Micro Short

Honor Among Thieves

Directed by Justin Eugene Evans

AFIN 2020 Semi-Finalist

  • 2020
  • 10m
  • USA
  • English
  • Sci-fi
  • Western
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Stills

1 frame

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Credits

Synopsis

Official Selection of 113 film festivals with more than 85 nominations and 40 awards including 20 as best short film. And our list keeps growing!

When a planet-hopping cowboy-criminal (Jason R. Moore, Marvel’s The Punisher) returns to New Mexico after a heist-gone-wrong, he expects a hero’s welcome. Instead, he finds his mutinous crew have decided he’s no longer in charge.

Director's Statement

Justin Eugene Evans, filmmaker portrait provided to AFIN.

It always comes down to characters. Superficially, combining science fiction and the wild west may seem difficult. But, the challenges weren't the visual effects or science fiction weapons; the challenges were about character. I don't believe in genre. I believe a writer's primary job is to be a malevolent manipulator, crafting deeply flawed characters and then constantly thwarting their ambitions. And in that sense, this science fiction western is really a story of failed friendship, mistrust and an inability to take a leap of faith. It is, I hope, funny, quirky and deeply human. But, my script would never have been possible without my amazing team! James Wulfgar's science fiction weaponry and props are as good as any Hollywood film. Branden Miletta's visual effects work is stupendous. Luis Caffesse's amazing editing blows me away; I could never do what he does. Bytheway-May's music carefully balances the comedy and action of this short film. The costumes and sets are incredible. And the cast! The cast did such an amazing job! Michael Tabb, Jason R. Moore and Chris Ranney own their roles. They bring so much depth and detail to their characters. I'm truly blessed to have such an amazing team help bring my quirky, strange, genre mash-up to life. We hope you enjoy Honor Among Thieves!

What makes this one special

  • 11 awards at other festivalsGeekFest Toronto · Mabig Film Festival · Tylerman Film Festival and 8 more
  • Programmed at 39 other festivalsAcross 9 countries

Also selected at

11 awards, 11 nominations, 4 finalist placings, 13 official selections across 39 other festivals

