Poster for The Ice Cream Stop, directed by Raul Perez, AFIN 2021

Short Film AFIN 116

The Ice Cream Stop

Directed by Raul Perez

AFIN 2021 Winner · 2 awards

  • 2021
  • 26m
  • USA
  • English
  • Drama
  • Romance
  • Suspense
First-time filmmaker
Watch trailer View My AFIN →

Stills

2 frames

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Credits

Cinematography

Synopsis

When the American Dream meets tragedy, the course of many lives changes forever.

What makes this one special

  • A first-time filmmaker

From the Judges

From the Judges

A family story that turns, and lands somewhere far darker, told with a patience that pays off. What struck the panel was how much time the film spends inside a marriage before anything shifts, the warm lighting and slow, smooth camera work in those early scenes building a closeness that the later shifts to red and blue lighting turn to alarm. Direction that lets performances feel like real moments, and music that carries the story forward without ever crowding the dialogue, drew genuine admiration.

Curated, anonymised highlights drawn from the judges' notes.

Director's Biography

Raul Perez, filmmaker portrait provided to AFIN. Raul Perez Director

Executive Producer | Director Raul Perez was born in West Covina and raised in Corona CA, and has been regarded as a fast up-and-coming Latino filmmaker. His passion for telling edgy and dramatic stories comes from studying visionary directors like Tony Scott, Michael Bay, and David Ayer. His latest and most notable piece of work Co-Produced, Directed and Edited by himself “The Ice Cream Stop”, Is a gripping story of a loving husband and soon-to-be father, who is confronted by the dark side of the law. Raul served at Iconic Film Group as one of three Executive Producers and the Executive Director of Media Production. Raul plans to utilize this position and continue his vision by telling compelling stories within the African American and Latino communities all over the world. Movies that not only entertain but also uplift, educate, inspire, and motivate the masses helping to create a better society and possibly a better world one story at a time.

Trailer

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The Ice Cream Stop was Winner of Best First-Time Filmmaker and Best Short Film at the AFIN International Film Festival 2021, a Top 100 Best Reviewed and IMDb-qualifying festival.

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