Directed by Thommy Kane & Bojan Vanovac

THE TIES THAT BIND

Young Tristan (Jacob Moran) desperately needs new shoes, but his mother struggles between feeding her drug addiction and providing for her child.

“Based on the real life story of Thommy Kane”

The Ties That Bind

NEW SHOES delves into the emotionally traumatic relationship between a young boy and his drug-addicted mother who uses sex work as a means provide for herself and her son.

Elaine (newcomer Laura Whiteley) supports both herself and son the only way she knows how. Her son, Tristan (Black Phone’s Jacob Moran) protects his mother the only way he knows how, by sitting on the front porch and standing guard with his trusty brick. When Elaine explains to her son that she plans to spend her recent payday on her next fix and not on the new shoes for school that he truly needs, it sets off a chain of events that burden her son with the guilt and shame of his mother being placed in harm’s way to provide him with the additional money for those shoes.

When things go awry, Tristan is forced to examine his own life and decide whether or not he wants to continue to be her savior or decide to finally save himself.

World Premiere

The American Pavilion’s Emerging Filmmaker’s Showcase at the Cannes Film Festival. 
Website Link for Tickets: https://ampav.com 
Date[s] and Time(s) and Location(s) of the Screenings: 
  • Wednesday, May 24th in a block between 3:30 – 5:30pm inside the American Pavilion, in Cannes France.

United States Premiere

The Berkshire International Film Festival. or BIFF. 
Website Link for Tickets: https://biffma.org/
Date[s] and Time(s) and Location(s) of the Screenings: 
  • Friday, June 2nd at Noon, inside the Triplex Cinema at 70 Railroad St. Great Barrington, MA 
  • Saturday, June 3rd at 11:30 AM inside The Lenox Town Hall at 6 Walker St., Lenox, MA 

TEXAS Premiere

Hill Country Film Festival: 
Website Link for Tickets: https://www.hillcountryff.com/
Date[s] and Time(s) and Location(s) of the Screenings:
  • Friday, June 2nd, during block 5 at 2:15 PM at the National Museum of The Pacific War, inside The Historic Nimitz Ballroom at 311 E. Austin St. Fredericksburg, TX. 

Oklahoma Premiere

Dead Center in Oklahoma City, Ok
Website Link for Tickets: https://deadcenterfilm.org/
Date[s] and Time(s) and Location(s) of the Screenings: 
  • Friday, June 9th at 6:30 PM inside the Harkins Theatre Bricktown at 150 E. Reno Ave., Oklahoma City, OK
  • Sunday, June 11th at 11:30 AM inside the Harkins Theatre Bricktown at 150 E. Reno Ave., Oklahoma City, OK

Hollywood Premiere

Holly Shorts Film Festival. 
Website Link for Tickets: www.hollyshorts.com 
Date[s] and Time(s) and Location(s) of the Screenings: 
  • Wednesday, August16th at 5pm inside the Chinese Theatre, Room 6, in Hollywood, CA.

Virginia Premiere

Richmond International Film Festival. 
Website Link for Tickets: https://www.rvafilmfestival.com
Date[s] and Time(s) and Location(s) of the Screenings: 
  • Friday, September 29th at 7:30pm inside the Byrd Theatre, in Richmond, VA.

IN THE NEWS

The Crew Who Made This Film Possible

Susan Hollander – Producer | Luc Ung – Director of Photography | Enver Perez – Editor | Nicholas Natale – Sound Recording & Mixing | Joshua Duncan – Colorist | Dawn Periquito & Shayna Passaretti – Hair & Make-Up | Garrett Clare – BTS Footage | JD Fernando Acha Jr. – 1st Assistant Camera | Forrest Shearer – 2nd Assistant Camera | Matt Iacono – Gaffer | Jonathan Charles – Key Grip | Marlee Schulman & Ariel Hackworth – Production Assistants

Director/Writer/Executive Producer

THOMMY KANE

Thommy Kane was born outside of Boston, Massachusetts. After overcoming the setbacks of living on the streets with a drug-addicted mother, by 18, he turned his love of music into a career as a hip-hop artist. By 23, he signed a record deal with Ted Field, the founder of Interscope Records, before releasing two albums independently. After acting in the movie “Waist Deep,” Thommy shifted his focus to writing, composing, and directing films, a true passion since acting in school plays at the age of nine. “New Shoes” is his directorial debut.

Director/Executive Producer

Bojan Vanovac

Bojan Vanovac was born in Bosnia during the turmoil of the 90’s war. Bojan and his family were forced to move to the United States. His immigration experience and discovery of a new identity are defining influences in his storytelling. Bojan lives in New York. After many successful years working in Boston and winning Best Documentary at MFA’s Roxbury Film Festival, he made the leap and moved to New York City to further pursue his dreams. “New Shoes” is his directorial debut.

A very impressive short film that I would love to see turned into a feature.

-Ted Field

THE TIES THAT BIND

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