12-09-2023 12:40pm

Oscar Qualifying THE WAKE starring Deaf Actor Zander Colbeck-Bhola

Anita Johnson-Brown Editor

Luis Gerard's latest film, THE WAKE, has qualified to be considered for the 96th Academy Awards®. This timely short shares the story of a young deaf boy Martin (played by Zander Colbeck-Bhola) who looks up to his older brother (Played by Emmy Award winner Isaac Kragten) and follows him, even at times when he shouldn't. Zander Colbeck-Bhola comes from a large deaf family. All the cast learned sign language for this film.

After being selected for the Hollyshorts Film Festival and winning an honorable mention at the Cleveland International Film Festival, a Jury award at the Thomas Edison Film Festival, and Best Live Action Short Film at the Tirana Film Festival to mention some, this topical film played at Cinelounge in Los Angeles and qualified to be considered for the 96th Academy Awards®.

A restless 15-year-old has spent his life surrounded by death, raised in his parents' funeral business in a "small town USA." He views his alcoholic father as profiting from the dead. While a wake is held in his parents' funeral home, he breaks into the deceased's house, counting on it being empty. In his view, the dead no longer need what he pockets. He recruits his deaf-mute younger brother to join him in his robberies, unaware of what the consequences may be.

Writer, director, and producer Luis Gerard studied at the University of Puerto Rico where he began making films. His very first film QUE SERA was in the official selection of the prestigious Venice Film Festival and his second short ABSOLUTION was selected at The Sitges Film Festival. Branching into feature work, Gerard recently directed the second unit for HUSTLE, a basketball drama starring Adam Sandler, produced by Netflix, and released in June of 2022.

THE WAKE is Gerard's third short film, a proof of concept for a feature film currently in development. Luis is preparing his first film, "CHOPPER," based on his original screenplay and produced by Hidden Pictures' Todd Liberman and Alex Young, which plans to go into production in 2024.

The stunning cinematography was created by Christopher Mably (Star Trek Discovery), who also serves as the film's Executive Producer. Josias Tapia SHE'S GOTTA HAVE IT joins Mably as EP. THE WAKE was expertly crafted by Adam Schwartz and the beautiful music by Jay Wadley SWAN SONG, I'M THINKING OF ENDING THINGS and OLD.

Past festival wins and upcoming fests:

Cleveland International Film Festival (WINNER: Honorable Mention, Oscar Qualifier)
HollyShorts (Oscar Qualifier)
Tirana International Film (WINNER: Best Live Action Short, Oscar Qualifier)
Cordillera International Film Festival (Nominated for best drama and Best of Fest)
T. E. F. F (WINNER: Jury Award)
Shorts México (Honorable Mention)
Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival 2023 (Finalist, Oscar Qualifier)
New York Indie Shorts Award (Finalist)
Norway's Ravenheart International Film Festival (WINNER: Best Actor, Best Short, Best Horror/Thriller)
USA Film Festival (Finalist)
Ignite Film Festival (WINNER: Best Drama, Best Youth Actor)
Champion Film Salon International Film Festival (WINNER: Best short)