Pittsburgh-based, women-owned production company Flying Scooter Productions joins two more film festivals, sharing a moving story of loss, grief, and hope through music
PITTSBURGH (February 28, 2025) – The Ocean – Five Years, a film by Pittsburgh-based, women-owned brand strategy and film studio Flying Scooter Productions, produced in partnership with The Vault Recording Studio and The Rhythm19 Fund, has been chosen as an Official Selection at Cleveland International Film Festival (CIFF) and Berlin Lift-Off Film Festival. CIFF is their first Oscar-qualifying opportunity.
The story of The Ocean – Five Years remembers Ryan McCutcheon, a 19-year-old college freshman at Robert Morris University who was tragically killed in a car accident as he was driving home from coaching a local band festival in September 2017. Brett McCutcheon, then just a sophomore at North Allegheny High School, turned to music to make sense of the sudden loss of his brother. Over five years, he composed a 5-track EP that captures the experience of moving through the five stages of grief.
As Brett was finishing the EP, he and his father, Bob McCutcheon, reached out to long-time friend and director Jennifer Schlieper to talk about a music video, but Schlieper felt this story deserved something even bigger. She wanted to tell their story as a way to connect with others experiencing grief.
Schlieper said, “This is a universal story. Everyone experiences grief. The McCutcheons trusted us to share their story, and it’s brought a community of people together who can relate and lean on one another through loss. Their story and Brett’s music are bringing hope and healing to our audience.”
The film is Flying Scooter Productions’ first film festival release, winning Best Documentary at VIFF and the Audience Award for Best Documentary Short at Pittsburgh Shorts & Script Competition, and earning Official Selections at Milan FFI (including Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Sound Design and Best Documentary), Documentaries without Borders International Film Festival, Red Rose Film Festival, Toronto International Women Film Festival, Venice Shorts, Three Rivers Film Festival, Berlin Lift-Off Film Festival, and Cleveland International Film Festival.
The Ocean – Five Years is part of the Shorts Program at CIFF and will screen at Allen Theatre on Sunday, March 30, 2025 at 2:35pm. The film will also be available to stream at CIFF from April 6-13, 2025 and at Berlin Lift-Off Film Festival from February 24-March 23, 2025.
Get tickets to CIFF here and Berlin Lift-Off here.
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IMPORTANT LINKS
THE OCEAN – FIVE YEARS EPK: https://flyingscooterproductions.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/THE-OCEAN-FIVE-YEARS-EPK_Update_Feb2025.pdf
THE OCEAN – FIVE YEARS BACKGROUND:
https://flyingscooterproductions.com/theocean/
About Flying Scooter Productions
Established in 2017, Flying Scooter Productions is a female-owned and operated global branding agency and film production studio. With more than two decades of brand strategy experience, they leverage their approach to marketing through a business lens to create synergies and shape messaging for internal and external audiences. They were named 2024 Winner of Best Supplier from Duquesne Light Company and 2024 Winner of Anthem Community Voice Award for their Homeless Children’s Education Fund – 25 Years documentary and hold more than twenty-three awards globally. The Scooters have received 9 film festival Official Selections for their first-time entry with The Ocean – Five Years, including winner of VIFF for Best Documentary and the Audience Award for Best Documentary Short at Pittsburgh Shorts & Script Competition.
Learn more about Flying Scooter Productions at flyingscooterproductions.com.
About The Vault Recording Studio
The Vault Recording Studio is a family run business delivering a unique and highly personalized experience. Their award-winning team comes from a diverse set of experiences in the music industry. Each brings a unique perspective that can be brought to any project. The Vault assists with all aspects of the music creation process, including writing, arranging, producing, recording, mixing and mastering. They provide access to professional session musicians and consult on music release, distribution and promotion strategies.
Learn more about The Vault Recording Studio at thevaultrecording.com.
About The Rhythm19 Fund
The mission of The Rhythm19 Fund is to honor Ryan’s memory by providing access to art and music education for children and youth. Through charitable contributions and volunteerism, the fund provides access to music for children and encourages the use of music to enrich the lives of those with challenges or special needs. It also strongly encourages the continuation of music programs for school children. The Rhythm19 Fund is active in fundraising, providing financial support and volunteering their time. To date, the fund has raised over $200,000. As a result, the fund has awarded several high school scholarships, supported a number of local area music programs with equipment and even helped fund trips to music competitions. They also enjoy hosting high school and middle school field trips to The Vault.
Learn more about The Rhythm19 Fund at thevaultrecording.com/rhythm19-fund.