Mountainside (2023 film)

Last updated
Mountainside
Directed byMikiech Nichols
Written byMikiech Nichols
Produced byChad Courtney
Lisa Fortino
Ashley Hauser
StarringMikiech Nichols
Nicole Merat
Monisa Brown
Alaina Moretti
Allyson Norton
Juan Rowlands
Sarah Scheller
CinematographyChad Courtney
Edited byMikiech Nichols
Running time
120 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Mountainside is a 2023 American independent comedy-drama film written and directed by Mikiech Nichols, starring Nichols, Nicole Merat, Monisa Brown, Alaina Morretti, and Allyson Norton. The film is set in Seattle and follows Felix, a 30-year-old film projectionist and floundering screenwriter who meets Stella, a chain-smoking cinephile whose friendship ends up inspiring him both creatively and romantically. It is loosely based on the director's real-life experiences. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Plot

Thirty year-old film projectionist and flailing screenwriter, Felix, struggles to connect with anyone outside of his sister and her girlfriend. To make things worse, an intense bout of writer's block doesn't seem to be going away anytime soon. After reluctantly joining a writing group and getting invited by someone to a party, Felix meets Stella, a down-to-earth, chain-smoking cinephile who he immediately clicks with. The two become fast friends, and over the next few months spend just about every waking moment with each other. But their seemingly perfect platonic friendship quickly becomes more complicated when Felix falls in love with Stella just as her new love-interest enters the picture. In an effort not to lose her as a friend, Felix tries to keep his feelings to himself and continue spending time with both Stella and her partner until he eventually feels the need to step back and accept a reality where he and Stella might never be together. In the end, Felix finds renewed creative inspiration, culminating in him writing and directing his first feature film.

Never hesitating to take steps outside of reality through the use of movies within movies, found footage, and action sequences, Mountainside is also a love letter to film itself.

Cast

Production

Mountainside was filmed entirely on location in Seattle, Washington, where most of the crew and cast were either from or lived during its two and a half years of production. [4] The film was picked up for theatrical distribution by Compassionate Disaster Films and for streaming distribution by DeskPop Entertainment. [5]

Release and reception

Festivals

Mountainside was selected to screen at the following film festivals:

Accolades

Awards and nominations for Mountainside
AwardYearCategoryNomineeResultRef.
Spokane International Film Festival Jury Awards 2023 Best Northwest Feature MountainsideWon [7]
Beyond Hollywood International Film Festival Jury Awards2023Best Narrative FeatureMountainsideNominated

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References

  1. ↑ Janavel, AJ (September 21, 2023). "'It's a dream come true': Unsure of future, local Seattle cinema continues to provide platform for filmmakers". Fox 13 Seattle. Archived from the original on May 1, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  2. ↑ McNichols, Joshua (October 12, 2023). "Seattle's Grand Illusion Cinema, indie film buff favorite, faces uncertain future following $2.3 million sale". KUOW-FM . Archived from the original on May 1, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  3. ↑ Hutchinson, Chase (January 29, 2024). "Mountainside Filmmaker Mikiech Nichols on Shooting His Film in Seattle and Trying to Avoid the Manic Pixie Dream Girl Trope". The Stranger . Archived from the original on May 1, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  4. ↑ "Preview of 'Mountainside,' movie shot entirely in Seattle". Fox 13 Seattle. September 6, 2023. Archived from the original on May 1, 2024. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  5. ↑ "Mountainside". Deskpop Entertainment. Archived from the original on December 6, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Mountainside". Tacoma Film Festival. Archived from the original on May 1, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Mountainside". Grand Illusion Cinema. Archived from the original on May 1, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
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