified we were in the Cinesol Film Festival. A bit serendipitous, huh? I probably would have gone down there anyway, but hey we got to do a festival too. Plus, it was good to see him, and he had recovered enough to be at our screening. How cool was that!

So now we are getting ready for six more festivals. And wow, three of them are in the same week. On Wednesday, Oct 3, we will screening in Spain at the Marbella International Film Festival. My wife and I will be there. On Friday, Oct 5, we will be screening in Las Vegas at Vegas Cine Fest. Erin Gray, Gary Graham (2 of our lead cast members) and our Production Designer Renee Prince will all be there for the screening, a Q & A afterwards, as well as a Red Carpet and Awards Gala. Sounds like fun! Wish we could be there, too! And then on Sun, Oct 7, we will be screening in Northampton, MA at the Northampton International Film Festival. My brother Jay and his wife will be attending, and he will be doing the Q & A afterwards. So, whew, somehow we got that week all covered!

Okay, now that leaves three more beyond that. Well, one of them, the Great Lakes International Film Festival (where we are nominated for Best Feature) in Erie, PA is Sept 20-30, but it is only an online festival. So there will be no actual events to attend. But beyond that on October 11, we will be screening in Margate, UK, at the International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema. So my wife and I will be traveling from Spain to the UK for that one. And then, just as I was putting this together we got word we will be at the Eugene International Film Festival, Oct 18-21, screening time yet to be determined. Beyond that I have no idea what may be going on in our future festival schedule.

But also, somewhere in there, we picked up an Award of Merit from the Lucerne International Film Festival. That was a nice surprise for us. We were however not chosen as an official selection for the festival. But I got a very nice letter from them, stating how impressed they were with our film and that they had a small festival only a few films get into. They somehow felt they had to recognize us, so we greatly appreciate that from them. But surely, going to Switzerland would have been fun!

Oops, I almost forgot – we got nominated for seven awards at the UK festival: Best Lead Actress – Erin Gray, Best Lead Actor – Gary Graham, Best Supporting Actor – Tim O’Connor, Best Supporting Actress – Najarra Townsend, Best Director – Jerry Alden Deal, Best Feature Film, and Best Film of the Festival. Very exciting! (we will have some clips available soon that will feature each of these nominations)

More news later … Onward & Upward!

Facebook Event Pages:

Marbella IFF — https://www.facebook.com/events/356483407766285/

Vegas Cine Fest — https://www.facebook.com/events/487563437930256/

Northampton IFF — https://www.facebook.com/events/520731327942102/

JAD