WITH CHILD, A Canadian Production, Up For an Award in the "Best World Showcase" Category at NYC's

NEW YORK - May 18, 2015 - PRLog -- A creative team of team of VancouverCanada based filmmakers and their American producing partners have made a tender and earnest film that is poised to garner attention for its actors, writer/director and producers at the sixth annual Soho International Film Festival taking place through May 21 in New York City.

The film is about a construction worker that must face accepting his wife’s death — and the joy of his newborn daughter’s life — if he wants to really live and love again. Director writer Titus Heckel says, "I developed this film out of many experiences, but two particular events stick out as most relevant. In 2009, my life changed forever when I became a daddy. I wasn’t prepared to love my daughter as much as I do. She became an extension of myself: Her joy was my own joy, and conversely, her pain was my pain."

With Child is as much a story about how we humans deal with grief as it is Heckel's  document of a personal journey to deal with his own grief.

After his wife dies, AudenPrice ––a construction worker –– is left to care for Riley, his four-month old daughter. While grieving and against the advice of Karen, his overbearing sister-in-law, Auden decides to go it alone.

After many failed attempts, Auden finally lands a job renovating a basement. His charming but eccentric, not to mention quite beautiful, new boss, Petra Dell allows him to bring Riley to work. But managing his grief while working and taking care of his daughter proves to be too much. From letting Riley breathe in the basement’s dust, napping her next to an air compressor, and leaving her home alone while escaping to the pub, Auden struggles to be a new daddy.

Things get more confusing when Petra, portrayed tenderly and with nuances by Leslie Lewis takes advantage of Auden’s vulnerable state and strikes up an awkward romance with him.

In the midst of all of this, Karen, the sister-in-law, files for full custody of Riley.

Despite being assailed by grief, in an odd romance with his boss and with serious sleep deprivation, Auden trudges onward, Riley faithfully slung in the Baby Bjorn.

Ultimately, Auden must come face to face with his grief, accept his wife’s death and the joy of his daughter’s life if he wants to live in this new world.

Shot on location in Canada - Jobs, Money Spent

The Canadian production had a cast and crew of over 50 people and all were living in the Vancouver area at the time of the filming.  Everyone was paid for their work, which can't always be said of indie films.  According to ShannonBraithwaite, a Producer of With Child, "We had to ensure that everyone was legally entitled to work in Canada so everyone was sourced out locally although some came from some interesting countries with work permits to work in Canada - often as recently graduated students. Our locations to set designs, props, costumes, etc. were all obtained locally in Canada."

With Child was literally a labor of love and it was an 'all hands on deck' filming experience. Around the world, Canadians are known for being kindhearted people and this was evidenced by the many friends and family who rallied together in so many ways to make the film possible.  "Locations and meals were provided to us and  I even got my alma mater involved in the university scenes," explained Ms.Braithwaite. At the risk of sounding "cheesy" she believes With Child is a film wrapped by miracles. There are several stories of how things 'just worked out' - often last minute, and in ways that can't be explained by any other means.  It was a film that was meant to happen and a story that was meant to be told.

The Soho International Film Festival NYC is an urban gathering of artists, industry and film lovers that is akin to an East Coast mashup of Sundance and Film Independent. The Festival celebrates cutting-edge digital technology while honoring traditional forms of storytelling, encourages new and seasoned filmmakers from here in New York City and around the world to create and send in their fresh and innovative cinematic pieces. By enticing filmmakers, journalists and cineastes from America and across the globe, they expect to draw audiences to NYC, known for its artistic community and cultural sophistication. It is their way of helping boost the profile, the sense of pride, and the economy of the local community and the city itself. “We pride ourselves in being a filmmakers’ festival.” says Sibyl Santiago, Executive Producer and Head of Programming for SIFFNYC.  WITH CHILD's screening was met with rave reviews from the audiences and critics alike.

The producers of With Child hope that the festival brings them more opportunities to interact with distributors, movie theater owners and the media in order to gain a wider audience for their movie. They are presently signed with Circus Road Films, a company that provides strategic advisory services to independent filmmakers.  www.withchildmovie.com