BACKYARD / DESERT

A feature film directed by Ethan Felizzari-Castillo Based on the play BACKYARD/DESERT by Nancy Irene Kelly

SUMMARY.

When a female border patrol agent, Pammy, finds a young migrant in the Yuma Desert, the foundation on which her life has been built slowly begins to erode. The haunting encounter forces her to question her choices, career and relationships. Torn between the comfort of her unexamined values and a growing awareness of the human ties that transcend all borders, she must make a wrenching decision in order to follow her truth.

Starring Academy Award Nominee Eric Roberts (Runaway Train, The Dark Knight), Rosie Dean (The Last Christmas Party), Juanes Montoya (Fantasmas), Peter-William Jamieson (Evening Caller)

CREATIVE.

BASED ON THE PLAY BACKYARD/DESERT BY NANCY IRENE KELLY

Adapted by Nancy Irene Kelly & Ethan Felizzari-Castillo

Directed by Ethan Felizzari-Castillo

Starring Academy Award Nominee Eric Roberts (Runaway Train, The Dark Knight), Rosie Dean (The Last Christmas Party), Juanes Montoya (Fantasmas), Peter-William Jamieson (Evening Caller)

Director of Photography Luke Pengelly

Produced by Stefanie Colón & Adam Del Valle

Co-Produced & Production Design by Alessandra Manias

Production Companies CK Films (NY/LA) & Arte Video (Italy)

A film about the human ties that transcend all borders.

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*Still from the film.

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT.

“I got involved with Backyard/Desert at a crucial point in my life back in 2018 when it only existed as a play. As a Latino creative, I found myself longing to find a theatrical piece that spoke to the issue of immigration the way this piece does.

So why THIS film & why NOW?

At it’s core, Backyard / Desert highlights the fact that individuals are dying while crossing the border and begs the question... what are we going to do about it? Rather than seeing migrants experience a flawed immigration system, Nancy Irene Kelly has done wonders by writing the film from the perspective of the people who are at the root of the problem: the individuals who enforce the biased laws. The film finds a way to interweave a series of complex conversations that highlight a false sense of patriotism and the ongoing border crisis while neither condoning or condemning the character’s political views.

This piece is so unbelievably important as it helps highlight many issues, but from a perspective that I believe can be extremely impactful for audiences everywhere. Getting the opportunity to adapt it for the screen with Nancy has been a joy and we cannot wait to see this film come to fruition.”

-Ethan Felizzari-Castillo (Director & Producer)