Multiple award-winning short film The Soul Trader is chosen for the spotlight at American Film Market 2024 with Susan Dynner and Shauna Grace in person.
The American Film Market boasts more than $1 billion in distribution and film financing deals are closed each year, home to the largest selection of new films and projects.
This year, taking place in Las Vegas, market heat is even higher with big sales announced even before the official start.
Major stars, major filmmakers, and the biggest VIPs in global entertainment will all be involved at the market throughout the 6-day event.
Executive Producer / Actress Shauna Grace and Director / Producer Susan Dynner are attending the market with a jam-packed schedule of meetings with production, sales and distribution partners. But…
Shauna Grace, Susan Dynner in Prestigious AFM Pitch Sessions
Shauna Grace and Susan Dynner have been chosen as part of the select few to pitch their project The Soul Trader at the very prestigious AFM Sessions on Saturday morning, hosted by Lee Jessup, featuring indie film legend Cassian Elwes, in front of a packed auditorium of film professionals.
The Soul Trader is a 12 minute short proof of concept for a feature or series directed by Susan Dynner (Brick, Punk’s Not Dead, Code Blue: A Love Story) and starring Shauna Grace (Real Housewives…, Vanderpump Rules), Shane West (A Walk to Remember, ER, The Dirty South), Donna Mills (Knots Landing, Nope, Origin).
The story follows Coral Chase (Shauna Grace), an occult hitwoman who has the power to steal life-extending souls, which she then sells to vain, wealthy elites like Erica Claessen (Donna Mills), who clings to the crumbs of youth. She’s flanked by stoic bodyguard Damien (Shane West), who ultimately emerges from the shadows as her rival when she’s about to carry out a money-spinning hit at a target’s home and realizes she’s not the only one with murder in mind.
“We’re honored to pitch The Soul Trader
at this prestigious event in front of a room of entertainment VIPs ”
Director / Producer Susan Dynner
The short film launched at the Cannes Film Festival’s American Pavilion in May and has been gaining momentum ever since.
Multiple Award Winning Soul Trader short film
It’s won awards at the Manhattan Film Festival in NYC, Rock The Shorts in Beverly Hills, Austin After Dark in Austin, TX, London Horror Film Awards across the pond in England.
Screening to full audiences at festivals including DC Shorts in Washington, DC, one of the country’s largest short film festivals, acclaimed Calabasas Film Festival in Los Angeles, the inaugural American Film Convention, and one of the very few chosen for Boise Film Fest’s debut.
Now it’s set for even more!
“It’s an incredible honor to be at these screenings, earning honors and now selected for American Film Market.”
Actress / Executive Producer Shauna Grace
Meanwhile the filmmaking duo Susan Dynner and Shauna Grace continue taking meetings toward their next step.
What is their next step?
“This was always meant as a proof of concept short film
to become a feature film or TV series.
This week at the American Film Market is a giant step in that direction.”
Director / Producer Susan Dynner
Actress Shauna Grace has been receiving strong reviews, comparing her on screen presence to other heroines including Charlize Theron and Scarlett Johansson.
Dynner’s experience as a studio development executive for visionaries such as Richard Donner and Wolfgang Peterson shines through. Also, her producing work on Sundance hit “Brick” and festival darling “Punks Not Dead” shows her ability to bring production value on a range of budgets.
Both Dynner and Grace will take part in the American Film Market Pitch Sessions on Saturday October 9 from 9:30am – 1pm and be available afterwards to discussion.
The Soul Trader is directed and produced by Dynner, written by newcomer Mike Underwood, photographed by Matthias Schubert (The Door Man, Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me, Shelter in Solitude), produced by Lauren Bancroft (The Making of Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles, Wild Bitch, Bite Size Halloween), edited by David Hopper (God Bless America, In Between Songs, Rust Creek), and executive produced by Shauna Grace, with music composed by Jeff Russo (Fargo, Ripley, Star Trek: Discovery).
Susan Dynner and Shauna Grace will pitch The Soul Trader at the American Film Market Pitch Sessions on Saturday October 9 from 9:30am – 1pm and be available afterwards to discussion.
