4242

Debut short film of Portuguese multi award-winning CalArtian Sara Eustáquio, directed at 16.

Synopsis Inspired by true events, '4242' is a cinematic interpretation of a poem written by a teenager who leaves her home country, her family and friends, to live in another country somewhere in Europe. Cristi has just moved to an unknown country, far away from family and friends. At first, she is happy for the challenge. But soon she begins to question her place in this new world that seems to be a lost town, made of absences, distances, silence and indifference. '4242' is the story of a young female immigrant, a story of a teenager's anguish who is trying to redefine her identity after being forced to leave home.

Awards: • Junior Winner (Near Nazareth Film Festival), May 2016, Israel • Award of Merit - Special Mention (Young Filmmaker – 17 and younger) (Best Shorts Competition), June 2016, USA • Award of Merit (Young Filmmaker – 17 and younger) (IndieFest Film Awards), August 2016, USA • Best Student Film, Best Foreign Film, Best Teen Actress and Best Producer (Christian Film Festival), August 2016, USA • Award of Best Cinema of Europe (Canadian Diversity Film Festival), August 2016, Canada • Best Student Film (Creation International Film Festival), August 2016, Canada • Best Filmmaker Under 18 (Chandler International Film Festival), August 2016, USA • Best Filmmaker Under 18 (Hollywood Boulevard Film Festival), August 2016, USA • Best Filmmaker Under 18 (Los Angeles Independent Film Festival Awards), August 2016, USA • Best Youth Film (Chicano International Film Festival), September 2016, USA • Best Filmmaker Under 18 (Barnes Film Festival), September 2016, UK • Silver Award (Student Film) (Fameus International Film Festival), September 2016, USA • Award of Merit - Special Mention (Young Filmmaker – 17 and younger) (Accolade Global Film Competition), September 2016, USA • Award of Merit (Tight Shorts category) (WRPN.TV Short, Tight and Loose global film festival competition) September 2016, USA • Jury Special Mention (Medium Length Film) (Arte Non Stop Festival), September 2016, Argentina • Best Young Filmmaker (Los Angeles Film Awards), October 2016, USA • Best Young Filmmaker and Best Young Actress (Festigious International Film Festival), November 2016, USA • Best Film and Best Cinematography (Outlaw International Film Festival), November 2016, USA • Jury Award (Short Film) (Malta Film Festival), December 2016, Malta • Honorable Mention (One-Reeler Short Film Competition), January 2017, USA • Best Actress (Sylhet Film Festival), March 2017, Bangladesh • Honorable Mention (Experimental) and Audience Choice Award (Experimental Film) (Top Shorts Film Festival), May 2017, USA • Best Young Director short film and Best Young Actress short film (Five Continents International Film Festival), June 2017, Venezuela • Best Drama Short Student (London Independent Film Awards), June 2017, UK • Honorable Mention (Documentary) (Santa Monica International Teen Film Festival), July 2017, USA • NYC Indie Jury Award for Best Student Director and Diamond Award for Best Student Film (NYC Indie Film Awards), July 2017, USA • Best Director (Platinum Award) and Best Student Film (Platinum Award) (LA Shorts Awards), July 2017, USA • Best Short Film (Platinum Award) and Best Director (Silver Award) (Hollywood Film Competition), July 2017, USA • Award of Merit (Young Filmmaker – 17 and younger) and Award of Recognition (Contemporary Issues / Awareness Raising - Student) (Impact Docs Awards), July 2017, USA • Best Student Film of The Month (Direct Monthly Online Film Festival), July 2017, USA • Best Female Filmmaker of the Month and Best Audience Choice Award of the Month (Direct Short Online Film Festival), July 