Twitch is a Student Academy Award nominated short film directed by Leah Meyerhoff

Leah Meyerhoff

Leah Meyerhoff is a Student Academy Award nominated director, producer and screenwriter. Her films have screened in over 200 film festivals worldwide and won over a dozen international awards.-Biography:...

.

Twitch kicked off the film festival circuit by winning a Grand Jury Prize at Slamdance

Slamdance Film Festival

As a year-round organization, Slamdance serves as a showcase for the discovery of new and emerging talent in the film industry; it is also the only major film festival fully programmed by filmmakers. Slamdance counts among its alumni many notable writers and directors who first gained notice at the...

 and going on to screen in over 200 film festivals worldwide. Twitch has since won over a dozen international awards and is currently airing on the Independent Film Channel

Independent Film Channel

The Independent Film Channel is an American cable TV network that airs independent film and related programming. IFC programming includes commercially interrupted feature-length films, original documentaries, shorts, animated series, original series, acquired series, and content exclusively for...

 and Skandinavia TV.

Plot

Twitch tells the story of a young girl torn between two worlds: her domestic life where she must care for her mother, who uses a wheelchair, and her escape into the emerging world of sexuality with her eager, hormone-addled boyfriend. Leah's mother plays the Mother role in an essentially autobiographical role for the filmmaker. The making of the film was a component of the IFC

Independent Film Channel

The Independent Film Channel is an American cable TV network that airs independent film and related programming. IFC programming includes commercially interrupted feature-length films, original documentaries, shorts, animated series, original series, acquired series, and content exclusively for...

 series Film School, chronicling the first time filmmaking efforts of four New York University graduate film school students.

Awards

• Student Academy Awards
  Student Academy Awards
  The Student Academy Awards is the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' annual competition for college and university filmmakers. The awards were originally named the Student Film Awards and were first presented in 1973. Since 1975, the awards have been given annually, usually in June...
  
   — Finalist
• Slamdance
  Slamdance
  Slamdance may refer to:* Mosh, a form of dance associated with punk rock and other musical genres* Slamdance Film Festival, an annual event featuring the work of independent filmmakers...
  
   — Honorable Mention
• Avignon Film Festival
  Avignon Film Festival
  Avignon Film Festival is also known as the Rencontres Cinématographiques Franco-Américain d'Avignon. The festival used to be called the French/American Film Workshop.The festival took place in Avignon, France every year and was devoted to promoting Film...
  
   — Best American Short
• Rhode Island International Film Festival
  Rhode Island International Film Festival
  Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival takes place every year in Providence and Newport, Rhode Island as well as satellite locations throughout the state. Started in 1997, the Festival is produced by Flickers, the Newport Film/Video Society & Arts Collaborative, a 501 non-profit...
  
   — Honorable Mention
• Golden Star Shorts Fest — Best of Fest
• Golden Star Shorts Fest — Best Narrative Short
• Brooklyn International Disability Film Festival — Best Short
• Scottsdale International Film Festival — Best Student Short
• West Chester Film Festival — Best Female Director
• Berkeley Film Festival — Grand Festival Award
• Rebel Film Festival — Best Experimental Short
• Brown Emerging Filmmakers — Best Drama
• Ole Muddy Film Festival — First Place
• Harry M. Warner Film Festival — Third Place
• Sound Space — Post Award
• Calgary International Film Festival
  Calgary International Film Festival
  The Calgary International Film Festival is a film festival held annually in Calgary, Alberta, Canada for ten days in late September and early October...
  
   — Honorable Mention
• California Independent Film Festival — Best Mini Short Nominee
• Swansea Bay Film Festival — Best Drama Nominee
• Pawky Little Film Contest — Finalist
• Trenton Film Festival — Best Actress Nominee

Festivals

• Annapolis Film Festival
• Antimatter Film Festival
• Arpa International Film Festival
• Atlanta Film Festival
  Atlanta Film Festival
  The Atlanta Film Festival is an Academy Award qualifying, international film festival held in Atlanta, Georgia. Started in 1976 and occurring every April, the festival shows a diverse range of independent films, including genre films such as horror and sci-fi...
  
  
• Avignon Film Festival
  Avignon Film Festival
  Avignon Film Festival is also known as the Rencontres Cinématographiques Franco-Américain d'Avignon. The festival used to be called the French/American Film Workshop.The festival took place in Avignon, France every year and was devoted to promoting Film...
  
  
• Backseat Film Festival
  Backseat Film Festival
  The Backseat Film Festival is an independent film festival organized by Doug Sakmann, Nick Esposito, and Zafer Ulkucu.Beginning in Park City, UT during the winter of 2003 as one of many alternatives to the Sundance Film Festival it quickly transformed into a touring festival that continues to the...
  
