With the Hollywood awards season upon us, Writer/Director, Kevin Maxwell emerges as an L. A. Shorts Awards Winner. Maxwell’s new independently produced film, CORA garnered two awards from the prestigious filmmakers competition. Maxwell received an Honorable Mention as Director of CORA and a Silver Award for Best Editing, CORA.
CORA is based on the true-life story of Cora Maxwell, the director’s, grandmother. Maxwell has penned a script that chronicles his grandmother’s personal struggle as a young black woman living in the nation’s deep south. Set in Memphis Tennessee, CORA highlights the hurt and pain that accompanied physically and sexually abused woman in a time and setting where abuse was often tolerated and even ignored.
After learning of his grandmother’s personal struggle, Maxwell was committed to capturing and sharing her remarkable story of survival . “This film is about documenting her truths and experiences. I want to give her a voice that has been silenced until now… a voice that has the power to heal.”
Celebrated actress, Latarsha Rose stars as CORA. Joe Holt stars as Winston. Gay Thomas Wilson, stars as Diana. John Lacy stars as Sheriff Williams and Bryan Oakes stars as Sheriff Daniels. Veteran character actor, William C. Carpenter stars as Charles.
Receiving the L.A. Shorts Awards, Best Editor for CORA is Feriba Karakoc Ayadi, a native of Istanbul, Turkey. Upon completion of film school, Ayadi immediately began working on documentaries, teasers, reels and short films.
The 30 person multinational production crew, under the watchful eye of noted filmmaker, Salvador Carrasco consisted of some members from the SMC Film Program and other independent film production talent.
Salvador Carrasco, Head of SMC Film Program and Anne Spielberg serve as executive producers of CORA.
CORA is currently on the film festival circuit.
