March 19, 2024 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

SMC Student Film “The War Within” Accepted into 2022 American Pavilion at Cannes

Three Santa Monica College Films Will Screen at In-Person Festival, including 2021 Best Student Film Winner “Broken Layers” and 2020’s Finalist “The Attempt”

By Staff Writer

Santa Monica College (SMC) student film “The War Within”—written and directed by SMC film student Marta D’Ocon—will screen at the 25th anniversary edition of the Emerging Filmmaker Showcase at the American Pavilion during the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, on May 25. This is SMC’s seventh student film to be selected for the showcase where SMC is the only community college represented. 

The 33 films selected as part of the 2022 showcase will be presented to an in-person audience, along with the 68 finalist films from 2020 and 2021, which means that Santa Monica College will have a total of three student films on show in Cannes: 2021’s Best Student Film winner “Broken Layers” (written and directed by Niccolo Rolim) and 2020’s official selection “The Attempt” (written and directed by Daniel Despart), both to be screened on May 23. This will be the first time the Cannes Film Festival is back on ground since the COVID-19 pandemic.

“’The War Within’ is extraordinary for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that it was written and directed by an 18-year old student, Marta D’Ocon, whose directorial perspective and artistic maturity in this film go way beyond her years,” said SMC Film Professor Salvador Carrasco, who heads the film production program. “Also, it happens to be a quintessentially Latin American story told by a Spanish—Catalonian, to be precise—filmmaker, a courageous undertaking (given the historical complexity of Spain-Latin America relations) worthy of giants like Luis Buñuel, the Spanish director who dissected Mexican cultural identity in unforgettable films like ‘Los olvidados.’”

Carrasco further added: “Last but not least, because it is simply extraordinary: well-crafted, moving, thought-provoking, and with something relevant to say about the world we live in and the seemingly insurmountable challenges women have to face whatever context they find themselves in, including so-called ‘progressive’ ones.”

D’Ocon stated that the very first seed for “The War Within” came to life in 2019 “when I read an article about women’s forced abortions in different parts of the world. It got under my skin that in this age women apparently are still not expected or trusted to make final decisions about their bodies, their lives, their choices.”

“I wanted to make this film to confront that issue head on, stressing the fact that, when it comes to basic human rights, women get the short end of the stick on either side of the ideological spectrum. As fate would have it, here we are in 2022 with the Supreme Court potentially about to overturn Roe v. Wade,” D’Ocon said. “I hope ‘The War Within’ contributes with its grain of salt so that we never forget how the most precious things in life can be taken away from us at any moment.”

D’Ocon stated that she is “forever grateful to Santa Monica College and Prof. Carrasco in particular for their mentorship, as well as to our cast and crew for their invaluable support and collaboration.”

In the past eight years, seven SMC films have been official selections at the Emerging Filmmaker Showcase at the Cannes Film Festival, with “Broken Layers” winning Best Short in 2021. Carrasco speaks to this record: “As head of the SMC Film Program, I am incredibly proud of our students and their films, which are both in tune with and challenge the pulse of the world we live in. I believe our film school is now on par with the best in the nation, with the caveat that ours costs a mere fraction of most tuition fees out there.”

The immensely affordable cost aside, Carrasco adds: “Our film program is helping redefine the notion of what a community college can be when we place our educational bet on talent, work ethic, and fulfilling social values at the highest possible standard.”

The 2022 program features 33 films including 24 female-identifying directors and co-directors at the helm of 17 projects, 10 films focused on LGBTQ+ topics, and filmmakers of diverse backgrounds from the U.S. and around the globe, highlighting new voices in six categories – Emerging Filmmaker Documentaries, Emerging Filmmaker Short Films, Emerging Filmmaker LGBTQ+ Films, Student Documentaries, Student Short Films, and High School Films.

“Broken Layers”—which won Best Student Short Film at The 24th American Pavilion Emerging Stude­­nt Showcase—is a humanist portrayal of the Iraq War and its aftermath as experienced by Rosa, a half-Latina, half-Arab U.S. Marine. As for SMC’s 2020 entry, “The Attempt” is set in 1921 post-World War I Berlin and it is based on a true story. “The Attempt” follows Soghomon Tehlirian, a young man who is given the mission to assassinate the chief orchestrator of the Armenian genocide. During his first attempt, Soghomon realizes that killing another man is not easy and contemplates starting a new life with the woman he loves.

