I Want to Live on Mars
Film Screening & Ticket Information
When & Where to See this Film!
NEARLY FORGOTTEN: 2 films that shed light on treasures in rural America.
April 21, 2024 @ 2:00PM • Kaufman Astoria Studios – Zukor Theatre
Film Bloc Line Up:
View the Trailer
Synopsis
In broad strokes, two young women (Pickles, very rural, and Breezy, very urban) are brought together by the mistakes or the circumstances of their guardians beyond their control. After months of prickly, unlikely friendship, and a series of poetically unexpected events, the two strike out on their own, leaving behind whatever scraps they had in exurban Pennsylvania in search of “Life on Mars.”
Credits
Mariya Somova, Writer, Executive Producer
Anderson Boyd, Producer, Winter’s Bone, The History of Future Folk, Cold Weather, Well Wishes
Bradley Custer, Producer, Bloodlines, Isabelle, Naz & Maalik, Southern Gothic
Jordan L. Sims, Producer, Like Salt, Champagne & Charades, Strive, Pretty, Ugly, Complicated, The Walk, White Death, Method of Healing
Alice Wells, Producer, John Sunshine’s Lost Rock ‘n’ Roll Tapes
Justin M. Thomas, Producer, Truth Through a Lens
Matti Leinikka, Producer, Cry Me a River, Distant Apologies, Superbowl of Love
Mark Ezovski, Producer, Beyond Detention, Disporya, The Absolute Truth About Pro Wrestling, Biotechnicality
David J. Keogh, Producer, John Sunshine’s Lost Rock ‘n’ Roll Tapes
Kevin Koperski, Producer, The Claim
Brett C. Persson, Producer, Addicted: Life in Recovery, Your Fault, Apocryphal, The Art of Abuse
Anna Priscilla Robles, Producer, Valhalla Awaits
Frederick Shaibani, Co-Producer, The Happytime Murders, What Brings You In?, Subject
Gabriel Theis, Producer, The Curse of Professor Zardonicus, The Face You Took Away, Acid Test
Bethany Stolar, Key Cast, “Pickles”, Mr. Jack, Critic of Love, For Finley
Claire Haller, Key Cast, “Breezy”, The Couple Upstairs, Old, New & Blue, The Transcenders
Mark Solari, Producer, Key Cast, “Mike “, Person of Interest, Gotham, White Horse, I’d Kill for You, My Dirty Little Secret, The Gathering Storm: A Marauders Fan Film
Martin Nikolov, Key Cast, “Robbie”, A Hand Untouched, Valhalla Awaits
Tatyana Kot, Key Cast, Origami , 2k3, Sex, Blood and Fairy Tales
Alexander Abe, Key Cast, “Flash, “The Lonely Drummer
Jenna You, Key Cast, “Mona Lisa”, Bayard Street
Joe Cyrus, Music by, Executive Producer
Shine Delphi, Music By
Adam Ninyo, Director of Photography, Disencumber, The Ride, Valhalla Awaits
Ivy Payne, Costume Designer, Single Record
Johniek Wroten, Makeup, The Decayed, Herrings, Unexpected
Director Statement
I Want to Live on Mars was inspired by Centralia, an Appalachian ghost town. Its population has declined from 1,000 in 1980 to five residents in 2023 due to a coal mine fire that has been burning constantly beneath the borough since 1962. It is an homage to what it’s like being a teenage girl, and living in the middle of nowhere with no opportunity or real way of expressing yourself. As a filmmaker, I really wanted to explore the aspect of loneliness and emptiness in the human heart, as well as the people, and the environment in which these individuals immerse themselves. Are they going to try and break away from that, or will they let themselves sink into the abyss?
Director Biography
Mariya Somova is a Ukrainian political refugee who left home at the age of 16 to pursue a career in filmmaking. She began by dreaming up concepts and filming them on her small home camera. Eventually, she relocated to New York in order to gain industry exposure and opportunity in the field. She developed by working different industry-related jobs, during which she learned every aspect on set. Each experience along her path ultimately informed her most personal film yet, I Want to Live on Mars. Together with Joe Cyrus she co-founded and owns AuraPyre Productions, focusing on independent filmmaking and music production.
