Produced, Written and Directed by Yujiro Seki

www.filmfestinternational.com

Milan IFF 2019 Edition

Produced, Written and Directed by Yujiro Seki.

The Documentary "Carving the Divine", pulls back the curtain on world of Busshi - practitioners of a 1400 year lineage of the Japanese Buddhist woodcarving.

Closing Night Film 6/12 & After Party with Rozoy Picot, Cannabis Wine, pages 10-13

WELCOME TO THE INTERNATIONAL FILMMAKER FESTIVAL OF WORLD CINEMA MILAN 2019

Dear Filmmaker:

Welcome, I hope you have a wonderful time with us at the World Cinema Milan we look forward to meeting all of you! Our Festival is always held in one location, I have found that this format works very well. Carl Tooney / Having all the filmmakers and professionals mixing Publishe r together makes for an ideal fun and professional environment. For the filmmaker, this helps them engage with professionals which Adam Tinnion/ then allows them to make new contacts and the Director of Marketing possibility to do business with each other in the future. I have tried to bring together professionals from Roy Abbots / countries around the world, you are all skilled Screening Manager filmmakers I wanted to give as many opportunities as possible for you to find out about Shauna Abbots / the markets open to you once you have made your Administrator film and, for Script authors I wanted to give you opportunities to meet filmmakers that may be Sara Plasencia / looking for scripts to produce, or find partners to produce your script yourself.. There are Latinoamerica Representative professionals that can help they can advice and by being all together I hope Kaoru Kajitani / you will be able to make contacts and ask Asia Pacific Representative questions and find your path a little easier once you are ready to go to market with your project. Rodrigo Rayón / Event Coordinator We have with us the support of industry professional, we have a film company from China Yvonne White / that is looking for distribution and possibly funding Editorial Executive opportunities, we have producers and directors with years in the industry here and available to you to answer those questions such as ….what to do All articles, including all editorials used in this once I have made the film, where do I get finance? publication (whether printed or digital) do not necessarily represent the views of any of the With Brad Blain, we have years of media knowledge, International Filmmaker Festivals representatives, and Ray Davis and Neil McEwan, we are honoured staff or associates. to have such wonderful professionals who are No part of this magazine, whether printed or electronic may be reproduced, stored or copied readily available with advice on your project and without the express prior written consent of the can help with any questions you may have.Brad publisher. Blain we have years of media knowledge, and Requests for permission should be directed to: Ray Davis and Neil McEwan , we are honoured [email protected] to have such wonderful professionals who are Although we make every effort to ensure all of the readily available with advice on your project information in this publication is up to date and accurate the publisher takes no responsibility for any and can help with any questions you may have. omissions or errors. The publisher accept no responsibility for the Carl Tooney material supplied including (but no limited to) all President International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema Milan 2019 editorial and advertising copy and any omissions, errors or matters of copyright. All material supplied for use is solely the responsibility of the sup- plier or suppliers of the material reproduced in this publication whether in mechanical or digital format. Where editorial copy is sent late. We are not able to return the article to the filmmakers for signing off. Film The Magazine Limited is not accepted the responsibility for copy have not been correct.

www.filmfestinternational.com 1 THE FILM ‘The Film Industry Network' Working INDUSTRY NETWORK With 'Content & Filmmakers'

Across many years of attending festivals and markets Ray Davies has ‘TFIN’ offers a unique script to screen, route to market service to the advised industry professionals on Script Analysis, Sound, Routes to seasoned film professional working with groups and private clients seeking has advised industry professionals on Script Analysis, Sound, Routes to its support services. To date it’s helped around 450 industry creatives Market & Finance, Film / TV Production. His background across 16 years of across it's inception roll out period with ‘Film Fest International’ by offering: Music, Media, Film & TV development stimulated an idea to collaborate with trusted industry connections, piers and former work colleagues to 1) Practical Assessments on Scripts & Coverage. develop and create ‘The Film Advisory’ and ‘The Film Industry Network’. 2) Bespoke 'One to One' advisory, all tailor made. He has had the honour of working with Film Fest Internationals team and 3) Q & A's with experts from Film, TV and Music. its group of festivals across Europe. Inspired in spring ‘2016’ after joining 4) Q & A’s with Writers, DOP's, Execs, Directors & Producers. the Nice International Film Festivals Q & A advisory team, where he gave 5) Solutions to guide through market landscapes. one to one advice to film makers seeking to place content in the 6) Market approach to support ‘RTM’ planning. industry mainstream. The experience of speaking with groups of people 7) International Producers Lounge & pitch corner. from around the world stimulated his idea to develop a new concept to 8) Bespoke presentations & creative workshops. support the producers focus and creative business requirements. 9) Routes to Amazon, Netflix, Apple, Hulu, Roku, Sony and others. 10) Routes to trusted International sales agents for TV, Film & Docs. ‘The Film Industry Network' Services with 'Film Fest Quotes Internationals Festivals’ 'The Film Industry Network's successful mentor programs has seen Outside of steering the film makers the journey of now seasoned Film creatives shape themselves. clear of the rocks, ‘TFIN’ & ‘TFA’ provide Producers and Directors enjoyed concierge environments where each client with a recognised Industry creative people can potentially gather and discuss collaboration. mentoring model, recommending 'Writers have found commissioned work building relationships and providing services to writers, with 'Producers who’ve presented concepts to financiers or developers and producers needing consortiums looking for opportunities in Film &TV & have gone forward. both elevation and support. With partnerships in place these were developed to create ‘The Film Industry Network' Working routes to very different pathways, a) ‘Industry’ b) ‘Education’. in ‘The Education Sector' It's successful, unique one to one mentoring model has expanded over 'The Film Advisory' Supporting Filmmakers the last 24 months to accommodate consulting and launch it's alliance at Film Fest International' with new partnerships across the board. Starting with the curriculum ‘The Film Advisory’ professional panel discusses distribution and looks focused Education model on industry standard skill set, through a across a ten year radius reviewing trends like changes in film, digital tv, partnership with 'Ariel Blake'. As of May ‘2019’ ‘TFA’, TFIN & ‘Ariel Blake’ other platform media. Subject to location, time and pre-arranged will launch their first set of modules through ‘Film Fest International’, booking these specialist presentations run with ‘Film Fest Int’ and its with creator and president ‘Mr Carl Tooney’, who’s partnership will scheduled events across a festival circuit. Topics reviewed include the take the first of many successful module concepts forward this year. Acquisition, Sales, Development and Packaging of commercial film & tv media content. Both ‘TFA’ & ‘TFIN’ offer one to one production concierge ‘The Film Industry Networks' and services that can run across the duration of a production life cycle as a 'Ariel Blakes' Master Course' guiding hand, or as a one days sitting. For as little as $300 we can help The modules will spear head Filmmakers and creators of TV content you review and assess a films development, production and or its looking to gain ground by advancing on pre-existing skill set distribution and then lock this down with either verbal feedback or approach. Industry professional ‘Ray Davies’ & ‘AJ Sykes’ are both create a support package that stems across a production life cycle. qualified mentors holding curriculum recognised degrees and will roll out term with an end of year red carpet expose for candidates ‘The Film Industry Network' Mentoring already in development. The partnerships coming together rolling out Filmmakers at Festivals' 4 practical assignment modules and delivering 5 workshops across ‘TFIN’ presents a new workshop for distribution. This '101' the Festival term, with assessment support to all participants. class applies to services both referral and inhouse that Across the entire year 'TFIN' will support and guide the Head of can be obtained across membership packages. Now Education AJ Sykes by supporting development and roll out of also open to candidates seeking to take part in the proposed each module and practical workshop with modules aimed at master courses. Workshops will address but will not be limited to: developing film and content makers seeking to sharpen skills, a) development expand on skill set and enhance knowledge of the business. b) production planning c) placing commercial content. ‘The Film Industry Network' With Education partner Ariel Blake' As part of this 2019 model 'TFIN' will over see the development aimed workshops and also 'One to One' planning of students seeking additional support outside workshops in regards to assignments, market routes, development, along with works candidates have developing.