  1. WinnerGeekFest TorontoWinner - Best of Fest · Toronto, Canada · 2020
  2. WinnerMabig Film FestivalWinner - Best Sci-Fi Short · Augsburg, Germany · 2020
  3. WinnerTylerman Film FestivalWinner - Best Short · Wheaton, Illinois, United States · 2020
  4. WinnerWild Indie Sci-Fi & Fantasy Short Film FestivalWinner - Best Sound & Music · London, United Kingdom · 2020
  5. WinnerChanging Face International Film FestivalWinner - Best Sci-Fi Short · Cronulla, Australia · 2019
  6. WinnerFlorence Film AwardsWinner - Best Sci-Fi Short · Florence, Italy · 2019
  7. WinnerHEX After Dark Film FestivalWinner - Best Sci-Fi Short · Calgary, Alberta, Canada · 2019
  8. WinnerJohnson City Film FestivalWinner - Best Visual Effects · Johnson City, United States · 2019
  9. WinnerThe Monkey Bread Tree Film AwardsWinner - Best Short Film (Made For More Than $10,000) · Ilford, United Kingdom · 2019
  10. WinnerTwo Roads International Film FestivalWinner - Best Sci-Fi Short · Brooklyn, United States · 2019
  11. WinnerWallachia International Film FestivalWinner - Best Sci-Fi Short · Bucharest, Romania · 2019
  12. NomineeGeekFest TorontoNominee - Best Sci-Fi Film · Toronto, Canada · 2020
  13. NomineeGeekFest TorontoNominee - Best Actor Jason R. Moore · Toronto, Canada · 2020
  14. NomineeGeekFest TorontoNominee - Best Ensemble Cast · Toronto, Canada · 2020
  15. NomineeGeekFest TorontoNominee - Best Adventure Film · Toronto, Canada · 2020
  16. NomineeGeekFest TorontoNominee - Best Short Film · Toronto, Canada · 2020
  17. NomineeJaipur International Film FestivalNominee - Best Sci-Fi Short · Jaipur, India · 2020
  18. NomineeCARE AwardsNominee - Best Short · Cairo, West Virginia, United States · 2019
  19. NomineeChanging Face International Film FestivalNominee - Best Lighting · Cronulla, Australia · 2019
  20. NomineeChanging Face International Film FestivalNominee - Best Visual Effects · Cronulla, Australia · 2019
  21. NomineeThe Monkey Bread Tree Film AwardsNominee - Best Cinematography · Ilford, United Kingdom · 2019
  22. NomineeThe Oklahoma Black Film Festival (The Black Gatsby)Nominee - Best Short · Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States · 2019
  23. FinalistFerrara Film FestivalFinalist - Best Short · Ferrara, Italy · 2020
  24. FinalistKino London Presents "The People's Film Festival"Semi-Finalist - Best Sci-Fi Short · London, United Kingdom · 2020
The remaining 15 festivals
  1. FinalistNew York Cinematography Awards (NYCA)Finalist - Best Cinematography · New York, United States · 2020
  2. FinalistKino London presents "The People's Film Festival"Semi-Finalist - Best Short SciFi · London, United Kingdom · 2019
  3. SelectionBeloit International Film FestivalOfficial Selection · Beloit, United States · 2020
  4. SelectionChambal International Film FestivalOfficial Selection · Kota, India · 2020
  5. SelectionChandler International Film FestivalOfficial Selection · Chandler, United States · 2020
  6. SelectionFort Myers Beach International Film FestivalOfficial Selection · Fort Myers, United States · 2020
  7. SelectionNorth Europe International Film FestivalOfficial Selection · London, United Kingdom · 2020
  8. SelectionRussian International Horror Film AwardsOfficial Selection · Moscow, Russian Federation · 2020
  9. SelectionSoutheast Regional Film FestivalOfficial Selection · Jacksonville, Florida, United States · 2020
  10. SelectionSpello Int'l Short Film FestivalOfficial Selection · Spello, Italy · 2020
  11. SelectionWILDsound FEEDBACK Film & Screenplay FestivalOfficial Selection · Toronto, Canada · 2020
  12. SelectionCulver City Film Festival®Official Selection · Culver City, United States · 2019
  13. SelectionInternational ShortsOfficial Selection · Southbank, Australia · 2019
  14. SelectionInternational Shorts Film FestivalOfficial Selection · Southbank, Victoria, Australia · 2019
  15. SelectionSilicon Valley International Film FestivalOfficial Selection · San Fransisco, California, United States · 2019

Recorded by the filmmaker on their entry.

Director's Biography

Justin Eugene Evans, filmmaker portrait provided to AFIN. Justin Eugene Evans Director

Justin Eugene Evans' previous film, A Lonely Place For Dying, was accepted in 46 film festivals. The film was nominated for 53 awards and won 29 including 18 best pictures. Justin then took a leave of absence from filmmaking for 8 years to invent a new type of cinema lighting system. He is now returning to filmmaking with a Science-Fiction/Western short film entitled Honor Among Thieves. Justin's engineering skills include mechanical, electrical, mechtronic, optical, and thermodynamics. He worked in 18 factories throughout China to teach himself the fundamentals of modern manufacturing. He taught himself basic Mandarin so he could navigate the world of Chinese and Southeast Asia manufacturing. With his new skills, he built Anthem One, Inc. and sold the company for 61 million dollars. He recently began EvansWerks, Inc., allowing him to work on both engineering and media. As an adult with Asperger's Syndrome, he often feels slightly out of step. Justin's son, David, is also Autistic and his wife is a college culinary instructor at an Autistic school in Wisconsin. Together, they educate non-Autistics about Autism and advocate for Autistic acceptance. Justin splits his time between invention and filmmaking.

AFIN 2026

The festival opens in 4 days

Screening 1 at Dendy Cinemas Portside, Brisbane

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