Hollywood in the North Bay: Inside the Healdsburg International Short Film Festival

On the this episode of This Must Be the Place, we journey to the Healdsburg International Short Film Festival with organizers Pamela and Kirk Demorest and get a behind the scenes look at one of the films premiering at the Fest, Eat Surf Love, with director Nada Djordjevich and actress Molly Wood. It's a star-studded episode.In the first segment, Pamela and Kirk Demorest dish on the history of their short film festival, tracing its roots back to a fundraiser in Bodega Bay before it found its home in Healdsburg. The Hollywood veterans discuss how they saw potential for a unique kind of film festival and realized that Healdsburg's infrastructure and community support were the perfect ingredients for their dream. They explain why short films offer the ideal vehicle for global storytelling, providing a diverse and accessible platform for filmmakers and a curated experience for audiences. The couple explain their curation process, which they describe as having a "human" and "European" feel, emphasizing character-driven narratives and emotional depth over cheap thrills. You'll get an inside look at the rigorous selection process, where Pamela and Kirk and their committee reviewed over 467 films to narrow down the program to just 51. And, we'll explore how the festival champions the power of concise storytelling, proving that a compelling narrative doesn't need a feature-length runtime to make an impact.Next, we're joined by director Nada Djordjevich and actress Molly Wood to discuss their award-winning short film, Eat Surf Love. Nada shares her experience directing her first live-action film, and Molly discusses her professional journey from journalism to landing her first acting role in the film. We dive into the creative and logistical advantages (and challenges) of shooting a short film on mobile phones and on location in San Francisco. The duo also discuss the film’s themes, film collaboration, friendship, and advice for novice filmmakers. Allo wraps the episode with a review of a beer that’s easy to love–Fort Point Beer Company’s flagship, KSA. The Craft Beer Concierge teaches us a bit about this style's German history and reveals its flavor profile. Featured Guests:Pamela and Kirk DemorestNada DjordjevichMolly Wood Resources Mentioned in this Episode:Healdsburg International Short Film Festival: The official website for tickets, event details, and submissions.FilmFreeway: The platform used by the festival to accept film submissions.Healdsburg Center for the Arts: The festival's collaborative partner for the opening night gala and other events.Eat Surf LoveManny's Cafe: A location featured in the film Eat Surf Love.The Embarcadero: A location in San Francisco also featured in the film.Ed Begley Jr.: The actor and author mentioned in relation to a book signing at the festival.Tom Waits: The renowned musician who served as a judge for the festival for four consecutive years.Molly Ringwald and Rosie O'Donnell: Mainstream actresses whose work has been featured in past festival selections.Fort Point Beer CompanyThis Must Be the Place is produced by PodlocallyOriginal theme music composed and recorded by Mateo Carrillo and James Cote.