For further details on ‘The Film Advisory & The Film Industry Networks group services’ and opportunities they can bring forward, or to find out about the ‘Master class courses, please. Contact:

Ray Davies: Requests for Festival meetings +44 (0) 7392 758696 www.thefilmindustrynetwork.com [email protected]

2 FILM: THE MAGAZINE • MILAN • DECEMBER 2019 WHAT IS THE CONCEPT OF YOUR FILM? Justice For One is about Cillian, who’s been going through a hard time and is feeling depressed to the point of contemplating suicide. After a childhood neighbour, Fiona, intervenes, he decides that everything wrong in his life started when he was bullied by Shay, Fiona’s brother. He decides to get revenge, with the help of Fiona, who doesn’t realise what she’s helping him with. WHAT IS THE INSPIRATION YOU GOT TO MAKE THE FILM? After an option on a different screenplay fell through, I decided I wanted to write a script I could make with my own money. I had been saving up for a while in the hope that I could do that if I had to, so I decided to write something that could be made for about €10,000. The first idea was to do a revenge movie where the person seeking revenge has just randomly chosen to blame their target for everything wrong in their life. FILM FEST INTERNATIONAL Then I got the idea of multiple revenge attempts that FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK! would keep going wrong: a sort of cross between Kind Heart and Coronets and Road Runner cartoons. The original script didn’t quite work, but once it became more comedic, and especially after the actors and the producer, Valeria, got involved, it really came to life. We workshopped the script with the actors before we even had a set shoot date, which helped a lot. Everyone worked on the film for free, and we got a lot of favours, from people who let us use locations for little or no money, and my brother, who made the art works you see in the film. Several people gave valuable feedback on the script, and there were actors who were involved in the development who had to SUBMIT YOUR FILM! drop out, and a couple, Elga Fox and Tom Creevy, who came in at the last minute and did great work with the limited time they had.

WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING NEXT? What happens next depends on how people respond to this film. In the meantime, I’m directing a short comedy called The Clarence and Dorinda Story and producing another short called The Right Side of the Liffey, and I’m planning to make another short in 2020. I’ve also written more feature script and am hoping to get at least one off the ground in the next year or so.

www.filmfestinternational.com 3 SYNOPSIS Mari has been abused all of her life. She doesn’t get enough food and lives in a house with no water or heat or food. One day, a bad man sneaks into Mari’s house. He`s a repeat criminal with a long list of offences. His name is Kaneda and he was also abused when he was a child. As soon as he saw Mari, he sympathised with her and her bad situation. Kaneda wants to save Mari, but even though Mari has been abused, she still loves her mother. Kaneda tries to force Rin - Mari’s mother - to become a better person and take care of Mari. However, Mari’s mother also had a very tough childhood and doesn’t know how to love her daughter.

Mari, Kaneda and Rin all started to live together, to feel the warmth and love of one another and try to be a real “family” … KANEMASA

4 FILM: THE MAGAZINE • MILAN • DECEMBER 2019 KANEMASA AUTHOR’S STATEMENT

I did the interview with the doctors who work in child consultation center.

They talked about the circumstances of child abuse in Japan. Children who are abused hold their anger and sorrow because they are abandoned.

But one doctor said to me, “Adults who abuse children also have trauma”.

In Japan, even if the law has been changed, it is difficult to protect children forcibly.

It is important to take care physically, but it is also necessary to take care for not only children’s mind but also adult’s mind.

I made this film because I would like to share child abuse circumstances in Japan to the audience.

www.filmfestinternational.com 5 Today, I’m thrilled to share my passion and love for a hidden jewel of Japanese culture, the art of the Busshi, who are some of Japan’s most incredible craftsmen.

Chances are, you’ve never heard the word busshi before. In fact, most Japanese people aren’t even familiar with the word today. This is somewhat tragic, because living busshi craftsmen are struggling to persevere in our modern times, and many of Japan’s greatest national treasures are the work of busshi: the great Buddha and Kongõrikishi of Todaiji Temple, the 1,001 statues of Kannon bodhisattvas at Sanjüsangen-dõ, and the huge, 11-Headed Kannon at Hasedera (featured in Carving the Divine) are all the work of busshi.

6 FILM: THE MAGAZINE • MILAN • DECEMBER 2019 No doubt, the cultural invisibility of the modern- day, living busshi stems in part from the secretive and humble nature of their tradition. Traditionally, the skills of Busshi have only been transmitted via a millennia-old system of master and apprentice, and acknowledgment as a full-fledged Busshi requires many years of intense training, and the selfless devotion of apprentices to their craft.

But this documentary film, Carving the Divine, pulls back the curtain on world of Busshi. It offers a never-before-seen look into the life and artistic process of modern-day busshi—practitioners of the 1,400 year lineage of woodcarving at the heart of Japanese, Mahayana Buddhism.

In creating this film, I had the rare opportunity to follow a guild of Busshi from the studio of Koun Seki, a former apprentice of the legendary Busshi, Kourin Saito, who is also featured prominently in the film. Master Seki is a pioneer in preserving and advancing the art of Busshi in modern Japan. And his master, Grand Master Saito, is an exemplar of not only the skill, but also the passion and dedication it takes to uphold the responsibility of Carving the Divine. The sculptures busshi create are not just figures. They serve as a bridge to the collective Japanese spirit and psyche. That being the case, it has been an unspeakable honor to create this film, which I see as a cinematic bridge between the magic of these sculptures, the busshi’s world, and yours. Director, Producer & Writer: Yujiro Seki

CARVING THE DIVINE www.filmfestinternational.com 7 ASPIRE TO THE SKY: THE WILSHIRE GRAND STORY PRODUCED BY: D. KHATRI W R I T T E N B Y : D.KHATRI & S. SIGHICELLI DIRECTED BY: DILIP KHATRI Every building has a story with its own characters, struggle, disappointments and achievements. Documentary films are traditionally focused on human stories and tragedies, with very little attention towards our engineering and architecture achievements. "Aspire to the Sky" is a film about Engineers, Architects, and Dreamers to build an "impossible structure" in an Thornton Tommasetti, New York; and Brandow area of the world that is highly prone to earthquakes: & Johnston, Los Angeles. The collaboration and Los Angeles, California, and one of the highest technical insight to deal with the seismic force seismically active zones in the world. The struggle is issues, wind loads, and dynamic effects present dealing with the property dimensions [less than one unique problems for this challenging project that acre] and sitting directly over an earthquake fault. created 22,000,000 sq. ft. [73 floors] of space on a 1-acre lot.

