The Way We Speak is an official selection of the 24th annual Anchorage International Film Festival (AIFF). AIFF was named one of the 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World in 2023 by MovieMaker Magazine, and has developed a global reputation for curating “films worth freezing for.” Ian’s feature debut joins the lineup alongside Sundance […]
Ian joined a series of interviews to coincide with the fall film festival tour of The Way We Speak, including: Pop Culturalist Love and the Multiverse podcast Go! Eastern Oregon Visit the links above for more.
The Way We Speak will have its Pennsylvania premiere at the sixth annual Centre Film Festival—a gold-ranked FilmFreeway event known for programming “local films with global impact as well as global films with local impact.” The Way We Speak screens at the Foster Auditorium on the Penn State campus this Wednesday, November 6. Lead actor […]
The Way We Speak screened at five film events during the month of September—including MovieMaker magazine top festivals—which awarded Ian’s feature debut with five wins and six nominations. Some of the awards included: Albuquerque Film & Music Experience winner: Ian Ebright—Best Director Albuquerque Film & Music Experience winner: Patrick Fabian—Best Actor El Paso Film Festival […]
The Way We Speak is one of four narrative feature films selected for the 2024 Eastern Oregon Film Festival (EOFF). Named to MovieMaker magazine’s list of the 25 coolest film festivals in the world in 2018 and 2022, EOFF is a community focused annual event that “stands as a beacon of cinematic excellence.” EOFF also […]
KFOX14 News published an interview with Ian as part of their El Paso Film Festival (EPFF) preview—where The Way We Speak is the opening night film. Now in its seventh year, MovieMaker magazine named EPFF a top 50 festival in 2024. Watch the interview on KFOX14, or visit Anchor Robert Holguin on Facebook for an extended […]
The Way We Speak picked up one win and one nomination at the 15th annual SoHo International Film Festival in New York City. The MovieMaker top festival acknowledged Patrick Fabian for his role as Simon Harrington in The Way We Speak with their Best Acting Performance in a Leading Role award, and nominated Ian’s first […]
Following an April screening at the Oscar-qualifying RiverRun International Film Festival in Winston-Salem, The Way We Speak travels to the Tar Heel State as an official selection of the 10th annual Footcandle Film Festival (FFF). FFF is a gold-ranked FilmFreeway event “designed to bring unique, challenging and entertaining films and filmmakers to Western North Carolina.” […]
Short Films Matter gave Pinwheel Horizon a five-star review and added the film to their Handpicked section, calling Ian’s third short “a powerful, thought-provoking piece that deserves to be seen…Ebright flips the script in an unexpected and profound way.” Read the review at Short Films Matter, or watch Pinwheel Horizon on YouTube.
The Way We Speak is an official selection of the 2024 Gig Harbor Film Festival (GHFF). Since its founding in 2007, GHFF has become one of the fastest-growing independent film events in the Pacific Northwest, and is a FilmFreeway Top 100 best reviewed festival. GHFF has programmed all four of Ian’s films—nominating his third short […]
The Way We Speak will have its Texas premiere as the opening night film of the seventh annual El Paso Film Festival (EPFF). EPFF was named a MovieMaker magazine top 50 festival in 2024, and is one of the largest showcases of independently made films in the Southwest—with past attendees including writer-director Robert Rodriguez. The […]
The Way We Speak is an official selection of the 15th annual SOHO International Film Festival (SOHO Film Fest). A MovieMaker magazine top 50 festival and gold-ranked FilmFreeway event, SOHO Film Fest brings “fresh and innovative cinematic pieces” to New York City—with past attendees including Pierce Brosnan, Octavia Spencer, and Luis Guzman. The Way We […]
The Way We Speak is an official selection of the Albuquerque Film & Music Experience (AFMX)—and the festival’s closing night film. AFMX is a MovieMaker magazine top 50 festival and gold-ranked FilmFreeway event now in its twelfth year, with past attendees including Jeff Bridges, Rhea Seehorn, and Robert Redford. The Way We Speak screens Saturday, September […]
Following the July 23 VOD release of The Way We Speak in the U.S. and Canada, Ian appeared with actors Patrick Fabian (Better Call Saul), Diana Coconubo, and Kailey Rhodes in interviews with MovieWeb, Awards Buzz, Starry Constellation Magazine, and more—while Patrick promoted the film on outlets including KTLA, CBS Los Angeles, The Adam Carolla Show, and […]
The Way We Speak is a semifinalist at the 2024 Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF). The Oscar-qualifying and MovieMaker magazine top 50 festival previously selected Ian’s short films The Devil Needs a Fix and From the Sky—the latter winning their 2014 International Humanitarian Award grand prize. RIIFF designated The Way We Speak out […]
Gravitas Ventures—one of the largest all-rights distributors in the world—released The Way We Speak July 23rd on VOD and digital on-demand platforms in the U.S. and Canada. With more than 500 content partners, Gravitas’ films have reached more than 1 billion homes around the globe. Ian’s feature debut is available to rent or own on […]
Pinwheel Horizon joins the inaugural EmpowerHER Film Festival in Johannesburg, South Africa, where it will screen in August. The gold-ranked FilmFreeway gathering is a “captivating celebration of women’s voices and visions…from around the world.” Pinwheel Horizon features award-winning work by women in key roles including Producer Kelly Campelia, Lead Actor Cassie Stires, Director of Photography […]
Pinwheel Horizon—Ian’s award-winning third narrative short—will play the 2024 West Sound Film Festival (WSFF) as an official selection. The gold-ranked FilmFreeway event is hosting its upcoming annual gathering at the historic Roxy Theatre in downtown Bremerton, Washington. WSFF happens August 2-4, with Pinwheel Horizon screening Saturday, August 3 at 6:00 p.m. Visit the West Sound […]
The Way We Speak is an official selection of the Macon Film Festival (MFF) in Georgia. The 19th annual event made MovieMaker magazine’s list of the top 25 coolest film festivals in the world, and celebrates independent films in a region known for its musical and southern culture. The Way We Speak screens Friday, August […]
Following the VOD release announcement and exclusive premiere of the official trailer for The Way We Speak on Collider, the trailer received coverage in MovieWeb, IGN, MUBI, FirstShowing.net, IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, Dailymotion, and Media Play News. Renowned photographer Kate Woodman posted a feature about collaborating with Ian to create the look of the film’s key […]
The Way We Speak is available for preorder ahead of its July 23 release on digital and video-on-demand platforms. Gravitas Ventures—the domestic distributor for Ian’s feature debut—will release The Way We Speak on Apple TV, iTunes, Amazon Prime, Fandango at Home, Google Play, YouTube, Xbox and other Microsoft services, Vimeo, and cable outlets across the […]
Pinwheel Horizon—Ian’s third narrative short—is now available to watch as an Exclusive Premiere and Daily Pick at Film Shortage. The site is one of the top distribution platforms known for “premiering some of the best short films online.” Ian’s first two films From the Sky and The Devil Needs a Fix were previously featured on […]
Gravitas Ventures has acquired Ian’s debut feature The Way We Speak and will release the film July 23 through digital and video-on-demand platforms. Collider made the announcement with their exclusive premiere of the film’s official trailer. Gravitas “is a leading all rights distributor of independent feature films and documentaries,” with recent releases including Padre Pio, […]
Leitz—a leading manufacturer of lenses for television and motion picture production—interviewed Ian and Director of Photography A.J. Marson about achieving the look of The Way We Speak. Ian’s debut feature is also the first production in North America to shoot with Leitz’s premium ELSIE Prime lenses. The conversation can be found alongside interviews with the […]
Ian’s third narrative short Pinwheel Horizon has been named an award winner at Short to the Point‘s STTP+ competition and will appear in their Films of the Week screening—to take place on the STTP+ platform in June. Visit SHORT to the Point’s official site or Instagram for more information.
