Our Opening Night Gala is a quirky collaborative gem from two respected independent filmmakers— director and co-writer Alexandre Rockwell (In the Soup), and co-writer Brandon Cole (OK Garage). Rockwell’s reputation as an ‘actor’s director’ is more apparent than ever in his latest film, an extraordinary and moving tale that follows one night, as the lives of a peculiar assortment of characters are changed by one delicate boy.

Mo Potter, a Bail Bondsman whose already flat life is getting even flatter, is about to have an unforgettable night. To begin, he helps Bananas the Clown bail out his wife, Suzi, who in a jealous rage, tried to run over Bananas with her car. Sanandra, an insecure singer whose ill-fated recording session—and fight with her producer Lenny—has landed her in jail. Then he meets Owen, Thad and Robert—missionaries who don’t realize that their planned excursion to Africa will never happen. The naïve trio enter a Los Angeles strip club and get mixed up with a very exotic woman. Not surprisingly, this results in their run-in with the police.

It’s not really a sign that Mo’s life has taken a turn for the better. On top of all this, Timmy, Mo’s six year-old, has failing kidneys, and has spent the greater part of his childhood in and out of hospitals. When the hospital finally finds a donor, the race to save Timmy’s life is quickly embraced by all who have been touched by his quiet courage—on this night of 13 Moons.

WARNING: This film contains coarse language and brief nudity.

-edited from the Cinequest San Jose Film Festival program guide