SMC offers an Associate of Science degree and Certificate of Achievement in Film Production. To learn more, visit smc.edu/filmproduction or email Carrasco_Salvador@smc.edu. The film program—as well as the films that come out of it— is on YouTube as the “Santa Monica College Film Program” channel.

Related Posts

Time is Running Out To Give Public Input on Malibu’s Revised Housing Element

March 18, 2024

March 18, 2024

City Asks Residents to Comment on Strategies for Addressing Housing Needs The City of Malibu has released an updated Revised...

Fatal Crash Claims Life of Woman on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu

March 18, 2024

March 18, 2024

Accident Victim Identified in Thursday Night Accident A woman tragically lost her life in a Thursday evening crash along the...

California Wildlife Center Responds to Distressed Marine Mammal at Little Dume Beach

March 18, 2024

March 18, 2024

Third Gray Whale Stranding of 2024 Prompts Concern in Malibu On the morning of Saturday, March 16, the California Wildlife...

Woman Drives Car In Ocean After High Speed Police Chase

March 18, 2024

March 18, 2024

Law enforcement officers pursued her along the I-110 and I-405 until she reached the vicinity of Venice Beach A woman...

Santa Monica Authorities Seek Public’s Help After Sexual Assault Incident

March 17, 2024

March 17, 2024

SMPD Urges Anyone With Information to Come Forward Authorities in Santa Monica are seeking information from the public after a...

FBI Seeks Victims of Alleged Online Exploitation Scheme Allegedly Run by Resident of Santa Monica

March 17, 2024

March 17, 2024

Individuals Urged to Come Forward in Investigation of John Douglas Burch The FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office is urging individuals to...

(Video) Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD Responds to News of Nex Benedict’s Cause of Death

March 15, 2024

March 15, 2024

Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD, responds to the release of the Oklahoma Medical Examiner’s Ruling on Nex...

Venice Family Clinic Announces Inaugural HEART Gala to Celebrate Health and Art

March 15, 2024

March 15, 2024

Event Honors Creative Community and Supporters of Vital Health Care Services Venice Family Clinic, a non-profit community health center dedicated...

“Love Lies Bleeding” is Ripped: Actress Katy O’Brian Talks Love, Sex, and Vulnerability

March 15, 2024

March 15, 2024

Katy O’Brian is a Breakout Star Who Shines in Loving and Hilariously Violent Crime Film English film director Rose Glass’...

Pacific Park on Santa Monica Pier Sold to SC Holdings, $10M Investment Planned

March 14, 2024

March 14, 2024

The Cultural Institution Set for Exciting Upgrades Santa Monica Amusements LLC (SMA), the operating group of Pacific Park on the...

Woman Returns $1K Worth of Stolen Items After Store Finds Her Social Media Account

March 14, 2024

March 14, 2024

For the Owner, the Incident Is Perhaps Indicative of an Environment at the Palisades Village Where Smaller Businesses Are More...

LAPD Identify Suspect Who Struck 6-Year-Old Girl Last Weekend

March 14, 2024

March 14, 2024

An Arrest Was Made Following “Another Incident” in Venice By Zach Armstrong  The Los Angeles Police have identified Ahsante Lamar...

SMC to Host Free Screening of West Coast Hip Hop Documentary

March 14, 2024

March 14, 2024

Free Presentation Includes Audience Q&A with Hip Hop Icons Santa Monica College (SMC) is set to host a complimentary screening...

IRS Launches Direct File Pilot of Free Filing Tool for Taxpayers in California, 11 Other States

March 14, 2024

March 14, 2024

Free, Convenient Online Tax Filing Option Now Available for Eligible Individuals The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced the official launch...

SMPD Arrests Man Who Allegedly Attacked Girlfriend, Brandished Replica Firearm at Her Daughter

March 13, 2024

March 13, 2024

The Man Faces Charges of Felony Domestic Violence and Misdemeanor Child Abuse A suspect is in custody after a domestic...