The Future of Film with Tom Oliva

In the Season 5 finale, host Tom Oliva sits down with one of the most visually daring and thematically rich filmmakers to come through the AAHSFF — Max Hendrickson. A three-time alum from Dublin, Ireland, Max is the director of The Oubliette, Enkata, and a chilling stop-motion adaptation of The Tell-Tale Heart. Max’s films are immersive, unsettling, and meticulously crafted, often exploring themes...

In Episode 8 of Season 5, host Tom Oliva catches up with 2021 AAHSFF alum Luca Csathy, writer and director of Hot Head , which won Best Comedy at the 2021 Festival for its sharp writing, dynamic pacing, and unforgettable character work. Luca breaks down how a simple “what if” premise — robbing a convenience store during a heatwave — turned into a layered, unexpected character study. From performan...

In Episode 7 of Season 5, host Tom Oliva connects with South Florida native and AAHSFF alum Samuel Correa — writer, director, and cinematographer of Ilia, which won Best Horror/Sci-Fi/Fantasy in 2021. Samuel discusses how he approached building a grounded, emotional science fiction world on a student scale, and how his focus on character, conflict, and visual storytelling helped elevate the film’s...

In Episode 6 of Season 5, host Tom Oliva reconnects with one of the most inspiring voices to emerge from the AAHSFF community — Colin Dowse. Colin wrote, directed, and starred in Smile , the film that won Best Overall and Best VFX in 2020 — as a freshman. Born from the early pandemic lockdown and shaped by a deep passion for visual effects and storytelling, Smile became a defining moment not just...

In Episode 5 of Season 5, host Tom Oliva sits down with Madeleine Case — recipient of the 2023 Female Rising Star Award — to talk about her film Hardcore , a raw and emotional story exploring love, loss, and the pressures of young womanhood. A U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts and YoungArts Writing Award winner, Madeleine opens up about her layered storytelling approach, balancing visual style...

In Episode 4 of Season 5, host Tom Oliva chats with AAHSFF alum Chase Olivera, a standout animator whose work includes Beethoven vs. the Bird and Cloud Racers. Known for his inventive use of CGI, sharp comedic timing, and dynamic sound design, Chase reflects on how he developed his visual style, his experiences at the All American High School Film Festival, and how animation allows him to push sto...

In Episode 3 of Season 5, host Tom Oliva sits down with All American High School Film Festival alumna Jordan Held to discuss her Best Comedy nomination at the 2023 Teen Indie Awards, Ovaryacting . Created during her senior year at Orange County School of the Arts, the film garnered multiple accolades, including the Young Filmmakers Competition Jury Award at the 2023 Austin Film Festival. Jordan sh...

In Episode 2 of Season 5, host Tom Oliva sits down with All American High School Film Festival alumna Ella Janes to discuss her evolution as a filmmaker. Ella delves into the creation of her award-winning short film The Derivative Outlook on Love From the Perspective of Two Sixteen-Year-Olds , which earned her the Best Editing award at AAHSFF 2023. She also reflects on her earlier work, The First...

In the Season 5 premiere, host Tom Oliva sits down with All American High School Film Festival alumnus Wesley Wang to discuss his remarkable journey from high school filmmaker to signing a feature film deal with Darren Aronofsky and Sony TriStar. Wesley shares insights into the creation of his viral short film nothing, except everything. , which garnered millions of views on YouTube, and how it le...

Get ready for the season 4 finale of the Future of Film podcast as we dive into the world of cinematic storytelling with the brilliant Hadley Hillel. An alumnus from as far back as 2014, Hadley's captivating dark comedies, "Muffins" and "The Talk," have been a consistent highlight in our Roadshow Presentations across the country. These films are more than just movies; they&...

In this episode of The Future of Film, we have the pleasure of speaking with Kai Tomizawa, a talented filmmaker and alumni from 2020. Kai's submission, the hilarious and heartfelt comedy "No Fan of Andy," won Best Comedy in one of the most competitive years for the category. From the moment we watched her film, we were captivated by Kai's remarkable talent and her ability to weav...

In this episode of The Future of Film, we are honored to have Theo Shakes as our guest. As an alumni from 2019, Theo made a significant impact with his narrative short film "Bygones," receiving multiple nominations for Best Overall Film, Best Direction, Best International Film, and Best Drama. At just 16 years old, Theo displayed a remarkable ability to craft a poignant and heartrending...

Join us on this exciting episode of The Future of Film as we welcome Eli Berliner, an award-winning filmmaker and master of the art of immersive storytelling. Eli's works, including experimental films like "Swimming in Light" and "Cross Currents", as well as his documentary "Think Like a Filmmaker", have garnered critical acclaim for their ability to take the view...

Join us on this exciting episode as we welcome the talented twin brothers, Jasper and Lukas Fletcher, the big winners of Best Overall Film at the 2022 festival. In their debut film, "Rabbit," these talented filmmakers showcase their skills in building an atmosphere rich with mood and meaning, a testament to their natural talent and passion for visual storytelling. Get ready to dive into the ethere...

Join us for this episode of The Future of Film where we catch up with Christian Arnsparger, a talented filmmaker and animator. Christian was a standout student at James Clemens High School in Madison, AL, winning the award for Best PSA in 2018 for his film "Bunker" which addressed the issue of domestic violence. Since then, he has moved to Los Angeles and continued to hone his skills and has worke...

Join us for a captivating episode of our podcast as we sit down with Braden Swope and Ethan Hammock, the creative duo behind the comedy film "The World Within Vincent". In 2019, their submission took the film world by storm with its dark comedy and heartwarming tale, winning Best Direction and a $100,000 scholarship to Point Park University. Follow Vincent, a middle-aged man struggling with bullyi...

Join us for episode two of Season Four as we welcome back Brendan Egan and Haley Pine, a dynamic duo from Massachusetts and Rhode Island who have made a name for themselves in the film industry. In 2020, these two talented creators decided to make something of the unprecedented circumstances and harness its potential for provocative and compelling storytelling. Their 2020 submission, “Zoom Dating”...

Join us for an exciting episode of our podcast as we welcome back Sachin Dharwadker, a member of our inaugural class in 2013, as our first guest of Season Four. Sachin, a screenwriter and director from Madison, Wisconsin, now based in Los Angeles, is a big reason why our festival, All American, even exists today. His submission in 2013, "In a Special Place", helped solidify our belief in the power...

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Jane Noury is a model, filmmaker, and actor based out of Sparta, NJ. Noticed at a young age by a modeling agency, Jane quickly became captivated by the process, creativity, technology, fashion and discipline that the industry requires. Jane is equally comfortable in front of the camera, as she is behind it and this unique talent affords her an advantage in collaborating with professionals on a pro...

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@MeTooLGHS - Natalie Giselle Brooks - 2021 Spark Award Winner Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nataliegbrooks/ Portfolio - https://nataliebrooks.myportfolio.com/