High rise buildings have always commanded attention because they bring civic pride and unite a population around their presence. New York City, Dubai, London, Paris, Hong Kong, and Tokyo are a few examples of how civilizations showcase their buildings as emblems of wealth and power. The technical challenges for reaching Dr. Khatri is a these high altitudes involve many factors dealing Professional with wind, earthquake, soil settlement, erosion, Structural Engineer, PhD, former professor, and water, storm effects, rain, and local wind vortex consultant, whose pressures created by the ambition to create surrounding buildings. quality documentaries The Wilshire Grand Building is a $1.3 Billion that address unique project that involved over 10,000 people in topics has led him multiple countries, with the developer being to make this film for Korean Airllines, Seoul, South Korea, and the the public, architects, Architecture and Structural Design done by U.S. engineers, and Firms: AC Martin Partners, Los Angeles; people curious about how to build a high-rise building. Dr. Khatri's documentary is made with both artistic, creative, and technical knowledge in mind to keep the audience engaged while explaining a complicated mix of earthquake technology, structural engineering, architectural design in one documentary piece. This film accomplishes the task of making a very complex subject interesting while also entertaining in the learning process. 8 FILM: THE MAGAZINE • MILAN • DECEMBER 2019 www.filmfestinternational.com 9

FILM FEST INTERNATIONAL IS PROUD TO PRESENT…

as the Closing Night Film of the Milan International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema FRIDAY 6TH DECEMBER AT 7:45PM WITH AN AUDIENCE AFTER PARTY SPONSORED BY ROZOY PICOT, CANNABIS SPARKLING WINE A life transforming and heartbreaking true story of how a successful Entrepreneur, husband and father is willing to do what most people fear to do, but deep down they wish they could. “Seven Billion people will see their own life in Joel’s courageous heart” - AnnaLynne McCord The Winner of 12 international awards, Living My Illusion launches on Amazon Prime Video on the 12th December 2019. You are invited to be one of the first to see Episode One in Milan and give your feedback on this important and timely work that pushes the boundaries of documentary form, inviting the viewer to closely observe what is really happening behind the masks and smiles on Facebook and Instagram.

The reactions to Living My Illusion have been mixed at the screenings in Festivals, but no one can deny that they have just watched something that is asking important questions about the way we live our lives. Is Joel a villain or a victim of societal conditioning? Is Timea the victim or blessed with the truth? That’s for you to decide after you see what plays out in the 45 minutes of Episode One, ‘The Truth Hurts’. Anyone looking in through the kitchen window would think Joel has it all. But when he invites human behaviour expert Tony into his world, a journey of self-discovery reveals the truth, leading to a decision that will change the course of his life.

Through shocking truth-telling interviews and private one to one coaching sessions,the viewer sees Joel’s ‘in the moment’ realisations under a clever series of revealing questions by expert Tony, bringing our subject to question the life he has created. Joel courageously shares deep and personal learnings about himself, his daughter, illness, and if he truly loves his wife. He does this without any fear of backlash. Should he succumb to the expectations of society and stay in line, or follow the calling coming from the depth of his being?

This very personal documentary about being true to oneself makes a case for breaking unquestionable taboos and adds friction from a moral standpoint. It is a mirror to every person, inviting them to self-reflect and ask important questions about the way they are living their life.

We invite you to give your feedback for our cameras at the after party and welcome your honest review on Amazon Prime.

FILM: THE MAGAZINE • MILAN • DECEMBER 2019 10

Official Closing Night Film Milan International Filmmaker Festival

~ A documentary film series ~

“Seven billion people will see their own life in Joel’s courageous heart.” “ITS TIME TO TAKE - ANNALYNNE MCCORD OFF THE MASK”

Friday 6th December at 7:45pm - Runtime 45 minutes

Audience After Party sponsored by Rozoy Picot, Luxury Cannabis Sparkling Wine

“ You can have anything in life that you want if you are willing to break your greatest illusion. ” Joel Van der Molen

Remi Winner Winner Winner Winner Winner Winner Docs Without Borders Los Angeles WorldFest Houston Impact Docs Hollywood Cardiff

52nd Annual International Motivational / Inspirational Film Awards International International Film Festival Awards Audience Impact Best Feature Documentary Awards Documentary Film Festival

Official Opening Official Closing Winner Winner Platinum Winner Winner Night Film Barcelona Amsterdam International Night Film New York City Screen Awards Madrid Milan International Film Festival International Film Festival Independent Film Best Feature Best Story Documentary International International Festival Documentary Feature Film Festival Filmmaker Festival

WWW.FILMFESTINTERNATIONAL.COM Livingmyillusion.com @livingmyillusion livingmyillusion

Screening Friday 6th December Room 3 at 5pm FILM: THE MAGAZINE • MILAN • DECEMBER 2019

THE BILLIONAIRE FILMMAKER HOW TO ACCESS YOUR CREATIVE GENIUS A FILM FEST EXCLUSIVE TALK BY INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED SPEAKER: TONY J. SELIMI SATURDAY 7TH DECEMBER AT 12:30

He specialises in assisting people to break through mental imprisonment, addictions, phobias and limiting beliefs to awaken their inner leader, maximise their human potential and reach higher levels of achievement.

Tony provides practical solutions to life’s challenges with his talks, workshops, seminars, one to one coaching programs and Vital Planning for Elevated Living mastermind retreats. He educates and inspires with enlightening perspectives, humorous metaphors, and a heart-illuminating personal story.

His work also includes Films and Documentaries, such as the Multi Award-Winning LIVING MY ILLUSION on Amazon Prime, inspirational content for Newspapers and Magazines, and has appeared on over 300 Radio and TV stations across the world including interviews by Royal Correspondent Ian Pelham-Turner, Besim Dina When you look at the life path of the most successful on OXYGEN for Top Channel Albania, by Jack Canfield leaders and influencers there are certain beliefs, traits and and Brian Tracy in America, and on SKY, ABC, NBC, CBS values that set them apart from the majority of people. and FOX reaching over 100 million viewers, listeners and readers worldwide. Ask yourself this question: What would change in your personal and professional life if you could upgrade your He has spoken on grandiose stages such as the United psychology and build a stronger character foundation Nations, Rotary International, Cranfield School of that is authentic, self-aware and emotionally intelligent? Management, International Film Festivals, and the London Business Show. His TEDx talk, Technological With clarity of thought and clarity of heart you become Armageddon is a wake up call for humanity to address the an unstoppable force of nature. Your chances of growth, coming challenges we face over the next 10 years with influence and success increase exponentially, and you the rise of Artificial intelligence. attract new people into your awareness that help you on your path. Successful leaders follow their vision and Tony founded TJS Cognition and is a founding partner dreams. They invest in continuous learning, work with the of the multi award-winning media company, LIVING best coaches and mentors, and live exactly who they are MY ILLUSION, with a vision and heart calling to inspire here to become. decisive action in the lives of one billion people by 2030, contributing to the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Tony J. Selimi is an internationally renowned Speaker, Goals and elevating the consciousness and awareness of Human Behaviour Specialist and an International humanity. Bestseller whose integrated and holistic work is sought by Fortune 500 CEO’s, Entrepreneurs, Scientists, Doctors, No matter who you are or where you are from, this is Royalty, Film & TV Stars, and Politicians to name a few. your time. See how Tony can help you access your inner knowing, plan and transform your reality. Be there on His incredible life journey gave rise to a masterful Saturday 7th December at 12:30pm. educator. Born in 1969 in the town of Gostivar, Republic of Northern Macedonia, he moved to London in 1990 at the age of 20 to find a haven from the atrocities of the civil war he had to fight in. From living penniless on the streets, he excelled in the corporate world, leading multi-billion-pound technology programs, and is now a five-times International bestseller of the multi-award-winning books, A Path to Wisdom, #Loneliness, Fit for Purpose Leadership #3 and A Path to Excellence. As a cognition expert, business consultant and renowned leader in personal development, he travels the world teaching his unique TJS Evolutionary Method: ALARM®, a modernised formula for attaining more significant levels of health, wealth and fulfilment. His self-mastery, values-based strategies create the life outcomes people intuitively know they deserve. Organisations seek his help to mindfully educate and empower their team’s spirit, leading to an increase in productivity and sales, and to instill mental health and wellbeing strategies.