Pinwheel Horizon has been chosen to be part of the Inland Independent Film Festival (IIFF). The gold-ranked FilmFreeway festival is the brainchild of independent directors and producers from Brazil’s interior who started IIFF out of a desire to “see and present incredible films.” IIFF will host its inaugural event at the University of Araraquara in […]
Pinwheel Horizon will play the inaugural Rutherford Film Festival in Rutherford, New Jersey. Ian’s third short screens Saturday, May 25 at the Rivoli Theater, one of three auditoriums at The Williams Center—a 102-year-old artist-run collective reopened in 2021. Pinwheel Horizon and historical architecture enthusiast Julian Yorkston said of the upcoming event and venue where Abbott […]
Pinwheel Horizon received a trio of noteworthy acknowledgements from the Miami International Science Fiction Film Festival (MiSciFi). Now in its 12th year, the gold-ranked FilmFreeway festival recognized Ian’s third narrative short with nominations in the following categories: Best Fantasy Short Best Cinematography for a Short Best Musical Score Visit MiSciFi on Instagram for more.
The Way We Speak ended its first month on the festival circuit with a win and two nominations after its world premiere at the Florida Film Festival (FFF) and official selections at the Julien Dubuque International Film Festival (JDIFF) and RiverRun International Film Festival. Ian’s debut feature won the Honorable Mention: Feature or Documentary award […]
Pinwheel Horizon has won at Rolling Ideas in Romania. The monthly gold-ranked FilmFreeway competition designated Ian’s third narrative with their Best Indie Short Film award. Visit Rolling Ideas to see the winners.
The Way We Speak took home the Honorable Mention: Feature or Documentary award at the 2024 Julien Dubuque International Film Festival (JDIFF). Ian’s first feature as writer-director was among 12 winning films chosen from more than 150 officially selected narrative and documentary shorts and features. Now in its 13th year, JDIFF made MovieMaker magazine’s Top 50 […]
Pinwheel Horizon will have its Canadian premiere at the Comox Valley International Film Festival—a gold-ranked FilmFreeway festival known for curating story driven cinema on Vancouver Island. Ian’s third short narrative screens Friday, May 3 at 1:00 p.m. in the Experimental Shorts program. Visit CVIFF for tickets and more.
Pinwheel Horizon will play The Big Peach at the inaugural Fiction Fest—a gold-ranked FilmFreeway event from established Festival Director Mindy Fay Parks “celebrating and spotlighting the intricate artistry, boundless innovation, and remarkable creativity” of genre films. Pinwheel Horizon screens in the Fantasy Shorts block on Saturday, April 27 at the reputable Limelight Theater in Georgia’s […]
The Way We Speak will follow its world premiere at the Florida Film Festival by screening the week after at the 26th annual RiverRun International Film Festival—an Oscar-qualifying event in Winston-Salem, North Carolina “dedicated to showcasing the year’s best new international cinema.” The Way We Speak is one of 14 films selected for the Focus […]
Pinwheel Horizon won Best Sci-Fi Film at the 33rd Swedish International Film Festival (SIFF) in Arvika. The gold-ranked FilmFreeway festival will also host an online screening event April 10-13 featuring Pinwheel Horizon and the other winners. Visit SIFF’s official site for more on the winners and the upcoming virtual screening event.
The Way We Speak is an official selection of the Julien Dubuque International Film Festival (JDIFF)—one of three film festivals screening Ian’s feature debut in the month of April. Founded in 2012, JDIFF has been named a Top 100 festival on FilmFreeway, received recognition in Variety, and ranked as one of MovieMaker magazine’s “25 coolest […]
Pinwheel Horizon will receive a Special Screening at the 2023 Damah Film Festival in Tokyo. The gold-ranked FilmFreeway event named Ian the Grand Prize winner in 2019 for his debut short narrative From the Sky, an award presented to the writer-director by a member of Japan’s parliament and selected by a jury of Oscar- and award-winning […]
Pinwheel Horizon is an official selection of the 33rd Swedish International Film Festival (SIFF), which has also nominated Ian’s third short narrative for an award. The gold-ranked FilmFreeway event—described as a go-to destination for European and world cinema—is based in the town of Arvika along Sweden’s only inland fjord. Awards will be announced in the […]
Pinwheel Horizon was nominated for Best Fantasy/Sci-fi at Short to the Point (STTP)—a gold-ranked FilmFreeway festival based in Bucharest. Ian’s third short narrative is one of only two films nominated in its category, and is an official selection of the global film competition’s February lineup. Ian’s second short narrative The Devil Needs a Fix was […]
Pinwheel Horizon will screen at Locals Only, an ongoing series from Seattle Film Society “showcasing the most exciting new voices in Seattle filmmaking.” Pinwheel Horizon screens with two other short films—and will be followed by a Q&A with Ian and the other two filmmakers—Tuesday, March 26 at the Ark Lodge Cinemas in Columbia City. Visit […]
The Way We Speak will have its world premiere at the 33rd annual Florida Film Festival (FFF)—as one of 10 narrative features selected for their American Independent Competition. IndieWire and MovieMaker magazine named FFF a top festival multiple times in recent years, and Chris Gore’s Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide ranked FFF one of the […]
Pinwheel Horizon won eight awards and earned one nomination at the South Film and Arts Academy Festival (SFAAF)—including a Best Director trophy for writer-director Ian Ebright. Now in its eighth year, the gold-ranked FilmFreeway festival near Santiago, Chile handed out the following honors to Pinwheel Horizon after their live screening: Winner—Best Fantastic Short Film Winner—First […]
Pinwheel Horizon is an official selection of the 11th annual Miami International Science Fiction Film Festival (MiSciFi). The gold-ranked FilmFreeway festival will screen Ian’s third short with other genre films during its in-person gathering March 30-31. Pinwheel Horizon will be available to stream on the festival’s platform for a limited time after the in-person events […]
Pinwheel Horizon is an official selection of the South Film and Arts Academy Festival (SFAAF)—a gold-ranked FilmFreeway festival near Santiago, Chile. Ian’s previous short film The Devil Needs a Fix won awards for best dark comedy and supporting actress (Rosalie Miller) at SFAAF 2018. Visit South Film and Arts Academy Festival on Facebook for more.
Pinwheel Horizon is one of the opening night films at the 2024 Spokane International Film Festival (SpIFF)—and will screen in their Best of the NW program at the historic Bing Crosby Theater. Ian previously won the Most Promising Filmmaker award at SpIFF 2015 for writing and directing From the Sky, which also won the festival’s […]
Ian recently appeared on the WILDsound film podcast to chat with host Matthew Toffolo about Pinwheel Horizon. Toffolo’s Fantasy/Sci-Fi Film & Screenplay Festival named Pinwheel Horizon an early selection and gave Ian the audience award for Best Direction. Pinwheel Horizon will make a second appearance at the genre festival in a virtual showcase featuring the best films […]
The Way We Speak‘s trailer debut topped Film Threat‘s news briefs at the start of the new year—with words of anticipation from the leading independent movie guide: “The film’s script, recognized in prestigious contests like WeScreenplay and BlueCat, hints at a story rich in themes of ambition and obsession…with its blend of talented actors and […]
Deadline has the exclusive premiere of the official trailer for The Way We Speak—Ian’s first feature as writer-director starring Patrick Fabian, Diana Coconubo, Kailey Rhodes, Ayanna Berkshire (Leave No Trace, Portlandia), Lowell Deo, Ricco DiStefano, and Reed Diamond (Moneyball, Good Night, and Good Luck). Since the start of principal photography, Patrick and the other six Better Call Saul principal […]
The Fantasy/Sci-Fi Film & Screenplay Competition named Ian Best Director for his work on Pinwheel Horizon. The designation was one of nine audience awards handed out by the genre-themed event—ranked a FilmFreeway Top 100 Best Reviewed film festival. Pinwheel Horizon has earned six awards and 14 nominations—including two wins for Best Directing—since it began screening […]
The Way We Speak is in the can, completed this week by a postproduction team that reunited Ian with Supervising Sound Editor/Designer Brendan J. Hogan (SXSW award-winning feature Prospect), Visual Effects Lead Luke Swain, and Composer Billow Observatory—comprised of Denmark’s Jonas Munk (Manual) and Detroit’s Jason Kolb (Auburn Lull). Long-time Francis Ford Coppola collaborator Robert […]
Pinwheel Horizon is an official selection of the APEX Film Awards, a UK-based showcase screening award winners in The Dome—the country’s oldest operating cinema. Visit the APEX Film Awards for more, or keep up with Ian’s new short film on Instagram and Facebook.
