2014 Universe Multicultural Film Festival Event Brouchure

2
The Maeya Culture Exchange Group LLC provides a platform for different
cultures to explore, share and communicate with one another. Our purpose
is to increase mutual understanding and appreciation between people from
different cultures through education and culture exchange. The Economic
globalization brings financial benefit; Maeya Culture Exchange Group LLC
brings harmony through culture and art environment.
As a cultural project management firm, Maeya Culture Exchange Group LLC produces and manages two
international film festivals every year in the United States. One is Universe Multicultural Film Festival
that is held in Los Angeles during the Spring, and the other is San Diego International Kids’Film Festival
that is held in San Diego during late Summer.
Maeya has many years of experience in the promotion and distribution of family-friendly films, both in the
U.S. and in China. As of to date, Maeya has the distribution rights of 63 films imported from China. All of
the films have been promoted through participation in various film festivals.
In February 2013,
Maeya proudly presented Cheng Ying Rescues the Orphan, Maeya’s first theater production at Studio 54
Theater in New York’s Broadway as well as at the Warner Grand Theater in Los Angeles.

3
Welcome Letter from
Executive Director
Lynn Tang
Whip Hubley
Raju Chhabria
Christopher Coppola
Dear UMFF attendees,
Welcome to the 2014 Universe Multicultural Film Festival (UMFF) in
the beautiful Palos Verdes Peninsula. All UMFF activities will be held in
three venues -- Promenade on the Peninsula, RHCC Community Center
and Peninsula Center Library, all within walkable distance of each
other. The UMFF celebrates cultural diversity, creativity, tolerance and
global unity in its exhibition of excellent films and screenplays. We
showcase films and scripts that are rich in storytelling, strong in
character development, and hold deep roots in diverse culture.
This year, the UMFF will screen 32 official selections from 19 countries,
including USA, UK, Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, China, France,
Gambia, India, Israel, Korea, Mexico, Norway, Paraguay, Russia, Spain,
Switzerland, and Ukraine. Attendees may choose to view from a wide
variety of features, shorts, documentaries, and animations. This special
event will also be a place where international film delegations share
the screen with young and soon-to-be-known talents. Other than film
screenings, attendees may participate in industry panels, cultural
events, film Q&As, film receptions and Galas. Filmmakers are welcomed
to meet here with potential partners and share their deal making tips
and insights.
On behalf of the entire UMFF committee, we thank you for being a part
of our festival and participating in the cultural exchange. We thank the
sponsors, supporters, and volunteers who make this event possible.
With your generous support, new friendships and lasting memories
have formed.
CHAIRWOMAN
Tracy Reiner
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Lynn Tang
MARKETING DIRECTOR
Ni Huang
PUBLIC RELATION
Judy Hu
Yi Zhang
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Joanna Sowell
David Lacroix
VIDEO EDITOR
Le Su
Emillo Vega
Ziggy Mrkich
Bernard Clinch
Sally Lee Wu
Eric Brodeur
Catherine Clinch
Wei Chang
Randy Berler
Sincerely,
Facebook.com/SDIKFF
@ SDIKFF
Gerry Orz
Thandizar Easley
Cady Mariano
Aimee Chao
Julie Zhang

4
SPONSORS / PARTNERS

SPONSORS/PARTNERS
5

6

7
TICKETING
Screening Pass (For any film)
General Admission
$10 (Adults)
General Admission - Family (4-pack passes) $25
$5 (Under 18 years old)
General Admission for Group 10+
$8/each
Day Pass $25
$12 (Seniors/Students)
Festival Events
Press Conference
Free
Panel Discussion – Film Pitch & Catch $15
Panel Discussion – Multicultural Screenplay $15
Panel Discussion – Co-Production with China $15
Panel Discussion - Film Distributions A to Z $15
Screenplay Showcase
Free
Opening Film Screening - Indomitable Soldiers
Opening Night Gala
$15
Cultural Mixers
Mixer for Actors and Directors $15
Cross Culture Reception Night $15
Award Ceremony $25
Online Ticketing http://2014umff.eventbrite.com
Group Tickets (minimum 10) call 310-266-8559
On the Door
Accept cash and major credit cards