2017, USA • Best Woman Director (European Cinematography AWARDS), July 2017, Poland • Best Student Film (Eurasia International Monthly Film Festival), July 2017, Russia • Best Short Film (Gold Award), Best Director (Platinum Award), and Best Editing (Diamond Award) (Mindfield Film Festival - Los Angeles), August 2017, USA • Best First Time Director (New York Film Awards), August 2017, USA • Best Student Film and Best Screenwriter (Lake View International Film Festival), August 2017, India • 2nd Best Film of The Month (AAB International Film Festival), August 2017, India • Best Student Short (American Filmatic Arts Awards), November 2017, USA • GFA Outstanding Editing (US Hollywood International Golden Film Awards), December 2017, USA Nominations: • Nomination for Best Student (Los Angeles CineFest), June 2016, USA • Nomination for Best Narrative (Barcelona Planet Film Festival), June 2016, Spain • Nomination for Best Portuguese Cinema Now (Lisbon International Film Festival), June 2016, Portugal • Nomination for Best Short (Frame by Sound Festival), July 2016, Dominican Republic • Nomination for Best Student Short (Gullah Geechee Heritage Film Festival), August 2016, USA • Nomination for Best Short (Women’s Only Entertainment Film Festival), August 2016, USA • Nomination for Best Short (Fiction) (FARCUME, Festival de Curtas-Metragens de Faro), August 2016, Portugal • Nomination for Best Experimental Short Film (Stonefair International Film Festival), August 2016, Romania • Nomination for Best Short (Drama/Action) (Filmmatic 2016 Filmmakers Awards), September 2016, USA • Nomination for Best Young Filmmaker (TMC London Film Festival), September 2016, UK • Nomination for Best Short (MCNY Short Film Festival), September 2016, USA • Nomination for Best Short (Hispanic Heritage Short Film Award competition), September 2016, USA • Nomination for Best Drama Short (Highway 61 Film Festival), October 2016, USA • Nomination for Best Short Film (Cinema Los Angeles Festival), November 2016, USA • Nomination for Best Youth Short Film (ITSA Film Festival), November 2016, USA • Nomination for Best Short (Cinema New York City Festival), December 2016, USA • Nomination for Best Short Film (Eurocinema Film Festival), December 2016, Switzerland • Nomination for Best Short Film (Eurovision Palermo Film Festival), December 2016, Italy • Nominations for Best Director, Best Student Film and Best Writing (Top Indie Film Awards), May 2017, Canada • Nomination for Best Female Filmmaker (Scout Film Festival), June 2017, USA • Nomination for Best Foreign Film (Prince of Prestige Academy Award competition), July 2017, USA • Nomination for Best Experimental Film (Short to the Point International Film Festival), July 2017, Romania • Nomination for Best International Short (Millennial Film Festival), August 2017, USA • Nomination for Best Documentary Short Film - International (Hollywood Verge Film Awards), September 2017, USA • Nominations for Best Student Film and Best Director (Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival), October 2017, Canada • Nominations for Best Actress and Best Production (High School category) (Festival de Cinema Escolar de Alvorada), November 2017, Brazil • Nomination for Best World Cinema (Student Films) (Delhi International Film Festival), December 2017, India • Nominations for Best Student Film and Outstanding Cinematography (US Hollywood International Golden Film Awards), December 2017, USA • Nomination for Best Director (Bloodstained Indie Film Festival), December 2017, China • Nomination for Best High School Film (Red Dirt International Film Festival), March 2018, USA • Nomination for the Rising Star Award (Best Director Under 21), Carmarthen Bay Film Festival, May 2018, UK

