JOE, a New York Romantic Comedy, to Premiere at Sedona International Film Festival

The upcoming short/pilot romantic comedy, "JOE" will make its world premiere at The 24th Annual Sedona International Film Festival. The film follows Jillian a girl who was recently fired from corporate America in her new job as a barista. Jillian meets the man of her dreams, Joe on the street, but instinctively lies about what she does for a living. Turns out his favorite coffee shop is where she works.

Screenings will take place in Sedona, Arizona at the Harkins Sedona 6 -Theatre 1 Thu, Mar 1 at 1:00 PM, and Fri, Mar 2 at 7:00 PM in the star studded Shorts Program 3: Shorts, Shorts, Shorts. Screenings will be followed by a talkback with all of the filmmakers in the block.

JOE is a comedy short/pilot created by a team of many female filmmakers. It's written and produced by Shara Ashley Zeiger (Roughly Speaking, The Red Lotus, Faustess) and directed by Kaye Tuckerman (Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Achievement in Art Direction, and actor in upcoming Summer, the Donna Summer Musical on Broadway) with cinematography by Samantha Pyra (Mysteries in NYC) and assistant directing by Samantha Winter. The production team also features editing by Sean MacLaughlin and a score by Leeran Z. Raphaely.

The cast features Bethany Nicole Taylor (Taking in Quinn), Sean MacLaughlin (Broadway's Phantom of the Opera), Shara Ashley Zeiger (Roughly Speaking, Bull, Last OG), Amanda Bruton, (Addams Family Musical Nat'l Tour, Billions, Punisher, Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), Amanda Damron (If Only for a Moment), J.J. Phillips (The Upside, Nashville), Jim O'Hare (Billions, Blacklist), Eve Austin (Weight), Kelly Kozakevich, Vin Scialla (The Deuce, Blindspot), and Michael Seth Huntsman.

In a world filled with a lot of unrest, JOE brings a splash of joy in this 20min short/pilot about learning to be yourself. The goal for JOE is travel the festival circuit and find funding to make the rest of the series, and find it a home.

The Sedona International Film Festival, founded in 1994 is an annual, eight-day film festival in Sedona, Arizona held February 24- March 4th 2018. The Film Festival screens feature films, documentary films, short films, animated films, and student films. Recognized by Moviemaker Magazine as "Fest to Impress", the 2018 edition continues the tradition of honoring those motivated by passion for their art, and driven by a love for making timely, moving, and important films. http://www.sedonafilmfestival.org/

A trailer for JOE is available on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VceddUpKamg