8
SCREENING VENUES
Venue 1 Venue 2 Venue 3
Peninsula
RHCC
Promenade on the
Center Library
Community Center Peninsula
701 Silver Spur Rd
Rolling Hills Estates
CA 90274
735 Silver Spur Rd
Rolling Hills Estates
CA 90274
550 Deep Valley Drive
Rolling Hills Estates
CA 90274

9
Events Schedule
Friday, April 4, 2014
1:00 PM Press Conference Venue 3, Room 163 Free
1:30 PM Panel Discussion – Film Pitch & Catch Venue 3, Community Room Panel Pass
6:30 PM
Opening Night Gala
Opening Film Screening – Indomitable soldiers
Venue 2
Opening
Night Pass
Saturday, April 5, 2014
2:00 PM Screenplay Showcase Venue 3, Room 163 Free
4:30 PM Panel Discussion – Multicultural Screenplay Venue 3, Community Room Panel Pass
6:30 PM Cross Culture Reception Night Venue 3, Room 163
Reception
Pass
Sunday, April 6, 2014
1:00 PM Panel Discussion – Co-Production with China Venue 3, Community Room Panel Pass
3:20 PM Panel Discussion – Film Distributions A to Z Venue 3, Community Room Panel Pass
5:00 PM Mixer for Actors and Directors Venue 3, Room 163 Panel Pass
6:00 PM Award Ceremony Venue 2
Award
Ceremony
Pass
2014 UMFF warmly welcome the participation of
the Chinese filmmakers delegation!

10

11
Friday, April 4, 2014 Schedule
Venue 1: Peninsula Center Library (701 Silver Spur Rd, Rolling Hills Estates, CA90274)
11:10 AM
ALICE AGONISTES 30 min USA
AT LAST 16 min India
LUCKY DAY 27 min Korea
WHEN YESTERDAY BECOMES TODAY AND TOMORROW 13 min Norway
2:30 PM 2 NIGHT 82 min Israel
4:15 PM
AT THE THIRD DAY 13 min Paraguay
CELESTINO 10 min Sweden
STELLE
27 min
Switzerland/
France
WELCOME YANKEE 22 min Canada
DARK FLOW 16 min USA
Venue 2: RHCC Community Center (735 Silver Spur Rd, Rolling Hills Estates , CA 90274)
2:10 PM THE EXPECTATION OF XIAO DENG 93 min China
7:30 PM INDOMITABLE SOLDIERS 89 min China
Greetings! Welcome to the 2014 Universe Multicultural Film Festival!
Since its inception, the UMFF Film Festival has delighted annual audiences of more
than 2000 visitors with a full schedule of lectures, panel discussions, and films by icons
of cinema and emerging student filmmakers from all around the world. Past honorees
and special guests include Christophe Coppola, among many others.
Yet the true spirit of the film festival is manifest in the cultural diversity and the
conjoining of these cultures. The inestimable impact of all this exchange will shape the
next generations to elevate a greater understanding toward the vast cultures around
the world and that we are all interconnected when we live out a story together.
Join us for a celebration of international films like none other in the Rolling Hills
Estates. Your passion has made the UMFF Film Festival the destination for
international film lovers from around the globe and we are working hard to continue to
build on that success.
Tracy Reiner
Chairman
2014 Universe
Multicultural
Film Festival

