ShowBizzBuzz: New Dramatic Short “Evie” Delivers Ill-Fated Tale of Child Bride
ShowBizzBuzz = Entertainment News…here’s the latest:
What is Buzzworthy?
The festival award-winning dramatic indie short film, Evie, about the ill-fated tale of a young girl forced into marriage, releases on FilmShortage.com beginning January 30, 2020. It was directed by Mike Peebler, who co-wrote and co-produced along with Marc Fellner-Erez under their Upstart Crow Films company.
Evie won the Remi Gold Award at Houston WorldFest; and earned runner up for Best Narrative Short at the Albuquerque Film and Music Experience, in addition to Official Selection screenings at numerous others.
What is the premise of Evie?
The film is described as: the story of 15-year-old Evie Beekins, who has been kept from the outside world all her life. Raised on a compound in a cult-like rural community, Evie’s days are completely controlled and utterly routine. Until one day, when her parents drive her to a courthouse informing her that today is her wedding day, whether she wants it to be or not. Facing her potential groom, a man from the community who has been secretly sexually abusing her, Evie searches for a way to escape the suffocating fate being forced upon her by her parents and a willing judge.
What else do we know about Evie?
To assist with truthfulness in telling this story, the filmmakers turned to Unchained at Last, the leading non-profit fighting against forced and child marriages in America. Wanting to make a difference, the filmmakers established an independent online website to crowdfund for the film and donated 5% directly to their non-profit partner.
Why did Mike Peebler want to make this film?
“More than anything else, Marc and I wanted to make a film that took the horror of this situation from an abstract news story and put the audience into the mind of a young girl being forced to marry. At every festival audiences were shocked to learn about the issue and moved to try to take action to help end it, and action is the ultimate goal of all of this. To make real change in the world is the highest calling for artists.”
Child marriage remains legal in 48 out of 50 states and involves thousands of children each year.
What else have Mike Peebler and Marc Fellner-Erez worked on?
Mike and Marc launched their Upstart Crow Films production company in 2015 and have produced 6 short films. Out With A Bang and The God Chair made Cinequest Film Festival history when they debuted simultaneously at the 2015 Academy Award-qualifying event, and both went on to secure distribution with Silicon Beach Pictures.
What’s next for Mike Peebler and Marc Fellner-Erez?
They are currently working to secure independent financing for a feature-length version of Evie. They have several other projects in the works, including an episodic set in the skid row district of Los Angeles. Their goal is to make thoughtful entertainment that pushes the boundaries while exploring the world with whimsy and honesty.
Want to keep up with Evie and Upstart Crow Films?
Visit: UpstartCrowFilms.com
And, watch Evie on FilmShortage.com beginning January 30, 2020
