Luis Gerard’s THE WAKE starring young deaf actor Zander Colbeck-Bhola is selected to screen at the Oscar-qualifying Cleveland International Film Festival

THE WAKE shares the story of a young deaf boy Martin (played by Zander Colbeck-Bhola) who looks up to his older brother and follows him, even at times when he shouldn’t. Zander Colbeck-Bhola comes from a large deaf family. All the cast learnt sign language for this film.

A restless 15-year-old has spent his life surrounded by death, raised in his parents’ funeral business in “small town USA.” He views his alcoholic father as profiting from the dead. While a wake is held in his parents’ funeral home, he breaks into the deceased’s house, counting on it being empty. In his view, the dead no longer need what he pockets. He recruits his deaf-mute younger brother to join him in his robberies, unaware of what the consequences may be.

Writer, director and producer Luis Gerard studied at the University of Puerto Rico where he began making films. His very first film QUE SERA was in the official selection of the prestigious Venice Film Festival and his second short ABSOLUTION was selected at The Sitges Film Festival. Branching into feature work, Gerard recently directed the second unit for HUSTLE a basketball drama starring Adam Sandler, produced by Netflix, and scheduled for release in June of 2022.

THE WAKE is Gerard’s third short film, a proof of concept for a feature film currently in development. Luis is currently preparing his first film WHERE ONLY THE DEVIL DARES, which he wrote and plans to go into production in 2022.

The stunning cinematography was created by Christopher Mably (Star Trek Discovery), who also serves as the film’s Executive Producer. Josias Tapia (She’s Gotta Have It) joins Mably as EP. THE WAKE was expertly crafted by Adam Schwartz and the beautiful music by Jay Wadley.

THE WAKE just won a Jury Award at the Thomas Edison Film Festival, was just selected at Blackbird Film Festival and can be seen at Cleveland International Film Festival on Thursday, April 07 at the Allen Theatre. It will also stream at CIFF on Sunday, April 10th and Sunday, April 17th.

https://www.clevelandfilm.org/films/2022/the-wake