Albert’s collaboration with his son Andrew Chan-Possemato, The Butler and the Ball, has been selected for the Albany FilmFest in the Youth category, running in-person October 4-13 at the Landmark’s Albany Twin Theatre and virtually October 15-23 on the festival’s website. The Butler and the Ball will screen in-person at the Landmark’s Albany Twin Theatre on Thursday, October 6, from 7:30-9pm as part of the session On the Edge. Tickets will be available for $13 at the Landmark Twin Theatre box office. The online screening will be free of charge or a sliding-scale donation.
Albany FilmFest is a juried film festival that takes place each year in Albany, California, showcasing original, compelling, independent short films from emerging and established Bay Area, national, and global filmmakers. Albany FilmFest works in collaboration with the City of Albany, the Landmark Twin Theatre, Albany’s Community Media Access Committee, Albany’s Arts Committee, and the staff of KALB Channel 33.
The Butler and the Ball is an urban fairy tale about a lonely boy who enters a contest to become the new butler of a grieving, reclusive singer. The film was directed by eight-year-old Andrew Chan-Possemato, who wrote and produced it with Albert. The film has screened in France, Wales, India, Iran, Romania, Estonia, The Czech Republic, England, South Korea, Australia, Serbia, Greece, Canada, and the United States. Awards include Best of Festival Award for Best International Young People’s Film at the Children’s International Film Festival of Wales, Best Young Director – Live Action at the Atlanta Children’s Film Festival, Best Kids-Made Film at the San Diego International Kids’ Film Festival, Best Junior Filmmaker at Sanctuary International Film Festival in Australia, Best Narrative Film, Under 12 at the International KidsNFilm Festival, First Prize in the Fictional Movie Made by Filmmakers up to 10 Years of Age category at A-FilmTeensFest in the Czech Republic, the Under 10 category at the Prague Youth Film Festival, Best Original Screenplay of a Short Film and Jury Special Mention—Child Actor at Children Short Film Festival in England and France, Best 1st Time Filmmaker at Fentress Student Film Festival, and Best Youth – 18 at Alder International Short Film Festival.