Reel Women International Film Festival

TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW FOR THE 4TH ANNUAL
REEL WOMEN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

The fourth annual Reel Women International Film
Festival, featuring films directed by women from all
over the world (including H.E. PHILIPSEN), will open March 7th with Reservations,
directed by Aloura Charles. Set over a night in a New
York hotel, Reservations unexpectedly connects the
lives of several strangers in startling moments of
passion, friendship and hope. A reception will follow
at the Luxe Hotel Rodeo Drive.

Academy Award winner Helen Hunt's directorial debut
Then She Found Me serves as the Festival's centerpiece
presentation. Adapted from the novel by New England
Book Award winner Elinor Lipman, the film follows
April Epner (Hunt) and her touching journey to
happiness after separation from husband (Matthew
Broderick) and the death of her adopted mother.
Academy Award nominee Bette Midler also stars as
exuberant talk show host Bernice. Reception to follow
at Luxe Hotel Rodeo Drive.

With films from 17 countries, the Reel Women shorts
presentation sheds light on a variety of social and
political issues. In Migration, internationally
acclaimed director Mir Nair (The Namesake) examines
the AIDS crisis in India. Ghosts of Abu Ghraib
director Rory Kennedy looks at how the Iraqi prison
abuses in the fall of 2003 still remain etched in our
national consciousness. In Bling, director Raquel
Cepeda travels with hip-hop artists on an emotional
journey to Sierra Leone where they meet face-to-face
with victims of conflict “blood” diamonds. Featuring
interviews with Kanye West, Big Daddy Kane and
Jadakiss, Bling is a riveting documentary that teaches
the audience the real price of diamonds.


To purchase tickets and view the complete festival
line-up please visit www.reelwomenfest.com

A FORK IN THE ROAD's official international premiere at Reel Women International Film Festival

A FORK IN THE ROAD will be celebrating its first, official international festival premiere at the Reel Women International Film Festival in Burbank, California at the Laemmles Music Hall 3 on Saturday, March 8th, 2008 during the 5:30 p.m. festival showcase of international student films (for more details, click on the link above.)
As quoted on the official festival web-site,

Reel Women International Film Festival founded by
Diana Means was established to honor and advance the
careers of accomplished and emerging women filmmakers
by providing them a forum to showcase their films in
the heart of the entertainment industry. Our goal is
to help increase opportunities for women of diverse
backgrounds to share their stories with the world.

Described by Back Stage West as a “Must-attend event
for all women in the entertainment industry,” the
festival presents narratives, documentary animation
and student short films directed and written by women.
The festival’s programming reflects the festival’s
further commitment to use visual media to heighten
awareness of critical social and health issues
impacting women globally.

Screening location is as follows:
Screening Location
Laemmles Music Hall 3
9036 Wilshire Blvd.
Beverly Hills, CA 90211

Welcome!

You've found the official Blog site for the short, narrative film, "A Fork in the Road," by Heidi Philipsen. Please feel free to check out the site for information regarding cast and crew, as well as the latest news surrounding this short-little-film-with-the-big-heart.

If you haven't watched "A Fork in the Road," don't stray -- a trailer is on its way!

Sincerely,

Heidi Philipsen, writer/producer/director, "A Fork in the Road"

November 17, 2007: National Survivors of Suicide Day

This past weekend was the official date of National Survivors of Suicide Day, as announced on the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention web-site (click on the title link above).

As you may, or may not, know, "A Fork in the Road," is based upon a true life story -- my family's.

When I was in my first year in college, my father attempted suicide by turning on his car in the closed garage of our suburban home.

Coincidentally, my younger brother came home early from high school and found our father before it was too late. He saved him by accident.

According to NFSP, "every 16 minutes, someone dies by suicide."

My film "A Fork in the Road," is for everyone who has thought of suicide and their loved ones -- for "every 17 minutes," as the NFSP also stated, "someone is left to make sense of it."

I tribute my first film to my brother, Kjarsten, and my father, Dale.

Heidi E. Philipsen

"A Fork in the Road" Wins "Best Screenplay"

A FORK IN THE ROAD won the award for "Best Screenplay" during the Motion Picture Institute of Michigan's annual Student Film Festival graduation ceremonies, staged at the beautiful Emagine Theater at Foutain Walk Mall in Novi, Michigan, Tuesday, October 2nd.

The film, also nominated for "Best Director" among a select group of six individuals, representing the best of M.P.I.'s 2006/2007 student body, was previewed that evening to an audience of 350.

Other awards that evening include:

Best Director Chuck Grady

Best Cinematography Patrick Elliott

Best Editing, Hyun Suh

(Best Screenplay, Heidi Philipsen)

Best Art Direction, Chuck Grady