“The Park Bench” is a romantic comedy about Emily, a neurotic librarian-to-be, assigned to tutor Mateo, a rogue Latino undergrad, struggling to pass American Lit. When she is assigned as his tutor, they agree, reluctantly, to meet three times a week on a park bench to study. At first they do not get along, but when the discussion turns from classics to confessions, they reveal secrets that could change their lives forever. Soon these two opposites learn that they have more in common than they ever could have imagined. Since Emily is engaged to be married, and Mateo has no shortage of girlfriends, the two are forced to tread carefully over their growing feelings for each other.
Starring Walter Perez (“The Avengers,” “Friday Night Lights”) and Nicole Hayden (“Mad Men”) and utilizing a colorful and whimsical blend of animation with live action, “The Park Bench tells a compelling story of how things get complicated when you share more than a good book.
“The Park Bench” is written and directed by Ann LeSchander. Producer is Angel Thompson and the cinematographer is Gareth Taylor. Edited by Bob McFalls. The animator is Natia Nikolashvili and composer is Dan Raziel.
“The Park Bench” has won numerous awards including:
Best Feature Debut, Toronto Female Eye Film Festival
Jury Prize, Festival Mundial de Cine Extremo, Veracruz, Mexico
Best Feature, Los Angeles Femme Film Festival
Best Feature, Queens World Film Festival
Audience Award, NY High Falls Film Festival
Encore Presentation, Chicago Int’l Latino Film Festival
Best Actress, Queens World Film Festival
“The Park Bench” will open at the Arena Cinema theater in Los Angeles on August 21st