Pinwheel Horizon is an official selection of the fourth annual Brooklyn SciFi Film Festival in New York City—and will screen in a “Netflix-style environment where viewers can share and upvote for the People’s Choice Award” (with apps to watch all officially selected films and other festival events on Amazon Fire and Roku). The multifaceted festival […]
Pinwheel Horizon—Ian’s third narrative short—received a nomination for Best Washington Made Film at the 17th annual Gig Harbor Film Festival, where it screened twice this past weekend. Ian’s first two narrative shorts also screened at the Gig Harbor Film Festival—ranked one of the top 100 best reviewed festivals on FilmFreeway. It’s the 13th nomination for […]
Alex MacAulay and Max Fosberg of Excuse the Intermission attended the 2023 Gig Harbor Film Festival to interview filmmakers and festival programmers on their show—which charted on Apple’s Top 100 film review podcasts. Ian sat down with Alex and Max to chat about Pinwheel Horizon, filming in Washington, and The Way We Speak. Listen to episode 169: Live from […]
Accolade Global Film Competition recognized Ian’s directing on Pinwheel Horizon with their Award of Excellence—one of four wins given to his fantasy/sci-fi short film: Award of Excellence: Direction Award of Excellence: Leading Actress Award of Excellence: Ensemble Cast Award of Excellence: Editing Now in its 20th year, the global film competition was named a top […]
Pinwheel Horizon plays the ninth annual Sick Chick Flicks Film Festival in October—one of two East Coast festivals screening Ian’s third short narrative next month. Sick Chick Flicks is known for their emphasis on female-driven independent films. The reputable event claimed a spot on Adrian Tofei’s top genre film festivals of 2023. Pinwheel Horizon screens October […]
Pinwheel Horizon played three film festivals on three continents and received 13 nominations during the month of August. The Sydney Science Fiction Film Festival—the largest genre festival in Australia—nominated Pinwheel lead Cassie Stires for their Best Actress in a Short Film category, while the Port of Fear Film Festival in Wisconsin nominated Ian’s latest for […]
Pinwheel Horizon will play the PopCon International Film Festival, as part of Indianapolis’ largest locally owned and operated pop-culture event. Ian’s third short film screens this Saturday, August 26 at 10:00 a.m. in the “Sci-Fi- Otherworldly” block. It’s one of three film festivals on three continents hosting Pinwheel Horizon this week—along with the Sydney Science Fiction […]
Pinwheel Horizon will play the Gig Harbor Film Festival (GHFF) in Ian’s home state of Washington. The festival—which runs September 21- 24—screened each of Ian’s previous short films, awarding his second outing The Devil Needs a Fix their Best Washington Made Film trophy. Pinwheel Horizon will play twice during the festival. Visit the GHFF schedule for more.
Pinwheel Horizon is packing its bags for The Galactic Imaginarium Film Festival (TGIFF) in Romania, which runs September 15- September 24. As a Final Cut Selection, Ian’s latest short film is one of only five fantasy shorts screening at TGIFF 2023. Visit https://festival.galactic.one/2023/ for more on the genre-based festival. Pinwheel Horizon is repped by Festival Formula.
Ian’s third short film Pinwheel Horizon will play the Sydney Science Fiction Film Festival as an official selection of its 2023 event—which is held in Australia’s three largest cities. Visit the Sydney Science Fiction Film Festival to learn more.
Ian and Editor Robert Schafer have run out of adjustments to make to The Way We Speak—a modern cautionary tale starring Patrick Fabian (Better Call Saul) and Ian’s first feature-length film as writer-director. Robert is Francis Ford Coppola’s long-time editor, with credits including Apocalypse Now: Final Cut (2019) and Megalopolis—Coppola’s current $120 million-dollar epic starring Aubrey Plaza […]
New reviews of Ian’s films From the Sky and The Devil Needs a Fix have landed on Short Films Matter. From the Sky earned a five-star rating, with the prominent site calling the War on Terror dramatic thriller an “engrossing narrative” and a “fantastic piece that is bound to leave viewers with much to contemplate […]
Pinwheel Horizon will play the Peekskill Film Festival (PFF) in July. Located an hour north of New York City, PFF “screens a first-rate mix of features, shorts, animation, and documentaries” at the historic 1,100 seat Paramount Hudson Valley Theater in downtown Peekskill. The full festival schedule will be released Friday, July 7. Visit their official site […]
Pinwheel Horizon is one of only 10 officially selected films at the 2023 Bittersweet Film Festival. Ian’s minimalist fantasy screens on August 24 at the 18,000 square-foot un.titled studio in Manchester. Visit Bittersweet Film Festival to see the official selections.
