SHOWING:
2:15 pm, Sun 9/24 @ Alabama Theatre
directed by Todd Rohal
* Writer/director/producer Todd Rohal, producer Jason Orfanon and composer David Wingo are scheduled to attend.
Following the confusion of a massive power outage, an awkward demolition derby driver vanishes – setting in motion a series of events affecting his pregnant girlfriend, his helplessly car-less father, a pack of wild boy scouts, a lactose intolerant roller rink employee, an elderly woman in search of her lost dog, and his best friend – a ten-year-old girl named Turkeylegs.
After hearing the story of an infamous suicidal legend that unsuccessfully tried to take his own life in a rock quarry, Turkeylegs sets out to find her missing friend. Pieces of the mystery begin to come together as the fractured story elements play out. Cars drive circles in the dirt, a woman attends her own funeral, the sun rises sideways, and a bizarre orange vehicle trades hands again and again, culminating in a massive demolition derby that throws all of the characters in different directions, leaving Turkeylegs to wonder if she'll hold the only memories of her friend that disappeared.
* A limited number of free tickets to THE GUATEMALAN HANDSHAKE will be given away to patrons of Lyric Hot Dog & Grill (across from the Alabama Theatre) who consume an official GUATEMALAN HANDSHAKE WEINIE served between noon and 4 pm on Saturday 9/23. Participants consuming the most weeners will be brought on stage and honored righteously following the Sunday screening.
Director Bio:
Todd Rohal wrote and directed four short films before completing his first feature, THE GUATEMALAN HANDSHAKE. His short films, including KNUCKLEFACE JONES and HILLBILLY ROBOT, screened at SXSW, Slamdance, and Maryland film festivals. He worked as a designer and producer for DVDs including the underground classics HEAVY METAL PARKING LOT and THE AMERICAN ASTRONAUT. Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Todd graduated from the Honors Tutorial Department of Ohio University with a BFA in Film.
Screens with OUR MAN IN NIRVANA (11 min. / HFF Potsdam-Babelsberg, Germany / Animated), directed by Jan Koester. A famous rock star dies during a concert and gets to nirvana. There, he faces his wishes and deeds.
