Roses are Blind, the multi-award winning independent short-film to screen at the 10th Annual Fort Myers Film Festival as an Official Selection on Saturday, October 24, 2020 at 4 pm during Short Blocks 8 at the historic Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, 2301 First Street, Fort Myers, Florida 33901. FMFF will run from Oct. 21–25; tickets are available at https://sbdac.vbotickets.com/events
Jodi Kipperman, President of Kipperman Casting, Inc., states “Roses are Blind grabs you from frame one and never lets go. The suspense builds as the story unfolds and keeps the viewer off kilter till the final moment. This intense trip leaves you questioning reality.”
Roses are Blind, with a trailer of over 3.3 million views, is on a whirlwind! Sweeping Film Festivals by storm around the nation, winning many awards including: “Best Composer” at the Shore to Shore Film Festival, Glendale, California, “Best Woman in Jeopardy Film” at the Culver City Film Festival, Los Angeles, “Best Psychological Thriller” at the Williamsburg Independent Film Festival, “Best NYC Short” at the International New York Film Festival, “Best Short Film” as well as “Best Actress” at the Chautauqua International Film Festival, “Best Score” at the Silver State Film Festival, Las Vegas, “Best Young Filmmaker USA” at the Los Angeles Brazilian Film Festival, “Best Editing” at the Marina del Rey Film Festival, Los Angeles and was an Official Selection at the New York Filmmakers Festival, the Orlando Film Festival, Montreal Indie Short Film Awards, received Honorable Mention at the Santa Monica International Film Festival, nominated for Best Actress and Best Medium Short at Hang onto Your Shorts Film Festival, Asbury Park, New Jersey and received a private screening to sold out audiences of 475 attendees at the School of Visual Arts Movie Theatre in Chelsea, NYC.
The story is based on Julie Janson, a pre-med junior at Columbia University. After Julie rescues a homeless man’s dog from a train track, her college roommate recommends she sees a famous psychic, Addison Spellings, for guidance. In her meeting with Mr. Spellings, he reveals her family secret that changes Julie’s life forever. When going home to confront her parents about it, they make sure their secret stays with her.
Gui Agustini, Producer, Director, Co-Writer, Multi-Media Film, Television and Theatre Actor, states “Roses are Blind” personifies a brave woman’s story to overcome adversity against all odds. Our entire cast and crew are honored to bring her true life story to the big screen.”
The star studded cast of Roses are Blind include Christina Jolie Breza as Julie Janson, a television, theatre and movie actress who also produced the short; Gui Agustini, as Dr. Mayer, a multi-media film, television and theatre actor who also directed, produced and co-wrote Roses are Blind; Daniel Davis, as Addison Spellings, is best known for portraying Niles the Butler, on the Television sitcom, The Nanny and for his guest appearance as Professor Moriarty on Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Davis was nominated for a Best Actor Tony Award for his role in David Hirson’s Broadway play Wrong Mountain; Boyd Gaines, as Uncle Oscar, four time Tony Award and three time Drama Desk Award winning actor; Kathleen McNenny as Ruth Janson, an acclaimed Broadway, film and television actress; William W. Warren, as Ted Janson, a theatre and commercial actor; and Purva Bedi, as Yolanda Ramirez, a Drama Desk Award winner for her work in Dance Nation and her role in Sully with Tom Hanks, an actress of film, television and theater.
The film is based on the true life story of co-writer/producer Wendy J. White. The event described in the film occurred when she was 19. Wendy J. White states “Roses are Blind” is intended to expose misdiagnosis throughout the nation and the struggle for normalcy in a world that quickly judges and inflames reality.” She adds, “It is a dream come true to create this film in an age where truth is revealed and empowered.”