The Wyoming International Film Festival welcomes Pinwheel Horizon as an official selection of their ninth annual event, which will feature 154 films from 22 countries. Pinwheel Horizon screens with other action & adventure short films on the final day of the festival—Sunday, July 9 in historic Cheyenne. Visit their official site or Instagram to learn […]
The Way We Speak Director of Photography A.J. Marson and Gaffer Logan Reynolds appeared on Meet the Gaffer for a half-hour discussion on lighting Ian’s first feature film as writer-director. Hosted by Luke Seerveld, Meet the Gaffer is an industry focused YouTube channel “interested in all things Grip and Electric.” The interview includes several behind-the-scenes looks at The Way […]
Pinwheel Horizon—Ian’s newly released narrative short film—took home the award for Best Sound Design at the Paradise Film Festival. The film’s sound designers (Brendan J. Hogan and Paul Eric Miller of Impossible Acoustic) have an extensive filmography which includes work on the SXSW award-winning indie feature Prospect. Visit stories for more on Pinwheel Horizon—or keep […]
Billow Observatory—the ambient/electronic musicians consisting of Denmark’s Jonas Munk and Detroit’s Jason Kolb—will compose the music for The Way We Speak. Jason and Jonas previously collaborated with Ian on his newly released narrative short Pinwheel Horizon. The Independent Critic called their score for Pinwheel Horizon “sublime.” Billow Observatory continues to garner attention and acclaim. Complex […]
Robert Schafer has joined the postproduction team as editor of The Way We Speak—Ian’s first feature film as writer-director. Robert’s past editing credits include writer-director Roman Coppola’s Charles Swan starring Bill Murray (2012), and Apocalypse Now: Final Cut (2019). Robert is one of the editors of Megalopolis—the $120 million-dollar epic funded by Francis Ford Coppola […]
Festival Formula has partnered with Ian on his third short narrative Pinwheel Horizon. The highly regarded team of strategists curate a roster of select films and film festivals to help connect meaningful independent cinema with engaged audiences. Festival Formula Founder Katie Bignell describes what attracted their team to Pinwheel Horizon: “This is an epic landscape […]
Litepanels and Quasar Science recently shared a behind-the-scenes look at three scenes from The Way We Speak. The two industry veterans pioneered LED lighting for television and motion pictures and provided lighting equipment for Ian’s first feature-length film as writer-director. The behind-the-scenes posts—which ran alongside collaborative updates on films with cinematographer heavyweights like Roger Deakins—included […]
Pinwheel Horizon—Ian’s latest publicly released story as writer-director and third narrative short film—is garnering favorable attention from independent outlets. Film Threat Editor-in-Chief Alan Ng argues the film succeeds by prioritizing story over spectacle. “The filmmaker builds his world by establishing lore and focusing on the motivations and goals of his characters,” Ng says. “He brilliantly […]
The Way We Speak—Ian’s first narrative feature as writer-director—ran as the lead in a breaking news report published last Friday in Deadline. In the exclusive—which was picked up by news outlets including Aol—film reporter Matt Grobar writes, “following six seasons as Howard Hamlin on AMC’s megahit Better Call Saul, Patrick Fabian has signed on to lead the […]
Pinwheel Horizon—Ian’s third narrative short as writer-director—will have its world premiere at the 18th annual Omaha Film Festival (OFF). OFF was named one of MovieMaker Magazine’s Top 50 festivals twice in the last four years. The film screens with other shorts on Friday, March 10 at the Aksarben Cinema. Visit the OFF website for more […]
Principal photography on The Way We Speak—Ian’s first feature-length film as writer-director—concluded February 4 in Portland, Oregon after an 18-day shoot. The dramatic cautionary tale stars Patrick Fabian (Better Call Saul), Diana Coconubo, Kailey Rhodes, Ayanna Berkshire, and Lowell Deo; the team includes Producer Molly Vendettuoli, Director of Photography A.J. Marson, Production Designer Jeff Stillwell, […]
Patrick Fabian has signed on to play Simon, the desperate protagonist of The Way We Speak—Ian’s first feature-length film as writer-director. Patrick was one of the principal actors in the Emmy-nominated series Better Call Saul, where he starred as Howard Hamlin for six seasons. The actor is represented by John Coffey and Samantha Crisp of […]
As Pinwheel Horizon awaits its world premiere, three character-driven teasers introduce viewers to the elite warriors at the heart of the minimalist fantasy (and Ian’s latest as writer-director): Cyra, the grounded leader of the warriors, their reconnaissance, and the protagonist of the story; Aru, the three warriors’ dominant battlefield presence; and Kuur, a seasoned military […]
Pinwheel Horizon—Ian’s new film as writer-director—crossed the finish line with the help of an international cast and crew including prominent Arab American actor Maz Siam (The Affair, Madam Secretary, Argo), transatlantic composing duo Billow Observatory (Felte Records), and Italian comic book illustrator Luca Erbetta. For more, keep up with the film’s social media pages on […]
As a member of the jury, Ian will help select the award-winning films at the 2022 Cyber Shorts Film Festival—one of the first film festivals built for and hosted in a virtual reality platform. His film The Devil Needs a Fix won Ian the Best Director award at last year’s annual event. Learn more about […]
After 45 days of editing and a test screening with a handful of filmmakers, the minimalist fantasy Pinwheel Horizon—Ian’s latest film as writer-director—reached picture lock in the early new year. With the edit now complete, teams for the film’s sound design, sound mix, and visual effects step in to help finish Pinwheel Horizon. Keep up […]
Pinwheel Horizon—a minimalist sci-fi/fantasy story and Ian’s third film as writer-director—will be composed by two musicians known for shaping the landscape of ambient music. Billow Observatory is comprised of Denmark’s Jonas Munk and Detroit’s Jason Kolb. Backseat Mafia called their 2017 LP II a “cavernous beauty of an album.” As solo artists, Jason is the […]
After the pandemic delayed production a year and a half, principal photography on Pinwheel Horizon—Ian’s latest film as writer-director—wrapped September 28 as a SAG production and fully vaccinated set. The cast of talented actors—Cassie Stires as the story’s protagonist, Steven Soro (who appeared in each of Ian’s two previous films), and Maz Siam (Argo, Jimmy […]
Cyber Shorts Film Festival 2021 winners Sina Dolati and Ian Ebright joined ‘Piecing it Together’ host David Rosen to discuss THE GREEN KNIGHT on the podcast’s 196th episode. ‘Piecing it Together’ welcomes a variety of guests to discuss films and likely influences. The episode is available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Pocket Casts, and several […]
The jury at the second-annual Cyber Shorts VR Film Festival selected Ian for their best director award based on his work in the narrative short film THE DEVIL NEEDS A FIX—one of numerous shorts screened at this year’s festival. The award was one of three (including Best Short and Best Screenplay) handed out at the […]
Ian’s narrative short film THE DEVIL NEEDS A FIX will screen at the second-annual Cyber Shorts VR Film Festival—an intentionally online indie short film festival with screenings and filmmaker Q&As hosted on AltSpaceVR. Cyber Shorts will host a two-hour assortment of short films including DEVIL followed by the Q&A on Saturday, May 1 from 11:30 […]
WHITE ACTION NEWS—a satire of Fox News and white culture—finished its first season last Tuesday with episode eight, as Trent Maida’s new boss (played by Lowell Deo, NBC’s GRIMM and SyFy’s Z NATION) confronts the reporter with an allegation. The no-budget web series came to life during the unexpected downtime associated with the COVID-19 pandemic […]
Ian’s new podcast Today Plus Everything: Conversations in an Anxious Time kicked off with guest Sam Tanenhaus, who appeared in one of Ian’s favorite documentaries Best of Enemies (a Sundance official selection in 2015 and one of 15 documentary features shortlisted for an Oscar nomination that year). Sam is a journalist for The New York […]
Northwest Film Forum recently partnered with Ian on his latest film project as writer/director—the live-action narrative short PINWHEEL HORIZON. This new fiscal sponsorship allows contributors can make a tax-deductible donation to the film. Ian and an international cast and crew are working to shoot PINWHEEL HORIZON as soon as restrictions related to Coronavirus are relaxed. […]
Ian has founded Broken Telegraph as a production company and is working in capacities including writer, director, producer, and editor to tell meaningful stories of varying lengths, genres, and formats (narrative and documentary) under the banner of “story first.” If you’d like to chat with Ian about creating or improving a story or marketing piece […]
Ian’s 12th screenplay is a quarterfinalist in the Your Script Produced (YSP) Competition, a global contest featured in Variety and The Hollywood Reporter that awards a $250,000 production budget to the winning screenplay. Ian’s story is now in the running for the YSP semifinalist round—which will be announced later this summer. It’s the third placement […]
Ian’s latest short film has been invited to screen as an official selection of the No Coast Film Festival. The first-year event will feature THE DEVIL NEEDS A FIX and other short films from around the world on August 31 at the Emporia Granada Theater in Emporia, Kansas. This is the 17th official selection for […]
The Hawaii-based filmmaking podcast Cinephiles and Cenobites welcomed Ian for a chat about the writing and production process, working with actors, favorite films, and more. Click the play button below to listen to the episode.
