FILMS
Pittsburgh Connection
Growing up in the 70s was a magical time for Molly O’Brien and her friends. They loved playing baseball and following the Pittsburgh Pirates. Now an award-winning and somewhat jaded sportswriter, she returns to her hometown for the funeral of one of her childhood friends. As she visits her old stomping grounds, she longs for the innocence and meaningful friendships of her youth. Shot in Pittsburgh, The Great One reminds us of the power of forgiveness and to hold close the people and ideals from where you came.
Post Film Q&A
A filmmaker Q&A will follow the screenings at the Harris Theater and the Lindsay Theater.
Sophie Guest
Actor – The Great One
Lead actress Sophie Guest performed in The Great One earlier in her career – (nine years ago!) - and is excited for its release! Sophie was recently featured in another Pittsburgh based movie – coming of age indie dramedy Dear Zoe opposite Sadie Sink (Stranger Things). In 2021, Sophie appeared as Doris in Amazon’s critically acclaimed, horror anthology series Them. She made her feature film debut in 2012, opposite Tom Cruise in Jack Reacher and in 2014 appeared in Lionsgate’s sports drama Draft Day. Additional credits include: Lionsgate’s’ Love the Coopers, Lifetime’s The Good Nanny and Those Who Kill and CBS’s long-running hit comedy series Two and a Half Men.
Justine Ezarik
Actor – The Great One
A Streamy Award winner, Justine Ezarik is one of the top female tech and lifestyle personalities online with over 14M social fans. She was named one of the top 50 Creators by Forbes, one of the Hollywood Reporters 50 most powerful digital players as well as one of Maxim Magazine's Hot 100. Justine has been on Time’s Most 100 list and was ranked the #6 most influential personality by The Daily Beast’s Digital Power Index, amongst the rankings of Lady Gaga and YouTube co-founder Chad Hurley. She published her first book, I, Justine: An Analog Memoir, under Simon & Schuster and is a New York Times Best Seller. Justine has worked with partners such as Google, Microsoft, LG, Sony, Intel, Microsoft, P&G, Starbucks, Samsung, amongst others and has been featured in numerous magazine and publications from The Chicago Tribune to Fast Company and Maxim Magazine and appeared on Chopped, The Celebrity Apprentice, Dr. Oz, The Talk, The Rachael Ray Show, The Vampire Diaries, Criminal Minds, Law & Order, E!, and MTV.
Alex Ifft
Actor – The Great One
Alex Ifft is an aspiring actor who began his acting career at 14 years old. Alex is a Pittsburgh native who played Danny Trillo in the film The Great One, a story about childhood dreams, baseball and Roberto Clemente. Ifft has also had parts in I Am Not Okay with This and Dear Zoe. Alex (23 years old) graduated Magna cum laude in 2024 with a degree in Journalism and News Information, with a minor in Sports Management from the Scripps College, at Ohio University.
Brian Hartman
Producer – The Great One
Brian Hartman is a film producer and screenwriter who has overseen countless productions from the Hollywood studio backlots to the open ocean and the alleys of New York City. He began his career in Pittsburgh working at nearly every capacity on dozens of major studio features before expanding into Los Angeles and beyond with national commercials, television specials and everything in between. Recognized for a very hands-on approach, Brian has produced works that have screened at major festivals and markets such as Toronto and Sundance and have been sold to some of the top studios and distributors in the industry.
Steven Bittle
Producer – The Great One
Steven has been involved in the film and entertainment industry for more than 25 years, which includes work on over 60 feature films and television productions, in both studio and independent production. He worked in development at Universal Pictures and at the Pittsburgh Film Office. He most recently was a producer on the feature film Unsinkable which won numerous accolades in the United States and Europe after debuting at the Three Rivers Film Festival in 2023. Steven is a master's graduate of prestigious Carnegie Mellon University, where he received an Adamson Award for screenwriting as well as the University of Pittsburgh, receiving a BA Degree in Literature and Theater.