2022/narrative/11 min.
It’s 2 AM, and Vince just wants to know why.
Co-directed by Frank Mosley and writer Hugo De Sousa.
Starring Hugo De Sousa, Frank Mosley, and Jennifer Kim.
Now streaming as a Vimeo Staff Pick on Directors Notes and NoBudge.
Named a Top 12 Film of 2023 on NoBudge.
Listed as one of the “25 Best Shorts from The HollyShorts Film Festival” on Awards Daily.
Frank Mosley listed as one of “Seven Texan Performances at Fantastic Fest” on Texas Monthly.
SCREENINGS:
-2022 Slamdance Film Festival (World Premiere - Narrative Shorts Competition)
-2022 Santa Barbara International Film Festival
-2022 FilmFort Festival
-2022 Oxford Film Festival
-2022 Sun Valley Film Festival
-2022 Ashland Independent Film Festival
-2022 Florida Film Festival
-2022 Mammoth Lakes Film Festival
-2022 FEST- New Directors New Films, Portugal (international premiere)
-2022 Palm Springs International ShortFest
-2022 Letni Filmova Skola Festival, Czech Republic - Slamdance Showcase in association with iShorts
-2022 HollyShorts Film Festival
-2022 Rooftop Films, Summer Series - NYC
-2022 Sidewalk Film Festival
-2022 Skyline Indie Film Festival
-2022 Fantastic Fest
-2022 Eastern Oregon Film Festival
-2022 Dallas International Film Festival
-2023 Americana Film Festival, Barcelona
-2023 The Dark Room Screening & Salon, presented by NoN Films
-2023 Bridgeport Film Festival
-2023 Yellow Barn Film Festival - Winner: Audience Choice Award
-2024 NoBudge Live 37 - Nitehawk Cinema, NYC
-2024 CineSeries Screening, presented by ADULT FILM NYC
-2024 Hyperreal Film Club - Austin, Texas
PRESS:
“A little masterpiece.” -Andrew Bujalski
“With the filmmakers’ abilities to manipulate light, understand human emotion, and ultimately capture the essence of life itself, their short film should take the world by storm. The Event is a breathtakingly unique trip through the human psyche, and we can all learn a lesson or two from what the film has to say.” -Kyle Bain, Film Threat
“The Event itself proves irresistible as the pair behind the camera, along with cinematographer Kenneth Wales, involve elegant chiaroscuro lighting for this most uncomfortable conversation, and the more ridiculous the situation gets, the more authentic it feels.” -Stephen Saito, The Moveable Fest
““The Event” is a smartly written and wonderfully acted film about the need for validation and the resistance against providing it just to be on the safe side.” - Collin Souter, RogerEbert.com
“The awkwardness of that slightly obligatory social transaction is brilliantly explored in Frank Mosley and Hugo De Sousa’s tight comedy drama The Event… It’s a witty and acerbic comedy short, and incredibly relatable for anyone in the vicinity of the film industry.” -James Maitre, Directors Notes
“Incisively written and perfectly performed, the film exists in almost complete darkness and yet it’s so vividly drawn that you can feel every micro expression and taste every bite of rejection.” -Kentucker Audley, NoBudge
“Are we afraid of telling our friends the absolute truth? The Event confronts those feelings in a refreshing, honest, and touching way that I did not expect. Frank Mosley and Hugo De Sousa are great together.” -Joey Moser, Awards Daily
“Written by Hugo De Sousa, who then stars, edits, and directs alongside Frank Mosley, this short film is so unique in its story and presence, feeling like the truest film for filmmakers I’ve ever seen. The duo bounce off of each other so well, making us wonder if either character is in the wrong in this story, or just a reflection of ourselves on screen.” -Anna Mayers, Closeup Culture
“A deft bit of cringe comedy that juxtaposes de Sousa’s live-wire energy with Mosley’s cool and collected straight man persona.” -Daniel Gorman, In Review Online
“It’s a deceptively simple comedic premise, seemingly targeted at a narrow audience of frustrated indie filmmakers who feel Vince’s pain. Yet Vince and Jack’s ensuing argument also ends up probing universal themes of friendship that everyone can relate to.” -Sean O’Neal, Texas Monthly
“De Sousa’s hilariously earnest performance and flawless sense of timing, turn every line of the clever dialogue into comedy gold. Mosley, as the exasperated friend, gets his biggest laughs from what he doesn’t say, making each defensive and befuddled facial expression speak volumes.” -Patrick Gibbs, SLUG Mag
“The film thrives on the interplay between the two actors. One of the best scenes plays out in a two-shot. Here, the pair have their biggest fight at whisper volume in low light.” - Alex Heeney, The Seventh Row
“After we wrapped shooting one night, I bought a pass to the Virtual Slamdance and queued up The Event on my laptop. I’ve snobbishly never liked watching movies on a laptop because it’s “not cinema,” but I was willing to make an exception. I put in my headphones, wrapped myself in a blanket and began to watch. As the last shot of The Event appeared, I saw myself. The blue light of his laptop illuminates Jack (Frank Mosley) in a dark room, he has headphones in, he’s wrapped in a blanket, and is fully focused on the screen in front of him.” -Jackson Ezinga, Beam from the Booth, Issue 12 - Grand Rapids Film Society
“The Event has a silly sweetness that stems largely from the real-life chemistry of de Sousa and Mosley. There’s a comfortable familiarity to their friendship on screen which makes the difficult conversations that fuel this short truly delightful. An additionally delightful performance by Jennifer Kim as Jack’s girlfriend Beatrice adds a feminine touch to the film – and a few really great laughs.” -Miranda Riddle, Horror Buzz
“Filmmakers Frank Mosley and Hugo de Sousa made the short film "The Event" which will have its New York premiere at a Rooftop Films screening in Brooklyn on August 18th.” -Adam Schartoff, Filmwax Radio
“We wrap today’s episode with the filmmaking duo we’re sure you’re going to be hearing a lot about. Frank Mosley and Hugo De Sousa bring us THE EVENT. It’s 2 AM, and Vince just wants to know why. Is this not the best log-line in the world?” -Bryan Patrick, Pulling Focus Podcast
“The Santa Barbara Film Festival on Thursday revealed the lineup for its 37th edition, which is set to run March 2-12 in-person in its customary spot in the heat of Oscar season.” -Patrick Hipes, Deadline
“As we look ahead to the new year, one of the first festivals of 2022 has unveiled its lineup.” -Jordan Raup, The Film Stage