Writer/Director Nicolas Finegan’s SOME KIND OF PARADISE follows Tyler, a lonely barman who comes face to face with his own deep need for tenderness when he meets a Hollywood actor online and begins to fall in love. This compelling short premiered at AFI Fest 2023 and has been selected for the Arizona International Film Festival, Independent Film Festival Boston and Miami OUTshine where it won the Jury Award for Best Short Film. The film will make its New York premiere at the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival where it was selected from over 8000.  The film stars John Brodsky (Admission) as Tyler, Gabriel Leyva (Receta No Incluida) and Chloe Alexa Ibanez (Into the West).

Director Nicholas Finegan is an award-winning queer filmmaker based between London and LA. In 2021 he received the BAFTA Piggot Scholarship to pursue an MFA in Directing at the AFI Conservatory. Nicholas’ filmmaking places queer characters front and center in lyrical dramas that blend visceral social-realism and heightened, colorful camp. His films have screened at Oscar & BAFTA qualifying festivals internationally, received a VIMEO staff pick, and online screenings with DAZED, The Atlantic, and ‘SHORT OF THE WEEK’. He is currently developing his debut feature with the British Film Institute.

Producer Tianyu Yang is a recent graduate of the American Film Institute Conservatory in the producing discipline. He received his bachelor’s degree in finance from Emory University. He previously worked as an international sales coordinator at A24 and various companies including Putnam Pictures, Media Res and Mister Smith Entertainment. He currently works as a freelance producer and screener for the Academy Award-qualifying Urban World Film Festival and New York City Shorts.

The stunning cinematography was created by Sharon Pulwer, as well as a talented DP she is also  a notable photojournalist, focussing on religion, conflict and women rights, her work has been published in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Rolling Stone, Refinery29 and others.

SOME KIND OF PARADISE can be seen at the Tribeca Festival on Thursday June 6th at 5:15pm at the AMC 19th St. East 6, Tuesday June 11th at 8:45pm at the AMC 19th St. East 6 and Saturday June 15th at 5:45pm at the AMC 19th, East 6.