Other Official Selections: • Colossus Film Festival, June 2016, Greece • Sweet as Film Festival, July 2016, Canada • All Lights India International Film Festival, September 2016, India • FILM-COM Down Under, September 2016, Australia • Downtown Tyler Film Festival, September 2016, USA • Real Time Film Festival, September 2016, Nigeria • Seoul International Youth Film Festival, September 2016, South Korea • Mediterranean Film Festival, October 2016, Italy • International Family Film Festival, October 2016, USA • Laughlin International Film Festival, October 2016, USA • Awareness Film Festival, October 2016, USA • SEDIFF: Seoul ICARUS Drone International Film Festival, October 2016, South Korea • Second Asia International (Wenzhou) Youth Short-Film Exhibition, October 2016, China • Shortcutz Viseu, October 2016, Portugal • Crossing The Screen International Film Festival, November 2016, UK • Grand OFF - World Independent Film Awards, November 2016, Poland • YMOTION – Concurso e Mostra de Cinema Jovem, November 2016, Portugal • Caminhos Film Festival, November 2016, Portugal • Festival Internacional de Cine con Medios Alternativos, November 2016, Mexico • Santa Fe Film Festival, November 2016, USA • London Golden Scout International Film Festival, November 2016, UK • Shortcutz Figueiró dos Vinhos, November 2016, Portugal • Cinemagic London, December 2016, UK • Shortcutz Faro, December 2016, Portugal • CineKasimanwa: Western Visayas Film Festival, December 2016, Philippines • Indian International Deaf Film Festival, December 2016, India • Equality Film Festival, December 2016, Ukraine • Shekino International Independent Film Festival, December 2016, Russia • Chhatrapati Shivaji International Film Festival, December 2016, India • Windsor Independent Film Festival, January 2017, USA • IndieWise Virtual Film Festival, January 2017, USA • International Peace & Film Festival, January 2017, USA • Short of the Month Festival, January 2017, India • Shortcutz Lisboa, January 2017, Portugal • Frames - Portuguese Film Festival, February 2017, Sweden • Los Angeles San Rafael Film Festival, February 2017, Spain • Hollywood Screenings Film Festival, March 2017, USA • World of Women Film Fair Middle East, March 2017, United Arab Emirates • Universe Multicultural Film Festival, March 2017, USA • Madhouse Movies Film Festival, March 2017, USA • Albany FilmFest, March 2017, USA • Portland Oregon Women's Film Festival (POWFest), March 2017, USA • “Fausto Rossano for the Right to Health” Cinematography Award, March 2017, Italy • UK Screen One International Film Festival, March 2017, UK • Phoenix Film Festival Melbourne, March 2017, Australia • West Virginia Mountaineer Short Film Festival, March 2017, USA • Show Me Justice Film Festival, April 2017, USA • Freedom Film Festival, April 2017, USA • Prime Documentaries Monthly Screening, April 2017, India • Pine River Student Film Festival, April 2017, USA • Boynton Beach Short Film Festival, April 2017, USA • GardenCity International Film Festival, May 2017, India • Global Short Film Awards, May 2017, USA • Best Film Fest, May 2017, Netherlands • Whistle Stop F.I.L.M. Festival, May 2017, USA • International Children's Rights Film Festival, May 2017, Turkey • FROSTBITE International Film Festival, May 2017, USA • Baretower Forge World Film Competition, May 2017, USA • SmartFest, May 2017, Portugal • Golden Bull Film Festival, May 2017, Turkey • Seoul Guro International Kids Film Festival, May 2017, South Korea • American Youth Film Festival, June 2017, USA • Underground FilmFest, June 2017, Germany • Miami Independent Film Festival, June 2017, USA • The CUMP Film Festival, June 2017, Kenya • Berlin Flash Film Festival, June 2017, Germany • Sunlight International Film Festival, July 2017, Russia • Silver Screen Film Festival, July 2017, USA • ACAFilms Low Film Festival, July 2017, Brazil • Social World Film Festival, July 2017, Italy • WIFTA Short Film Showcase, July 2017, USA • Digital Griffix Online Film Festival, July 2017, Canada • FENACIES, Festival de Cine Estudiantil, July 2017, Uruguay (guest film for special screening) • Caribbean Film Festival & Market, August 2017, Bahamas • San Antonio Film Festival, August 2017, USA • AM Egypt Film Festival, August 2017, Egypt • Massachusetts Independent Film Festival, August 2017, USA • Roma Cinema DOC, August 2017, Italy • European Independent Film Award, September 2017, Australia • Rivne International Film Festival "Dream City”, September 2017, Ukraine • Skyline Indie Film Fest, September 2017, USA • Hope Film Awards, September 2017, USA • Norman Film Festival, September 2017, USA • Newark International Film Festival, September 2017, USA • Silver Screen for Short Films, September 2017, USA • Covellite International Film Festival, September 2017, USA • Zlatna International Ethnographic Film Festival, September 2017, Romania • Twin Lion International Short Film Festival, October 2017, India • ENIMATION little elephant, October 2017, Slovenia • Video Hackers Film Festival, October 2017, Italy • Royal Starr Film Festival, October 2017, USA • Cardiff International Film Festival, October 2017, Wales • The Hollywood Hills Awards, October 2017, USA • Woodengate International Film Festival, October 2017, Romania • Southeastern International Film Festival, November 2017, USA • Our Voices Film Festival, November 2017, Canada • Ringerike International Youth Film Festival, November 2017, Norway • Geo Film Festival and Expo Cinema, November 2017, Italy • London Migration Film Festival, November 2017, UK • International Children's Film Festival, India - The Golden Elephant, November 2017, India • Asian Film Centre Global Fest, November 2017, India • NPS International Children's Film Festival, November 2017, India • Moving Pictures Festival, November 2017, Belgium • Novella Showcase, December 2017, USA • Manhattan International Film Festival, December 2017, USA • Short-filmz, January 2018, India • Fiffen, January 2018, Norway • Worldwide Women's Film Festival, February 2018, USA • Fort Myers Film Festival, March 2018, USA • Bute Street Film Festival, March 2018, UK • Festival Política, April 2018, Portugal • Poppy Jasper International Film Festival, April 2018, USA • Grecanica International Film Festival, May 2018, Italy • Walkerville Film Festival, June 2018, Canada • High Peak Independent Film Festival, June 2018, UK • Rieti & Sabina Film Festival, September 2018, Italy