Five years after Ian’s debut had its world premiere at the Newport Beach Film Festival, FROM THE SKY won Best Short Film Under 30 Minutes at the 2019 Damah International Film Festival in Tokyo. The award was one of only three prizes given out during the festival and was presented to Ian by a member […]
Ian’s latest film as writer/director THE DEVIL NEEDS A FIX—which he produced with Jessica Grant and Sarah MacAaron—was named one of Film Shortage’s favorite science fiction or fantasy short films from 2018. THE DEVIL NEEDS A FIX was one of six fantasy films to make the annual list hosted by the popular filmmaking website. Visit […]
Ian’s 12th screenplay THE WAY WE SPEAK has advanced to the semifinal round of the 2019 BlueCat Screenplay Competition—frequently cited as one of the top five screenwriting contests. THE WAY WE SPEAK is one of 92 remaining feature screenplays out of 2,755 submissions, after it was recently named a quarterfinalist in the same competition. Ian’s […]
FROM THE SKY—Ian’s Arabic-language narrative short film about a father and son trying to avoid the war on terror in the Middle East—is one of 10 films in consideration to win the award for Best Short Film Under 30 Minutes at the 2019 Damah International Film Festival. The film will be watched and weighed by […]
Ian sat down with award-winning writer, director, and story instructor Brian McDonald for a conversation about directing tips, mistakes to avoid, and how to encourage authenticity and subtlety in an actor’s performance. Brian teaches storytelling at Pixar, Sony, Disney, Industrial Light & Magic, Cirque du Soleil, and more. His book Invisible Ink has influenced writers and directors […]
Ian sat down with award-winning writer, director, and story instructor Brian McDonald for a conversation about fear in the writing process, the importance of theme in every good story, and how to create screenplays that do more showing than telling. Brian’s book Invisible Ink has influenced writers and directors including Paul Feig (Bridesmaids), Jim Taylor (Sideways, Election), […]
Ian’s 12th screenplay—the feature-length drama THE WAY WE SPEAK—has been named a quarterfinalist in the WeScreenplay 2018 Feature Competition. Ian’s original story was selected out of more than 1,000 entries. THE WAY WE SPEAK will now advance to the quarterfinal round, with the top scripts considered by WeScreenplay’s industry jury of agents, managers, and producers […]
Ian has been invited to provide creative and strategic insight for THIS BEING HUMAN, a new documentary short film from award-winning writer/director/producer Aimie Vallat. THIS BEING HUMAN features Hameed—a young Muslim man who fled war-torn Iraq at the age of 16. Now 22 years old, the film follows Hameed’s journey as a refugee in the United […]
Ian penned an article exploring the essential nature of theme in storytelling through the lens of one of his favorite films. In ‘Scene Spotlight: Progress is Painful in Moneyball,’ he writes: “Moneyball is not about baseball—it’s about the necessity and hardship of growth when life suddenly upends the status quo.” Visit Belief Agency to read the post. […]
THE DEVIL NEEDS A FIX—Ian’s latest story as writer/director—took home the award for ‘Best Washington Made Film’ at the 2018 Gig Harbor Film Festival (GHFF). GHFF is one of the Top 100 best-reviewed film festivals on the popular film submission portal FilmFreeway. Visit the Gig Harbor Film Festival award winners for the complete lineup. In the […]
THE DEVIL NEEDS A FIX—Ian’s latest story as writer/director —will screen at the 14th annual Ellensburg Film Festival (EFF) as the film nears the end of its festival circuit run. DEVIL plays EFF on Saturday, October 6 with other Washington-made shorts at 12:30 p.m. in Central Washington University’s McConnell Hall. To learn more, visit the Ellensburg […]
Ian’s latest film as writer/director THE DEVIL NEEDS A FIX will screen at the 11th annual Gig Harbor Film Festival in Washington. The film will play with other shorts on Saturday, September 15 and Sunday, September 16 at the Galaxy Theater Luxury IMAX. Ian is scheduled to attend and participate in the post-screening Q&As. For […]
Ian’s debut FROM THE SKY made the list of must-watch Arabic movies by Arabic Keyboard, which helps teach the language to students and fluent speakers alike. According to the site, “a Best Arabic Movie would not only help you improve the command and language vocabulary, but it’ll also help you watch a great story.” For […]
Award-winning filmmaker, playwright, and professor Vilsoni Hereniko has been incorporating Ian’s debut as writer/director FROM THE SKY into lectures at USC and the University of Hawaii’s Academy for Creative Media. The film is being used as a teaching aid to demonstrate “simple symbolism and how to craft and punctuate themes with it, [and] how straightforward […]
Ian’s latest film has been named an official selection of the Windy City International Film Festival (WCIFF), one of the ‘Top 100 Best Reviewed’ film festivals on Film Freeway. THE DEVIL NEEDS A FIX screens with other comedy shorts on the evening of Saturday, July 14. For more information, visit the WCIFF website.
Cinephilia & Beyond—the filmmaking site frequented by directors including Guillermo del Toro (The Shape of Water), William Friedkin (The Exorcist), and Ava DuVernay (Selma)—published an interview with Ian, and is featuring his latest film THE DEVIL NEEDS A FIX as the Short of the Month in June. In the feature article, Managing Editor Sven Mikulec […]
The popular film podcast Cinephiles and Cenobites recently reviewed Ian’s debut as writer/director, calling FROM THE SKY “powerful…profoundly impactful and emotional.” Listen to the review in season 2, episode 9 of the Cinephiles and Cenobites podcast (the review runs from 32:30 to 35:40).
Following THE DEVIL NEEDS A FIX’s nomination for ‘Best Fantasy Short Film’ at the third annual Inca Imperial International Film Festival (IIIFF) in Lima, Peru, the festival named Ian’s latest film the winner of the fantastic short film category. For a full list of winners, visit the IIIFF official site.
The Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) and Alaska Airlines have partnered to offer free content on the airline’s in-flight entertainment network. Following the world premiere of THE DEVIL NEEDS A FIX at SIFF 2017, Ian’s film will screen on Alaska Airlines’ SIFF Selects channel throughout the month of June. For more information, visit: Alaska Airlines.com/Beyond.
THE DEVIL NEEDS A FIX was nominated for ‘Best Fantasy Short Film,’ and is an official selection of the Inca Imperial International Film Festival (IIIFF). Now in its third year, the IIIFF screens all selected films May 17-20 at the historic House of the Peruvian Literature in Lima, Peru. To learn more, visit the IIIFF official site. […]
Ian’s latest film as writer/director is an official selection of the 12th annual Rainier Independent Film Festival. Founded by mountaineer Win Whittaker, the eclectic festival in Ashford, WA hosts films, filmmakers, and attendees in Mount Rainier’s forested community. THE DEVIL NEEDS A FIX screens with the horror feature THE HATRED on Saturday, May 19 at […]
The Nepal America International Film Festival named THE DEVIL NEEDS A FIX an official selection of their 2018 annual event. The festival is hosted by the Nepal America Film Society—a non-profit organization working to bridge culture and knowledge through film. The festival takes place throughout the Washington D.C. metro area, with screenings in Maryland, Virginia, […]
Richard Propes of The Independent Critic reviewed Ian’s latest short film, calling THE DEVIL NEEDS A FIX “clever…a story that changes directions in ways that are a blast to watch.” Propes also gave high marks to the cast, noting that “Stefan Hajek is terrific as Jeffrey [and] Steven Soro is a delight as The Man in the […]
Ian’s latest effort as writer/director was selected to be a Daily Short Pick on Film Shortage. The popular site called THE DEVIL NEEDS A FIX “a wonderfully scripted film with a rather brilliant turn of events,” and gave DEVIL a 4.1 rating out of 5—with the highest marks going to the story, screenplay, and performances. Visit THE […]
THE DEVIL NEEDS A FIX was recently named an official selection of the South Film and Arts Academy Festival—where the film also won two awards. Located in Rancagua, Chile, the second-year film festival named DEVIL the ‘Best Dark Comedy Short Film’, and also honored actor Rosalie Miller’s performance with their ‘Supporting Actress in a Short Film […]
Ian’s latest film as writer/director THE DEVIL NEEDS A FIX—about an ambivalent reporter’s interview with the Devil—arrived on the video-sharing site Vimeo today. Described as “a story that changes directions in ways that are a blast to watch,” you can now watch DEVIL by following the Vimeo link, or by visiting the projects page.
