The D-Monster screens in the South this week at the 2011 Southern Appalachian International Film Festival (SOAPIFF). Films you might know that were shot in Southern Appalachia: “Dirty Dancing,” “Goodbye, Miss 4th of July,” “The River,” “What about Bob” among others. Our film is nominated for best comedy short, so who knows what will happen.

Another festival for THE D-MONSTER short film! The D-Monster will screen as official selection for this year’s Little Rock Film Festival (LRFF). LRFF was named top 25 film festivals worth submitting to by Filmmaker Magazine. The festival has an impressive line-up with an emphasis on Southern Films and latest fest circuit faves like Cannes Film Festival critics pics – Jeff Nichols’ Shotgun Stories fresh from this years 2011 Cannes Film Festival. THE D-MONSTER is honored to represent Los Angeles filmmaking in a line-up of mainly Southern shot and produced films. Check out THE D-MONSTER trailer here.

2011 Los Angeles Comedy Festival announced Short Film nominations last night and The D-Monster short film shined with nominations in Best Actress (Abby Wathen, Catherine Reitman), Best Ensemble (Catherine Reitman, Abby Wathen, Maddy Curley, Craig Cackowski, Marcus Toji, Katherine Smirke, Nathan Carpenter, Sarah Barton , Ryan Preimesberger) and Best Writing (Kinga Suto) in a competitive pool of comedy shorts.  Winners will be announced Monday May 23rd at the closing night party taking place at The Mark in Beverly Hills.  Congratulations to all the nominees!

Actress: Catherine Reitman, Writer/Director: Kinga Suto, Actress: Abby Wathen

The Los Angeles Comedy Festival – same fest that premiered the Oscar winning short GOD OF LOVE, is screening THE D-MONSTER in it’s short program this month!  Check out the official D-MONSTER trailer here.  We screen on Saturday May 14th at 8pm at the Acme Comedy Theater.  To see the big D screen, go to LAUGH STUB and choose LACF: FILM SHORTS PROGRAM 6.  Link to Laugh Stub to get tix here.  See you at the theater!

The D-Monster will screen as part of an AFI DWW benefit screening at the 2011 LA Women’s International Film Festival’s closing night showcase of AFI’s Directing Workshop for Women films this Thursday March 31st @ 8pm. So if you missed the 2010 DGA showcase of the 2010 AFI DWW films, here’s your chance to see them all! For tickets and more info check out the Los Angeles Women’s International Film Festival website: www.lawomensfest.com

Exciting West Coast fest premiere for The D-Monster film at the 2011 Palm Beach International Film Festival.  Written & Directed by KInga Suto, the film is scheduled to screen as part of their shorts package @ Lake Worth Playhouse March 26th @ 2pm.  It tells the story of a young nalve girl who works for a power hungry boss, The Devil Wears Prada meets Swimming With Sharks.  The film seems to be consistently an audience favorite.  Check out The D-Monster’s official trailer here.

The AFI Directing Workshop for Women short film THE D-MONSTER, written and directed by Kinga Suto, is set for it’s festival premiere March 12th as official selection of the 2011 SAN LUIS OBISPO FILM INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL – SLOIFF. Featured to screen at the Monday Club as part of Chicks n’ Flicks presented by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences. Check out the trailer here.

Ok, I’m tooting my own horn, but I am directing a really funny webisode called “Beck on Call,” and it’s got a cool alternative comedy vibe to it. The kind I love. Awkward people – you’ll love it too. Whose the talented actress who came up with the clever concept, based on a mobile massage therapist who makes housecalls? Rebecca Norris. You may not know her name now…but you will. The petite actress is quirky and funny a la Courteney Cox. She plays Beck an overworked therapist whose clients are stranger than she is. In the vein of “Lars and the Real Girl.” Trailer coming soon…

The audience response for the d-monster short film was overwhelming. People loved it! The showcase far exceeded my wildest dreams. Who gets to sit and hear a standing room only crowd laugh at every one of their jokes? I sat in the dark theater waiting for my film to come on, hoping people would connect to my story and my comedy. It felt so wonderful to see it happen. I’ve spent years working on my comedy, from stand-up to improv, putting my work up to get one little chuckle. Last night was like winning on a slot machine in Vegas. It just kept on coming. Making people laugh is the greatest gift of all!

All the films in the line-up were well written and directed. I was so honored to be in such great company. It was an inspiring evening with Lesli Linka Glatter (MAD MEN) talking about her experience in the AFI Directing Workshop for women and how it allowed her to have a career as a director.

I am so grateful to be a part of this program and so excited to move forward with new projects, it’s been an amazing year of growth.

Thank you everyone for your support this year, I could not have done it without you!

Kinga Suto at AFI's DWW Showcase 2010