Harry here.... For some reason a short film entitled FIREPUSSY is ultimately compelling and needing desperately to be a title on AICN. Upon checking out Laurel Almerinda's website (bottom of the press release) I discovered that Laurel may indeed be super cool. Her short film seems to have a Lesbian Shower Scene, Burning Sister's Corpse, wanton pyromania and the Yucatan. These are all EXCELLENT things to have in a short film. Yup, in fact, they should be required. If you caught FIREPUSSY at Sundance, ooooooh how jealous we all are, but don't be demure, tell us about your experience with FIREPUSSY! Let it inflame us as it did you!
Laurel Almerinda's Short Film
"firepussy"
Official Selection of Sundance 2003
Los Angeles, CA - Filmmaker Laurel Almerinda is on her way to the Sundance Film Festival today, the proud writer, director, DP and editor of her short film "firepussy." Her piece is an official selection of this year's festival in the Shorts category. It will screen six times throughout the festival (see screening schedule below) which runs from January 16th - 26th.
"firepussy" is the electrically charged journey of Maria, a volatile Latina poet/pyromaniac haunted by her past. Even though it was a long time ago that one of her fire games burned out of control and killed her baby sister, Maria is so bound by the guilt and so crippled by the horror of her fire memories that she can't take it anymore. She flees the dark, dirty corners of the urban American ghostfield and seeks her catharsis in the lush, mysterious and erotically dangerous jungles of Yucatan, Mexico.
Almerinda describes her film as "non linear with a fractured narrative, driven by visceral imagery and sound design." It is a mixed media piece, including 16 & 35mm film, digital video and graphic animation.
Laurel started off on the right foot, attending Catholic school and confessing her sins once a week. She continued to flower at Tufts University, earning a BA in Art History and Archaeology with cum laude honors, receiving numerous awards for her scholarship and a grant to take part in an Archaeological expedition to Masada, Israel. Then, things went horribly awry. She immersed herself in the world of dance choreography, becoming the Artistic Director of The Dance Collective and shamelessly performing in varying states of undress throughout New England. Laurel continued her relentless fall from grace by moving to Los Angeles. Although she earned a Master of Fine Arts in Film Production from the University of Southern California, finished at the top of her class and was awarded the Samuel and Lorenza Gary Grant for her thesis script, she insists on making films such as "firepussy." Despite its lurid sensuality and glorification of pyromania, "firepussy" somehow managed to be an official selection of the 2003 Sundance Film Festival. Laurel has evolved into a risk-taking young filmmaker, music video director, obsessive Martha Stewart devotee and biker chick.
"firepussy" Screenings at Sundance:
Friday 1.17 6:15pm Holiday Village IV
Saturday 1.18 11:00pm Holiday Village II
Sunday 1.19 2:30pm Prospector Square Theatre
Wednesday 1.22 11:59pm Holiday Village IV
Friday 1.24 6:45pm Broadway Theatre 5 (Salt Lake City)
Saturday 1.25 8:30am Prospector Square Theatre
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Also, please visit www.firepussyfilm.com> .
