Fabián Cárdenas is a film director, producer, actor, writer and the founder of Cinema 360 Films. He is known for the award winning short film Desde el Alma (2013) and Freddie of Wynwood (2015), a short film that was selected by the Miami International Film Festival and will be airing on PBS in 2018. His experiences as an actor and involvement in theatre as a director, writer, producer and actor, for more than 20 years in the United States and Latin America, bring depth and variety to his filmmaking. He has worked with both local and international professionals on his own projects and in other film, television and theatre productions and brings a solid lineup of talent and expertise to any project. Mr. Cárdenas is a storyteller at heart; willing to mold any medium and tell compelling stories.
FILM: MIDWAY HOME by Parranda Productions, directed by Fabian Cardenas
The genesis of the project (where the idea came from).
Midway Home was produced for the 2018, Producers Guild of America Make Your Mark Weekend Shorts competition. As such, it had to be created, produced, edited and submitted within 51 hours. The criteria or genesis was to pay tribute to producer/director/actor Sidney Pollack.
Why is the project important?
Since part of the criteria was post war, we thought the timely subject of post-traumatic stress disorder would be appropriate and provide an audience with the challenges faced by our service men and women.
Why you’re the only one who can tell this story (what do you bring to the table that is unique to this project?). Our EP, Frank Richards is an Army veteran, familiar with cases of PTSD.
What are your cinematic aspirations and influences? Ready to do something Oscar-worthy. And achieve recognition for our work as a production company and for our loyal and talented team.
What are the visual and technical approaches you took that make the film unique?
By way of an odyssey or montage, we present a visual and realistic suffering of PTSD.
What is your hope for the audience’s response?
That the audience is reminded, that although some service men and women were fortunate to return home alive, their lives as they see it, will never be the same. Viewers will hopefully empathize and support funding for mental and general healthcare of our veterans.
Has the film been screened at any film festivals?
Midway Home has not been screened, only judged at many festivals. In addition to the below mentioned wins, Midway Home is also an Official Selection, Finalist or Semi-Finalist at 13 other film festivals.
WINNER – BEST FILM, Independent Online Film Festival, February 2019
WINNER – BEST FILM, Direct Short Online Film Festival, December 2018
WINNER – BEST DIRECTOR, Fabian Cardenas, RedWood Film Festival, January 2019
WINNER – BEST DIRECTOR, Fabian Cardenas, Palm Tree Film Festival, January 2019
WINNER – BEST ACTRESS, Heidy Torres, RedWood Film Festival, January 2019
WINNER – BEST EDITOR, Michael Anderson, MP Film Award, January 2019
Under 5 minute & Smartphone festival 