Boca Raton Filmmakers to Present at 22nd Annual Palm Beach International Film Festival

Local Boca Raton filmmakers will be showing their films on Saturday, April 1, during the Palm Beach International Film Festival’s “Day of Shorts.”

The Palm Beach International Film Festival runs from Wednesday, March 29 to Sunday, April 2 and is set to screen dozens of films between Boca Raton’s Cinemark and the theater at Keiser University.

A scene of “Parent-Teacher Conference” by Andre Heizer and Nicholas Palmieri

Saturday’s Day of Shorts at Keiser will include two programs: one showing short films that were submitted by independent filmmakers, and the other showing films as part of a Student Showcase from different high schools and colleges. In independent shorts category, André Heizer and Nicholas Palmieri of Boca Raton will debut their new film “Parent-Teacher Conference.” In the Student Showcase, Arielle Dauch from Spanish River High School will debut an ad she made for American Eagle, Emily Galdames from Don Estridge Middle School will show an original cell phone film, and Jesse Veliz, a current Florida Atlantic University student, will show a short film titled “Man Card,” which he made while attending Calvary Christian Academy.

“We’re excited to finally show [the film] to the world,” said Palmieri, screenwriter and producer of “Parent-Teacher Conference.” “You get to a point where you’ve been working on it for so long, trying to get everything perfect, and you’re just itching to finally have someone see it. That day is finally here!”

This film concerns a teacher and the mother of one of her students, both of whom must question themselves after realizing the student has been cheating on tests.

“This is a film we really believe people will like,” said Heizer, director and producer of “Parent-Teacher Conference.” “We hope people enjoy watching it, of course. But we also hope that after watching it, people will think more about what goes into education.”

Filmmakers from around the world will be in attendance at the festival, providing a unique opportunity for the young local filmmakers who will also be attending.

“The festival is going to be a great opportunity to meet other filmmakers,” Heizer said. “I’m really looking forward to expanding my network.”

Tickets to the festival can be purchased at pbifilmfest.org.