KNIVES AND SKIN New Auteurs

Talent attending: Marika Engelhardt (Talent), Brian Hieggelke (Producer), Jan (Producer), Jennifer Reeder (Director), Christopher Rejano (Cinematographer), Raven Whitley (Talent)

Returning to AFI FEST with this electric feature debut, writer/director Jennifer Reeder graduates from her amazing short film work (BLOOD BELOW THE SKIN, CRYSTAL LAKE) with absolute aplomb. In the small Midwestern town of Middle River, a high school is upended when sophomore Carolyn Harper suddenly vanishes after being left at the lake by her boyfriend.  Her disappearance pierces a facade of normality in the eerily quiet, suburban community.  This tonally unique, mystical-realist musical approach is a fascinating addition to the coming of age/missing person genre and presents an artist whose unique style and cinematic grammar have emerged fully formed.  Reeder’s film takes HEATHERS, OVER THE EDGE and BLUE VELVET and puts them in a blender with the resulting cinematic slurry a concoction unmistakably all her own. –Lane Kneedler

Accessibility: CCAP