Red Herring (Centerpiece Documentary)

Centerpiece Documentary

Director Kit Vincent and producer Ed Owles expected to attend

When 24-year-old director Kit Vincent receives a terminal diagnosis, his first instinct is to turn on his camera and document those closest to him: his divorced parents. Initially, they struggle with being vulnerable on camera, often turning the tables and interviewing Kit about how he’s psychologically coping. To distract themselves from the pain of potentially losing their son, Kit’s parents devote their time to a series of obscure hobbies from raising chickens to recording nature sounds to growing medicinal marijuana. Red Herring is filled with surprising moments of humor as a family attempts to find solace in the face of tragedy. Little by little, through a series of intimate interviews, Kit exposes their complex family ties. Kit’s relationship with his mother, a community nurse with whom he was close as a child, becomes strained. His father, Lawrence, who was distant during Kit’s childhood, is suddenly ever present. Lawrence dramatically grapples with his son’s diagnosis. As Kit comes to terms with the end of his life, he watches his father’s burgeoning spiritual rebirth and conversion to Judaism. Overwhelmed by grief over his son’s condition, Lawrence discovers solace in celebrating Purim and Hanukkah and even becoming a bar mitzvah with his son by his side. In this moving, thought-provoking film, Kit captures how Jewish philosophy provides the healing his father desperately needs.

Recipient of a 2022 JFI Discretionary Grant. Kit Vincent is a 2022 JFI Filmmaker in Residence

West Coast Premiere

Kit Vincent is a London-based director/producer. He’s a 2022 Film Independent Fellow and JFI Fellow and attended the 2019 Sundance Talent Forum. He began his career on flagship documentary series for UK broadcasters and has a First Class degree in Anthropology and Visual Practice from Goldsmiths, University of London. Vincent was a 2022 JFI Filmmaker in Residence, during which he completed Red Herring, his debut feature.