SONS OF TOLEDO (2022)

written by Matt Foss and Monty Cole
directed by Monty Cole

After receiving the early morning news of his younger brother's murder, a mourning barber pushes through the muddy waters of grief to find the courage to do the impossible - give his brother one last cut.

Monty says, “Part narrative, part documentary, this project is something really special. Between Matt Foss’ connection to this community and the urgent need for this film, it was an honor to work on this film. The grief that Marc is going through and the unfair expectations of how he’s meant to hold that grief is something I deeply felt. And to see the community of Toledo gather around the film as it relates to gun violence in their city has been nothing short of breathtaking.”

Selected for Hip Hop Film Festival (Best of the Fest), Martha’s Vineyard International Film Festival (Best Overall Juried Short), Washington D.C. Film Fest (Best Short), Montana International Film Festival (Spirit Award), Detroit Black Film Festival (Best Short), International Black Film Festival (Best Social Justice Short), Phoenix Film Festival (Best African American Short), Film Invasion LA (Best Picture - Filmmaker Award, Best Performance - Ensemble), Sioux City International Film Festival (Best Short, Best Drama, Overall Audience Choice Award), Columbus International Black Film Festival (Buckeye Audience Choice Award), Dayton International Film Festival (Innovation in Filmmaking Award, Cardiff Wales Mini Film Festival (Best Short), Inner-city Film Festival (Best Short), the Mosaic Award from the American Advertising Federation, Bronzelens Film Festival, Edmonton International Film Festival, Chicago international Children’s Film Festival, American Black Film Festival, Norwegian Film Festival, Tokyo International Film Festival, South Texas Film Festival, Oakville International Film Festival, Summer in the South Festival, Australian International Film Festival, Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival, Georgia Shorts, AV Fest, Montecatini International Film Festival, Lake Travis Film Festival, Baltimore International Black Film Festival, Beverly Hills Film Festival, San Francisco Black Film Festival, Buffalo International Film Festival, Montana Film Festival, Seattle Black Film Festival, Bozeman International Film Festival, Urban Mediamakers Festival, Ashland International Film Festival, Barcelona International Film Festival, Mammoth Film Festival, Twin Cities Black Film Festival, Regina International Film Festival, Black X Film Festival, San Francisco Short Film Festival

ENSEMBLE: Marc Temple (Marc), Jamal Grant (Jamal), Shinaul Jones (Shinaul), Cincere Temple (Terrence), Jeremy Pratt Jr. (Jeremy), Madelyn Porter (Mother), Allison Day (Ms. Day), Dennis Hopson (Coach Hopson), JoJuan Armour (JoJuan), Shaun Temple (Shaun), Jaye Olaniran, Garrell Coleman, Emanuel Penrose, Cameran Hamilton, Carlos Washington

PRODUCTION TEAM:
Executive Producer: Matt Foss
Producer: Diana Pérez Riveros
Composer: Andrew Dost
Director of Photography: Candice Majors
Editor: Rob Seiffert
Art Director: Eleanor Kahn
Make up Artist: Kristina Stuller
1st Assistant Director: Judy Febles
Second Assistant Director: Gregory Shaw
Sound Mixer: Reynaldo Dumas
Best Boy: Josh Coleman
First Assistant Camera: Sonia Jourdain
Second Assistant Camera: Rob Seiffert
Gaffer: Rob Wagner
Lighting Consultant: Stephen Sakowski
Script Supervisor: Michael Miller