A man's desperate search for his drug-addicted wife forces him to live with his own demons or die with hers.

Interview with Writer/Director/Actor Mark Borkowski

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

To raise awareness about the opioid epidemic and explore a family torn apart by addiction.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

This film paints an honest portrait of addiction that can leave an audience unsettled and entertained at the same time. The issues explored and suffering exposed needs to be seen to be beloved.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

Addiction and mental illness are eating away at our society. Homelessness and death are the tragic results for many. Having lived through a terrible addiction, I have firsthand knowledge and avenues of recovery to share.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?

It started out as a poem and grew into a short film. I workshopped the script for a couple of months with some of the best actors in New York City. It began as a story about an addict… but as It developed it soon turned into a story about the family who was suffering. Also, the story got darker the more honest it became. It’s so cool to write from inside the dark tunnel.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

Everybody who sees this film walks away with an experience. It’s hard to find someone who hasn’t been affected by addiction or mental illness, either personally or through friends and family. It’s a universal theme that opens and touches hearts.

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

Just looking to raise awareness about the disease of addiction and the unique style we’re presenting it.

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

Sales agents, journalists, producers.

What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?

I’m hoping if the film opens people’s hearts, raises awareness and helps build resources to help those who are suffering.

What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?

How shall we treat addicts and the mentally ill in our society? Can we look honestly at the suffering without the stigma attached?

What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?

Also a playwright, I have my play Valentino’s Wing I’m developing at The Actors Studio in NYC. Also, I’m developing this short film into a feature film. It’s got so much more to say.

Interview: September 2019

We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela

Hungry Ghosts

A man's desperate search for his drug-addicted wife forces him to live with his own demons or die with hers.

Length: 17:54

Director: Mark Borkowski

Producer: Marisa Vitali

Writer: Mark Borkowski

About the writer, director and producer:

MARK BORKOWSKI is an award-winning writer and director of film and theatre. His theatre directing has been hailed by the LA Times as “Fireworks and Poetry”. He wrote the award-winning feature The Perfect Witness (w/ Wes Bentley) which premiered at the Sitges Film Festival and won the Fantasia Award at the Portugal Film Festival and was picked up by SHOWTIME. Also, an award-winning playwright, his work has been produced and published around the world.

Key cast: David McKittrick (Frank), Gabriel Moran (Richie), Karen Giordano (Selena), Mark Borkowski (Eddie), Aprella Godfrey Barulle (Mina), Melissa O' Donnell (Clarita)

Looking for: journalists, producers, buyers

Facebook: Mark Borkowski

Instagram: @markjborkowski

Hashtags used: #independentfilms #hungryghosts #nyc #drama #shortfilm #addiction #recovery

Other: IMDb

Funders: Self-funded through McMurphy Productions

Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Just finishing post production. Will be presenting it very soon, by September.