Fresh Kills 2023

Staten Island pulsed with a gritty energy. Rose, a headstrong teenager, yearned for a life beyond the shadow of her domineering father, Frankie Larusso. Frankie, respected yet feared, was climbing the ranks of the Gambino crime family. Rose's world revolved around whispered warnings, coded messages, and the ever-present threat of violence. One sweltering summer night, a rival family's brutal attack shattered their fragile peace. Witnessing the bloody aftermath, Rose's naivety evaporated. Her mother, trapped in a gilded cage, retreated further into silence. Frankie, consumed by vengeance, became an even more volatile presence.

Driven by a fierce loyalty and a thirst for justice, Rose defied expectations. She sought solace in a budding friendship with Jackie, a streetwise girl with a rebellious streak. Together, they navigated the treacherous world surrounding them, piecing together the truth behind the attack. Rose discovered a hidden strength, a steely resolve that mirrored the h...

Fresh Kills:

A Passion Project Finds Funding. Jennifer Esposito's directorial debut, "Fresh Kills," the idea for which was a long time coming, conceived to a great degree while she spent her teen years on Staten Island. However, bringing the story to life wasn't easy. The film's focus on strong female characters initially presented a hurdle for traditional financiers and distributors, who seemed to miss a male lead. Esposito didn't give up.

"Fresh Kills" found groundbreaking funding through a unique source: a group of enthusiastic fans who invested via the world's first-ever film Initial Public Offering (IPO) on Upstream, an Ethereum-based digital stock exchange. This fan-powered approach allowed "Fresh Kills" to become the first feature film financed and traded in such a way.

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