WWW.FILMFESTINTERNATIONAL.COM 13 WORLD CINEMA ANTWERP BELGIUM 2020 From the 3rd to the 10th of October Antwerp is only a few miles from the Brussels international airport The Antwerp Film Festival isa unique film and unproduced script event that is celebrating the best and most popular independent and studio films from the global film industry, and has wonderful opportunities for the business offilm. Our Film Festival is all held in one convenient location; All of the screenings, workshops, meetings, networking, industry professionals, Awards Night and even hotel rooms. That means that we will always be there, supporting you and your project from before the Festival starts to the closing ceremony. So we won’t be hard to find, or difficult to locate, we know how important it is for Festival organisers to be on hand and to supply that all important personal touch. How do we know? We know because we already have huge experience in running other Film Festivals and from that we also know how to make it a better experience for you. With us, it will be. Independent filmmakers and creatives face many challenges; the large competition for viewers’ attention, finding funding and getting a distributor can only be overcome by the industry coming together and creating opportunities for those who need and deserve it. Our Festival’s aimare to create an opportunity for filmmakers to show their work to the right audience at our intimate and relaxing events, and get one step closer to success by receiving recognition for their art. We have built a small but exceptional professional network of industry professional that will look at all nominated films entered and will give business and commercial advice, in some cases the distributors attending will make offers to the filmmakers for their work and to work together to put yourmovies and unproduced script in the market place, we have the people and skills in our professional team to make this happen, if the professional attending feel there is a market for your movie or unproduced script, they will as with many films over the years of our other festivals, make things happen. We are unique in the amount of platforms and festival we offer filmmakers, we can create a ripple for your movie to be seen around the world, it all starts here by entering your movie. The festival is very keen to discover new talent and act asa springboard for creation. The development of the producers network gives filmmakers an opportunity to pitch there future production. The film festival will draw to a close on a glamorous red carpet awards ceremony recognising unrivalled ideas, productions and film concepts. Prestigious filmmaker trophy awards are presented to the finest films entered. The International Film Festival is a global forum for you to network, discover future trends and achieve commercial success on a worldwide level. The International Film Festival is like no other international film festival. We put you – the filmmaker – in front of potential investors in any new production you may be considering, we put your movie in front of potential distribution and sales to look at the possibility of offering you real deals and real help for you the filmmaker, look at our program read the short bios of the professional attending, join us and put your movie in a market place. [email protected] WWW.FILMFESTINTERNATIONAL.COM

DEDICATED TO THE BUSINESS OF FILM

NICE IFF 2019 EDITION shao studios & sfilmmaker Shao Studios is an international promotion, production and distribution platform dedicated to connecting media outlets around the world to media producers, distributors and financiers in China.

Sfilmmaker is Shao Studios’ film festival registration platform, with over 10,000 film-makers registered to the platform and hundreds of worldwide festivals.

we help INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS

Shao Studios’ markets of distribution include, but are not limited to: Internet channels, mobile channels (via telecommunication providers), theatrical channels, air media channels and digital cable providers. INTERNATIONALLY DISTRIBUTE THEIR FILMs

Sfilmmaker addresses the problems many small independent Chinese filmmakers have in getting their work into competition and the problems international festivals have finding true Chinese independent cinema.

the DIRECTOR & KEY CAST MEMBERS of ‘the usuke boys’ talk about their award-winning film on pages 2 - 7

www.filmfestinternational.com 15 LIGHT WRAPS ME

Story of man and woman. Their love for life. Lust and frenzy. It is the energy of impending mankind to find peace at the time of chaos. Mental and physical journey of human race.

Watch the trailer now : www.bit.ly/light wraps me

Director and writer : Shomshuklla DOP : Ritam Banerjee Ashish Singh Music : Ankur Mukherjee Actors : Lipi Goyal, Archana Singh, Tina Sen, Teesay Shah Producer : Bhaskar Das

For information on our films & more : www.cuttocut.com

16 FILM: THE MAGAZINE • MILAN • DECEMBER 2019 BUNCH OF GRAPES SYNOPSIS

Bunch of Grapes is the story about an over obsessed mother and her troubled daughter, establishing a working relationship between the two. It's a story of love and hate. This film was shot in the scenic background ofa vineyard in LA, in USA. The film was shot by ace cinematographer, Alex Megaro.

It was wonderful to work with Catherine Black, who is an award winning director and actress. I met Cat, in a festival, we jelled well and all of a sudden we decided to work together. It was a fantastic experience.

So , was the experience with Sharmila as well. She suited best as a mother. Infact, when delivered harsh dialogues on her, she broke down. It was so intense. When we were placing the food, we avoided nuts as Cat was allergic to them.

We shot for 7 days, long hours. Just after breakfast and wrapped up in the evening.

Apart from the vineyard, we travelled to different locations and had awesome shots there too. It was first collaboration with American actresses and it was a very pleasant experience.

It is the story of mother and daughter, their relationship of love and hate. The daughter comes to visit her mother, and gets into fights. But at the end they patch up, as both of them realise that they care for each other with all their failings.

Watch the trailer now : www.bit.ly/bunchofgrapes

Written & directed by Shomshuklla` Actors : Sharmila Saha Catherine Black Music Ankur Mukherjee Produced by Amit Sen, Bhaskar Das

For information on our films & more : www.cuttocut.com

www.filmfestinternational.com 17 EMERALD RUN FAMILY IS EVERYTHING

THE STORY

Emerald Run is a family film, through and through. Marketed as faith-based, the story unfolds simply out of a father’s dedication to the well-being of his daughter. Their gripes with faith were based on modern struggles that cause people to evaluate their beliefs, but not fully convert as many faith-based films may have others convinced. With all that has happened in our world and the Church of late, people don’t want to be told how they should practice, but shown why they should even believe. It takes time, like with any relationship, for trust to be formed and commitments to be made. Reasoning with the mysteries and questioning them are the first steps in the process of discovering where we stand in our faith and what makes a faith-filled person. EMERALD RUN FAMILY IS EVERYTHING

EMERALD RUN -FAMILY IS EVERYTHING-

THE STORY

This is what sets Emerald Run apart from other faith-based films, it doesn’t jump from the drastic “I don’t believe in God” to a sudden “Alleluia, I am saved, praise the Lord” but transitions more from a place of indifference to a gradual understanding in that it’s not about the emphasis of practice and how many people one may convince they are “religious,” but an actual devotion to doing good, and pursuing an honest faith facilitates in directing one toward such actions. In addition to the faith-based aspect, the father-daughter duo in production also worked to incorporate varying genre appeals, including action and drama, to better provide something for everyone to relate to or, at the very least, be entertained by. While Emerald Run began as an investment opportunity for executive producer, Anthony Caruso, it quickly developed into a family project.

