Miller & Son is a 2019 live action short film directed by non-binary filmmaker Asher Jelinsky during their directing MFA studies at the AFI Conservatory.[1][2] This short film explores the feeling of compartmentalization by portraying the life of a transgender mechanic, performed by then-non-binary actress Jesse James Keitel.[3] It has been selected and awarded at several film festivals including Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, St. Louis International Film Festival where it won the Oscar Qualifying Best Live-Action Short Award, the BAFTA Student Film Awards where it won Best Live Action, and the Student Academy Awards where it won its second Oscar Qualifying Award with the Gold Medal for "Best Narrative" (Domestic).[4]

Miller & Son
Directed byAsher Jelinsky
Written byAsher Jelinsky
Produced byKate Chamuris
Starring
CinematographyRobert Nachman
Edited bySelinda Tian Jz Zhou
Production
company
Release dates
  • April 14, 2019 (2019-04-14) (Atlanta Film and Video Festival)
Running time
21 minutes
CountryUnited States

Plot

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A trans woman mechanic lives between running her family's auto shop during the day and expressing her femininity at night, until an unforeseen event threatens the balance of her compartmentalized life.

Awards

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Since its launch, the film has received numerous awards, and selected in more than 60 festivals around the world.

Year Presenter/Festival Award/Category Status
2019 Student Academy Awards Best Narrative (Domestic) Won[5][6]
BAFTA Student Film Awards Best Live Action Short Film Won
St. Louis International Film Festival Best Live-Action Short Won
Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity Gold Screen Young Director Award (Film School 6 mins and over) Won[7]
Clermont-Ferrand Film Festival International Competition Nominated[8]
Rhode Island International Film Festival Best Student Film Nominated
Ashland Independent Film Festival Jury and Audience Award for "Best Narrative Short" Won[9]
FilmOut San Diego Outstanding Artistic Achievement Won
Nevada City Film Festival Best Performance Won
North Carolina Gay & Lesbian Film Festival Best Long-Form Dramatic Short Won

References

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  1. ^ Edwards, Danny (July 22, 2019). "Asher Jelinsky on their award-winning film & the portrayal of trans & nonbinary characters". Shots. As a gender nonbinary person, I also compartmentalise as a coping mechanism and am often confronted with the choice of whether to speak up or stay silent.
  2. ^ "Congratulations to AFI's Student Academy Award Winners". AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE. October 18, 2019.
  3. ^ Bahr, Lindsey (October 18, 2019). "Film academy honours 16 Student Academy Award winners". Times Columnist. Archived from the original on October 25, 2019. Retrieved October 25, 2019. Authenticity in casting was of utmost importance to Jelinsky
  4. ^ "MEDALISTS REVEALED AT 2019 STUDENT ACADEMY AWARDS". The Oscars. 10 October 2019.
  5. ^ Williams, Trey (September 12, 2019). "AFI Leads All Universities in 2019 Student Academy Award Winners". The Wrap.
  6. ^ Wheat, Lorraine (October 20, 2019). "Rory Kennedy, Gregory Nava Celebrate Films Creating Social Change at 2019 Student Academy Awards". Variety. Narrative (Domestic Film Schools) Gold: Asher Jelinsky, "Miller & Son," American Film Institute
  7. ^ "YOUNG DIRECTOR AWARD - WINNER 2019".
  8. ^ "Clermont Ferrand International Film Festival - Miller & Son".[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ "Rhode Island International Film Festival / Sidewalk Film Festival 2019 – Miller & Son". We Are Moving Stories. 13 August 2019. (...) won both the jury and audience awards for Best Narrative Short at the Ashland Independent Film Festival
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