Sean Warner, a soon-to-be graduate of the Cinema program at SF State, has his plate full of film industry work.

“Twitch,” a film that he produced, is being featured in the Short Film Corner, a special showcase at the Cannes Film Festival. Short film producers can screen their work for festival attendees and film shoppers for upcoming film festivals and European television networks.

“People are always looking for the next big thing,” said Warner, “’Full Circle’ is the next big thing that I am trying to get recognized in the international film industry.”

Warner says the reason why “Twitch” earned a spot in the short film corner is because of his persistence. He says he spent a lot of time on the phone with the people who run the Short Film Corner, convincing them to include “Twitch” with the rest of the short film selection.

“This is really a shoe-in for me,” said Warner, “ Being at Cannes is a great opportunity to make contacts for my future. I am thrilled to be going.”

“Twitch” is a film inspired by the teenage experiences of the director, Leah Meyerhoff. It is a coming-of-age story about a teenage girl who is forced to care for her disabled mother, while beginning to come to terms with her emerging sexuality.

Irrationally fearful that her mother's disability is contagious, she attempts to stifle any possibility of contracting the illness. Her boyfriend, oblivious to her increasing hypochondria, only seems interested in her physically. Unable to find emotional intimacy, she ultimately must learn to confront her fears and take care of herself.

Warner met Meyerhoff through a mutual friend and worked as her producer for free, he said.

“We work really well together, which is important when you are making a film,” said Warner. “Although I didn’t get paid the work experience was enough of an award. In the film industry, your qualifications are based on what work you have done, not your GPA.”

It was by sheer luck that Warner got an opportunity to also participate in the Film Program Cannes, a private, professional film training school unaffiliated with the festival, while he is in Cannes.

At the last minute, Megan Sanchez, the reality television director that he interned for last summer, dropped out and offered Warner her spot in the program. Warner will take courses in film production, producing, and understanding the use of the contemporary film marketplace at the school.

Warner had to cough up the cash for airfare and the program by applying for a scholarship and asking friends and family to help pay the costs of the program.

“I feel really lucky to have this opportunity so early in my film career,” said Warner.

Warner is also bringing with him his fellow BECA major Davin Affrunti’s screenplay for “Full Circle,” which just won a Best Film award from the Broadcast Education Association and the King Foundation award. Warner said he hopes to get the film picked up by a top-notch producer.

Affrunti wrote the screenplay for “Full Circle” for a dramatic writing class he took in the BECA Department.

“His screenplay is award-winning because there is a strong sense of story and character,” said Corless Smith, Affrunti’s dramatic writing professor. “He had the guts to keep on going and I think winning the award and (having Warner shop it around at Cannes) will propel him forward in his career.”

“Full Circle” is a crime drama involving kidnapping, murder and heroin addiction that takes place in San Francisco. Affrunti’s inspiration for the murder scene came from the set-up of his living room in his outer-Richmond apartment.

“The characters in my screenplay are based off of people I know and people I have observed while riding on Muni,” said Affrunti, “I always watch their mannerisms and wonder where they are going or if they just murdered someone.”

Affrunti has been a movie junkie his whole life, he said. He says he would like to try writing different genres of film in the future.