Mary Riitano Actress
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"Swing" is a short film written and directed by Brock Forrette and produced by Brian Hoffman under Grasshopper Films Production. The story centers on a married couple who find themselves at an emotional and relational stalemate.

I portray Terri, a big-hearted small-town woman whose imagination has outgrown her quiet home life. She dreams of designing dresses for Gucci, traveling on safari in Southern Africa, and escapes daily life through soap operas and watching documentaries about her beloved giraffes. Unable to have children, Terri uses mischief and fantasy to cope with her disappointments. As her marriage begins to unravel, she searches for ways to revive intimacy before it disappears entirely.

The film began its festival tour at The Oregon Short Film Festival. It screened at twelve festivals between September 2022 and March 2024, receiving nominations for Best Director, Best Short, Best Romantic Comedy, Best Original Score, Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Actor, and Best Actress. The project received a Best Actress award for my performance.

Additional behind-the-scenes, festival information, interviews, and press are included on this page.

Swing is now available to view on YouTube.   Click the image below to watch.
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"Swing" received four Best Actress nominations for my performance.

The film was additionally nominated for Best Director, Best International Featurette, Best Cinematography, Best Original Music Score, Best Featurette, Best Screenplay (Short Film), and the Juan Anchia Award for Best Cinematography.
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At the July 2023 Wyoming International Film Festival, Swing received the Best Actress for a Short Film award.
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The Wyoming International Film Festival was thoughtfully organized
and well programmed. The festival team created an environment that supported
​both filmmakers and talent, contributing to a focused and welcoming experience.​​
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While attending the festival, I joined Kyler Bingham of Salt Lake City Dirt for a
podcast conversation discussing the film Swing and the festival experience.
​
Click below (on the purple circle) to listen.
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September 2023
Swing screened at the Burbank International Film Festival in September 2023.

The screening took place during the festival’s gala programming, which included an industry event honoring filmmaker Tim Burton. The evening featured a live audience discussion covered by The Hollywood Reporter highlighting his career and early beginnings.

During this month, the film also received official selections from the Iowa Independent Film Festival and the Black Hills Film Festival, with screenings held in Iowa and South Dakota later that month.
At the beginning of "Swing" festival run, the fall of 2022, we participated in a podcast interview
with Mikel Fair of the ​Oregon Short Film Festival discussing Swing and its festival run.
​
Click below on the Instagram picture below to listen.
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2022-2024 Festival Screenings 

"Swing" was officially selected into the following film festivals: 
 
    Oregon Short Film Festival, Nominated/Finalist for Best Romantic Comedy
    Texas Short Film Festival
    Poppy Jasper International Film Festival
    Flathead Lake International Film Festival
    Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema
    Myrtle Beach International Film Festival
    Kalakari International Film Festival
    Scotland International Festival of Cinema
    Wyoming International Film Festival 
    Burbank International Film Festival
    Black Hills Film Festival
    Iowa Independent Film Festival
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  • Home
  • Demo Reel
  • About
  • Gallery
    • Film Image Gallery >
      • Heebuck
      • Wuthering Heights
      • Swing
      • What Separates Us
      • Hamlet
      • They Don't Leave
      • Useless
      • Willow Creek Road
      • Homestead
      • We Burn Like This
      • Take Two
      • The Big Muddy TV Series
      • Beast
      • The Pharmacy on Mercury Street
    • Theatre Image Gallery
    • Behind the Scenes Images
    • Character Studies
    • Life in Motion
    • Creative Development
  • Work with Me
  • Writing
  • Community