Mountainside (2023 film) explained
Mountainside |
Director: | Mikiech Nichols |
Producer: | Chad Courtney Lisa Fortino Ashley Hauser |
Starring: | Mikiech Nichols Nicole Merat Monisa Brown Alaina Moretti Allyson Norton Juan Rowlands Sarah Scheller |
Cinematography: | Chad Courtney |
Editing: | Mikiech Nichols |
Country: | United States |
Language: | English |
Runtime: | 120 minutes |
Mountainside is a 2023 American independent comedy-drama film written and directed by Mikiech Nichols, starring Nichols, Nicole Merat, Monisa Brown, Alaina Morretti, and Allyson Norton. The film is set in Seattle and follows Felix, a 30-year-old film projectionist and floundering screenwriter who meets Stella, a chain-smoking cinephile whose friendship ends up inspiring him both creatively and romantically. It is loosely based on the director's real-life experiences.[1] [2] [3]
Plot
After being dumped by his girlfriend, protagonist Felix experiences a prolonged period of writer's block. In an effort to be more social, Felix attends a house party and meets Stella, a fellow cinephile with many of his shared tastes and interests. Despite being friendzoned, Felix falls in love with Stella and has renewed creative inspiration culminating in his writing and directing his first feature film.
Cast
- Mikiech Nichols as Felix
- Nicole Merat as Stella
- Monisa Brown as Ilana
- Alaina Moretti as Gina
- Allyson Norton as Nora
- Juan Rowland as Elijah
- Sarah Scheller as Evelyn
- Rich Hawkins as Judas
- Fantasia Rose as Caroline
Production
Mountainside was filmed entirely on location in Seattle, Washington, where most of the crew and cast were either from or lived during its two and a half years of production.[4] The film was picked up for theatrical distribution by Compassionate Disaster Films and for streaming distribution by DeskPop Entertainment.
Release and reception
Festivals
Mountainside was selected to screen at the following film festivals:
Accolades
+ Awards and nominations for Mountainside | Award | Year | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref. | - | Spokane International Film Festival Jury Awards | 2023 | Best Northwest Feature | Mountainside | | [6] |
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Beyond Hollywood International Film Festival Jury Awards | 2023 | Best Narrative Feature | Mountainside | | |
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Notes and References
- News: Janavel . AJ . September 21, 2023 . 'It’s a dream come true’: Unsure of future, local Seattle cinema continues to provide platform for filmmakers . https://archive.today/20240501044637/https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/its-a-dream-come-true-unsure-of-future-local-seattle-cinema-continues-to-provide-platform-for-filmmakers#selection-4027.0-4136.0 . May 1, 2024 . April 30, 2024 . Fox 13 Seattle.
- News: McNichols . Joshua . October 12, 2023 . Seattle's Grand Illusion Cinema, indie film buff favorite, faces uncertain future following $2.3 million sale . https://archive.today/20240501044612/https://www.kuow.org/stories/what-this-tiny-seattle-cinema-means-to-indie-directors . May 1, 2024 . April 30, 2024 . KUOW-FM.
- News: Hutchinson . Chase . January 29, 2024 . Mountainside Filmmaker Mikiech Nichols on Shooting His Film in Seattle and Trying to Avoid the Manic Pixie Dream Girl Trope . https://archive.today/20240501044545/https://www.thestranger.com/film/2024/01/29/79362872/mountainside-filmmaker-mikiech-nichols-on-shooting-his-film-in-seattle-and-trying-to-avoid-the-manic-pixie-dream-girl-trope . May 1, 2024 . April 30, 2024 . The Stranger.
- News: September 6, 2023 . Preview of 'Mountainside,' movie shot entirely in Seattle . https://archive.today/20240501061731/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DHfxHZAepU . May 1, 2024 . May 1, 2024 . Fox 13 Seattle.
- Web site: Mountainside . https://archive.today/20240501052248/https://www.tacomafilmfestival.com/films/mountainside/ . May 1, 2024 . April 30, 2024 . Tacoma Film Festival.
- Web site: Mountainside . https://archive.today/20240501085002/https://grandillusioncinema.org/film/mountainside/ . May 1, 2024 . April 30, 2024 . Grand Illusion Cinema.