A new movie from a Syracuse University alumnus is tackling the issue of human trafficking.
“Guardian Angel,” co-directed and co-written by Brian Yuran, will be screened at the L.A. Shorts International Film Festival on July 26. Yuran says if it wins at the festival, it may be eligible for the Academy Awards.
The 15-minute drama centers on a flight attendant (“Veep” actress Sufe Bradshaw) who suspects one of the plane’s passengers is traveling with a girl against her will. A single, loaded look starts off the film with a palpable tension as she and her co-workers balance doing their jobs with doing the right thing.
“Guardian Angel” recently debuted at The Big Apple Film Festival in New York City, but being accepted into L.A. Shorts could open the doors for Oscars consideration. The festival is accredited by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences, and more than 60 L.A. Shorts filmmakers have earned Academy Award nominations; 17 of those went on to win an Oscar.
Yuran told syracuse.com | The Post-Standard that he co-wrote and co-directed the movie with social media star Joey Rogoff, who pitched the idea. At the time, Yuran admits he didn’t know a lot about human trafficking, but researched it extensively and was shocked to learn how often it occurs in plain sight.
“We strive to educate people on the signs to look out for while telling a compelling narrative about a woman trying to use her maternal instincts to save a life,” Yuran said.
The topic has gained attention in Hollywood recently, including with the recent release of “Sound of Freedom.” The faith-based political thriller, starring Jim Caviezel and Mira Sorvino, follows a former government agent turned vigilante on a mission to rescue hundreds of children from sex traffickers.
Yuran, who graduated from SU’s Newhouse School in 2017, hopes “Guardian Angel” will also pave the way for eventually making a feature film. He previously released the short “Bengal” (starring fellow…
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