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Shortlisted for Two ACADEMY AWARDs®

Best Original Score | Best Original Song

"On The Music Goes"

Listen to the Oscar-shortlisted theme song of Slipaway

Slipaway is a spiritual journey of compassion, redemption and unconditional friendship between two solitary souls at opposite ends of life. Despite the unlikely odds, they rescue each other from tormented pasts and set free their ultimate calling.

Neglected by her family, Fall, a high-spirited elder with kind intentions but extreme measures, encounters little companionship in this turbulent world. When she comes across Adam, a young and hopeless street musician selling his keyboard, she buys it on a whim under the pretense of wanting to learn piano. Suspicious and wary, Adam agrees to teach her and quickly finds himself trapped in a sailboat with one audacious lady.

With time, a genuine friendship develops between the two unlikely souls, yet before Adam can explore his new faith in life, his criminal past resurfaces and threatens to destroy everything. Meanwhile, an irreparable secret Fall has been hiding begins to unravel.

When Fall's family gets involved, the two friends struggle to protect each other as their world collapses, leaving Adam with his unfulfilled promise to Fall, a promise as controversial as it is human.

What Critics & Audiences say

Los Angeles Times

"Slipaway,” the touching story of an unlikely friendship, works thanks to a warm performance from Elaine Partnow. First-time feature directors Julia Butler and Daniel Mentz have made a sunlit film that will win over less-cynical audiences.
– Kimber Myers

Rotten Tomatoes

"Slipaway" is the type of film that makes you want to go to the movies. It delivers an amazing story with its incredible leading cast. A film I will watch for years to come. The chemistry between them is so raw. It breaks your heart. Hands down the best indie film I have ever seen.
– Kyle K.

Irish Film Critic

“Slipaway” examines that unconditional motherly instinct that all women possess. Bonds are formed when love is present and that is where the stars rise. [...] The film is filled with curiosity and drama and manages to tell the story of a wonderful elder.
- Richard Caldwell

Elaine Partnow
Fall

While acting is her passion, Elaine Partnow is also an author, screenwriter, quotologist, editor, instructor and performance speaker especially noted for her living history portrayals. Elaine has brought her dozens of portrayals of fabulous women to audiences of all ages across the world at over 500 venues. A member of SAG-AFTRA and AEA since the early 1960s, she's written produced and acted in her own one-woman show: "Hear Us Roar, A Woman's Connection"; and was commissioned to write and perform "Hispanic Women Speak." She majored in Theater Arts at UCLA and studied with Uta Hagen at the HB Studios in New York.

IMDb

Jesse Pepe
Adam

Jesse Pepe began his acting career in the professional theater circuit in his hometown of Salt Lake City, Utah. He graduated with a degree in Musical Theater and moved to Los Angeles shortly after, switching his focus to Film and Television. He has since starred in the HBO/Cinemax show The Girl's Guide to Depravity as a series regular, as well as multiple independent films. Along with being a screenwriter for movies, television and commercials, he loves to pen raunchy comedy music and terribly inappropriate jokes.

IMDb

Alisa Vilena
Hannah

Alisa was born and raised by her Russian parents in Los Angeles, California. She began her acting career at the tender age of four and a half when she booked her first role. Apart from having studied abundant forms of dance since she was five years old, Alisa is also a classically-trained singer with the ability to sing in any style. She is a graduate of the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts where she majored in Theater and Musical Theater.