THE DEVIL NEEDS A FIX—about an ambivalent reporter’s interview with the Devil—is coming to the popular video-sharing site Vimeo. Ian’s latest film as writer/director is set to arrive online on Monday, April 16, 2018, and will be available to watch free of charge. Watch the teaser above, or visit the Projects page to learn […]
THE DEVIL NEEDS A FIX was chosen as an official selection of the Global India International Film Festival. Ian’s latest work as writer/director screens March 24th—the opening day of the festival—at the National Film Archive of India in Maharashtra. Berlin-based film agency aug & ohr medien continues to represent DEVIL on the international film festival circuit. Visit THE DEVIL NEEDS […]
Short to the Point International Film Festival—which holds screenings in more than 30 cities across Romania—recently chose THE DEVIL NEEDS A FIX as an official selection. The film festival nominates selections on a monthly basis before voting to send films to screenings at an annual event. For more information, visit STTP Official Selections—November 2017. Berlin-based film […]
THE DEVIL NEEDS A FIX joins the roster of curated films represented by one of Europe’s leading film agencies aug & ohr medien. Ian recently signed with the Berlin-based agency known for selecting and establishing high-quality films across the international film festival circuit. The aug & ohr medien team will represent and promote DEVIL for the remainder of its […]
Ian’s latest film THE DEVIL NEEDS A FIX has been named an official selection of the 20th annual Spokane International Film Festival (SpIFF). Ian won Most Promising Filmmaker at SpIFF 2015 for his debut film FROM THE SKY, which also won two additional awards at SpIFF that year: the audience award for Best of the Northwest […]
Ian’s new story as writer/director ‘The Devil Needs a Fix‘ was selected to be part of the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Film Festival in Pune, India. The film screened with other official selections on December 24th and 25th. For more information, visit the festival’s official site.
Ian’s new film THE DEVIL NEEDS A FIX is headed for the City of Roses to play the fifth annual Portland Film Festival. The Portland Film Festival has grown in prominence since its launch, earning ‘Top 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World’ and ‘Top 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee’ designations from MovieMaker Magazine. Ian is […]
The Flyway Film Festival—named one of MovieMaker Magazine’s 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World—selected Ian’s new film to screen at their 10th annual event. DEVIL is one of only 12 narrative short films chosen to play the festival. Ian’s latest work as writer/director will screen twice at Flyway: Friday, October 20 in Red Wing, […]
‘The Devil Needs a Fix’ will have its Los Angeles premiere at the Oscar qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival in August. The 13th annual event—which runs August 11-19—screens all officially selected short films at the iconic Chinese Theater on Hollywood & Highland. ‘Devil’ plays with other short films Sunday, August 13 at noon; Ian and actor […]
Ian’s latest offering as writer/director received an early invitation to screen at the 35th annual Rhode Island International Film Festival, selected from over 6,000 submissions representing more than 60 countries. ‘The Devil Needs a Fix’ will play with other short films in the ‘Moments of the Uncanny’ package on Friday, August 11th at 9 p.m. ‘Devil’ screens […]
Ian was invited to appear on local outlets to discuss the world premiere of THE DEVIL NEEDS A FIX at the 43rd annual Oscar-qualifying Seattle International Film Festival. SIFF’s official podcast SIFFCast hosted Ian along with stars Stefan Hajek and Rosalie Miller for a discussion about the making of the film. Ian was also interviewed on […]
Ian’s new film as writer/director THE DEVIL NEEDS A FIX will enter the film festival circuit with its first screening at the Oscar-qualifying Seattle International Film Festival. SIFF is “the largest and most well-attended film festival in the United States with 175,000 attendees expected in 2017.” Ian’s film—about a reporter’s interview with the Devil—will play with […]
FROM THE SKY is now free to stream (for Prime members) or available to rent on Amazon Video throughout the United States, UK, Germany, and Japan. Ian’s debut—about a peaceful father and troubled son struggling to live a nomadic life in their region of the Middle East amidst drones and militants—went on to win more than […]
Temptation can be a trap, but so can responsibility—in the new trailer for Ian’s new short film as writer/director The Devil Needs a Fix. In the film, an ambivalent reporter sits down for coffee and an interview with the Devil, which could earn the reporter his big break—if everything goes as planned. THE DEVIL NEEDS A FIX is a contemporary mashup […]
Ian’s debut as writer/director returns to television, playing PBS’ Seattle affiliate KCTS 9 on Saturday, December 31st at 1:40 PM during the Reel NW marathon—which runs from noon to 5:00 PM. The film will also be streaming on KCTS.org and PBS.org beginning December 31st. Follow the link to check out the film’s page on KCTS, including two different interviews […]
After four months in post production, Ian’s new film as writer/director ‘The Devil Needs a Fix’ is complete. Ian and fellow producers Jess Grant and Sarah MacAaron will now begin submitting ‘Devil’ to film festivals. For more on the film, visit the Projects page.
After three months in the cutting room with editor Eric Frith, Ian’s new film as writer/director— the narrative short ‘The Devil Needs a Fix’—reached picture lock this week. The film—a cross between a haunted parable and a dark comedy—will now be colored by Tim Maffia (Lynn Shelton’s Your Sister’s Sister) and receive its audio design and mix […]
Veteran independent film and TV writer/director Megan Griffiths—whose track record includes the Sundance hit The Off Hours and this year’s The Night Stalker with Lou Diamond Phillips— sat down to interview Ian and director D.Mitry for KCTS 9’s Reel NW. Ian’s debut ‘From the Sky’ had its television debut in July when it screened with other locally-made […]
Ian’s debut ‘From the Sky’ expands beyond Vimeo and YouTube in August by partnering with the online short form streaming service Bitpix. The film is one of 400 shorts curated for the launch of the new outlet, which was founded by HollyShorts Film Festival. Bitpix is currently available at bitpixtv.com, can be accessed through Roku and Amazon Fire, and will […]
Jeremy Croft hosted a discussion with Ian on the Seattle International Film Festival’s official podcast SIFFcast, to promote From The Sky’s television debut on KCTS 9. The two discussed the film, current events, and filmmaking in general. Follow the link to give it a listen: SIFFcast Ep 034 Reel NW
Ian’s first film as writer/director will have its television debut on KCTS 9 Seattle in July, following more than two years on the festival circuit. The film will be showcased with other local works on REEL NW, and will broadcast Monday, July 18th at 10:00 PM and Sunday, July 24th at 3:30 PM. To coincide with the airing, ‘From […]
Pictured: Rosalie Miller plays a waitress in ‘The Devil Needs a Fix.’ Photo by Regan MacStravic. In ‘The Devil Needs a Fix,’ the devil invites a reporter to coffee and an interview, which will lead to the reporter’s big break- if everything goes as planned. Thanks to the generosity of a few initial donors and […]
The Twister Alley International Film Festival (TAIFF) recognized Ian’s writing with a nomination for Best Screenplay- Short Film, while ‘From the Sky’ also received a nomination for Best Drama- Short Film. This marks Ian’s third nomination since the film debuted at the Newport Beach Film Festival in 2014. The writer/director received Best Writing and Best Directing nominations […]
The Seattle International Film Festival and Alaska Airlines partnered to create a SIFF Selects channel for the airline’s inflight entertainment. ‘From the Sky’ has been chosen to screen on SIFF Selects throughout the month of July, and will include a filmmaker statement from Ian. For more information, visit: Alaska Airlines.com/Beyond
The Twister Alley International Film Festival has announced its initial “First Fifty” Official Selections while submissions remain open, and ‘From the Sky’ made the list. The film will screen during the second annual event led by award-winning filmmaker Josh Hope, which takes place in Woodward, OK on May 5-7, 2016. Ian’s multi-award winning debut continues to earn laurels as […]
