{{Short description|2019 American film by Darius Dawson}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox film | name = A Rodeo Film | image = File:A Rodeo Film Poster.jpg | alt = | caption = Poster | director = Darius Dawson | writer = Darius Dawson | producer = Ryan Binse | starring = {{startplainlist}} * Jermelle Simon * Phrederic Semaj * Charlee Earle {{endplainlist}} | cinematography = Erin G. Wesley | editing = Briana Chmielewski | music = Kyle Woods | studio = | distributor = HBO Max | released = {{film date|2019|04||San Diego Film Week|2021|02|02}} | runtime = 19 minutes | country = United States | language = English | budget = }}

'''''A Rodeo Film''''' is a 2019 American drama short film written and directed by Darius Dawson and produced by Ryan Binse. The film was released on HBO Max on February 2, 2021.

== Plot == A bull rider no longer in love with the sport chooses between his family's rodeo legacy and his own life aspirations.

== Cast == * Jermelle Simon as Averill * Phrederic Semaj as Harland * Charlee Earle as Frankie<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Rodeo Film (2019) |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-80eo8f/a-rodeo-film/ |access-date=2022-06-11 |website=Radio Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pedersen |first=Erik |date=2019-10-29 |title=AFI Fest Raises Curtain On Full 2019 Lineup |url=https://deadline.com/2019/10/afi-fest-2019-full-lineup-1202771691/ |access-date=2022-06-19 |website=Deadline Hollywood |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Production == Principal photography took place near San Diego.<ref>{{Cite interview |last=Solis |first=Jody Michelle |date=2020-07-19 |title=Darius Dawson on Directing Award-Winning Thesis Short, A RODEO FILM |url=https://www.studentfilmmakers.com/darius-dawson-on-directing-award-winning-thesis-short-a-rodeo-film/ |access-date=2022-06-11 |website=Student Filmmakers Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref> The film was inspired by Christopher Nolan<ref>{{Cite interview |last=Fine |first=Steven |date=2021-03-09 |title=Nailing the Tone of "A Rodeo Film" |url=https://www.melodygun.com/post/behind-the-sound-of-a-rodeo-film |access-date=2022-06-11 |website=MelodyGun |language=en}}</ref> and Dawson's time living in Singapore.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Molloy |first=Tim |date=2021-02-19 |title='A Rodeo Film': Darius Dawson Tells a Western Story of Brotherly Love, by Way of Singapore |url=https://www.moviemaker.com/darius-dawsons-a-rodeo-film-is-a-story-of-western-brotherly-love-by-way-of-singapore/ |access-date=2022-06-11 |website=MovieMaker Magazine |language=en-us}}</ref> It was made at the American Film Institute.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AFI {{!}} A RODEO FILM |url=https://fest.afi.com/movies/a-rodeo-film/ |access-date=2022-06-11 |website=American Film Institute |language=en}}</ref> Dawson hopes it raises awareness about Black cowboy culture and rodeo athletes.<ref>{{Cite interview |last=Baranowska |first=Carmela |date=2021-07-01 |title=Focus on AFI Conservatory - A Rodeo Film |url=http://www.wearemovingstories.com/we-are-moving-stories-films/2021/7/9/a-rodeo-film |access-date=2022-06-11 |website=We Are Moving Stories |language=en-US}}</ref> Larry Poole is one of the film's executive producers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Rodeo Film - Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/a_rodeo_film |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=Rotten Tomatoes |language=en}}</ref>

== Release == ''A Rodeo Film'' screened at the Toronto Black Film Festival,<ref>{{Cite web |title=A RODEO FILM |url=https://torontoblackfilm.com/movie/a-rodeo-film/ |access-date=2022-06-11 |website=Toronto Black Film Festival |language=en-US}}</ref> Urbanworld Film Festival,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nichols |first=Mackenzie |date=2019-08-30 |title='Harriet' to Open 2019 Urbanworld Film Festival |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/urbanworld-film-festival-2019-lineup-harriet-the-apollo-1203317917/ |access-date=2022-06-19 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> Prison City Film Festival<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Rodeo Film |url=http://prisoncityfilmfestival.com/wp/index.php/a-rodeo-film/ |access-date=2022-06-11 |website=Prison City Film Festival |language=en-US}}</ref> and BronzeLens Film Festival<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Rodeo Film |url=https://bronzelens.com/movie/a-rodeo-film/ |access-date=2022-06-11 |website=BronzeLens Film Festival |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-05-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516155419/https://bronzelens.com/movie/a-rodeo-film/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> and was distributed on February 2, 2021, by HBO Max.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Rodeo Film {{!}} TV-14 {{!}} short {{!}} 18 MIN {{!}} 2021 |url=https://www.hbo.com/movies/a-rodeo-film |access-date=2022-06-11 |website=HBO}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=B |first=Brian |date=2021-02-03 |title=HBO Max Movies and TV Shows Streaming in February 2021 |url=https://movieweb.com/hbo-max-streaming-february-2021/ |access-date=2022-06-11 |website=MovieWeb |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Reception==

Dawson won the West Region's African American Student Film Award<ref>{{Cite web |last=McNary |first=Dave |date=2019-12-04 |title=Film News Roundup: Patrick Stewart to Be Honored by Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/patrick-stewart-distinguished-artisan-award-1203423601/ |access-date=2022-06-19 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Robb |first=David |date=2019-12-03 |title=AFI Tops DGA's 25th Annual Student Film Awards |url=https://deadline.com/2019/12/dga-annual-student-film-awards-afi-1202799686/ |access-date=2022-06-19 |website=Deadline Hollywood |language=en-US}}</ref> at the Directors Guild of America Awards<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-12-10 |title=25th Annual DGA Student Film Awards - |url=https://www.dga.org/Events/2020/Jan2020/25thStudentFilmAwardLANY_1219.aspx |access-date=2022-06-19 |website=Directors Guild of America |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-12-03 |title=DGA Announces Winners of 25th Annual Student Film Awards - |url=https://www.dga.org/News/PressReleases/2019/191203_DGA_AnnouncesWinners_Of_25thAnnual_StudentFilmAwards.aspx |access-date=2022-06-19 |website=Directors Guild of America |language=en}}</ref> and Best Student Film at GI Film Festival San Diego.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Rodeo Film |url=https://gifilmfestivalsd.org/2019/movies/a-rodeo-film/ |access-date=2022-06-11 |website=GI Film Festival San Diego |language=en-US}}</ref>

== References ==

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==External links== * {{IMDb title}} * {{Rotten Tomatoes}} * {{Letterboxd title}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Rodeo Film, A}} Category:2019 short films Category:American drama short films Category:Films shot in San Diego Category:Films set in San Diego Category:African-American drama films Category:2019 drama films Category:2019 films Category:Race films Category:Bull riding Category:Rodeo in film Category:HBO Films films Category:Cowboy culture Category:American drama television films Category:2019 English-language films Category:2019 American films Category:Films produced by Ryan Binse Category:English-language drama short films