11-15-2023 2:26pm

“XANDER” PILOT TO COMPETE AT THE 2ND ANNUAL DANCES WITH FILMS NEW YORK

Anita Johnson-Brown Editor

LOS ANGELES, November 15, 2023 -- "XANDER"

Xander is a captivating comedy fantasy pilot short film that explores the essence of life and will be competing this year at this year's highly anticipated Dances with Films New York 2023 event held at the prestigious Regal Union Square in New York City

Crafted by The talented writer Alec Bantivoglio and skillfully directed by Jonathan Chao this heartwarming story takes place in California's vibrant Orange County. Xander follows Luke a young high school student who has been grappling with deep feelings of isolation since the untimely passing of his grandmother as if fate had something extraordinary planned for him Luke inherits an exquisite antique vace upon the demise of his only friend Albert to his astonishment and delight, he discovers Xander a charismatic genie trapped inside..

And an intriguing twist Xander assumes the form of a teenage boy and embarks on a mission to guide Luke toward making his one wish so that he can fulfill his role as a genie and move on throughout their journey together.

Xander becomes not only Luke's trusted confidant but also his staunch supporter he empowers Luke to summon the courage to ask out his dream girl while also standing up against his obnoxious brother, thereby transforming, looks, life immeasurably for the better, As he unfolds opportunities arise Lucas is faced with the profound decision, should he relinquish his newfound friendship and make that one all-important wish!

This soul-stirring narrative prompts us to ponder if fulfilling our deepest desire is worth sacrificing true companionship.
Don't miss out on experiencing Xander and enchanting story with humor and wonderment that reminds us all about what truly matters in life join us at dances with Films New York as we embark on this magical journey together.

By Anita Johnson-Brown

Produced by Gabriella Lee, XANDER stars Tanner Hagen (LAWMEN: BASS REEVES) and Derrick Israel Rose.

Alec Bantivoglio is a comedy writer from Philadelphia with a passion for making people laugh. In the Spring of 2023, he graduated from Chapman University with a master's in television writing and production. While there, he created and was the showrunner for Xander, a fantasy-comedy web series, crewed by many of his fellow Chapman students. Over the last 2 months, Xander has won several awards and will make its New York premiere at Dances With Films New York.

"Premiering Xander at Dances With Films is an incredible opportunity. I'm very excited and grateful we get to share our work at a film festival with such an amazing reputation," says Bantivoglio.

Jonathan Chao is an award-winning Chinese-American filmmaker originally from Santa Cruz, CA. As a person of color in the film industry, he is driven by a passion to uplift marginalized voices and showcase authentic minority and immigrant experiences on the silver screen. Jonathan is currently a 3rd-year MFA candidate in Film Production with an emphasis in Directing at Chapman University. Before pursuing his MFA, he earned a BA degree in Anthropology from UCLA, where he also minored in Film, Television, and Digital Media. He currently resides in Los Angeles.

"I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have directed XANDER," says Chao. "The script was already so polished and hilarious that the transition from page to screen was seamless. The crew, consisting primarily of my frequent collaborators, along with the opportunity to cast my former undergrad roommate as Xander, transformed the filmmaking process into a joyous reunion collaborating on a creative endeavor. It's a massive honor to premiere XANDER at such a renowned festival like DWF. Every filmmaker dreams of their film premiering in New York City, and I can't wait for everyone to see it."

XANDER will screen as part of the Pilots Competition, Group 1, on Thursday, November 30 at 3:30 PM at the Regal Union Square. For tickets go to https://danceswithfilms.com/schedu

ABOUT DANCES WITH FILMS

Since 1998 DANCES WITH FILMS has grown from presenting a handful of films to more than 200 each year...from narrative features and shorts to include the top documentaries, music videos, TV and web programs on the circuit today. In 2007, DWF brought a new commitment to the indie world with the advent of the 2 Minute, 2 Step Short Film Challenge where we shoot 10 films during the festival and present them to enthusiastic audiences. In 2012 the festival moved to its current location – the famed TCL Chinese Theatres in the heart of Hollywood. From there it expanded to 11 days with ever-increasing sold-out screenings and has expanded to a winter festival in New York now in its second year.