BRANFORD, CT – Branford local Christopher Rucinski’s Northern Shade, filmed on location in the New Haven metro area, will screen in collaboration with New Haven Docs on May 3 for Best Video Feature.
The film centers on OEF Army veteran Justin McLaughlin, who lives a life of solitude in his assignment in Connecticut, doing menial jobs and avoiding his afterlife. When his ex-brother Charlie goes missing, Justin is forced out of isolation and teams up with a personal investigator named Frankie to track him down. Together, they realize that Charlie has been recruited through an extremist defense force and is planning an unknown attack. Justin will have to make a decision about how much of his army he is willing to bring to the surface to rescue Charlie from the clutches of his paramilitary leader Billy. Justin will have to reconcile his own sense of purpose and regain his brother’s buy-in before the defense forces can bring Billy’s violent plan to light. Set during the COVID-19 pandemic, Northern Shade focuses on goal and redemption in a time of heightened anxiety and isolation.
Here’s a snippet from the Rotten Tomatoes movie.
Rucinski is an award-winning filmmaker and a member of the Motion Picture Editors Guild. Northern Shade is Rucinski’s feature film debut and stars Jesse Gavin (Loki, The First Lady) in his first starring role.
Northern Shade won several festival awards, including Best Screenplay at the Phoenix Film Festival, Best Actor at the DTLA Film Festival, and Best Narrative Film at the Fargo Film Festival. It was released theatrically in New Haven and Los Angeles and is now available on all primary VODs and Blu-rays. Rucinski is a graduate of Emerson College and was a video editor for the New England Patriots.
The Best Video Coffee Bar will be open to offer beer, wine and coffee drinks. Tickets are $15 for general admission and $10 for scholars and veterans.
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