12
Saturday, April 5, 2014 Schedule
Venue 1: Peninsula Center Library (701 Silver Spur Rd, Rolling Hills Estates, CA90274)
LIBERTY 5 min USA
THE STORYKEEPER 24 min France
10:20 AM
MY COUNTRY 2 min Australia
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE 12 min Gambia
THE GENE OF FREEDOM 26 min Ukraine
RANCHO DE LOS PALOS VERDES 16 min USA
12:00 PM CHILDREN OF THE SILVER SCREEN 95 min China
2:00 PM YOU CAN'T WRITE A LETTER 84 min France
3:40 PM LOVE IN DABIE MOUNTAIN 82 min China
Venue 2: RHCC Community Center (735 Silver Spur Rd, Rolling Hills Estates , CA 90274)
11:10 AM HEQU HORSE 90 min China
1:00 PM LITTLE SISTERS OF THE GRASSLAND 89 min China
2:40 PM CHOOSE TO FIGHT 51 min Israel
3:50 PM SALT 114 min Chile/Argentina
ST Culture Advocacy
We
Provide scholarships to students who dream of pursuing higher education in the social sciences
Encourage beneficial exchanges among different cultures and education systems
Promote shared cultural beliefs and values
STCA is honored to be the co-host of the 2014 Universe Multicultural Film Festival
Get involved with us! http://www.stculture.org

13
Sunday, April 6, 2014 Schedule
Venue 1: Peninsula Center Library (701 Silver Spur Rd, Rolling Hills Estates, CA90274)
DRAW A LINE 26 min Russia
STALKER'S DREAM 4 min France
1:10 PM ROSE, MARY AND TIME 30 min UK
TO THE LIGHTHOUSE 8 min Spain
THE DHARMA BUM 20 min USA
2:50 PM LIFE IN STILLS 58 min Israel
3:55 PM WATER WARS 60 min USA
Venue 2: RHCC Community Center (735 Silver Spur Rd, Rolling Hills Estates , CA 90274)
2:10 PM LAOZI WENT OUT OF HANGU PASS 96 min China
Venue 3: Promenade on the Peninsula (550 Deep Valley Drive Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274)
11:40 AM INDOMITABLE SOLDIERS 89 min China
1:20 PM SALT 114 min Chile/Argentina
INVISIBLE SACRIFICE 10 min USA
3:30 PM VITI 15 min USA
THE REAL HUMAN BEING 15 min USA

14

15
OFFICIAL SELECTIONS
2 NIGHT
Israel—82 min
Feature—Comedy
Director/Producer Roi Werner
Screenwriters Roi Werner, Yaron
Brovinsky Cast Yaron Brovinsky,
Keren Berger
In a city where everything is
possible, a guy and a girl are
looking for the impossible - a
parking place. This is a story of two
strangers who want to spend the
night together. But they can’t find a
parking place…
ALICE AGONISTES
USA—30 min
Short—Drama—Mystery—14+
Director Jennifer Hulum
Screenwriters Jennifer Hulum,
Minglu Zeng Cast Liesel Kopp, Rex
Alan McMillan, Chris Waters
When a stranger enters Alice's
house, she cannot imagine how his
story could change her (and his) life
forever. Memory, fear and horrific
self-discovery take everyone by the
throat.
AT LAST
India—16 min
Short—Drama—Suspense—Thriller
Horror—14+
Director/Screenwriter Tarun Jain
Cast Sachin Guglani, Himanshu
Pandey, Tarun Jain
A mastermind, a believer, and a
psychopath set out on a journey to
an unknown destination. Strange
conversations and incidents take
place, blurring the difference
between myth and reality.
AT THE THIRD DAY
Paraguay—13 min
Short—Comedy
Director Osvaldo Ortiz Faiman
Screenwriters Osvaldo Ortiz
Faiman, Mara Portillo
Cast Amada Gomez, Katty Pacua
Nena and Porota haven’t see their
friend Chiquita for 3 days. While
waiting for her return so they could
pray to St. Expedite together,
Porota’s dog brings back Chiquista’s
beloved pet in its mouth, dead and
dirty…
CELESTINO
Sweden—10 min
Short—Animation
Director/Screenwriter/Producer
Elizabeth Watson
The music from Celestino’s panflute
is so beautiful that birds come from
afar bring coins as gifts. When the
man-who-owns-the-mountain sees
the coins, his greed takes over…
CHILDREN OF THE
SILVER SCREEN
China—95 min
Feature—Drama
Director Yi Liu, Xun Liu
Screenwriter Fang Zhang
This movie describes how a
filmmaker couple contributes their
lives into the development of movie
industry in China.