www.filmfestinternational.com 19 Piquing the interest of then seventeen-year-old, only daughter, Marialisa, she began rising through the ranks, starting in bookkeeping before going on set and being invited in as an extra with dad, then offering up her services as editor when the script underwent some critical changes, at which point the story was open to a rewrite. Discovering the industry together, Anthony and Marialisa collaborated throughout the project, making the excuse to take time away from work and school to spend it together under the title of business partners, writing in supporting roles for themselves, and combining each other’s interests to produce a film for the whole family, meaning one that anyone can watch, enjoy, and take something from. This multi-genre, relative approach to film coincided well with Marialisa’s career aspirations of establishing what she refers to as the life genre. Inspired byher favorite film, La Vita è Bella, Marialisa strives to similarly combine such contrasting genres as exaggerated comedy and tragic horror, as well as love gained and lost, to create relatable characters that would allow the audience to feel as they do and experience for themselves that no matter the overwhelming cruelties thrown our way, there are always those small moments that remind us how beautiful life is. Beyond formulating a film that has everything for everyone and anyone to watch, the purpose is to layout a story that comes to life, because life has it all, good and bad. Naturally, there is no better way to see this through than with the help and support of family. Of course, family is not limited to blood relation. The production was made possible by investors outside of the Caruso name, but still very much a part of the family. Like Anthony brought Emerald Run home, he also introduced it to his friends, many of whom he’s known since childhood. Born in the big city of San Jose, Anthony moved to the small town of Riverdale in his adolescence before departing for a similarly small town across the world, Trabia, Sicily, after the start of college, and back to San Jose to start his family. In all these transitions, Anthony and his Riverdale High buddies never skipped a beat. They became brothers on the football field and in mischief around campus, growing up together and never apart in distance. Still, with a couple hundred miles between them, it’s business that brings them together, making childhood dreams adulthood realities. Who wouldn’t want to make a movie with their friends? In this and every way, from its premise to production, Emerald Run is a film by family for families.

20 FILM: THE MAGAZINE • MILAN • DECEMBER 2019 www.filmfestinternational.com 21 KINOSAKI DAYS THE JOURNEY OF A NOMADIC ARTIST A Nomadic Artist’s Vision Revitalizes a Depressed Hot Springs Town in Japan SYNOPSIS Artist Tomori Nagamoto migrated from his native Japan to Canada, where he started as a street artist and eventually became a major presence on the Canadian art scene. During his 18-year stay there, he received multiple awards, including Toronto’s NOW and EYE magazines’ readers’ choice as the best visual artist of the year in 2002 and 2003. In 2014, Tomori returned to his homeland Japan to settle in a small picturesque hot springs town where nobody knew him. He met an amateur videographer, Yuki Hayashi, who followed him for 120 days to document how this natural-born, self-taught artist got the entire town involved in preparation for his first solo exhibition, inspiring the townspeople to revitalize their town after a devastating fire.

Kinosaki Days may be Yuki Hayashi’s first feature-length documentary, but it is hardly his first foray into cross-cultural documentaries. Hayashi shot the entire movie on compact cameras and smartphones. “The project’s budget doesn’t matter,” he says; he just chose the right tools to capture the unintended moments.

Born in 1983, Director Yuki Hayashi was raised in Okayama, Japan. Hayashi has enjoyed a busy career as a freelance videographer for decades, and has always been interested in artists as a subject. He seeks a new approach to capture what happens when artists cross – or cannot cross – borders and boundaries.

22 FILM: THE MAGAZINE • MILAN • DECEMBER 2019 SHE IS MINE Interesting facts about Writer Producer Director and the Lead Actress: the film: Sena Tunali Plot of the Film: She is Mine film is based on a true story. I Jess is a newly Film school grad as an actor tries to make a living in Los Angeles. While started my film career as a set PA and while I she is doing her film jobs she is also working was working on set, the producer of the film at a bar. However, she is a very clumsy person project that I was working with fell in love that causes her to get fired all the time. Her with me. I was so inexperienced and don't friend Mary who is also a newly grad from film even know the meaning of a pancake on set. school trying to make a living in LA as well. Jess gets fired from the bar and Mary books Even though I was so inexperienced and a Production Assistant job on a film set. Next runing around like a dummy on set that cute day Mary gets sick and she doesn't want to producer guy fell in love with me against all lose the job opportunity so she convinces the odds. He thought me a lot about Jess to go to that set and introduce herself filmmaking and all the terms on set that the as Mary. Jess going into that set is not only filmmakers are using. We actually learned a lot the craziest thing she has ever done with all of her clumsiness but also the best thing she from each other and had so much fun together. has ever done as she meets the love of her life This story inspired me to create "She is Mine".

www.filmfestinternational.com 23 AUTHOR’S STATEMENT DIRECTOR’S PROFILE A short thriller film to pursue “Guilt and forgiveness.” Keishi Suenaga Date of Birth: 11-OCT-1976 SYNOPSIS Keishi Suenaga is Japanese Independent Film An assistant professor Noriyuki Kusakabe (Chikahiro Director/Producer/Writer. Hanamura) visits his second house with his student, Arisa Hayami (Sahel Rosa). After working in a record store following graduation from high school, worked in South Korea from 2000 Arisa is at first delighted with the aged rooms and to 2003, and worked in China from 2003 to 2006. furnishings, but soon she begins to feel someone’s Completely moved back to Japan in 2007. memories, pains and regrets left in the second house. She finally knows that Kusakabe’s former lover, Saki While working at Japan Post, in 2011 established Arimura (Satoko Enmei), died at the place. Starsea Films Production, an independent movie production group. Responsible for producing, Kusakabe believes that Saki’s spirit envies Arisa and directing, scripts, and editing. His new directed short wants to kill her, but Arisa begins to see things in a film “AIM POINT” (2018), starring is the famous different way. Japanese actress Waki Katakura.

Romance, Drama, Suspense, Horror, Psychological Official Film Facebook Page: Thriller. Run time 27 mins. www.facebook.com/tsumetaiyukacoldfeet COLD FEET Produced, Directed, Edited by Keishi Suenaga

24 FILM: THE MAGAZINE • MILAN • DECEMBER 2019 Photos by Bruno Rosano A YEAR IN HIGH Andrea Icardi, graduated at DAMS in Turin, has worked for La Stampa (2004-2007), he worked as a cameraman for some Italian network. He moved MAIRA VALLEY to Rome to direct "On the Road" and "Under 40", a TV fiction, and other tv series. He directed also Four seasons from 2017 to 2018, fifty days filming, "Cesare Pavese, a Portrait since 100 Years From His 200 hours of footage, about fifty people in the Birth" and "Farmers In Cesare Pavese's Land” (2009), cast: those are the numbers of "A Year in High "Once Upon A Time the Beat" (2010) an interview Maira Valley". The documentary film has been to Fernanda Pivano, “Perché mi piace - Something produced by Fondazione Acceglio and directed Delicious to Tell" (2010) with Oscar Farinetti, by Andrea Icardi. Maira Valley is seen as a time "Cinema According to Pavese" (2012), "Excelsior, an machine where the geological past, told by the Airport of Partisans" (2013), "The Flood - After 20 rocks and stones of the mountains, meets with years" (2014), "Theo and François after 30 Years" the present age thanks to the beauty of sceneries (2016), "Matteo Olivero, A Portrait of an Artist" that welcome man and his activities in nature. This (2017). Since 2012 he directs a tv magazine about journey starts at a small museum in Chialvetta, “Pallapugno", a traditional italian sport, and he a hamlet near Acceglio, where we can meet a teaches filming thecniques and digital photography few characters who help us discover the valley. at university masters and schools.

