THE UNLONELY FILM FESTIVAL: BEST OF FEST

Birthday

Meet the Filmmaker

Chris King is an Oscar-qualifying filmmaker and three-time Emmy nominated promotions producer. His feature and short film screenplays have garnered national attention in The Nicholl Fellowship, the Chesterfield Film Project, Fade In Magazine, and HBO’s Project Greenlight. Chris’s films have played at over 250 film festivals, have been seen in over 140 cities in 90 countries, and have received over 100 awards and nominations. Chris’s short film “Birthday” qualified for the Academy Award (Live Action Short) in 2017 and played at over 150 international film festivals. The festival run on his latest short film “Pipe Dream” (about tv legend Carol Burnett) just finished, and he is now in pre-production on his next feature. Chris and his co-producer/co-writer wife Heather reside in Roseville, California with their two daughters.

Join the Conversation

How does the film change your perspective on what addiction can look like? When nothing outwardly seems wrong, how can we check-in with friends and family to make sure they’re coping and have someone to confide in?

Share your responses in the comment box below:

30 Comments

  1. sherry miron

    Very Brave Man and Woman to let the feelings out freely that have changed the Birthdays to come for ever and make the Best of the future Birthdays together feeling Blessed and Grateful for all Life has given in Love and Pure in Heart Actions True Love is Grand what a Joy to see the Deep feelings of Life in this movie

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  2. Anonymous

    This was a tear jerker! I went through all the emotions with them. What a big obstacle to go through for both people. So glad they each had each other to be there for one another. Loved the ending.

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  3. Eric Rarama

    The first time I ever had a surprise Birthday Party was also the first time I ever had one. My dear Sister Grayce did it for me so kindly, she is the only person I know who would do surprise Birthday parties for any one, and now she is in heaven. I felt super surprised but moved by this generous act by my sister. She invited all our close mutual family and Church friends. God bless my sister;

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  4. Anonymous

    says a lot without using words. excellent

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  5. Asei Tendle

    Yea wow that’s the power of love right there to endure such a difficult situation

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  6. Anonymous

    Powerful film. I connected with the main character, going through a physical rehabilitation phase in my life after a surgery and with an upcoming monumental birthday.

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  7. Bobie

    amazing courage and strength to overcome. Wow

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  8. Anonymous

    The power of love!

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  9. Anonymous

    This story was so sad, but so powerful and demonstrates how the most difficult challenges can be overcome with determination and the power of love.

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  10. Anonymous

    Beautiful video. Very emotional watching this. Love it.

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  11. Anonymous

    very unfortunate that the direction of their future now is not what they had dreamed of. He is fortunate to have great family support. B

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  12. Anonymous

    You can feel the raw emotions of the husband and wife. The love, the anger, determination, humor.

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  13. Anonymous

    You can feel the raw emotions of the husband and wife. The love, the anger, the determination.

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  14. Anonymous

    wow talk about making lemonade out of lemons! awesome story about Bravery, compassion, and Love!

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  15. Anonymous

    What an mazing story of making lemonade out of a lot of lemons, this film shows the courage, love, and resilience of the human spirit, it’s a love story within a love story, they fall in love all over again because of these challenges allowing them I believe to see who each other really are, these are the moments that reveal who we really are, not the times when everything is going well, Thank you to all our Veterans!

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  16. Anonymous

    If making lemonade out of lots of lemons were a person! what an awesome story about Courage, love, and resilience, A true love story within a love story, the fell in love all over again with their actual authentic spouse after his accident and recovery, it’s these moments that really show who we are not the ones that show up when everything is going great.. thank you and Bravo to all our Veterans!

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  17. Anonymous

    it shows devotion to many things, a relationship, a person an ideal. Thank you Veterans.

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  18. Saoudy

    Love and commitment can overcome obstacles. A great wife indeed.Also life must go on after crisis. Also, it shows how much the country cares about our injured veterans.

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  19. Anonymous

    Thank you to our Veterans and a life of sacrifices.

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  20. Anonymous

    A sacrifice life. Thank you to our Veterans!

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  21. Anonymous

    This reminds me of Rocky Bleier, an injured combat veteran who played in the 1975 Super Bowl for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He wrote about the experience in his autobiography “Fighting Back.” If you enjoyed this film, it is another inspiring example of a serviceman overcoming adversity after sacrificing for our country.

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  22. Anonymous

    Wonderful heartwarming story about coming together and Veterans.

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  23. Anonymous

    Loved the story! I cried at the beginning and by the time I got to the end I found myself smiling :). A very strong couple, I am glad they had each other.

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  24. Anonymous

    This is a tear jerker but very well done. This also a sample of the inequities of society. The lower and the middle class of the society experiencing this type stories of combat tragedies in comparison to the upper class, to protect the United States of America. I salute the combat veterans. May God give them strength and wisdom in their day to day lives, in the adjustments and trials of life.

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  25. Anonymous

    Very sad – but beautiful at the same time – amazing couple

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  26. Anonymous

    Great story! I’m sure there are countless other stories of combat-wounded vets that don’t get a short-movie spot. Let’s be thinking about and lifting up all of them, and thanking them for their service. I was so touched by what IS possible – pitching a ball from the pitcher’s mound, bowling, even helping someone else who had suffered a similar tragedy – apparently giving his life new meaning and direction by being a therapist.

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  27. Anonymous

    I loved it! Very warm and great depiction of love!

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  28. Anonymous

    The struggle and the love through it all is a wonderful reminder that moment by moment we can get through what seems impossible.

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  29. Anonymous

    Each day to be loved and to love

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  30. Anonymous

    Wow!! incredible journey unfolded in this beautiful film. They made lemonade out of lemons.. their story is filled with the best of humanity ~ faithfulness, bravery, empathy and love!

    Reply

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