*Worldwide Rights
they’re here
directed by pacho velez
& daniel claridge
USA / 74 Mins / English
Synopsis:
Daniel Claridge and Pacho Velez’s They’re Here uses UFO culture to explore perception and the human quest for connection. New York, with many UFO sightings, is home to believers like Cookie, her friend Steve, comic Twon, and spiritual devotee Dave, who share their encounters, revealing humour and empathy in their search for a shared experience.
Logline:
A community of New Yorkers experiences close encounters with UFOs, prompting lifestyle changes as they grapple with the implications.
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“A quirky exploration of UFO culture, which directors Pacho Velez and Daniel Claridge approach with a light-hearted touch” - Eye for Film
“Seventy-four minutes of ‘Believe It or Not’ thought-provoking filming about close encounters of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd kind” - The Word
"'They’re Here' thoughtfully presents off-world beliefs and terrestrial truths” - Geek Vibes Nation
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Daniel Claridge is a documentary filmmaker from Schenectady, NY. His feature directorial debut, The Queen’s Man (2019, co-directed with Andrew Coffman), which he also co-edited and co-shot, premiered at the DOC NYC film festival and won the On the Edge award at the Doc Edge Festival. Prior to that, his short film Dragstrip (2015, co-directed with Pacho Velez), screened at the Toronto International Film Festival and New York Film Festival. Among recent editorial work, Daniel wrote and edited Persuasion Machines (2020), a virtual reality experience that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, and was a co-editor on the Netflix Documentary The Great Hack (2019), which premiered at Sundance. Daniel was a cinematographer for Pacho Velez’s Searchers (2020), as well as a motion graphics artist on Pedro Kos’ Rebel Hearts. Daniel studied filmmaking at Harvard University and was a fellow at the Harvard Film Study Center.
Pacho Velez is a nonfiction filmmaker born and raised in NYC. His last feature, Searchers (2021), is a portrait of The Big Apple as seen through the eyes of lovers navigating the internet in search of intimacy. The film premiered at Sundance before going on to play at many festivals around the world. Pacho also directed The American Sector (2020, co-directed with Courtney Stephens), which The New Yorker critic Richard Brody included on his list of the best films of that year. Pacho’s earlier features include The Reagan Show (Tribeca 2017, co-directed with Sierra Pettengill) and Manakamana (2013, co-directed with Stephanie Spray). They have played around the world, including at the New York Film Festival, the Toronto International Film Festival, and the Sydney International Film Festival. Manakamana won a Golden Leopard in the Filmmakers of the Present competition at the Locarno International Film Festival (2013). Pacho also produced the features Realm of Satan (Sundance 2024, directed by Scott Cummings) and Some Kind of Heaven (Sundance 2020, directed by Lance Oppenheim). Pacho received his MFA in film production from Calarts. At present, he is an assistant professor of screen studies at The New School (NYC).
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2024
World Premiere: Tribeca Film Fesival 2024
Tacoma FF, USA
International Premiere: SXSW Sydney, Australia
New Hampshire FF, USA
Globedocs, USA
Cucalorus FF, USA
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Year: 2024
Country: USA
Length: 74 mins
World Premiere: Tribeca 2024
Director: Pacho Valez & Daniel Claridge
Producer: Asterlight
Cinematographer: Daniel Claridge
Editor: Daniel Claridge, Pacho Velez
Music: Jason Staczek
pacho velez
daniel claridge