www.filmfestinternational.com 25 KING OF KNIVES The Deal That Made It Happen

In the world of Indy Filmmaking, there is one truth greater with the actors such that you (and they) consistently than any other: “You need to get more than you pay for.” deliver much more than just the words on paper. A huge understatement. As the script for “King of Knives” My mind raced with this for a few seconds… and it was at was coming together, I had a couple of years to plan that moment I came to an improbable idea: “I wonder if I how I would maximize the bang-for-the-buck on my first could get Jon to be overall director (with final say)… then add feature. I had no idea if I could make it happen, but I had another ‘actor’s director’ on set? Is that even possible?” I had a game plan. And this is how we managed to save 75% on just the person in mind, Padraic Lillis, who not only directed what KOK would have cost had it been a straight ahead me on stage but also in a previous short film “Hand Over studio production, without sacrificing production value. Hand”. So without batting an eye I presented the solution to Jon, as in “I have an idea and I’d like to take you and The first issue was a great set of producers. First I hired Padraic out for a meal to discuss what I have in mind… using Daniel Sollinger, whom I had worked with on a reshoot the best of both your prior experiences to make 1 + 1 = 5”. for a previous film. We hit it off immediately; he had decades of experience in this category. Then I added They both agreed to meet. They hit it off (thank god), Jenn Gomez. We worked together on several short and they agreed to work together to maximize the films and she impressed me so much with her instincts. visualizations / design (mostly Jon) and the performances (mostly Padraic). It was a match made in heaven. Jon Next was “The Big Kahuna”; a great director who was aces brought on a really top-notch crew that normally worked visually as well as a versatile “actor’s director”. It was on Episodic TV ten months of the year. He also brought on the lynchpin to success and the search was not easy… A a wonderful DP (Saade Mustafa) with 20 years experience director like this is either “expensive” or else “not available”. (and a truly creative and generous personality). Jon also Time was short. I had just sent out invites for DP’s. One worked closely with the producers to get top people on who responded immediately was Jon Delgado, whom I board. The approach was brilliant. Doing episodic TV worked with on a previous short “Bada Bing Bada Boom”. can be a grind and there’s little room for creative input His DP credits were top notch, working decades in film and because of the speed of shooting, but it pays really well. TV production. I greatly admired his results. I sent him the Well enough that, during their off season (roughly April to script. He came back immediately and said, “let’s meet”. mid-June), some of these very talented men and women enjoy being on a project that allows them to add so At that meeting there came the moment where I asked much more creatively even if it’s at a lower “Indy” scale. Jon to DP our film. Suddenly he pops back, “I got another idea for you. How about I direct the film?”. Inside my The result? Jon and Saade were able to concentrate on brain I was thinking as quickly as possible, “Well, Jon’s got the shots while Padraic would walk quietly onto the set the contacts in the business to really get the quality I’m between takes and take us, as actors, where we needed looking for, that’s huge. And I totally admire his “eye” for to be for 100% authentic performances. I trusted both of composition. But there’s that issue of ‘actor’s director’.” I them implicitly and my faith was 100% justified. I couldn’t knew firsthand from my time decades ago, as a bi-coastal have asked for a better team of crew and actors on my commercial director, that the hardest thing to learn in first feature. And yes, we’re currently writing a sequel. this craft is not the visuals, but rather communicating

26 www.filmfestinternational.com 27 THE ENEMIES First of all, let me ask you what became your I think my long term experience as a manager served me motivation to leave a successful career as a with a good starting point. In my opinion a director is a man financial specialist and move to filmmaking? who does nothing but explaining to crew what he wants to I spent 22 years in finance and one sunny day decided to receive from the given scene. If you can do that, you will take time out, reassess my life style. During this period I succeed. At least in my case this postulate worked well. had been thinking a lot whether to stay in my current What was for you the main constraint during profession (which by the way was very hard) as I was shooting process, if any? already 41, or to do the job of my dreams – shooting a (Laughs) To sit in the basement next to the set 14 film. After a short discussion with myself I came tothe hours during 10 days. Now I know what is hell. decision that shooting film would be better. I started to Do you have in your family circle anyone engaged fulfil my goal – wrote a screenplay and shot my first film. in this field? What was the trigger for writing and shooting No. I am the first. this film? As it says it is inspired by a true story? Thank you very much for your time. Good luck in your future projects. I had a story from my friend which was based on true events Thank you very much. and after reading some books about writing, I started to search out people who could help me with shooting. luckily after long research I found a production studio, which got interested in my screenplay and we made the movie. I liked the cast very much. Could you tell me how did you find them, was it difficult to work with them? From the beginning I was positive with whom I wanted to see on the set. no castings at all. Difficulty? No. Both actors were well aware what and how to perform. Minor intervention from my side. In couple of words – what is the movie about? Humanity first of all, even during the war man has a choice – became a beast or stay human. Secondly I wanted to show part of caucasian traditions and thirdly I would show the brutality of war. Could you tell our readers your future plans in filmmaking? I have a couple of screenplays at my disposal. Both written by me, I will try to raise money for shooting. You came to filmmaking without studying in any school of the industry. I can guess how difficult it must have been to start and what is more important to finish a project. I think my long term experience as a manager served me

28 FILM: THE MAGAZINE • MILAN • DECEMBER 2019 FULL CIRCLE Interview by Ciara O’Neill. He’s being called Ireland’s answer to ‘Robert Rodriguez’ and with over 20 job roles to his name for his award-winning first feature film ‘Full Circle’, that may not be too far from the truth. “I guess you just have to do what you have to do” Noel Brady said. “Full Circle is probably a €200’000 production and I had to make it with just €2’000, so you do what needs to be done’. And this was no exaggeration, with 30 locations and shot over nearly two years you can see in the final cut just how this film should have being a 200K production. “But I have to say that as hard and as long as the journey was, it was all so very much worth it to pick up ‘Best Director’ at this years ‘International Film Festival’ in London, I’m still pinching myself”! When asked what crew he had, “For the most part I had just a sound- op and make-up, occasionally I would have an AD and a camera assistant, but mainly just sound and make-up. It certainly made it a challenge and was far from ideal, but this was the only way I could the get the film done”. The film features Gaza a little, how did that come about? “The main character Malcolm Walker (Michael Bates) was always going to be somehow involved in the media. At one point he was a Dr.Phil type character, then a Jerry Springer, but back in the summer of 2014 Gaza was in the news a lot. And when I started to research it I discovered that ‘Hamas’ had used these tunnels for centuries to ferry a host of items, this seemed like an ideal situation/ location for my film and would reflect well with the dark interior of the ancient neolithic site of Newgrange in Ireland”. So this brings us to Travis Sear, played by Mark Schrier who was nominated for ‘Best Lead Actor’ at this years ‘International Film Festival’ in London. How did his character come about? “When I first started writing the film I had no idea what it was about, I just wrote this very small scene with these two characters of Malcolm and Travis that we meet in the film. I had worked with both Mark Schrier (Travis Sear) and Michael Bates (Malcolm Walker) on a short I madecalled ‘True-D’ a few years earlier, so I knew what they were both capable of acting wise, and I guess it just went from there”. Without giving too much away, Aliens are kind of hinted at in your film, did you have a close encounter yourself at some stage? “Well not really, the only thing I ever experienced was some odd lights in the sky one night that all of a sudden took off at a phenomenal speed and all without making a sound, but so far ET hasn’t knocked on my door, at least not yet!” Tell me a little about the production end of things on your film? “I shot the film on a ‘Blackmagic PocketCinema Camera’ that I picked up second-hand on Ebay, but I also used two different types of phones, a DV camera, a DSLR and a Go-Pro. Different scenarios call for different cameras in the film and I think that the different look that each camera gives adds a little variety to film as well. Lighting was mainly these 300 LED lights I got off Amazon, again all very modest as far production goes, but hopefully I used them to the best Icould” How about Gaza, I imagine your budget didn’t cover the cost of travel? “No, not really. For those scenes we built a set in a disused boardroom on the outskirts of Dublin. Luckily one of my actors “John Duggan” who plays Ross Stapelton in the film is a builder as well and had access to some old building materials and he helped build the set as well. After that I just tried to be clever with my angles and lighting and I think it worked out pretty good in the end”. So what’s next for ‘Full Circle’ and Noel Brady. “Back in Ireland our flag ship film festival, the ‘Galway Film Fleadh’ is coming up so fingers crossed ‘Full Circle’ will be part of the line-up. As for me I’m busying workingon my next script, a very different type of story about a ‘Witch’, so it should be a pretty interesting journey ahead.

