FILMS

 

THE LOVERS (2023) | 70 minutes

EDITED BY ZOË KISSEL
DIRECTED BY PARKER KEYE EISEN

Louise, an overworked server, begins cheating on her unemployed boyfriend Jon who spends his days studying Marx’s Capital. Overworked and exploited, their relationship suffers. Louise forgets traces of her other love in their one-room apartment. As Jon discovers them, new tensions rise in their already burning relationship.

For more information, please visit theloversfilm.com.

 

SH*T SAVES THE WORLD (2022) | 71 minutes

PRODUCED AND EDITED BY ZOË KISSEL
DIRECTED BY TROY HALE

Sh*t Saves the World provides an intriguing and humorous glimpse into our species' impact on the earth by exploring how one of the most simple solutions to aid the environment may lie in what we often look down upon as waste. It just may be that the hero we all need, but don't deserve, shall be apparent when 'Sh*t Saves the World.'

    • Recognition for the acquisition of Sh*t Saves the World by the Michigan State University Libraries during the 2021 Faculty Book Reception

    • 2021 Cinema Verde Award Winner, awarded by the Cinema Verde Film Festival for Sh*t Saves the World

    • 2020 Silver Telly Award (General-Green/Eco-Friendly), awarded by The Telly Awards for Sh*t Saves the World

    • 2020 Emmy Nomination (Editor - Program - Non-News), nominated by the Michigan Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for Sh*t Saves the World

    • 2020 Emmy Nomination (Documentary - Topical), nominated by the Michigan Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for Sh*t Saves the World

    • 2020 BEA Award of Excellence in the Faculty Documentary Competition (Documentary Feature), awarded by The Broadcast Education Association Festival of Media Arts for Sh*t Saves the World

    • 2020 Silver Davey Award Winner, awarded for Sh*t Saves the World

    • 2020 Feature Documentary Winner, awarded by the Sweden Film Festival for Sh*t Saves the World

    • 2020 Best Feature Film Winner, awarded by The Monkey Bread Tree Film Awards for Sh*t Saves the World

    • 2020 Buenos Aires International Film Festival Official Selection, screened with Sh*t Saves the World

    • 2020 CinemAmbiente – Environmental Film Festival (Turin, Italy) Official Selection, screened with Sh*t Saves the World

    • 2020 Charlotte Film Festival Official Selection, screened with Sh*t Saves the World

    • 2020 Twin Cities Film Fest Official Selection, screened with Sh*t Saves the World

    • 2020 First Coast Film Festival Official Selection, screened with Sh*t Saves the World

    • 2020 13th International Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Festival Official Selection, screened with Sh*t Saves the World

    • 2020 Amsterdam World Film Festival Official Selection, screened with Sh*t Saves the World

    • 2020 Social World Film Festival (Vico Equense, Italy) Semi-Finalist, screened with Sh*t Saves the World

    • 2019 Emmy Award (Promotion - Program - Single Spot), nominated and awarded by the Michigan Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for Sh*t Saves the World

    • Sh*t Saves the World left me speechless. I cannot even find the words to describe how good this feature documentary is. While watching it, I can’t help but laugh, especially that it is about poop. But after watching it, I have come to realize that everything in it makes sense.”—Utah Film Festival & Awards

    • “The film comes in with a bold style, a strong sense of production value and a very clear sense of perspective. The documentary is far-reaching with its objective: defining the sense of our human impact on the environment.” —The Monkey Bread Tree Film Awards

    • “Adding an element of humor allows the film to have a wider audience interest, than a traditional environmental documentary.” —Knight Center for Environmental Journalism

For more information, please visit mpxfilms.com/films/documentaries/sht-saves-the-world.

 

HOWIE (2022) | 37 minutes

EDITED BY ZOË KISSEL
DIRECTED BY CLAY CONOVER

After three years, Pete (Alek Kristopher) and Howie (Chris Heeder) reconnect and discover the past has consequences.

 

会者定離 (MEETING PEOPLE ALWAYS SEPARATED) (2020) | 5 minutes

EDITED AND COLORED BY ZOË KISSEL
DIRECTED BY NICOLE MA

"How much energy does one have to deal with this much confrontation? Whether it's towards society, yourself, or loved ones?" Directed by Nicole Ma, 会者定離 (Meeting People Always Separated) explores the extent of how a sudden government decision affects a person who simply wants a grasp of the American dream, and the conflicting emotions and thoughts of what they decide to do before the departure.

 

A SHADOW BREATHES (2020) | 14 minutes

EDITED BY ZOË KISSEL
DIRECTED BY VARUN RAMADHYANI

A look into the increasingly fragmented psyche of Pratik, transforming him into a shell of what he once was: a shadow.

 

LOKUM (TURKISH DELIGHT) (2019) | 7 minutes

EDITED, COLORED, AND SOUND DESIGN BY ZOË KISSEL
DIRECTED BY NICOLE MA

Lokum (Turkish Delight) is a Neo-Italian realism inspired short, with color inspiration of Wong Kar Wai, Wim Wenders, and Todd Haynes. The film feels like a documentary but actually has a narrative containing underlying themes and criticisms of socio-economic systems, and depth of life.

 

JUICE (2018) | 10 minutes

WRITTEN, DIRECTED, AND EDITED BY ZOË KISSEL

Juice is a short neo-noir, science-fiction film following a woman's growing withdrawal and the fatal decision she makes to get high once more.

    • 2019 Capital City Film Festival, screened with Juice

    • 2019 South Texas Underground Film Festival, screened with Juice

    • 2018 Detroit Shetown Film Festival, screened with Juice

    • 2018 Traverse City Film Festival, screened with Juice

    • 2018 Threadbare Mitten Film Festival, screened with Juice

    • 2018 Adrian International Film Festival, screened with Juice

    • 2018 Semi-Finalist at the Los Angeles CineFest, screened with Juice

    • 2018 Spartan Film Festival Audience Favorite Award, awarded for Juice

    • 2018 Planet 9 Film Fest Most Relevant Creative Film Award, awarded for Juice

    • 2018 Accolade Global Film Competition Award of Merit for Women Filmmakers (Student), awarded for Juice

    • 2018 Best Shorts Competition Award of Recognition for Film Short (Student), awarded for Juice

    • 2018 IndieFest Film Awards Award of Recognition for Women Filmmakers (Student), awarded for Juice