16
OFFICIAL SELECTIONS
CHOOSE TO FIGHT
Israel—52 min
Feature—Documentary
Director/Producer Itay Livne
Screenwriters Itay Livne, Yael Paz
A unique martial-arts technique
developed by the grandfather is
passed down to the son and
grandson. A survivor of Auschwitz,
Mr. Skornik fought back hard and
became a renowned martial-arts
teacher and decorated soldier.
DARK FLOW
USA—16 min
Short—Drama
Director/Screenwriter Yuxi Li
Cast Jacob Fuentes, Joshua
Velazquez
Two brothers live together, trying to
make their life better. However one
of them becomes addicted to drugs
and his life turns dark. The other
tries to save him. After knowing
their mother is not going to return
home, how will their life change?
DRAW A LINE
Russia—26 min
Short—Drama—14+
Director Lika Alekseeva
Screenwriter Tatyana Zagday
This is a non-childish story about
the generation that grew up during
the most changes in 90-ies Russia.
It is about those whose parents are
too busy with their own problems.
How to make a choice between real
friendship and being accepted to
the gang? What it takes to keep
silence when you want to scream?
HEQU HORSE
China—90 min
Feature—Drama
Director Zhihe Duo
Screenwriters Zhihe Duo, Ciren
Dunzhu Cast Caihua Jiaben,
Zhuoma, Saercuo, Quehu Guan
This is a story being told from a
horse’s viewpoint. After “Black
Eagle”, a horse from grassland, won
the champion in a horse racing, the
conflict between the cultures of
grassland horse and modern horse
arises…
INDOMITABLE
SOLDIERS
China—89 min
Feature—Drama—War—Action
Director Shunan Cai, Lunna A
Screenwriter Yuanbo Wu
Cast Yulin Fan, Meike Li
In 1933, during the War of
Resistance against Japan, the
indomitable soldiers of a regiment
with heavy casualties keep fighting
to the last minute for defending
their motherland…
LAOZI WENT OUT OF
HANGU PASS
China—96 min
Feature—Drama—History
Director Chengyun Ma
Screenwriter Peng Zhuo
Cast Baoping Shen, Qiang He
Hangu pass was the only
reasonable route to invade the
State of Qin from the central plains
of China. Laozi was stopped by
frontier guards when leaving Hangu
Pass for the west…

17
OFFICIAL SELECTIONS
LIBERTY
USA—5 min
Short—Comedy
Director Lanzhu Jian
Screenwriters Simon Wilches
Castro, Lanzhu Jian Cast Daniel
Marin, Javier Barboza, Vincent
Palmieri, Patrick Ferrell
It is a typical day in typical Los
Angeles for a typical immigrant at a
typical job living in a typical
American dream. Jose wants
nothing more than climb the ranks
of his humble insurance sales job.
LIFE IN STILLS
Israel—58 min
Feature—Documentary
Director/Screenwriter Tamar Tal
The film tells the story of Miriam
Weissenstein and her grandson
Ben, who embarks on an exciting,
funny and touching journey to save
the legendary “Photo House” and
its nearly one million negatives that
document Israel’s defining
moments.
LITTLE SISTER OF
THE GRASSLAND
China—89 min
Feature—Drama
Director Nayintai Bao
Screenwriters Nayintai Bao, Decai
Hai Cast Namuhann, Hulan
Based on a real story in Inner
Mongolia in 1960s, the film praises
two teenage sisters, Long Mei and
Yu Rong, who risked their lives to
protect a flock of the Commune's
sheep during a blizzard.
LOVE IN DABIE
MOUNTAIN
China—82 min
Feature—Drama—Romance
Director Jingwen Cao
Screenwriters Weizhu Yu, Hua Yan,
Youdi Liu Cast Wenxi Ge
A young painter goes to Dabie
Mountain to work on a painting
for her art exhibition. On her trip,
she meets three different men and
some interesting stories happen
among them.
LUCKY DAY
South Korea—27 min
Short—Drama—Horror—14+
Director Kang Suk Lee
Screenwriters Mae Hwa Park, Ray
Wu
Jihun cheats his girlfriend and gets
a motel room with a girl het met in
a bar. The next morning, Jihun gets
up but finds that the girl is gone. As
he gets dressed to leave, he finds a
few words written on a dressing
table mirror with red lipstick...
MY COUNTRY
Australia—2 min
Short—Animation
Directors Ralph Stevenson, Jelena
Sinik Cast Francis J. Edwards
Dorothea Mackellar is an icon of
Australian poetry and her poem
'My Country' has resonated with
Australians for generations. In this
animated adaptation of the poem,
her beautiful imagery, deep passion
for the land, and life of her beloved
Australia are rendered in a moving
stained glass style.