  
• Big Bear Lake Film Festival
• Boston Underground Film Festival
  Boston Underground Film Festival
  The Boston Underground Film Festival is an annual event held in the Boston, Massachusetts area that specializes in alternative film and video. The Boston Underground Film Festival, also known as BUFF, is the largest underground film festival in New England, spotlighting short films and feature...
  
  
• Boxurshorts Film Festival
• Brainwash Film Festival
• Brighton Film Festival
• Brooklyn Cinema Series
• Brooklyn International Disability Film Festival
• Brooklyn International Film Festival
  Brooklyn International Film Festival
  The Brooklyn Film Festival ', prior to 2011 called the Brooklyn International Film Festival ' is an independent film festival held every June in Brooklyn, New York...
  
  
• Brooklyn Underground Film Festival
  Brooklyn Underground Film Festival
  The Brooklyn Underground Film Festival was an annual showcase of typically low-budget, under-distributed or amateur videos and metavideos. The festival was initially held in DUMBO, Brooklyn and later moved to Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. The festival ran from 2002-2007.The...
  
  
• Calgary International Film Festival
  Calgary International Film Festival
  The Calgary International Film Festival is a film festival held annually in Calgary, Alberta, Canada for ten days in late September and early October...
  
  
• California Independent Film Festival
• Cannes Film Festival
  Cannes Film Festival
  The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
  
  
• Cardiff Screen Film Festival
• Chicago International Film Festival
  Chicago International Film Festival
  The Chicago International Film Festival is an annual film festival held every fall. Founded in 1964, it is the longest-running competitive film festival in North America....
  
  
• Cinechico Film Festival
• Cinema Paradise
• Clermont-Ferrand Film Festival
• Cork International Film Festival
• Dance and Shout Film Festival
• Daytona Beach Film Festival
• DC Shorts Film Festival
• DC Underground Film Festival]
• Ellensburg Film Festival
• Film Platform
• First Look Film Festival
  First Look Film Festival
  The First Look Film Festival is a film festival held in Denver, Colorado which screens short films from college students. It was started in 2001 by Wade Gardner and Joshua Weinberg, two film students at the University of Colorado Denver. The festival grew from only screening local Colorado films...
  
  
• First Run Film Festival
  First Run Film Festival
  Each Spring, the Kanbar Institute of Film & Television presents the First Run Festival to showcase over 120 intermediate and advanced projects in film, video, and animation....
  
  
• Fylmz Festival
  Fylmz Festival
  The Fylmz Festival was an independent film festival in Nashville, Tennessee, offering distribution and a $100,000 prize for Best Feature Film. A $3,500 prize for Best Short Film is also be awarded. The last festival was in 2007.-References:...
  
  
• Girlfest Hawaii
• Global Art Film Festival
• Golden Star Shorts Fest
• Great Lakes Film Festival
• Her Voice Her View Film Festival
• Hi Mom Film Festival
• Holly Shorts Film Festival
• Hudson Valley Film Festival
• Inflatable Duck Film Festival
• Ladyfest
  Ladyfest
  Ladyfest is a community-based, not-for-profit global music and arts festival for female artists that features bands, musical groups, performance artists, authors, spoken word and visual artists, films, lectures, art exhibitions and workshops; it is organized by volunteers. The first ever Ladyfest...
  
   Humboldt
• Ladyfest
  Ladyfest
  Ladyfest is a community-based, not-for-profit global music and arts festival for female artists that features bands, musical groups, performance artists, authors, spoken word and visual artists, films, lectures, art exhibitions and workshops; it is organized by volunteers. The first ever Ladyfest...
  
   San Diego
• Ladyfest
  Ladyfest
  Ladyfest is a community-based, not-for-profit global music and arts festival for female artists that features bands, musical groups, performance artists, authors, spoken word and visual artists, films, lectures, art exhibitions and workshops; it is organized by volunteers. The first ever Ladyfest...
  
   Stockholm
• Los Angeles Short Film Festival
• Lost Film Fest

• Malibu International Film Festival
• Marblehead Film Festival
• Milan International Film Festival
• New Filmmakers
• Newport Beach Film Festival
  Newport Beach Film Festival
  The Newport Beach Film Festival is a film festival in the United States held in Newport Beach, California, that showcases more than 350 films to more than 30,000 attendees annually....
  
  
• Newport International Film Festival
  Newport International Film Festival
  Newport International Film Festival was an annual film festival in Newport, Rhode Island, established in 1998 .The Newport Film Festival was generally held the first week in June and featured various international films at several local cinemas...
  