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TOMBEAUX Genre: Game, Video Game, Serious Game, Interactive Film, Educational Game, Documentary Game A short, interactive historical narrative experience set in a his- torically accurate 3D environment. Explore the convergence between cultures and the environment across a few hundred years of American history. This "video game" is often referred to as an interactive film or serious game.

www.filmfestinternational.com 33 THE PEASANT OF THE DANUBE by Jean de La Fontaine Written and directed by Jean-Arneau Filtness Revolt ! The Peasant of the Danube oppressed We worked together for one year long when, some by the antique Rome fights for his rights. day, I heard of The Peasant of the Danube on a cultural broadcast: its ideological message – about Given the current situation of the world (from an freedom and justice, about equality – was ageless, economical, ethical, ecological perspective) it is of utmost breathtaking, incredible. Several months rehearsals were importance to listen to the voice of one of the French required to complete our final shooting preparations. literature’s masters, Jean de La Fontaine (17th century): before the antique Roman senate, the Peasant of the Danube Following the very same concern, my new cinematographic gives a grandiose speech for the freedom of his people. work is a personal adaptation of my absolute favorite Italian literature’s masterpiece, Dante’s Divine Comedy... This movie project was born when I met the french comedian Jean Peyrelade for the very first More information and contact on www.jean-arneau- time. From this day, I had no other option but filtness.com and/or instagram.com/jean.arneau.filtness to work with him on a personal motion picture.

34 FILM: THE MAGAZINE • MILAN • DECEMBER 2019 HAIMEN DEPTH SYNOPSIS The story is about Mr. Mai Ye(the sculptor) returned to his hometown and stayed in the "Gudacuo Residence" which the owner is Ms. Mingyue(the Spokesman of the Cultural phenomenon of Huian’s Female), they re- motivated three families(two generations) past complicated events. In love and orgiveness they awakened Dali that had PTSD of 20 years which achieved self-redemption and mutual salvation.

DIRECTOR BIOGRAPHY Yongchao Li (Bruce Lee) From Huizhou, Quanzhou. Doctor of Economics, Screenwriter and Director. He has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Independent Director of Hong Kong-listed companies. He is the founder of Hong Kong's “China Capital” magazine (now renamed “China Financing”). He also joined the Xiamen Writers Association in the early 1990s and published a lot of poems and reports. He published cultural book " Civilization and Ecology - Civilization Propositions of Contemporary China", "The Lost Heaven" (published by Hong Kong Zhonghua Book Company Press), etc.

Credits: Written and directed by Yongchao Li Consultant: Xiaoyu Zhang Producers: Yuan Chen Xianfu Zhao Co-producer: Baoning Wang, Huiti Wu, Weiqiang Yu and Deqiang Xu Line Producer: Ke Mi Director of photography: Jijun Liu Tao Liu Art Director: Yingming Zhang Production director: Xinjian Wang Music Composed by: popcan Starring: Ziquan Wang and Yue Yang Starring: Muyi Chen, Chunmei Wang, Bo Tian, Jin He, Yongchao Li and Xiaohong Huang.

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SHIRONAM Immediately after joining a news channel as cameraman Abhin was assigned to cover Ronchordji, the most dreaded terrorist, accompanied by veteran reporter Sujit secretly. A bike-rider picked them up into the jungle from a specific spot. However the slated meeting was declared cancelled by two armed men on the way. They decided to stay back. Next day Abhin left the hotel to capture the landscape as it had a distinguished clarity, but didn’t return ; neither could he be contacted. Paranoid Sujit intimated his immediate senior. Concerned authorities conducted an emergency meeting and concluded the incident as abduction by the terrorist due to a previous threat on media. Actually authority was in a hurry to capture the moment for a sensational breaking news than to find out the truth. Next day their arc rival channel scooped out the news of his inglorious death in a road side red light area. Emotionally broken, mentally perplexed, socially ostracized Anandi, Abhin's wife, stood alone in this crossfire of truth, half truth and lie. Anandi seemed to be a classical media war victim, who finally started to fight her own battle. Director’s Profile: Indranil Ghosh Official nominated in Madrid for best director in foreign language, film won best actor in foreign language in Madrid film festival. Got best director in Kalasamridhi festival India. Druk Festival Got best film for the month of November (Bhutan).Official Selection in LIMPA, LASVEGAS FILM FESTIVAL, NEWHARVEST IN RUSSIA. JIFF IN INDIA

36 FILM: THE MAGAZINE • MILAN • DECEMBER 2019 JESUS RIDES A HARLEY A most peculiar short film from filmmaker Michael Boston, who also plays one of the leads... he is Jesus (or is he) in this romantic comedy that obviously takes chances and doesn't compromise on its way to a warm thoughtful message and quite a few laughs along the way, Jesus, is, as the Bible depicts, quite human and in this little story he can be vulnerable to loneliness, can be attracted to a Los Angeles working girl, can perform magic tricks even if some only work just some of the time, and rather than long journeys by foot, this Jesus gets around the sprawling LA metroplex on what else but a Harley Davidson. A lot going on here, so much so that it has room to be a feature film but Boston has brilliantly compressed it into a 29-minute version. This is Boston's latest short after debuting with the powerful and quite disturbing short Dress Rehearsal abouta struggling LA actor, and following up a year later with the socially-conscious The Guitar, an honest look at drug addiction, former rockstars and homelessness in the same city. This new one won't make one squeamish but it may cause you some laughing spells. J.C., as this Jesus is referred to, appears at the front door of Zalina, played by Kay Wilson, who just happens to be searching for romance via online dating, and after a few alcoholic CAST: Michael Boston, Kay Wilson, Shannan Leigh Yancsurak, Alex Borbon, Julia Pels, Piankhi Iknaton, beverages. He's here to answer an ad for a motorcycle Calvin Benuto, Malachi Ryan, Micah Mobley, Kofi Baffour, Jasmine Reid, Timo Gates, Samuel Whitehill, Keith Mills, Julian R. Booth, Ronald Allen and Maria Quezada. part but what she sees in her mind, is Jesus, albeit one FILMMAKERS: Michael Boston (Writer/Director/Producer), Joanna Easton (Producer/Makeup), Roger Williamson (Producer), Diane Eaton (Producer), Felipe Borges (Cinematographer), Pedro Gonzales Kuhn (Editor/Colorist), Sequoia Thompson (First Assistant Director), Denise Ambroggio (First Assistant that could also be biker, and immediately wonders if God Director), Jocelyn Chang (Production Assistant), Kevin Santiago (Sound), Ralph Laurence Mariano has sent him to cure her loneliness and perhaps break out (Gaffer), Neil Basconcillo, Artist) and Sage Wells (Studio Teacher). some real Friday night romance for her. He's oblivious to this but he's nonetheless smitten and intimacy is found between the two before a hilarious interruption and a parting of the ways. What ensues is neighborhood speculation about this stranger and Zalina doubting her choices but something now sparks J.C.'s magic and he starts to look at LA as a much friendlier place. Maybe he sticks around and proves himself worthy to her. And just maybe he'll give his doubters a nice dose of faith along the way. This is a well-structured story and what Boston does with his clever writing is not attack the Catholic church but rather takes tiny pokes and jabs, in a friendly way, and uses what is in front of him. And a couple of celebrity references pop up to add to the fun.

