You can still contribute to the making of this film! 

Our new goal is to reach $4500 to help cover the costs for post production and distribution, which include the costs of the visual effects, sound mix, music composition, and film festival entry fees. Let's keep it going! 

Join our community:  http://www.facebook.com/EmilyAndBilly

About the film:

What if you couldn't recognize the face of your best friend, your lover -- or even your own face, reflected in a mirror?

Emily and Billy is the offbeat, poignant, and oddly comic story of a friendship between two outcast eight-year-olds who bond over their surprisingly compatible differences: Emily is a lonely girl who can't recognize faces, and Billy is an outcast because of his smooth, featureless face. Their friendship is tested when a mysterious man comes to town and gives Billy the enticing offer of a new face...

Who are we:

Hi! We're Ari and Lyniel -- the director and producer of Emily and Billy.

Ari is an award winning filmmaker. As a writer and director she has worked with Off Broadway and Off-Off Broadway theater companies in NYC, completed several short films, and collaborated on two popular web series. Her short I Love You, Houseplant won Best Short Narrative at the 2011 Albany Film Festival. She was recently a speaker at the 2012 Digital Hollywood Content Summit and is currently in development for a television comedy series. Please visit Ari at arisigal.com.

Lyniel is a film producer based in San Francisco. She produced Education of Saints, which won Best Student Short at the 2010 International Film Festival Ireland and was an official selection at the Heart of England Festival and the Fast Frwrd Film Festival.  She also produced Le Bruit de L'amour, a multi-award winning short film at Film Racing San Francisco 2009. In addition to producing Emily and Billy, she is currently developing her first feature film. 

Why are we making this film:

Face blindness (Prosopagnosia) is a real medical condition that affects 1 in 50 people. As the condition is being studied, stories about it have appeared on 60 Minutes, CNN, NPR, Wired and many other media outlets.  

This 10 minute short film utilizes face blindness as a vehicle to tell a story of friendship across boundaries. Today, recognizing and accepting difference is absolutely crucial and we hope the gently surreal story of Emily and Billy will draw audiences into their own personal exploration of these themes. It is a heartwarming and beautiful story that we know you will love seeing on the big screen. 

How you can participate: 

We have an extremely talented cast and crew who are generously donating their time and expertise. But filmmaking is expensive and sadly there's some stuff we just can't do without. Here's what you would be contributing to:

• Camera & lighting equipment rentals (to make it look pretty).
• Location fees and permits (to make it legal).
• Production insurance (to keep it safe).
• Food for the hardworking cast and crew (because they get hungry).

We have an amazing list of rewards for you! Whatever you can contribute would be SO appreciated and this is only a portion of what we need. Together we will make this film.  

Please spread the word about Emily and Billy. Pass a link to this page to everyone, friends, family, co-workers, and post it on your Facebook, Twitter, and blog.  

Please "like" our Facebook page too!

Thank you!

Ari & Lyniel