The jury of the I Filmmaker International Film Festival acknowledged ‘From the Sky’ with a Special Mention designation, given to top films from over 1,200 submissions representing 75 countries. The I Filmmaker festival runs December 4th through the 8th in Marbella. For more, visit I Filmmaker International Film Festival
‘From the Sky’ will screen in the historic city of Oldenburg on Tuesday, November 24th. Ian’s award-winning debut is being packaged with other shorts for an evening titled ‘Attack from the Air.’ Visit the theater’s website for more: Cine-k.de
Ian recently appeared on 91.3FM’s The Morning Blend program for a conversation with host Sonya Green. The two talked about From The Sky, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, and Ian’s current film-related projects. Those interested can listen here: KBCS Interview with Ian Ebright
After a year and a half on the film festival circuit, Ian’s multi-award winning debut returns to the internet for what is likely to be its permanent stay. ‘From the Sky’ is now available to watch for free via YouTube and Vimeo (or click on ‘Projects‘ to watch an embedded version of the film). Thus far, ‘From the Sky’ […]
‘From the Sky’ took home the award for Best Short Film at the Ellensburg Film Festival this month. The 11th annual gathering selected Ian’s debut out of a highly regarded roster of domestic and international shorts. The historic city previously served as the home base for the ‘From the Sky’ production team during principal photography. The win marks the 12th time ‘From the Sky’ […]
‘From the Sky’ will likely close out its Washington State film festival run when it plays as an Official Selection of the eighth annual Gig Harbor Film Festival. The film screens with the full-length documentary ‘The Human Face of Big Data’ on Friday, October 16th at 6:15PM in the Galaxy Theater, located in the scenic maritime community. Ian is […]
The Savannah Film Festival (SAVFF) has named ‘From the Sky’ as one of only 10 short films to screen In Competition as part of the ‘Pro Shorts’ category at the 18th annual event. This year’s gathering will feature high-profile film screenings, panels hosted by The Hollywood Reporter, and tributes for attending filmmakers including Olivia Wilde, Saoirse Ronan, […]
Award-winning writer/director Stephanie Gardner has included ‘From the Sky’ in a collection of acclaimed short films for an evening celebrating “the art of global filmmaking, with films and filmmakers from around the world.” The Red Carpet Film Screening & After Party will be held at the Emmaus Theater this Saturday, October 3rd at 4:00PM, and marks the Pennsylvania premiere for ‘From the Sky.’ […]
‘From the Sky’ will screen as an Official Selection of the eighth annual Flyway Film Festival, which accepted only 53 films from more than 2,400 submissions. The prominent Midwest gathering was named one of the 25 coolest film festivals in the world by MovieMaker Magazine in 2014. This is the third time ‘From the Sky’ will play the Midwest […]
‘From the Sky’ will screen twice at the 10th annual Tacoma Film Festival, which was named one of ’50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee’ by MovieMaker Magazine for the second consecutive year in 2015. The well-regarded festival also hosts the ’25 New Faces of Independent Film’ in partnership with Filmmaker Magazine, a leading industry periodical. […]
‘From the Sky’ will play its sixth home state festival as an Official Selection of the 11th annual Ellensburg Film Festival in Central Washington. The cast and crew stayed in Ellensburg for three days during the film’s principal photography which was shot 30 minutes east of the historic college town. ‘From the Sky’ screens with the […]
‘From the Sky’ will play the third most populous city in the U.S. as an Official Selection of the fourth annual Chicago International Social Change Film Festival. The film screens with other globally conscious works on Saturday, September 19th at 8PM in the Windy City’s largest theater- the Showplace ICON. For more, visit: http://www.chicagosocialchange.org/
‘From the Sky’ took home the award for Best Short at the Columbia Gorge International Film Festival in mid-August. The eighth annual gathering selected Ian’s debut out of a lengthy roster of officially selected domestic and international shorts, and announced the win at an awards ceremony held in Washougal, Washington. This is the 11th win for ‘From the […]
The 29th annual Edmonton International Film Festival has named ‘From the Sky’ an Official Selection of its 2015 event, and will screen the film together with other shorts on October 6th at the Landmark Cinemas City Centre 9 in downtown Edmonton. The long-running film festival, located in the capital of Canada’s Alberta province, was named one of ’50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry […]
Ian was invited to direct and co-write a short film for the 48 Hour Film Project, in which teams have two days to conceive, write, shoot, edit, and complete post production based on a genre and story elements assigned as the clock starts. Inspired by ‘The Thomas Crown Affair,’ ‘The Silence of the Lambs,’ and the films of Cameron […]
The 11th annual HollyShorts Film Festival announced ‘From the Sky’ as an Official Selection of its upcoming event, which runs August 13- 22 at the historic Chinese Theater on Hollywood & Highland. Ian’s multi-award winning narrative short will play in the ‘Washington Films’ lineup on Sunday, August 16th at noon. The prominent Southern Californian festival earned […]
‘From the Sky’ will screen twice at the Eighth Annual Columbia Gorge International Film Festival, which runs August 6- 16 in the Washougal region of Southern Washington. Ian’s multi-award winning narrative short film will play with other curated shorts at 6:00 PM on Saturday, August 8 in the Washburn Performing Arts Center, and again at […]
Ian will co-write and direct a film for one of several production teams competing in this year’s 48 Hour Film Project in Seattle after being invited by producers Joseph Lambert and Daniel Brockley. The team’s cast includes Brockley (NBC’s Grimm) and Lisa Coronado (SyFy’s Z Nation). In The 48 Hour Film Project, teams have two […]
Ian recently sat down with host Jim Henderson for a half-hour conversation on Henderson’s podcast ‘Off The Record.’ The two discussed Ian’s creative trajectory including previous efforts, ‘From the Sky’ and newer projects as well as the writer/director/producer’s upbringing, influences and turning points. Past guests of ‘Off The Record’ include Ira Glass (Host and Creator of NPR’s This American Life), […]
The ninth annual Rainier Independent Film Festival awarded Ian’s debut with the top honor in the narrative shorts category at the closing ceremony held on Sunday, May 17th in Ashford, Washington. This is the tenth award for the film since its premiere at the Newport Beach Film Festival in April 2014. For the complete list of winners, visit: Rainier […]
The ninth annual Rainier Independent Film Festival has chosen ‘From the Sky’ as an Official Selection, and will host Ian’s multi-award winning film on Sunday, May 17th at 2 PM. The eclectic festival screens ‘From the Sky’ with other short films in the Cine-Yurt at Wellspring Spa, located inside the Mt. Rainier National Park near the base of the […]
Ian’s recent interview with Cinephilia & Beyond has been translated for a featured spot on a leading Croatian film website. Follow the link to have a look: Vizija i borba jednog predanog filmaša: Razgovor s Ianom Ebrightom
Following their enthusiastic review of ‘From the Sky,’ Cinephilia & Beyond chatted with Ian about formative films and filmmakers, the genesis of ‘From the Sky,’ goals and setbacks, and more. In this excerpt, Ian elaborates on some of the film’s influences: “In terms of how I would build From the Sky, I was thinking along the lines of Lessons […]
Cinephilia & Beyond, known for its readership among prominent filmmakers from Oliver Stone and Judd Apatow to William Friedkin, published a glowing review and feature on ‘From the Sky,’ calling Ian’s debut “completely satisfying…politically and socially relevant, skillfully written and beautifully shot.” Check out the full article at the link below: Ian Ebright’s ‘From the Sky’: A […]
Film Critic Richard Propes published a review of Ian Ebright’s debut as writer/director/co-producer, calling ‘From the Sky’ “a unique vision all its own made even more powerful by a filmmaker with immense talent and a respect for the story he’s telling.” The film earns an A- rating in Propes’ review, which can be read in full […]
Ian’s debut film emerged as the winningest Official Selection out of more than 50 screened feature-length narratives, documentaries and short films at the 17th annual Spokane International Film Festival. Ian was the recipient of the Most Promising Filmmaker award, a distinction given out yearly by the prominent Eastern Washington festival. The SpIFF jury crowned ‘From the Sky’ Best […]
