Short Film KIDNAPPING CARL to Screen at 2014 Manhattan Film Festival on 6/21

Kidnapping Carl, a short film written by theater and film producer Phil Newsom (Birthday Boys, Super Sidekick the Musical) and directed by John Dillon (Award-winning Beware of the Bear, The Drop) will premiere at the Manhattan Film Festival 2014 on Saturday, June 21st. The film is produced by AFX Digital, MozzleStead and Same Old Films.

Carl is scraping bottom, fired by a nun from his dream job at Holy Cross Prep. He has lost all of his motivation for life, a life that his girlfriend Elise has carefully planned for. With her dreams of matrimony at stake, Elise hires a 'professional' kidnapper to 'inspire' Carl into taking command of his life, but the experience changes Carl in very unexpected ways.

The film stars theater veterans Zach McCoy (Birthday Boys, ArtEffects Theatre), Simone Zvi (Edit, Columbia Stages), and Colin Chapin (Winner, Outstanding Supporting Actor for Fix Number Six, Planet Connections Festivity 2013).

Screenwriter Phil Newsom also produces theater and film. His upcoming projects include the New York premiere of Martin Blank's spy thriller play The Law of Return in August 2014 and the short film Kissing River Phoenix, which has been adapted from Kat Moore's haunting short story.

Kidnapping Carl (20 min) screens at 3pm, Saturday, June 21st at the Quad Cinemas (34 West 13th Street, between 5th and 6th Ave.). Tickets are $11 and may be purchased at http://www.screenbooker.com/view-screening/538. For more information about the film festival, visit www.manhattanff.com.

Kidnapping Carl: Shot in New York City, written and produced by Phil Newsom and directed by John Dillon. PRODUCER: Montserrat Mendez. CAST:. Zach McCoy, Simone Zvi, Colin Chapin, Kristin Cantwell, Jelani Bellamy, Alex Chanand Vin Kridakorn. CINEMATOGRAPHY: Paul Nameck. EDITOR: Joshua Aaron Webb. COSTUME DESIGN: Becky Snyder. MAKE-UP ARTIST: Toby Klinger. SOUND MIXER: Walt Whitsitt. PRODUCTION ASSISTANT: Chris Pope.