IMDb

Sadie Johannsson
Janet

Sadie comes from a family of artists, with one that directed the sitcom The Jefferson’s for many years. She started playing classical piano at the age of four and began singing, dancing and acting shortly thereafter. She won a scholarship at age ten to the Los Angeles Community School of Performing Arts and got her first break in 1983 on the show Kid’s Incorporated. Her theater experience includes: The Glass Menagerie, Annie, Twelve Angry Jurors, The Sound of Music, Romeo and Juliet, Jeanne d’Arc, The Dining Room, Ragtime (nominated for best supporting actress in a musical) to mention a few. In the last three years she has appeared in a host of commercials, television shows such as Modern Family, Murder Book, and more, played the lead in two short films and a has a supporting role in the film Tiptoe Through which will commence shooting in September, 2017 https://www.tiptoethrough.com/. She recently had a featured part in I Think We’re Alone Now, from the Producer of LaLa Land. In addition to filming Tiptoe Through, she has a lead role in an episodic – HR805, which will commence filming in July 2017 - http://www.hr805.com/. She is a graduate of the New York Institute of Photography, and for twenty-five years Sadie has also worked in Casting, as a 1st A.C., Camera Operator, directed short films and recently worked on Rob Schneider’s Netflix show, Real Rob as a 1st A.C. and DP in Season One.

IMDb

Alain Washnevsky
Saeed

After a successful career in real estate, Alain realized that something was missing. Originally from Vienna, Austria, he decided to follow his true passion as a performer and moved to Los Angeles, California in 2011. His recent work includes a lead role in the Oscar-nominated short film Day One, as well as appearances on Scandal (ABC), and Aquarius (CBS). Alain is also a motivational speaker and competed in the World Championship of Public Speaking in 2014. He made it to the finals in Kuala Lumpur and was one of the top nine speakers in the world. He actively participates as a communications coach for the Captivating Speakers program and loves to sing opera in his spare time.

IMDb

Hossein Mardani
"Mo"

Acting started early in Hossein's childhood. Originally from Iran, he grew up watching classics like The Godfather, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest and French Connection with his father. Hossein loved to imitate the actors and often put on little plays at their family gatherings. At the age of twelve, he and his parents moved to the Netherlands where he found a way to express himself through his high school's theater productions. After graduating, Hossein decided to dedicate his life to theater and went to the School of Art in Utrecht, where five intensive years of study solidified his love for the fine arts. Since graduating in 2002, Hossein has worked in numerous theater, television and film projects all around the world.

IMDb

Jon Briddell
David

Jon began his professional acting career in 1989 performing in a Second City (Chicago) affiliated sketch comedy show. He trained in theater throughout the Mid-West prior to his arrival to Los Angeles in late 1993. His credits include over twenty feature films, constant television appearances, and numerous commercial and print campaigns. Jon is an avid Ohio State football fan. 

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Lydia Muijen
Rhonda

Lydia Muijen is an actor, producer, and published poet whose work has been featured in many of the most important artistic venues across the globe. Her work as an artist speaks for itself. In 2013 alone, she had two shorts and one feature accepted in the Cannes Film Festival, and in each of these projects, her roles varied from lead to supporting actress to producer. Her cinematic works have been screened at the Sundance Film Festival, Sedona International Film Festival, Deauville and Imagine Science Film Festival, among many others.

IMDb

Julia Butler
Writer/Director/Executive Producer

Julia Butler was born in Moscow. As the daughter of a renowned concert pianist and a university professor, she was raised in a household filled with music and literature. Julia learned English at an early age and attended one of the best schools in Moscow.  Her true passion, however, was figure skating. Julia displayed such talent, that she was discovered by Mosfilm Studios and chosen for the lead role of a skater in the feature film Vitka. Her acclaimed performance led to other roles, and she continued skating for years, until completing her Masters degree at the University of Moscow. She followed in her father’s footsteps translating children’s books from Norwegian into Russian, and teaching languages at the Institute for Diplomats (MGIMO).

Upon immigrating to Italy at the age of 22, Julia founded an impresario company, organizing tours of Italian artists to the former Soviet Union. She indulged in her love of music through writing and recording her own songs and soon gained popularity as a singer and songwriter. She traveled to Los Angeles in pursuit of her music career, and was signed by SBK Records (EMI Group). An unexpected merger put Julia’s project on hold, and her dreams were dashed. Never being one to accept defeat, she turned her attention to other endeavors and enjoyed considerable success in the business world, though she always had the soul of an artist who deeply desires to make a difference and to touch the lives of others. Slipaway is her directorial debut.

