DAMIAN ACEVEDO: THE FOURTH

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Damian Acevedo was born in Queens, New York, and raised in California. He became interested in filmmaking in high school, where he made basketball highlight films and animated shorts. Acevedo decided to concentrate on cinematography after realizing his films told stories without dialogue. He earned a degree in film studies at San Francisco State University in 1998. Acevedo counts cinematographer John Kelly as a mentor who inspired him to follow his passion for filmmaking. His credits as a director of photography include Phreakers, The Call, Party Foul, and the television production Mama & Son.

The Fourth is a comedy about three men chasing a dream. In designing the look, Acevedo and directors Jared and Justin Varava referenced the photography of William Eggleston. They also added unconventional elements through a distinctive color palette, composition and lens choices. The filmmakers chose the 2.4:1 Super 35 aspect ratio, partially because the three principal characters could be more naturally composed within that frame, and it also complemented the characters’ epic dreams. The Fourth has been an official selection at seven film festivals around the world. It won Best Short at the Malibu Film Festival as well as the Christopher T. Wetzel Comedy Award.