The Cinequest Film & Creativity Festival flexes its genre muscle this year, showcasing 217 films -- including 66 world premieres -- during its March 7-17 run in San Jose, with most screenings at the California Theatre unless noted.A special AI Day and Town Hall event on March 6 is a prelude to the main event, which opens with the world premiere of the eerie, atmospheric 'The Island Between Tides' at 7:15 p.m.
Director Muneera Sallies genuinely cares about the plight and concerns of her characters, in particular the talented but passed-over protagonist Hantjie , an ambitious hothead who gets passed over to be drum major. What begins like a 'Bring It On!' for the drum major corps set turns into an emotional drama about not judging a current generation for others' past actions. Ella isn't your typical cinematic gunslinger.