The story​

The principal is itching to kick Joey out of high school, and Joey can't wait to get out. All he wants is to work for his father, a tree cutter by day and the leader of a gang of small-time thieves by night in rural Connecticut. So when Joey's father asks him to fill in as lookout, Joey is thrilled--until a routine robbery goes very wrong.

 

Caught between loyalties to family and a childhood friend in mourning, Joey has to deal with paranoid accomplices, a criminal investigation, and his own guilt. What kind of man does Joey want to be, and what does he owe to the people he loves?

festival screenings

*WORLD PREMIERE  Winner: Grand Chameleon Award, Best Narrative Feature, Best Actor

*European Premiere

*Winner: Stubbornly Independent Award

*Winner: Audience Award, Best Supporting Actor

*Winner: Best Actor, Best Actress

*Winner: Jury Award, Best Feature

THE CAST

 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

a

 

 

 

 

 

​

 

 

 

​

 

 

 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

​

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE CREW

 

 

KIERAN VALLA (Director/Co-Writer) is accomplished in film, commercial and web production. He is a graduate of Hofstra University’s Television/Film Bachelor of Science program and The American Film Institute’s M.F.A Directing program. While at AFI he directed two thesis films which have screened at festivals around the world including the Austin Film Festival, Starz Denver Film Festival, Hollyshorts, & Interfilm in Berlin. His film LIFT won best family short at the Big Island film festival in Hawaii and Best Writing at Visionfest in New York City. The online publication CT.com called Kieran’s film HANGDOG “an impressive showcase of new talent – and the kind of thing that underground and independent festivals should be championing.” He is also a seasoned performer with over fifteen years of stage and screen experience and a graduate of the Upright Ciitizens Brigade Theater in New York City. Most recently Kieran directed a sketch that has reached Immortal status on FUNNY OR DIE and a horror-comedy pilot presentation starring Aubrey Plaza, Jack McBrayer, and Nathan Fillion. 

 

LEVI SMOCK (Producer/Co-Writer) is a veteran of the US Navy, where he served four years as a fireman and an alumnus of both The American Film Institute’s writing and producing MFA programs. Levi has written or produced over twenty short films. His thesis films HANGDOG, FOR ABIGAIL LOVE BENJAMIN, and DR. GUTMAN’S EULOGY have been screened in dozens festivals. They have won awards at WORLDFEST HOUSTON, FOSTERS INTERNATIONAL and XII FEST, just to name a few. Recently, Levi has been working as a line producer and production manager in Los Angeles. He has produced music videos, commercials and several feature films.

 

DANIEL MARKS (Producer/Cinematographer) is a Los Angeles-based cinematographer and producer. His feature film debut, TEST, was awarded the Grand Jury Prize at Outfest in 2013, played at the Berlin International Film Festival, was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award, and was a New York Times Critics’ Pick. In addition to feature films, he shoots music videos, television shows, short films, and commercials. He recently photographed a pilot for Comedy Central. He also worked as a camera operator on various TV shows for networks including the Sundance Channel, History, and the Food Network. He received an MFA in cinematography from the American Film Institute (AFI) and a BA in film production from Amherst College. He works frequently in Los Angeles and New York in every format imaginable from the GoPro to 35mm.

 

ÁLVARO BAQUERO BENEDETTI (Producer) is an experienced international entertainment producer from Caracas, Venezuela. He is a graduate of the Universidad Católica Andrés Bello (UCAB) with a Bachelor's degree in Mass Media, specializing in the visual arts, and holds an MFA from The American Film Institute's producing program. Utilizing this experience, Álvaro has been able to develop a wide variety of productions for the USA and international markets. His passion has always been for all forms of entertainment, be it TV, Cinema, Documentaries, Concerts or Stage Theater.

 

After AFI, Álvaro worked as a producer in Los Angeles doing web videos for WHATTHEFUNNY.COM. With them he had the chance to produce small comedy sketches with renowned actors including Marlon Wayans, Omar Epps, Laz Alonso and YouTube celebrity star Toddrick Hall.

 

Currently, Álvaro is back in Venezuela where he produces features, short films and stage productions. His biggest project at the moment is the 2009 Tony award winning Broadway show “NEXT TO NORMAL”, directed by renowned director Marcel Rasquin and staring the famous Venezuelan pop singer Karina.

 

VANARA TAING (Editor) is an editor and writer based in Los Angeles. Her work has screened in numerous film festivals around the world. SAMNANG, a short she wrote, was a national narrative finalist for the Student Academy Award, premiered at the New York Film Festival and awarded Best International Short at the 2014 Milan International Film Festival and Best Student Film at the 2014 USA Film Festival. FAREWELL JIMMY, a short she edited, won the International Grand Jury Prize at the Brussels Short Film Festival. DELINQUENT is her third feature.

 

She earned her MFA in Editing from the American Film Institute Conservatory while on a Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans. She also holds a B.A. in English from Scripps College and a master's degree from Harvard's Graduate School of Education.

ALEX SHAFFER (Joey)

Bill Sage (Rich)

Kevin bigley (britt)

david fierro (keegan)

sam dillon (brendan)

erin darke (tara)

Kim director (officer reynolds)