Female Director Jacqueline Elyse Rosenthal’s riveting short film on sexual assault made with the intention of engaging the U.S. Senate’s attention is an official selection at The American Pavilion at Cannes 

Female Director Jacqueline Elyse Rosenthal’s riveting short film on sexual assault made with the intention of engaging the U.S. Senate’s attention is an official selection at The American Pavilion at Cannes 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 16, 2023 (Los Angeles, CA) – Director Jacqueline Elyse Rosenthal has arrived to Nice, France with her student short film based on the true story of a collegiate female who tried to find justice for three years for her shelved rape kit-only to become the key witness in the Senate hearing to end the rape kit backlog. BACKLOG is one of 35 films hand selected by a panel of industry judges as an official selection to screen in the Emerging Filmmaker Showcase at the Roger Ebert Conference Center at The American Pavilion in Cannes. 

Film Short Synopsis: In 2006, Valerie Neumann was brutally assaulted and date-raped on her 21st birthday. The next day, she underwent a painful scientific 4-6 hour medical examination to collect clinical evidence. But because of the bureaucracy of the justice system, the police shelved her evidence and evaded her for almost two years, claiming the case to be “unwinnable.” But Mallory continued to help survivors, working at a rape treatment crisis center, where she is asked to advocate to end the Rape Kit Backlogs.

The 18-minute short film just premiered last month at the Oscar-Qualifying Cleveland International Film Festival and won Best Short Student Short Audience, and is scheduled to screen following the showcase in the U.S. at LA Shorts and Indie Shorts Fest.

About the director:

Jacqueline Elyse Rosenthal is a dedicated writer and director, and recent alumni of the esteemed University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts Master Program. Her unique blend of acting and screenwriting experience has endowed her with a profound understanding of character development, allowing her to craft emotionally compelling and thought-provoking works. Jacqueline is driven to continue raising pressing questions about our society, through her films. 

Her directing style reflects Spielberg mise en scène with Scorsese quick cuts. In her recent film, BACKLOG, Jacqueline committed so thoroughly to directing that she realized she was method directing, a phrase that has yet to be coined. She is able to begin living the films alongside the actors on set, and it allows her to understand the character’s point-of-view. With a keen eye for storytelling and a strong devotion to her art, Jacqueline Elyse Rosenthal is undoubtedly an artist poised to make a lasting impact on the cinematic landscape. 

BACKLOG will screen May 22, 12:30-2:30 pm at The Roger Ebert Conference Center at The American Pavilion for The Emerging Filmmaker Showcase through the Cannes Film Festival.