Celebrated documentary Director/Producer Roya Aryanpad proves she can deliver socially significant films in the fiction arena with her award-winning short, “Jacob Stone.”
The film was set to screen as an “Official Selection” at the 2015 Burbank International Film Festival on Sept. 11, where it has already earned a nomination in the “Best Short Films by Women” category; and then at the 2015 Catalina Film Festival on Saturday, Sept. 26.
Celebrated documentary Director/Producer Roya Aryanpad proves she can deliver socially significant films in the fiction arena with her award-winning short, “Jacob Stone.”
The film was set to screen as an “Official Selection” at the 2015 Burbank International Film Festival on Sept. 11, where it has already earned a nomination in the “Best Short Films by Women” category; and then at the 2015 Catalina Film Festival on Saturday, Sept. 26.
“Jacob Stone” tells the story of an inner-city high school athlete (Nicholas Alexander) with a bright future who is forced to re-examine his life when a mistake from his past resurfaces. Written by David Blacker, the film sheds light on the importance of second chances and redemption, as Jacob mends the broken bond between himself and his incarcerated brother Elton (Deon Lucas).
Produced under Aryanpad’s Dream Benders Productions banner, the film first captivated audiences earlier this year with its world premiere at the San Diego Black Film Festival. Since then, it has screened as an “Official Selection” at numerous festivals, winning “Best Drama” at Los Angeles Independent Film Festival Awards and earning five other nominations, including “Best Director” (Roya Aryanpad) and “Best Actor” (Nicholas Alexander).
A former refugee born in Shiraz-Iran, Aryanpad’s passion comes from a desire to make films that contribute positively to environmental, social, cultural, and political issues. Previously, she devoted her skills to creating short documentaries related to sustainability, earning a solid reputation for her work. In 2013, Aryanpad made the decision to head into the fictional film world with “Jacob Stone.”
“My own experiences in Iran during the time of the Revolution which led to my family’s exile have made me very sensitive to issues of social injustice, poverty, and human oppression everywhere,” Aryanpad said. “The struggles of African-Americans may not be my own, but I feel a kinship with them, as we are all survivors of oppression.”
Up next, Aryanpad is focusing on a full-length screenplay she wrote, based on her experiences as a teenager and her family’s escape after Iran’s Islamic Revolution.
For more information, visit www.CatalinaFilm.org.
