Mark Your Calendar for Summer Movie Night Series

Flora Springs Winery will be hosting a one-time screening of the award-winning film Cement Suitcase on Saturday, August 16th at 6:30pm as part of their “Summer Movie Night Series.” General Admission tickets start at $20 and can be purchased through their event page. Founded in 1978, Flora Springs has been committed to the fine traditions of winemaking, making it the perfect backdrop for a wine inspired film.

The film tells the story of Franklin, the best wine salesman in the Yakima Valley, who discovers his girlfriend is cheating on him but can’t bring himself to confront her. When he accidentally befriends the “other man”, who turns out to be a great guy, Franklin decides it’s time to let go of some baggage.

The feature, written and directed by J. Rick Castañeda, has won five film festival awards including Best Narrative Feature, Director’s Choice, and the Audience Award.

“I can’t express my joy for how the wine industry has really embraced this film,” said Castañeda. “We filmed the winery scenes with actual tasting room patrons, not professional actors, so it makes us extremely happy to be screening the film in an actual winery. Cement Suitcase + Flora Springs is a fantastic pairing.”

The feel-good comedy is the feature debut of Castañeda, and stars veteran improv comic Dwayne Bartholomew, TV personality Kristina Guerrero (E! News), Australian TV host turned actor Nathan Sapsford (MTVAustralia, Network TEN) and television and film actor Shawn Parsons (Parks and Recreation, Torchwood).

Castañeda is an accomplished writer and director, with a large body of award-winning short films, commercials and new media, including the popular comedy Web series “Coma, Period.,” which got a rave review in the New York Times. Cement Suitcase was produced by Psychic Bunny, a production company based in Los Angeles, co-founded in 2005 by filmmakers Castañeda and Cement Suitcase Producer Doug Spice, along with their fellow University of Southern California alums Asa Shumskas Tait and Jesse Vigil, who both served as executive producers.

FILM FESTIVALS AND AWARDS

Dances With Films Festival (Los Angeles): Audience Award – Competition Features; Ellensburg Film Festival: Best of Central Washington, Audience Award for Best of Fest; Gig Harbor Film Festival: Director’s Choice Award; Eugene International Film Festival: Best Narrative Feature

OFFICIAL SELECTION AT:

Big Bear Lake International Film Festival, Tacoma Film Festival, Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival, Seattle Latino Film Festival, Orlando Film Festival, Santa Cruz Film Festival.