HOTTER UP CLOSE in OUTFEST FUSION
SHORTS: TICKLED PINK on Sunday, March 26 - 9:00 PM
“Well worth one’s time.” - Film Threat
SeriesFest Audience Award Winner
Reel Out Charlotte Viewers Choice Best Short
HOTTER UP CLOSE
OUTFEST FUSION - SHORTS: TICKLED PINK
Sunday, March 26 - 9:00 PM
Written by and Starring
CHRISTOPHER MATIAS AGUILA
With LIZ JENKINS, FRANCISCO SAN MARTIN, LUKE MILLINGTON-DRAKE, JAY RENSHAW
Directed by LELAND MONTGOMERY
Los Angeles, CA - March 21, 2023: Christopher Matias Aguila’s HOTTER UP CLOSE, directed by Leland Montgomery, continues to celebrate LGBTQIA+ and diverse voices at OUTFEST FUSION playing in Shorts: Tickets Pink on Sunday, March 26 at 9:00 pm at TCL Chinese 6 Theatres (6801 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028).
On the eve of his 30th birthday, a gay slacker must overcome his crippling insecurities in order to find love.
“When we started working on Hotter Up Close, we knew that Outfest Fusion was one of our primary festival goals. They do such fantastic work with the QBIPOC communities that we wanted to celebrate in our film. Screening with them felt like a natural fit”, says Aguila. “As we near the end of our festival run and look towards digital distribution in June, we’re thrilled to be able to share our story with a community of people who have always been at the forefront of our creative vision for this movie.”
“Engaging, award-winning, funny!” - Sun This Week
“The short romantic comedy Hotter Up Close has a lot of fun toying with expectations…. Aguila’s light-on-its-feet script and captivating, hysterical performance…All in all, this is an amusing little flick well worth one’s time.” - Film Threat
The production stars Christopher Matias Aguila (The Non Essentials), Liz Jenkins (Black-ish), Francisco San Martin (Jane the Virgin, Days of our Lives), Luke Millington-Drake (The Cuphead Show!), Jay Renshaw (Dead to Me, Feud, Criminal Minds), Mike Abbate, Devon Drew, Carl Ezold, Anthony Garcia, Elijah Olachea, Mick Torres, John David Williams, and Alice Victoria Winslow (Persuasion).
HOTTER UP CLOSE is produced by Carolyn Manetti (The Cell, Bones, The Price of Glory),. The Director of Photography is Michael Basha (Samir), Production Designer is Anthony Robles, Costume Designer is Cassidy Cooper, Composer is Party Nail’s Elana Belle Carroll, Editors are Steven Markowitz (Hands of Flame) and Ya-Ting Itchy Yang (Dream Lover) and Publicity by Katie Rosin/Kampfire PR (Liza Anonymous).
Running Time: 15:30
Website: www.leland-montgomery.com
@hotterupclosefilm -- Instagram
CHRISTOPHER MATIAS AGUILA (Screenwriter) is an Asian-American actor, writer, and producer from Long Beach, CA. He studied Theatre at the University of Southern California and Meisner at The Esper Studio in New York City. He is currently a member of The Groundlings Sunday Company.
LELAND MONTGOMERY (Director) is an LA based writer and director. He recently graduated from USC's School of Cinematic Arts with an MFA.
In 2014 he wrote and directed a web series called God Particles which won two IAWTV awards and was featured in LACMA’s Young Directors Night.
In 2015 he wrote and directed a short film called Cruisers which was part of Cinema Diverse - Palm Springs’ LGBT Film Festival.
In 2017 he co- wrote and directed Like Animals which screened at LA Shorts International, The 40th Asian American Film Festival, the San Diego Asian American Film Festival and the New Hope Film Festival. It was also featured on Film Shortage and Omeleto.
In 2019 he wrote and directed Black at in a Dark Room, which premiered at Fantasia Film Festival and went on to win the Wes Craven Award for best horror short at the Catalina Film Festival. In addition to Fantasia and Catalina, it also screened at Hollyshorts, the Sidewalk Film Festival, Calgary International and several others.
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