18
OFFICIAL SELECTIONS
RANCHO DE LOS
PALOS VERDES
USA—16 min
Short—Documentary
Director/Producer/Screenwriter
David Freeman
Nominated for 1994 Diamond
Award, Frank Vanderlip inspired the
transformation of a ranch into a
beautiful community.
ROSE, MARY AND
TIME
UK—30 min
Short—Drama—Crime —Fantasy—
Sci-Fi
Director/Screenwriter Hardeep
Giani
Barney is a man fed up with life,
and also an endearing character
with faults. This is a story of second
chances in life. It looks at the
concept of Kismet. Is our life plan
already written?
SALT
Chile / Argentina—114 min
Feature—Drama
Director/Screenwriter Diego
Rougier Cast Fele Martínez,
Patricio Contreras, Javiera
Contador, Sergio Hernández
A Spanish film director who is
obsessed with making a western
decides to go to Northern Chile in
search of a story for his screenplay.
Being confused with another, a real
adventure begins. Now he will have
a good script if he leaves alive.
STALKER’S DREAM
France—4 min
Short—Sci-Fi—Music
Directors/ Screenwriters David
Trujillo, Sébastien Corne
Cast Gwennaël Hertling, Mathilde
Bourbin
In a world which lies in ruins, one
man is trying to survive. Both
physically and mentally
imprisoned, he is haunted by the
memories of a missing woman.
Hope and despair entwine…
STELLE
Switzerland / France—27 min
Short—Drama—Fantasy
Director Yann Renzi
Cast Gigo Proietti
Adam is a little lonely and taciturn
boy. To overcome his loneliness, he
takes refuge in his imagination and
in contemplating the stars. But one
day, a strange object fallen from the
sky brakes this dreariness: a
kaleidoscope.
SUSTAINABLE
AGRICULTURE
Gambia—12 min
Short—Documentary
Director/Producer Omar Leigh
Screenwriter Mohamed L. Touray
Cast Amie Manneh
This documentary surveys how
farmers in Gambia utilize the
knowledge gained from the training
and its impact on their productivity.

