2010 is an exciting time for writer/director Brent Huff after having two feature films released theatrically in 2009. Huff just began a film festival run with the heart-wrenching short, Helpless. Huff is very proud of this film which vividly describes Helpless as a state of mind where two people can see the same chilling event in very different ways. Helpless was voted "Best Overall Film" at the 2010 San Diego "Indie" Fest and won the "Audience Award" at the 2010 Riverside International Film Festival.
Huff’s latest feature, Last Will is to be released in the fall of 2010. This courtroom drama was filmed on location in Kansas City and Acapulco, Mexico. The stellar cast includes Academy Award winner Tatum O’Neal, Academy Award nominee Tom Berenger, Peter Coyote and Emmy winner James Brolin. Last Will is based on a true story about a woman who stands up against a powerful family and fights for what is lawfully hers. Those close to the project believe this is a breakout role for Ms. O’Neal.
Huff’s film noir thriller Cat City was a huge success on the 2009 film festival circuit. Cat City enjoyed enthusiastic screenings at the Rhode Island, Stony Brook, Palm Springs, Hollywood, Newport Beach, Methodfest, St. Louis and Prince Edward Island International Film Festivals. Huff co-wrote and directed the provocative film. Cat City is a tale of corruption, greed, infidelity and…murder. The flawed protagonist in the film is played by the talented actress/singer Rebecca Pidgeon. After seeing Ms. Pidgeon in several of David Mamet’s films, Huff thought the actress would be the perfect femme fatale in Cat City. The cast is rounded out with terrific performances by Julian Sands and the legendary Brian Dennehy. Cat City was filmed entirely on location in Palm Springs, California. Cat City was released theatrically in the fall of 2009 then quickly purchased by the Showtime Network.
Two months before filming Cat City, Huff was in Belgrade, Serbia, where he directed Michael Madsen, Mark Dacascos and Vladimir Rajcic in the political thriller Serbian Scars. Serbian Scars is a narrative that delicately delves into the ethnic danger that still hangs heavy in the Balkans. With stunning production value and a calibrated performance by Madsen, Serbian Scars brings to the forefront the strife and conflict that created the newly formed country of Kosovo. Serbian Scars premiered in Chicago before screening in numerous markets across the country including Los Angeles.
Huff co-wrote and directed the inspirational film Welcome to Paradise which was released October 9, 2007. Welcome to Paradise has enjoyed huge success in the DVD market. The film stars Brian Dennehy, Crystal Bernard and William Shockley. Shockley was the co-writer on Welcome to Paradise as well as Cat City. Welcome to Paradise is the tale of a female evangelist in a small Midwest town who helps her faithful congregation overcome great obstacles. The Dove Foundation gave the film its highest rating and said, “This fantastic story is about love, faith, endurance and forgiveness. The uplifting movie includes some wonderful music and inspirational messages that will leave the entire family blessed and entertained”. Welcome to Paradise was the winner of the 2007 Audience Award at the WYSIWYG Film Festival in San Francisco.
In 2006, Huff directed the action film, Treasure Raiders. This adrenaline pumping movie stars David Carradine, Steven Brand and Sherilyn Fenn. Treasure Raiders was filmed in Moscow, Russia. Treasure Raiders is one of the most expensive productions ever filmed in Russia and features outrageous car stunts with some of Russia’s greatest stuntmen. The story follows an American journalist who gets sucked into the Russian subculture of street racing. The film has been praised for its stunning cinematography and non-stop action. The film premiered at the Newport Beach Film Festival.
Huff is adept at directing all types of genres. Actors are comfortable working with Huff because of his experience as an actor and someone who speaks their language. Huff began his acting career at the age of 15 and has starred in over 50 films. Huff attended the University of Missouri as a theatre major. While numerous directors today begin their careers in commercial and music videos, Huff comes from an acting and storytelling background. He continues to teach acting at the Performers Academy in Laguna Beach, California.
In 2003, Huff directed 100 Mile Rule, a dark comedy that stars the talented Maria Bello, Jake Weber and Michael McKean. 100 Mile Rule made its world premiere at the Hollywood Film Festival. 100 Mile Rule was also a festival favorite at Fort Lauderdale, Taos Talking Pictures, Santa Barbara, Palm Springs, Nashville, Newport Beach and the USA Film Festival in Dallas. 100 Mile Rule was selected as the closing night film at the prestigious Cinequest Film Festival.
100 Mile Rule is the story of three businessmen from Detroit who come to Los Angeles and bite off more than they can chew. The Hollywood Reporter said, “Director Brent Huff has a knack for comedy. The inspired physical comedy has the men and camera jumping”. Variety wrote, “Well paced direction by Brent Huff and strong thesping. Huff exercises good control of comic tone, the variegated levels of humor firmly anchored in personality”. The New York Times wrote, “Brent Huff presents a crash course in the relationship between sexual and corporate power play in 100 Mile Rule.
In 2003, 100 Mile Rule was screened at the Stony Brook Film Festival in New York. There were 1100 in attendance at the highly anticipated screening. The film took the coveted Audience Award. It was the highest rated film to ever screen at Stony Brook. 100 Mile Rule was quickly picked up as an HBO Premiere Film.
In 2004, Huff directed the short film, Lap Dancing which was also a festival favorite. Lap Dancing won the St. Louis Film Festival. Film Threat Magazine said, “the production values, the story, and even the acting were all uniform in their professionalism, and the best part of all was they were all delivered with subtlety. The plot clicked perfectly while Huff’s direction, and the cinematography, effortlessly revealed the story”.
After years as a successful actor, Huff first got behind the camera on the feature film, We the People. Huff not only directed We the People but also wrote the screenplay, starred and produced. We the People was one of only ten films to be invited to the Moscow Film Festival in 1995. After the screening, We the People received a five minute standing ovation.
Following the success of We the People, Huff was hired to write and direct the action film, The Bad Pack. The film stars Robert Davi, Roddy Piper and Huff in a tale about a small town of immigrants that hire six men and one woman to take on a powerful right-winged militia. This film sold extremely well in the foreign market and continues to play all over the world.
Huff has written and sold several screenplays. Power Play, a suspense thriller was filmed on location in Brazil and stars Nip/Tuck’s Dylan Walsh. Huff also wrote Face of Terror, a drama that follows a Los Angeles police officer searching for his kidnapped sister in Spain. Face of Terror features actors Rick Schroder and Eric Balfour.
Huff considers his greatest strength as a director is his ability to communicate with actors. Huff is married to actress Shawn Huff and is the proud father of his daughter Bailey.
