Coronado Island Film Festival to Feature Short Film Shot in Rancho Santa Fe 

Connie Chiarelli and Brooke McCormick, a Rancho Santa Fe resident, portray two neighbors trying to amicably resolve a dispute which unravels in the process, in the short film, Death is a Rose Bush.

The Coronado Island Film Festival (CIFF) is back for its ninth year of films, panels, and parties including a short film shot in Rancho Santa Fe, Death is a Rose Bush.

Carlsbad resident, Connie Chiarelli, wrote, produced and stars in the film alongside her frequent collaborator, Brooke McCormick, a Rancho Santa Fe resident. The two met at the Los Angeles Acting Studio SD in 2014 and became fast friends. Since then, they have collaborated on several projects and have no plans of slowing down anytime soon! In addition to making films, the duo co-teach a monthly live audition/self tape workshop at actingSD.com. 

Death is a Rose Bush, Directed by San Diegan Rich Varville, tells the story of two neighbors trying to resolve a dispute amicably but unravel in the process. Connie and Brooke portray the neighbors and say they were inspired by the film Carnage when writing the film. They spent three days filming in Rancho Santa Fe, using two homes, one for the exterior and the other for the interior. After that, the film spent three months in pre-production. Other crew members include James Raub, Jim Kappel, Laa Marcus, Reka Parker and Jenny Wenny Cakes. 

CIFF runs November 6-10, 2024 in Coronado. Death is a Rose Bush will kick off the festival’s programming at 10 am, Thursday, November 10, in the Carousel Room at the Hotel del Coronado. The film will screen among other locally made short films in the “No Place Like Home” package as part of CIFF’s Shorts Fest. 

The festival first launched in 2016 and was founded by Coronado native, Doug St. Denis. Ms. St. Denis was born into a distinguished Navy family that spans six generations and spent part of her youth in Coronado. As a young Navy wife with three young children, Ms. St. Denis returned to Coronado where she continued acting professionally, becoming involved in the arts in Coronado and throughout San Diego.

Click on the following website link to purchase tickets: https://festival.coronadofilmfest.com