Website

Daniel Mentz
Writer/Director/Executive Producer

Daniel Mentz was born and raised in Roedermark, a small town near Frankfurt, Germany. He began dancing Rock 'n Roll competitively when he was six years old, which in turn developed his love for performance and the fine arts. Consequently, he often "borrowed" his mom's mini VHS camera, gathered his friends and directed short films and documentaries. After graduating high school, Daniel went on to college and majored in English, Politics and Economics. He continued to write, direct and star in films throughout his formal education. Following college, he worked for his father's import/export company until Daniel was drafted for Germany's then-mandatory military duty. He opted for the substitute community service closer to home instead, and thus was able to help his struggling mom through the financial crisis of 2008. Daniel moved to Los Angeles in 2009 to study the fine arts. He has continued to expand his craft in acting, directing, writing and public speaking ever since. Slipaway is his directorial debut.

IMDb                    Website

Tigran Mutafyan
Producer

Over the last 20 years, Mr. Mutafyan has carved himself into a promising career characterized by hard work, passion, and honesty. He is a specialist of visual storytelling, which is deeply rooted in him due to his intensive filmmaking studies of Stanislavsky's Method of Narration. He brings a vivid sense of life to his images with a skill at the pinnacle of craftsmanship. While embracing the core values of all creative art forms, Mr. Mutafyan also consistently incorporates enlightenment in all of his content.

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Lyrics

"On The Music Goes"
by Julia Butler & Daniel Mentz

Time is but a dream.
Past lives and future loves
Riding on the winds, above.
Songs we all must sing,
Racing across the years
Inside a distant lens of love.

Can I trust my dream to a drifter's soul?
Will he find a way to make me whole?

On the music goes.
Your song must go on.
Through rainstorms and snows,
Your voice stays strong.
And somehow you know
That the wind will carry on;
Your song will carry on.

Echoes in our minds,
All left behind now.
A single note can right all wrongs.
Words have found their rhyme,
Soaring above the pain,
And our heart to us belongs.

Now I trust my dream to a drifter's soul.
He will find a way to make me whole.

On the music goes.
Your song must go on.
Through rainstorms and snows,
Your voice stays strong.
And somehow you know
That the wind will carry on;
Your song will carry on.

[Instrumental]

Now my dream is done.
Our song is sung.
Now I can move on.
The race is won.

On the music goes.
Your song must go on.
Through rainstorms and snows,
Your voice stays strong.
And somehow you know
That the wind will carry on;
Your song carries on.

(On the music goes)
(Song must go on)
(Through rainstorms and snows)
Rainstorms, rainstorms.
(Voice stays strong)
(And somehow you know)
You know
(Wind will carry on)
That the wind will carry on;
(Your song)
Your song carries on.
(Carry on)

Slipaway is an official consideration for the 90th Academy Awards in all categories, including:

- Best Original Song (Julia Butler & Daniel Mentz)
- Best Original Score (Tao Liu)
- Best Actress in a Leading Role (Elaine Partnow)
- Best Actor in a Leading Role (Jesse Pepe)

Lydia Muijen

Lydia recently played a bald soothsayer in the movie The Young Messiah - written by Anne Rice (Interview with the Vampire). Lydia underwent six hours of makeup every day, and played opposite Sean Bean. The film is now available everywhere.

Theatrical Run in The Villages, Florida

Slipaway will be exclusively showing at the beautiful Rialto Theatre in The Villages, Florida. After a sold-out opening, attended by co-writer/director Julia Butler, Rialto Theatre extended the planned limited run to an indefinite one.

Venue
Rialto Theatre
Spanish Springs Town Square
1105 Alonzo Avenue
The Villages, Florida 32159

Directions
Google Maps