  
• Next Frame Film Festival
• Nolita Film Festival
• NYC Home Film Festival
• Ohio Independent Film Festival
• Ojai Film Festival
• Ole Muddy Film Festival
• Ozark Film Festival
• Palm Springs International Short Film Festival
• Planet Ant Film Festival
• Poppy Jasper Film Festival
• Portland Underground Film Festival
• Provincetown International Film Festival
  Provincetown International Film Festival
  The Provincetown International Film Festival is an annual film festival founded in 1999 and held in Provincetown, Massachusetts. The festival presents a wide array of American and international narrative features, documentaries and short films for five days in June of each year.With panel...
  
  
• Queens International Film Festival
  Queens International Film Festival
  The Queens International Film Festival ran from 2003-2009. It is currently defunct and the website has been shut down.-References:*...
  
  
• Reel Heart International Film Festival
• Reel Women International Film Festival
• Rhode Island International Film Festival
  Rhode Island International Film Festival
  Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival takes place every year in Providence and Newport, Rhode Island as well as satellite locations throughout the state. Started in 1997, the Festival is produced by Flickers, the Newport Film/Video Society & Arts Collaborative, a 501 non-profit...
  
  
• Rome International Film Festival
• Route 66 Film Festival
• San Diego Women Film Festival
• San Francisco Independent Film Festival
• San Francisco Women's Film Festival
• Sarasota Film Festival
  Sarasota Film Festival
  The Sarasota Film Festival has been held annually since 1999 in Sarasota, Florida. The festival is held in April and has become one of the top ten independent festivals in North America...
  
  
• Scottsdale International Film Festival
• Show Me Missouri Film Festival
• Silver Lake Shorts
• Slamdance Film Festival
  Slamdance Film Festival
  As a year-round organization, Slamdance serves as a showcase for the discovery of new and emerging talent in the film industry; it is also the only major film festival fully programmed by filmmakers. Slamdance counts among its alumni many notable writers and directors who first gained notice at the...
  
  
• Small Potato Film Festival
• Swansea Bay Film Festival
• Teabag Film Workshop
• Toofy Film Festival
• Trenton Film Festival
• Vermont International Film Festival
  Vermont International Film Festival
  Vermont International Film Festival is a film festival, held annually in Burlington, Vermont, USA. The 2011 Festival ran from October 21 to October 30.Historically it was an environmental and human rights film festival...
  
  
• Waterfront Film Festival
  Waterfront Film Festival
  The Waterfront Film Festival takes place annually in the town of Saugatuck, Michigan in the United States. It is in its 13th year as of 2011.Ranked as one of the top 5 film festivals in the world by SAGIndie in the Screen Actors Guild Magazine, the Waterfront Film Festival draws thousands of movie...
  
  
• West Chester Film Festival
• Wichita Film Festival
• Wildsound Film Festival
• Williamsburg Short Film Festival
• Women in Film Film Festival
• Woodstock Film Festival
  Woodstock Film Festival
  The Woodstock Film Festival is an American film festival that was begun in 1999. The festival was first conceived as a part of the Woodstock '99 Music and Arts Festival, with movies being screened as part of that event.-History:...
  
  
• Youth for Human Rights Film Festival
• Zion International Film Festival

Reviews

Doug Brunell of Film Threat

Film Threat

Film Threat is a former print magazine and, now, webzine which focuses primarily on independent film, although it also reviews DVDs of mainstream films and Hollywood movies in theaters. It first appeared as a photocopied zine in 1985, created by Wayne State University students Chris Gore and André...

gave Twitch three stars, saying that "Twitch is a story about fear, love, and an uncertain future. Meyerhoff has secured her place in film with this short movie. She's done a story that is as honest as it is touching. Her ability to sum up a young girl's life in ten minutes is remarkable."

Virginia Heffernan

Virginia Heffernan

Virginia Heffernan is an American journalist. In March, 2011, she began to write regularly about digital and pop culture for the Opinion pages of The New York Times. She is also known as a television critic for The New York Times, and as "The Medium" columnist at The New York Times Magazine. In...

 of The New York Times

The New York Times

The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...

wrote that "Leah is an artsy American" and Elaine Mak of New England Film said that "award-winning director Leah Meyerhoff has built up a large list of accomplishments as a filmmaker."

Jennifer Modenessi of the Contra Costa Times

Contra Costa Times

The Contra Costa Times is a daily newspaper based in Walnut Creek, California, U.S.. The paper serves Contra Costa and eastern Alameda counties, in the eastern part of the San Francisco Bay Area...

said that "when the story is as good as filmmaker Leah Meyerhoff's, you can't help but be drawn in" and Ben Beard of Film Monthly said that "Twitch is a hard but impressive little film. The travails of growing up, the immense pain of post-adolescence, the terror of the big nasty world resting just outside our windows: Twitch augers in the universal places of hurt in the human brain. We can take solace that Meyerhoff is now working on her first feature-length film. Twitch shows great promise; we now must wait for Meyerhoff's talents to fully bloom."