Genre
Synopsis
A SORT OF HOMECOMING tells the story of Amy (Michelle Clunie), a New York news producer who thought she left her high school experiences long in the past. She unexpectedly returns to Louisiana at the request of her high school debate coach (Kathleen Wilhoite). Their strained reunion brings back memories of her tumultuous senior year of high school.
Through a series of flashbacks, we follow young Amy (Laura Marano) and her debate partner Nick (Parker Mack) on the highly competitive national debate circuit as they meet compatriots (Katherine McNamara) and competitors from top high schools around the country, and the college coaches who control access to valuable scholarships.
Nick and Amy’s national championship experience in New York reveals circumstances from Amy's past that bring the partners closer together personally, but the outcome of the tournament places Nick in an untenable position.
As Amy recalls the losses of the past, she is forced to reconsider her dreams and desires — ultimately putting the past to rest.
Bio
Named by Variety as "talent to watch," Maria has directed 6 successful independent feature films, the latest of which are currently available on Netflix and Amazon: A Sort of Homecoming, with Laura Marano and Katherine McNamara, and For the Love of George, with Rosanna Arquette, Tate Donovan, Rex Lee & Kristen Johnston. Earlier films include Just Friends, Temps, and Manna from Heaven (MGM/SONY).
Burton helms Five Sisters Productions with her real-life siblings, through which she directed the pilot for the Emmy qualifying short form series Old Guy and produced The Happiest Day of His Life (MTV/Logo), Kings, Queens & In-Betweens, and Julia Sweeney's "Letting Go of God" (Showtime). Burton has been selected for television directing programs including DGA's DDI Emerging Directors Mentorship Program, Disney/ABC Directors, CBS Directing Initiative, Ryan Murphy's HALF Foundation, SONY Diverse Directors, and ProjectHER, for which she wrote and directed the short pilot Good Eggs. Burton has served on the DGA National Board (Alt), Co-Chair of DGA's WSC and DGA's CJC, and past Co-Chair of Alliance of Women Directors. She's currently directing the indie pilot, Now What?, and developing projects including Mercury 13, a drama inspired by the women tested for the original astronaut program -- named to the Athena List, the BitchList/Bechdel List, won a CineStory Fellowship, and a Nicholl Quarterfinalist. // I'm the eldest of five sisters raised by activist parents. Our Dad taught us to proudly claim our heritage of the Indigenous American and Mexicans of early California, our Irish ex-Catholic Mom had us pass out fliers with her when she campaigned as a delegate for Shirley Chisholm, and the mix of cultures we grew up with inculcated empathy and made me a bit of a chameleon. Add to this a childhood of creatively low-budget travel and short-term residences in different cultures from Malaysia to France to India, and my interest in seeing the world through different perspectives led to my exploring character through storytelling.
Screening History
Netflix and Amazon 2016 - Currently
Downtown Film Festival Los Angeles 2016
Breckenridge Film Festival 2016
Omaha Film Festival 2016
WorldFest Houston 2016
Awards History
Downtown Film Festival Los Angeles 2016 - Best Director award for Maria Burton
Breckenridge Film Festival 2016 - Best Supporting Actress for Kathleen Wilhoite
Omaha Film Festival 2016 - Jury Award
WorldFest Houston 2016 - Best Dramatic Feature
Cayman International Film Festival - Best Feature
Credits
Actor - Laura Marano
Actor - Katherine McNamara
Actor - Kathleen Wilhoite
DP - Arlene Nelson