19
OFFICIAL SELECTIONS
THE DHARMA BUM
USA—20 min
Short—Drama—14+
Director/Producer/Screenwriter
Alex Chavarria
An antisocial Los Angeles teen
who’s lost hope with the world
meets a mute bum who realigns his
perceptions on life.
THE GENE OF
FREEDOM
Ukraine—26 min
Short—Documentary
Director Oleksandr Kovsh
Screenwriter Andriy Danylchenko
This documentary tells to the
viewers what encourages not only
Ukraine, but also other nations to
honor the memory of well-known
Ukrainian poet and painter Taras
Shevchenko.
THE STORYKEEPER
France—24 min
Short—Documentary
Director Rogier van Beeck Calkoen
Screenwriter Rogier van Beeck
Calkoen, Erin Byrne
Cast Rene Psaroles
A B-17 soars over a Paris
neighborhood in 1944 and crashes
in an explosion that reverberates
inside a 7-year-old Rene Psarolis.
What happened? Did they all die or
did some survive? Rene is haunted
by questions. He seeks answers.
TO THE
LIGHTHOUSE
Spain—8 min
Short—Music
Director/Screenwriter Carlos
García Abalos Cast Andreu Mairal,
Cyntia Garcia, Gerard Ocana
Andreu, in a bad moment of his
life, remembers the good times,
when and where he met her. He
thinks about what went wrong
and how to keep the good part
and start again.
WATER WARS
USA—60 min
Feature—Documentary
Director Jim Burroughs
It tells the story of Bangladesh at
war with not only rising seas, but
devastating floods and droughts
from India's dams dumping their
excess in the wet season and
siphoning off river water in the dry
season.
WELCOME YANKEE
Canada—22 min
Short—Drama
Director Benoit Desjardins
Cast Noémie Godin-Vigneau,
Danny Gilmore
Amant and Aslan are persecuted.
At stake are their lives and the life
of their child. Isolated from and
forgotten by the rest of the world,
their pleas for help go unanswered.
In search of a better life, they
attempt the impossible.

20
OFFICIAL SELECTIONS
WHEN YESTERDAY
BECOMES TODAY
AND TOMORROW
Norway—13 min
Short—Drama—14+
Director/Screenwriter Kathleen
Johnsen Cast Trine Wiggen
Five longtime girlfriends catch up
after taking some time apart. Last
meeting didn’t turn out that well.
So, not everyone is looking forward
to this evening.
YOU CAN’T WRITE A
LETTER
France—84 min
Short—Drama—Comedy—18+
Director/Screenwriter Levil
Guillaume Cast Stefen Eynius,
Sophie Guyard, Philippe Nicaud,
Colette Kraffe
Julien and Nina sign a pact with the
universe: they must enjoy life,
whatever the cost. Will that
decision lead them to happiness, or
to their disappearance?
SPECIAL SCREENING
VITI
USA—15 min
Short—Drama
Director/Screenwriter Dustin
Bancroft
Cast Kate Taney, Tad Coughenour
Alice and Edmond, two 1840s
missionaries are sent to Fiji to
convert the cannibal natives to
Christianity. But first they must
convert the King. Will they sacrifice
their lives to save others souls?
THE REAL HUMAN
BEING
USA—15 min
Short—Drama
Director Chris Lang
Screenwriters Chris Lang, Rachel
Valladares Cast Alain Azoulay
It is a story about Colonel Mikolaj
and his journey throughout the
last few hours before he uncovers
a big secret behind a plane crash...
INVISIBLE SACRIFICE
USA—10 min
Short—Drama
Director Mike Shields
Screenwriter Stuart Creque
Cast Carmen Casavi, Corey Weber,
David Fralick
Jolt, an evil villain with electrical
powers, kidnaps Mr. 168's girlfriend
Amanda, in order to gain the secret
of his invisibility…
THE EXPECTATION
OF XIAO DENG
China—93 min
Feature—Drama
Directors Yimin Zhu, Zhuping He
Cast Chunyan Guo, Bin Yang
Xiao Deng, a 10 years old girl who
stays in the village while her
parents are working in the cities.
Lonely but strong, she sticks
together with her sick grandma…

2014 Universe Multicultural Film Festival
21
Miao
Miao people are an ethnic
minority group from Southeast
China. According to ancient
tales, Miao people were the
descendants of “the butterflies.”
Having no written language,
they record their legends and
history through women's
embroidered works. Miao girls
learn the skills of embroidery
from their mothers as young as
they start walking. Their
embroidery is made of cotton
Text
and silk, full of vivid and vibrant
colors as well as pleasingly
symmetrical patterns. The
women embroider elegant
figures and shapes onto articles
that are used for daily life and
also into splendid wedding and
festival costumes.
For more information, please visit
http://maeya.org/

22