Daytona Beach Short Film Festival
KILELE (drama)
FILM SYNOPSIS
An expectant father with early onset ALS records a message for the unborn daughter he may never meet, then sets out to summit Kilimanjaro, determined to leave her a legacy of courage.
WRITER/PRODUCER/KEY CAST MEMBER BIO
My name is Brandon Faulk and I am the founder of Vision Quest Pictures. For our film Kilele I wrote, produced and acted in our film Kilele. In our short, I successfully hiked and submitted Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa, provide no real footage while summiting for our project.
WINNER-BEST DRAMA
CASE BREAK (drama)
FILM SYNOPSIS
Detective Bryan has lost everything to his obsession with catching Mel, a brutal killer who's eluded justice and cost him his family. When his partner arrives with devastating news that Mel is being released due to a lack of evidence, Bryan is left alone in his home, haunted by his failures.
But something isn't right. As shadows move through his house and footsteps echo in the dark, Bryan realizes he's not alone. The killer he's been hunting for months is inside, turning the hunter into the hunted.
Trapped in a deadly game of cat and mouse within his own home, Bryan discovers that the real threat may be closer than he ever imagined.
DIRECTOR BIO
Brad Lincoln is a Midwest-born and raised filmmaker drawn to authentic portrayals of flawed characters navigating the complexities of work, family, and identity. His short film Remain won Best Film at Orlando Film Slam, and his work has screened at festivals nationwide. As a cinematographer, he’s earned multiple awards, including Best Cinematography at the 48 Hour Film Festival. Brad has taught filmmaking at the Los Angeles Film School and continues to explore the psychological underpinnings of human behavior through his directorial work.
RIDING THE WAVES OF CHAOS (documentary)
FILM SYNOPSIS
During the making of a skateboarding documentary, Rick an aspiring filmmaker and military veteran, struggles with the emotional turmoil of divorce and to make matters worse must now face the chaos of an unexpected health crisis with alarming implications.
DIRECTOR BIO
Rick Cerda has been involved in the Austin Texas film industry for 7 years as an actor and now an aspiring filmmaker. A self-taught filmmaker modeling his strategy after Robert Rodriguez's low budget guerrilla style of filmmaking, Rick has received numerous awards for his “smartphone” short films in various festival categories. Additionally, Rick has scored all of his short films with his own original music.
WINNER-BEST COMEDY
SOMETHING IS ROTTEN (comedy)
FILM SYNOPSIS
A mob boss suspects foul play amongst her minions and has her henchmen help her get answers out of the accountant. Hilarity ensues.
DIRECTOR BIO
TL Westgate was born in Michigan, but settled in Florida as his home starting in the fifth grade. As a graduate from Florida State, he has worked in the video production industry for over 30 years and won several industry awards (Emmy, Telly, Marcom).
In 2010 he began getting serious about filmmaking and has traveled the world to support his films in festivals. They have played in fests around the world and won several awards. He also enjoys photography and has two adult sons. He currently is a professor at the Los Angeles Film School.
WINNER-BEST SHORT FILM
MUCKSPOUT THADDEUS (comedy)
FILM SYNOPSIS
A soon-to-be divorced young couple go searching for a mystical figure and his treasure to help rescue their home from foreclosure, however, they in for a rude awakening.
WRITER/PRODUCER/KEY CAST MEMBER
Jay is an Actor, Director, Producer, and Writer. Notable roles include Polonius/Referee in “Hamlet Shut Up!”, a silent rendition of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” as if told by Buster Keaton that premiered at Sacred Fools Theater in Los Angeles and performed at the NYC Fringe Festival (NYCFringe) to sold out houses. Jay has been Principal Talent in commercials with such companies as WWE Slim Jim with LA Knight and Bianca Belair, Florida Lottery, and Hard Rock Bet, Florida Blue and Carshield to name a few. Jay’s latest Comedy Short Film “Family Traditions” has currently screened at over 40 film festivals and won 25 Awards and recently been chosen as “Official Selection” in the 2025 Houston Comedy Film Festival. Jay is also a Comedic Improviser in both Long Form and Short Form Improv Comedy having studied and performed at Nitro Theater and SAK Comedy Lab.
THE SOUND OF SILENCE (drama)
FILM SYNOPSIS
A man returns to his beach house along the Currituck Sound after losing his better half and wonders if the other half will ever be whole again.
DIRECTOR BIO
Donald Wilson is an EMMY® Nominated cinematographer, photographer, poet, film - music video - and television commercial director, and video editor. An actor by trade, Donald’s passion for performing arts emerged during his early years as a theater student at the University of North Carolina- Charlotte campus; he later fell into the behind-the-scenes aspect of film, and the rest is cinematic history. Donald began his film/video career by shooting club and event recaps, then moving on to music videos and television commercials. He is now in the process of working on both short films and full-length features. Through his videography work, Donald discovered that he also had a talent for photography and has been honing his craft ever since.
MUSTANG COLT (comedy)
FILM SYNOPSIS
A short documentary film about a long iconic beard! William Lee Golden of Country Music Hall of Fame group, The Oak Ridge Boys hasn’t trimmed or shaved his beard since 1980. Music legends Jamey Johnson (You Should Have Seen it in Color, High Cost of Living, Stars in Alabama), Eddy Raven (Operator), I Got Mexico, Joe Knows How to Live), Tony Brown (producer of over 100 #1 records including George Strait, Reba, Chris Stapleton, Wynonna Judd, Steve Earle and more) and famous photographers weigh in on it in this animated short doc.
