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Dying to Direct

Directed by Tom Musca, Tony Mendez
United States
2023
30 mins

Knights Made in MIA Short Film Award

A sardonic, but immensely talented film director invites an old friend to visit him on his deathbed with specific instructions not to get involved with the director’s girlfriend after his demise. But does he mean that or the opposite? While he wonders if he’ll be featured in next year’s In Memoriam at the Academy Awards, is this control-obsessed maestro trying to repair a strained relationship or is he looking for a knockout punch? This is an end-of-life chess game with unique, unpredictable psychological dimensions that attempts to address the only questions that matter.


Tom Musca produced and co-wrote the Oscar-nominated Stand and Deliver. He is a professor at University of Miami. Dying to Direct is his latest film.

Supported by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

  • Year
    2023
  • Country
    United States
  • Language
    English
  • Director
    Tom Musca, Tony Mendez
  • Cast
    Caleb Scott, Valeska Castillo, Daniel Gil
  • Writer
    Tom Musca
  • Cinematographer
    Kevin Berriz
  • Editor
    Tony Mendez
  • Genre
    Drama, Mystery/Thriller
  • Theme
    Short, Award Presentation

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