Director and writer Blake Rice’s film “Tea” has been selected for the short film competition at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival this month, the only selection in that category from the U.S.
“It’s a whirlwind in the best way,” said Rice, a Moorestown native. “You try your whole career … I’ve been telling people, ‘If I got into Cannes at 75, I’d be over the moon.’ It’s a total benchmark, a total career moment, and it’s opened up a ton of opportunities that I’m striving for every day …
“It’s maybe a break of sorts I’d say.”
The 34-year-old is already an award-winning director, screenwriter and producer who graduated from Rowan University with a degree in film and television, according to his website. Rice began his directing career in 2018 with a film acquired by DIRECTV, “To Whom It May Concern.“
Follow-up projects included “People Like You,” which earned him a best director award at the New York City International Film Festival in 2019. He also directed “The Creeper’s Curse” and “The Recovery Call,” both licensed by Amazon Video in 2020.
Rice’s career continued with the critically acclaimed drama “Steps,” official selection of the Sidewalk Film Festival, and he got the special grand jury Award at the DeadCenter Film Festival in 2022. In 2023, Rice completed the single-shot film “Sawdust,” starring Gabriella Piazza and Derek Roberts. He is also founder of the production company BWR Productions.
In feature films, Rice’s upcoming work includes the murder-mystery comedy “Valves”; the coming-of-age adventure “The Girl Who Ventured West, A Johnny Appleseed Story”; and the family dramedy “The Empty Lot,” slated for 2024.
“I’ve been doing the film festival hustle and grind,” he noted. “It’s one of the main outlets to get your name out there as a director, and this one (“Tea”), it hit, and the world’s been moving quickly ever since.”
“Tea” is about a lonely and highly allergic security installation worker who gets stung in the throat by a hornet, all while rehearsing to ask the girl of his dreams for a date.
“At the core of it, I love the leadership of directing,” he explained. “I love the creativity of being able to tell stories that are your own. I like seeing it from the very seed of an idea all the way to the theater, and I also love affecting audiences and seeing how they relate to things …
“I like how hard and challenging it is, too,” the filmmaker added. “It’s super daunting and you fail all the time, but there is the opportunity to form a total career this way, and I love the challenge of it. And I’m always going after that.”
The Cannes Film Festival ends on May 25 with 11 shorts from 10 countries in competition, according to its website. Besides the U.S., they include Brazil, France, China and Portugal. The short film Palme d’Or will be presented by a jury during the closing day ceremony.
“I think trying to get better and being self-aware of every project and how to strengthen the next one is part of what’s gotten me in front of this festival today,” Rice pointed out.
He is also grateful for his hometown’s support.
“My Moorestown friends that I grew up with have had my back through all of this,” he related, “and never doubted (me) and have always been incredibly supportive ..
“It means the world to me.”