DIRECTOR BIO
Hank Bagwell is an award winning filmmaker, veteran, father and actor. He is passionate about environmental and veteran issues and of telling stories that most shy away from.
WINNER BEST ANIMATION / WINNER BEST DOCUMENTARY GOLDEN (animation)
MEANS TO AN END (drama)
FILM SYNOPSIS
Under new financial pressures as her grandmother's caregiver, a software developer must choose between her moral conscience and career advancement when her supportive, yet simultaneously conniving, coworker suggests sabotaging her devious boss, who stole credit and a higher-paying position, for her work.
DIRECTOR BIO
Ricardo Miranda is an emerging filmmaker and storyteller based in Central Florida, where he recently wrote, directed, and produced his debut short film, Means to an End (2026), a taut 7-minute corporate thriller examining moral compromise, intellectual theft, and the personal toll of justice.
Ricardo is a current student of Digital Cinematography at Full Sail University. He is a prior member of the WGA Veteran’s Writing Project (2023-2024), where he honed his craft in screenwriting and narrative structure. Ricardo is actively developing new short film projects and working toward developing his first feature film.
NO RESERVATIONS (comedy)
FILM SYNOPSIS
In a packed cafe, an introverted woman finds herself in a silent standoff with a stranger over the only open table. What begins as a quiet race turns into an unexpected connection.
DIRECTOR BIO
Jodie Cordell is a storyteller at heart, holding a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Arlington and recently earning an MFA in Film Production at Full Sail University. She is passionate about exploring all aspects of filmmaking, especially as a director and assistant director, while growing as a screenwriter. Collaborative and driven, Jodie brings stories to life—usually fueled by a good cup of coffee.
TRUST ISSUES (drama)
FILM SYNOPSIS
Jess came to spend the weekend. Marcus thought it would be simple. But between the extra baggage, a locked phone, and a surprise knock at the door, neither of them are ready for what “trust issues” really looks like.
DIRECTOR BIO
Savon began his creative journey photographing content for a local clothing line before transitioning into filmmaking, where he developed his craft through hands-on experience as a freelance production assistant. Over the years, he expanded his skill set across multiple roles—including Drone Pilot, 1st AD, 1st AC, and Grip. Gaining a well-rounded understanding of the filmmaking process from the ground up.
In 2019, alongside his partner April Harrell, Savon co-founded Pineapple Pizza Productions, a creative studio dedicated to telling story-driven, visually compelling narratives. Together, they aim to shed light on meaningful social issues while exploring the complexities of human experience through film.
FOIL GUY VS ANVIL (animation)
FILM SYNOPSIS
Foil Guy is alive! What happens when the all-time greatest stop motion aluminum foil guy comes up against an unstoppable force... and who will prevail!?
DIRECTOR BIO
With over 25 years of experience in the Stop Motion Industry, Malcolm Lamont has played a critical role in 10 of the highest profile stop motion feature films of the last 20 years. Eight of which have been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film. Malcolm Lamont has solidified his position as a character animator amongst the very finest in the animation industry. His list of high profile credits include Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr. Fox, Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride, Aardman Animations’ Pirates: Band of Misfits and Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio.
BEST TEEN FILMMAKER
CARD TRICK
(teenage filmmaker)
FILM SYNOPSIS
Two friends, Simon and Teddy, discover the marvels and mishaps of a little magic.
DIRECTOR BIO
Sam Moffett has been storytelling ever since he can remember. It all started when he created lego-built worlds where the camera captured the action of lego figurines in heroic battles. Since then, Sam has promoted his school's sports teams by creating social media videos and writing and directing several short films. During the summer of 2025, Sam spent time enhancing his craft at the advanced film program, SOCAPA, located in New York City. He is currently the president of the film club at The Walker School in Marietta, Georgia, and he has taken two independent film study classes during his senior year. Sam is pursuing a future in filmmaking and is currently deciding upon the best college fit for his interests.
FILM SYNOPSIS
After 3 months on the trail to get supplies, a Cowboy comes home, only to find out he's forgotten something.
DIRECTOR BIO
David Wittkower’s Award winning career as a Producer, Director and Cinematographer has spanned 30 years. After graduating from The American Film Institute in 1981, Wittkower pursued work as camera operator on features, while pursuing his work as a Cinematographer and Director. “Firefight: Stories From The Front lines,” about the wildland firefighter, premiered on The Learning Channel in March 2000 and won 9 film festival awards. Wittkower’s Cinematographers credits are seen on TLC, Discovery, History, Travel, Outdoor, VS and PBS channels. One of these include “Free a Man to Fight: Women Soldiers of World War II,” seen every March on The History Channel and many other programs. When not producing and distributing his own films, he works on other features and other documentaries as a Director of Photography / Camera Operator, Producer and Director. He is married and lives in Los Angeles.
We extend our sincere gratitude to our esteemed filmmakers for submitting their exceptional works, which we are delighted to screen at the 2026 Daytona Beach Short Film Festival.
Warm Regards,
2026 DBSFF Staff and Volunteers