The 14th festival appearance for ‘From the Sky’ will happen as an official selection of the 14th annual Bellingham Human Rights Film Festival. The film screens Saturday, February 28 at 2:15PM inside the Fairhaven College Auditorium at Western Washington University. Ian is scheduled to attend and participate in a Q&A following the screening. For more, […]
‘From the Sky’ returns to Washington State as an Official Selection of the 17th annual Spokane International Film Festival. Ian’s award-winning narrative screens with other short films from the Northwest on Friday, February 6th at 5:30PM in the historic Bing Crosby Theater. Ian is scheduled to attend and participate in the post-screening Q&A. For more, visit: http://spokanefilmfestival.org/
‘From the Sky’ will have its international premiere at the 21st annual Victoria Film Festival in Canada. The film plays with other shorts to close out the festival on its final day- Sunday, February 15th at 4PM, with a post-screening Q&A to include writer/director Ian Ebright. For more info, visit the official festival site: victoriafilmfestival.com
Mohamad Tamimi has won Best Supporting Actor from The Short Film Awards for his performance in Ian’s debut ‘From the Sky.’ Mohamad was recognized out of hundreds of submissions from 30 countries, and was chosen as the winner of the five nominees during the awards ceremony in New York City on December 13th. ‘From the […]
The popular website featuring the “best scripted shorts online” chose ‘From the Sky’ to be featured as a Daily Short Pick. Follow the link for the film and write up. From the Sky | Film Shortage Daily Short Pick
The Forum Film Festival, which programmed its annual event in 2014 with law and justice related films including ‘Camp X-Ray’ with Kristen Stewart and ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ with Jessica Chastain, honored ‘From the Sky’ with the award for Best Short and Best Screenplay. Ian’s debut as writer/director screened with other selected films during the festival’s closing night […]
‘From the Sky’ writer/director Ian Ebright was interviewed by the art-centric website Middle East Revised. The discussion focused on the motivation and inspiration behind the film, including the films of Peter Weir and Werner Herzog and a key quote from C.S. Lewis. Ian also elaborates on the film’s themes of retaliation and peace. Follow the link […]
‘From the Sky’ will have its Oregon premiere when it screens twice over the next two weeks at the 41st annual NW Filmmakers’ Festival. Those interested can catch the film on Sunday, November 9 at 6:30PM with a Q&A featuring writer/director Ian Ebright. The second screening will happen Friday, November 14 at 7PM but with […]
‘From the Sky’ has been chosen as an official selection of the Forum International Short Film Competition at NYU Law School. The film will play with other short film finalists on Thursday, November 6 at 7PM in the Time Warner Screening Room and will be followed by an awards ceremony. Forum boasts an impressive lineup […]
The website for the leading 24-hour news station in the Arab world interviewed Ian about the online premiere of ‘From the Sky.’ Click below for coverage by Nabila Pathan which includes excerpts from the interview, and more on the film: Peace or PTSD in the Middle East? U.S. drone drama to hit Vimeo
‘From the Sky’ joins the well-regarded Tallgrass International Film Festival for a screening on Saturday, October 18th in Wichita. The film will play with other shorts for the festival’s ‘Dramatic Shorts’ package at 11:30AM in the WSU Shift Space. Tickets and info can be found here: Tallgrass Film Festival Schedule
The Short Film Awards have just announced their 2014 nominees, each representing one of five finalists in the running to win a given category. ‘From the Sky’ received four: BEST DIRECTOR OF A NARRATIVE, DRAMATIC OR COMEDIC SHORT FILM- Ian Ebright, ‘From the Sky’ BEST WRITING IN A NARRATIVE, DRAMATIC OR COMEDIC SHORT FILM- Ian Ebright, […]
‘From the Sky’ has won its third award. The Accolade Global Film Competition, one of MovieMaker Magazine’s Top 25 Festivals worth the entry fee, selected the film out of thousands of submissions. Ian’s debut won the ‘Award of Excellence: Special Mention,’ one of just six films in this second place category, and one of only two films […]
‘From the Sky’ won the Activist Award at the fifth annual Awareness Festival. The awards ceremony took place on September 21st at the tail end of the 10-day event, and was held at the historic Bay Club in Santa Monica, CA. Writer/director Ian Ebright received the award on behalf of the cast and crew.
‘From the Sky’ will return to California in October for its fourth festival in the state, as an official selection of the 17th annual Hollywood Film Festival. The film will screen Thursday, October 16th at 11:15AM, following the opening keynote address at the famous ArcLight Cinemas Hollywood on Sunset Boulevard (formerly known as the Cinerama Dome). […]
Ian’s award-winning debut ‘From the Sky’ has been chosen as an official selection at the 11th annual Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival. The festival focuses on bringing “socially conscious, environmentally aware, and outdoor adventure” films to this picturesque region in Arizona. ‘From the Sky’ will screen on Saturday, October 11th at 7:30PM. Click below for more […]
Writer/director Stephanie Gardner invited Ian and ‘From The Sky’ to be featured in her column at PCP Media after she saw the film at the 2014 Rhode Island International Film Festival. The article includes a write-up on ‘From the Sky’ and conversation about Ian’s inspiration, creative process, and what he hopes people take away from the film. Follow the link for […]
The Casting Society of America has nominated Stephen Salamunovich for his work with writer/director Ian Ebright and producer Jess Grant in casting ‘From the Sky.’ Salamunovich is a Seattle-based casting director with credits including ‘The Details’ (Tobey Maguire, Elizabeth Banks, Laura Linney) and ’21 & Over.’ The nomination places ‘From the Sky’ as one of […]
‘From the Sky’ has been selected as a finalist/official selection at the 15th annual Moondance International Film Festival in Boulder, CO. Ian’s debut will screen with other cinematic works on Friday, September 26th at 8:40PM in the Executive Boardroom of the historic Hotel Boulderado. For ticketing and more information, follow the link below. Moondance International […]
Ian Ebright’s award-winning debut is headed back to The Golden State following the film’s world premiere last April at the Newport Beach Film Festival. ‘From the Sky’ is an Official Selection at Awareness Festival and Wine Country Film Festival in the month of September, and will screen for each event on Sunday, September 21st. Awareness Festival will host the […]
‘From the Sky’ took home the International Humanitarian Award Grand Prize at the Rhode Island International Film Festival’s awards ceremony held in Providence on August 10. Now in its 18th year, the Oscar-qualifying annual festival selected Ian’s narrative short film for the top humanitarian prize out of 250 screened films and 5,400 submissions. The award is “given annually […]
Ian was invited to write an article for MovieMaker Magazine, which has been published to coincide with the East Coast premiere of ‘From the Sky.’ The essay explores making the film, including sources of inspiration, examples of what not to do, the pain of progress, and collaborative challenges. Click here to check it out: How They Did […]
Ian Ebright’s debut as writer/director, the narrative short film ‘From the Sky,’ has been selected out of 5,000 submissions to screen at the 18th annual Rhode Island International Film Festival. The festival populated its upcoming 2014 event with films from over 60 countries, and like SIFF in Seattle, is an Oscar-qualifier. The film will screen […]
Following the world premiere of ‘From the Sky’ at the Newport Beach Film Festival in late April, Ian Ebright’s narrative short film will have its northwest premiere at the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF), where it has been chosen as an Official Selection for the annual event now in its 40th year. SIFF is the most […]
The 2014 Newport Beach Film Festival has chosen Ian Ebright’s debut ‘From the Sky’ as an official selection at the annual event now in its 15th year, and will host the film’s world premiere. Ian’s unique narrative short, exploring the challenges and consequences of living underneath drone strikes and drone surveillance, will screen with the feature […]