www.filmfestinternational.com 37 38 FILM: THE MAGAZINE • MILAN • DECEMBER 2019 MIRACLE OF LIFE PRODUCED BY: D. KHATRI WRITTEN BY: D. KHATRI DIRECTED BY: DILIP KHATRI Children are a blessing. They are truly "gifts from God". Whether you have ever wanted kids or not, no one can deny their existence confirms "our existence" after we are gone. "Miracle of Life" is the true story of a critical question we all face: LIFE or DEATH? The factors of the decade's old question of: If every child with a potential defect Abortion or Life. In 1973, the legal case of [physical, mental, psychological] Roe v. Wade eliminated the restrictions on was to be aborted, think about all of Abortion in America, which lifted the liberty the wonderful people that would have of any Woman to seek an abortion legally in never been born: the United States. A pivoting moment in the Stevie Wonder [born blind, famous singer] history of women's rights, the legal issue of Ray Charles [born blind, famous singer] abortion doesn't end there Stephen Hawking [physical retardation, famous physicist] and continues till today. Franklin Delano Roosevelt [crippled explores this Miracle of Life after birth, President of the United States] issue from the real perspective of the Elizabeth Taylor [excessive Director'sown eyelash length, famous actress] experience with the child birthing Joaquin Phoenix [lip defect, famous actor] process in an American Hospital. After Megan Fox [clubbed thumbs, famous actor] experiencing 9 ultra sound tests, the hospital doctors all advised they should go through an abortion because the child may be born with a birth defect: Spinabifoda. Spinabifoda is the result of a deformed spine that could lead to mental or physical retardation. Now in their 3rd month, they are faced with this question of Life or Death? Should the pregnancy be terminated or they risk the birth? Doctors and medical The list is endless, and WHO is the person to institutions refused to make this decision? Doctors? Family? It's NOT put any of their recom- for us to decide who lives or dies. This is a miracle left to only one decision maker, our Creator: God. mendations in writing or Dr. Khatri is a Professional validate their concerns. Structural Engineer, PhD, former professor, and consultant, This is a primary cause of whose ambition to create quality documentaries that address unique stress and disturbance topics has led him to make this to the family, which is film for the public to absorb this deeply personal story about his explored in Miracle son. Dr. Khatri's documentary is made with both artistic, creative, of Life. and technical knowledge in mind to keep the audience engaged while explaining a complicated mix of emotions involved in this personal story.

www.filmfestinternational.com 39 DRESS REHEARSAL Michael Boston's haunting tale of an out-of-work actor in Los Angeles brings into focus how far some artists will go to further their self discovery in the shoes of another person. His film Dress Rehearsal brings us the plight of Abner Trust, a poor man's version of a Daniel Day-Lewis, if you will, who takes auditions just as serious as the filmed performance itself. Abner Trust will likely be that character long before he walks into a casting director's office and this just maybe his downfall. Not everyone's comfortable with this approach and in the real world, this can be downright dangerous.

Set specifically in the seedier side of Hollywood, Boston's Trust has just been offered to only read for the role of a cross-dresser in an upcoming feature film but he'll totally immerse himself in CAST: Michael Boston, John Haegele, Piankhi the research, the transformation and ultimately Iknaton, Danny Apollo Bruce, Mark Valeriano, the character. But only he knows this. An Elisabeth Granli, Samuel Whitehill, Eddie atmosphere of sexual predators, violent misfits Shan, James Adam Tucker, Lena Evans, Roslyn and a curious public await him and might not McKinney and Helga Mara. know he's just another desperate soul and might just find him attractive enough as a feminine FILMMAKERS: Michael Boston (Writer/ figure. Ultimately, he'll have to survive the night Director/Producer), Steven Jared Mangurten in a side of this glamour town that most people (Director of Photography/Colorist), Rebecca do not know exists. Grace (Editor), Joanna Easton (First Assistant Director), Helga Mara (Second Assistant Boston's script is brutally honest and executed Director), Adam Marquez (First Assistant with a fine cast and the cinematography, by Camera), Yuki Yoshimatsu (First Assistant Steven Jared Mangurten, is quite beautiful. Camera) Minami Moriyama (Second Assistant Editing is another plus for this presentation, Camera), Carter Kovacs (Second Assistant handled by Rebecca Grace. Overall, the Camera), Andrew Pouch (Key Grip), Saman production value is excellent. Yaghmai-Aledavoud (Gaffer), Edo Brizio (Colorist), Ramon Cortes (Boom Operator), Suffice to say, this film is suited for a mature Conrad Scheepers (Sound Editor), Ricky Flores audience only. (Makeup) and Elena Petrova (Set Photographer).

Written by Jennifer Levin

40 FILM: THE MAGAZINE • MILAN • DECEMBER 2019 www.filmfestinternational.com 41 INNOCENT PRISONERS A first Chinese film focuses on survival state of persons who were sexually assaulted in childhood. Based on a true story. SYNOPSIS A contradictory, controversial, sensitive, scarce and topical film. Lu Jing and Song Qingge, who had been sexually abused in childhood, have been unable to walk out of the shadow of nightmares. Two seemingly excellent and beautiful persons had fallen into a extremely absurd, weird and degenerated life. Lu Jing and Qingge became close friends and lived together. They relied on each other, sorrowed for each other's wounds. However, because of their different life attitudes and encounters, the trajectory of their life turned to different ends. One lives, one died. A first Chinese film focuses on survival state of According to the experiences and the endings of the two persons who were sexually assaulted in childhood. heroines, this film shows that even they experienced the What the film wants to say to the victims: same pain and frustration, the different life attitudes will lead to different life. It shows the painful game in human You can never forgive your abuser, nature, between the destruction after revenge and the but you must forgive yourself. rebirth after forgiveness. To open a door from despair to You didn't do anything wrong. hope, it gives a positive demonstration about life attitude.

Starring: Elena Tong · Rocky Shi · Luan Leiying · Zhong Xiaodan Director: David Dai Screenwriter: Catherine Liao Chief Producer: Jin Can Executive Producers: Cai Rongqing · Xiao Ling Presented by: SICHUAN BLOSSOM OF BANYAN TREE PICTURES CO.,LTD. SICHUAN YINGSHI CULTURAL MEDIA CO., LTD.

Contact information CP:86-135 6893 3641 E-mail:[email protected] ADD: 7-9, unit 2, building 1, No. 99, Lower East Street Section, Jinjiang District, Chengdu City, S i c h u a n Province ,China. P.C.,:610011

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www.filmfestinternational.com 43 FESTIVAL EVENTS

FESTIVAL PROGRAM

Scan or visit: worldcinemamilan.com

FILM: THE MAGAZINE • MILAN • DECEMBER 2019 FESTIVAL EVENTS

Friday November 29th Friday December 6th Saturday December 7th Meet and Greet at the Hotel Bar Closing Night Film Awards Night from 8:30pm “Living My Illusion” Welcome drinks at 5pm with After Party Sponsored by Seated at 6pm Saturday November 30th Rozoy Picot, Luxury Cannabis Networking at the Hotel Bar Wine at 7:45pm from 8:30pm Saturday December 7th Wednesday December 4th Workshop “How to Distribute Professional Panel Q&A in in China” by Screening Room 1 from 8:00pm Johana Shao at 11am Followed by Networking at the Saturday December 7th Thursday December 5th Conference “The Billionaire You Had Me at Page 1 Filmmaker; How to access your Scriptwriters creative genius” by Workshop from 8:00pm Tony J. Selimi at 12:30pm Distribution Workshop with Ray Davies from 9:00pm

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