Appraisals “A very powerful and well made film” Santa Monica International Teen Film Festival “It was a unique, wonderful experience to watch ‘4242’” Nami Melumad, Top Shorts Film Festival “Sara Eustaquio’s unique directing and editing styles, makes ‘4242’ more than just a good experimental” Roy Zafrani, Festigious International Film Festival “One incredibly intense movie, overflowing with emotion and dramatic images” Brian Lutes, Creation International Film Festival “It is hard not to be impressed by what this 16 year-old director achieved through this film” Bucharest ShortCut CineFest “A remarkable short film” The Worthwhile Journal “A short film with powerful experimental influences” TMFF

Director Biography - Sara Eustaquio (www.imdb.com/name/nm8112454) Sara Eustáquio, born in September 1999, is a Portuguese young filmmaker who currently lives in Los Angeles. She is a BFA student majoring Film and Video at CalArts (California Institute of The Arts). Passionate about photography and movies since the childhood, she shot at 14, in Portugal, her first short film, "Elizabeth" (about teenage bullying), with a small digital camera. The project began as a simple artistic presentation for an English class in high school. The enthusiasm with which it was received led her to upload it on YouTube. Surprisingly, the homemade video reached over 10,000 views in the first days (http://youtu.be/qjYyB8MQZQU). After that, she started becoming involved in some local school and youth associations' video productions. In May 2016, at 16, Sara released "4242", her first short fiction narrative film, also produced in Portugal (www.imdb.com/title/tt5680176). "4242" got 54 awards, 36 nominations and was officially selected for 185 international film festivals in 40 countries (http://youtu.be/oemLpOFHnnE). In August 2016, she successfully completed an intensive summer program in filmmaking at New York Film Academy, in New York City, where she made her second narrative fiction, the micro-short mystery film "Mirror" (www.imdb.com/title/tt5958158). "Mirror" got 82 awards, 32 nominations and was officially selected for 201 international film festivals in 33 countries (http://youtu.be/BV8VQ94ecsg). In October 2016, Sara wrote a short script entitled "Neverland". The screenplay got 3 awards, 2 nominations and was officially selected for 10 international film festivals in 6 countries. In November 2016, Sara was awarded a medal of merit by the mayor of her hometown, Torres Vedras, for her remarkable personal achievements in filmmaking. In January 2017, Sara was awarded another prize of merit by the board of her high school, Escola Secundaria Henriques Nogueira, for her remarkable personal achievements in filmmaking and inspirational path for Portuguese students. In April 2017, she was awarded a scholarship by the Walt and Lilly Disney Foundation for her college studies. In November 2017, Sara was awarded a diploma of recognition by the City of Los Angeles for her "dedication to improving the local and global community through youth media arts". In December 2017, Sara completed a new microfilm, "Creation", her first experimental work directed in California as a student project in CalArts (www.imdb.com/title/tt7757030). "Creation" got 6 awards, 4 nominations and was officially selected for 23 international film festivals in 10 countries. Also, she finished "Alone", a small experimental student exercise with still images. "Alone" was officially selected for 5 international film festivals in 4 countries. In April 2018, at 18, after several technical collaborations in films from her colleagues in college, Sara completed a new work in CalArts (filmed in Palm Springs, California), the mystery short "Slumberous" (www.imdb.com/title/tt8282956).

Director Statement Inspired by true events, "4242" is a cinematic interpretation of a poem written by a teenager who leaves her home country, her family, and friends, to live in another country somewhere in Europe. “This story is important to tell because teenagers across the globe increasingly face similar situations as the character of ‘4242’,” says Sara Eustáquio. “For several different reasons, many teens end up living in different countries where they may not even speak the same language. This story is not only about immigration, as we have seen in Europe, but also about the mix up of so many feelings during adolescence. Perhaps even feelings that may occur during adulthood: loneliness, confusion, the integration process in new spaces, the challenge of displacement both physical and spiritual.”

Credits

• Sara Eustaquio Director
  

• Cristina Caldararu Writer
  

• Sara Eustaquio Writer
  

• Mae Margriet Writer
  

• Cristina Caldararu Key Cast
  

• Sara Eustaquio Editor
  

• Powlos Original Music
  

• LabVic Original Music
  

• Victor Eustaquio Producer

Specifications

• Runtime: 11 minutes 12 seconds

• Completion Date: April 25, 2016

• Country of Origin: Portugal

• Shooting Format: Digital HD 30 fps

• Aspect Ratio: 16:9

• Film Color: Color

• First-time Filmmaker: Yes

• Student Project: Yes