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BALLOON
PROOF-OF-CONCEPT SHORT FILM
CAN A BOY BECOME A GOOD MAN--MUCH LESS A "SUPER MAN?"
For fourteen-year-old Sam, surviving the brutal battlefield of junior high has always meant to stay below radar. But all that changes after he becomes the target of a viral video. He’s pressured to “hit back,” but Sam isn’t so sure—even if he does have superpowers. Exploring gender through the lens of the superhero myth, BALLOON questions how we raise boys when our concept of masculinity is narrow.
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
BALLOON played at 40+ film festivals worldwide and received more than 25 awards and honors including:
HOLLYSHORTS
OSCAR-QUALIFYING
WINNER Grand Prix
NEW ORLEANS FILM FESTIVAL
WINNER Audience Award
WINNER Special Jury Mention
AFI FEST
WINNER Audience
PALM SPRINGS SHORTS FEST
WORLD PREMIERE
NOMINEE Best Student Short Film
STUDENT ACADEMY AWARDS
NOMINEE Best Narrative Short Film
NAPA VALLEY FILM FESTIVAL
WINNER Best Narrative Short Film
OMELETO
VIRAL Official Selection
6+ million views in 4 weeks
CANNES LION FESTIVAL OF CREATIVITY
WINNER Young Director Award
WINNER Special Jury Award for Best In Festival
STUDENT EMMY / COLLEGE TELEVISION AWARDS
WINNER Best Drama
WINNER Seymour Bricker Humanitarian Award
CINE GEAR EXPO
WINNER Best Student Short Film
AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CINEMATOGRAPHERS
NOMINEE Heritage Award for Cinematography
THE VALLEY FILM FESTIVAL
WINNER Best Narrative Short Film
COMIC CON INTERNATIONAL SAN DIEGO
NOMINEE Best Comic Book Short Film
VIMEO
STAFF PICK
DIRECTOR'S NOTES
OFFICIAL SELECTION
HIGHLIGHTS
Jonah Beres as “Sam”
Jaylin Ogle as “Adam”
Paul Scheer as “Officer Hart”
Jonah Beres as “Sam”
STARRING
PAUL SCHEER
“Officer Hart"
JONAH BERES
“Sam”
JAYLIN OGLE
“Adam”
CARSON SEVERSON
“Jason”
DAVID GURROLA
“Tyson”
BIANCA LOPEZ
“Mrs. Brody”
JIM HANNA
“Coach Colella”
JACY KING
“Connie”
ERIC TIEDE
“Derek”
TEAM
KATE CHAMURIS
Associate Producer
ALEX PEURYE
Line Producer
MATTHEW HENDERSON
Associate Producer
FRANCES KROON
Cinematographer
JEREMY MERRIFIELD
Writer-Director
DAVE TESTA
Co-Writer
CHRISTINA CHA
Producer
MICHAEL JAMES SCOTT
Executive Producer
JERRY MARSINI
Production Designer
BOWEI YUE
Editor
ALI HELNWEIN
Composer
DEBBY ROMANO, CSA
Casting Director