Month: October 2024

Emergency Musical Response: Part 1 – Journey to Netherworld

BEST ARTHOUSE PILOT TV/TELEVISION SCRIPT

Artists and Aliens

BEST SCI-FI & BEST FILMMAKER

SONNETS (words in despair)

BEST FEATURE SCRIPT

An impossible secret

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY (Category: Narrative Short) & BEST DIRECTOR

Remnant

BEST PICTURE, BEST INTERNATIONAL NARRATIVE FEATURE & BEST SCREENPLAY

The Assassin’s Apprentice 2: Silbadores of the Canary Islands

BEST INTERNATIONAL FILMMAKEER, BEST ORIGINAL EDITING, BEST INDIE SHORT FILM & BEST CASTING DIRECTOR

Routine

BEST ARTHOUSE AMERICAN PRODUCER, BEST ORIGINAL SHORT & BEST CINENATOGRAPHER

In a Whole New Way

BEST ORIGINAL DIRECTOR & BEST EDUCATIONAL FILM

Change The World

BEST INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY SHORT

Monument to Love

BEST PRODUCTION COMPANY, BEST INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR, BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE & BEST ORIGINAL EDITING

Balkan Jazz

BEST INDIE FILMMAKER & BEST ARTHOUSE DOCUMENTARY

Idiopathy

BEST INTERNATIONAL ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Omnipotent Resolution

BEST EXPERIMENTAL MUSIC VIDEO, BEST DANCE FILM, BEST ORIGINAL SONG & BEST ARTHOUSE SINGER

The Priory of Sion

BEST EUROPEAN FEATURE SCRIPT

Not Yesterday, Today!

BEST ORIGINAL NARRATIVE SHORT, BEST ARTHOUSE EDITING & BEST SCREENPLAY

Cosmic Light

BEST INTERNATIONAL SINGER OF THE YEAR & BEST ARTHOUSE DIRECTOR (Category: Music Video)

Dojo

BEST DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR, BEST ORIGINAL NARRATIVE SHORT, BEST ARTHOUSE EDITING, BEST ACTION MOVIE & BEST INDIE SCREENWRITER

Ye Ole Glorya

BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT COMEDY

Big Momma Earth

BEST DIRECTOR & BEST PRODUCER (Category: Comedy)

“Only You Can Save Her,” pilot teleplay of series THE BOY WHO EARNED HIS MAGIC

BEST ORIGINAL TELEVISION SCRIPT

Uncle Franco’s Birthday Suit

BEST INTERNATIONAL WRITER & BEST FEATURE SCRIPT

The Stones of Rome

BEST EXPERIMENTAL NARRATIVE SHORT & BEST ARTHOUSE ACTOR

The Pathos of Hamlet

BEST INTERNATIONAL FILMMAKER, BEST INDIE SHORT FILM & BEST EXPERIMENTAL CINEMATOGRAPHY

Not Without Gloves

BEST EXPERIMENTAL ORIGINAL PROJECT

Here To Stay

BEST INTERNATIONAL INDIE SONG

Artists and Aliens

BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT SCRIPT

I Swear

BEST ARTHOUSE MUSIC VIDEO

Because We Are Too Many

BEST INIDIE NARRATIVE FEATURE, BEST CAST & BEST PICTURE

Eye of the Storm

BEST BIOGRAPHICAL FILM & BEST DIRECTOR (Category: Documentary)

BLIND FAITH: Moments of Missed Understanding

BEST ARTHOUSE EXPERIMENTAL SHORT & BEST INDIE CINEMATOGRAPHER

Can’t Figure It Out

BEST EXPERIMENTAL FILMMAKER OF THE YEAR

Prison With Open Dors

BEST INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY SHORT

Sheldon Mashugana gets stooged

BEST INTERNATIONAL COMEDY

The Dead Ringer

BEST ARTHOUSE FEATURE SCRIPT

Non temere

BEST HUMAN RIGHTS SONG WRITER & BEST INDIE MUSIC VIDEO

Ricchezza vera

BEST EUROPEAN ORIGINAL SONG

The Mountain

BEST ARTHOUSE CINEMATOGRAPHY & BEST ORIGINAL SCRIPT

Dragul and Forbes

BEST ORIGINAL WRITER (Category: Feature Script)

When the Withered Leaf Awakens

BEST ORIGINAL NARRATIVE FEATURE

Thankful

BEST ARTHOUSE FEATURE SCRIPT, BEST SCREENWRITER & BEST ORIGINAL IDEA

Believe In You

BEST ORIGINAL FIRST TIME DIRECTOR

The Demon

BEST INDIE ACTOR & BEST EUROPEAN FILMMAKER

Cate and the Garden Bandits: The Musical

BEST INDIE SHORT SCRIPT

Who Are These Bugs

BEST INDIE SONG

French Broad

BEST INTERNATIONAL TELEVISION SCRIPT

Tony N’ Tina’s Wedding

BEST AMERICAN DIRECTOR & BEST ORIGINAL PROJECT

L’amour est temps de reflets

BEST EUROPEAN SHORT FILM & BEST ARTHOUSE EDITING

Brushstrokes
BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM & BEST DIRECTOR (Category: Animated Project)

Hot Afternoons HaveBeen in Montana

BEST INTERNATIONAL VIDEO POETRY

Colombano & La 21Esima Fetta

BEST EUROPEAN INDIE FILM

Coraggio

BEST INTERNATIONAL SUPER SHORT FILM

Voyeur

BEST INDIE FEATURE SCRIPT

Atlas of Uncertainty

BEST INTERNATIONAL INSPIRATIONAL PROJECT & BEST SOUND DESIGN

Nossos Caminhos (Our Paths)

BEST INTERNATIONAL INDIE FEATURE SCRIPT & BEST ARTHOUSE SCREENWRITER

Luzinete

BEST INDIE SHORT & BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY SHORT

The Esteemed Priority

BEST INTERNATIONAL ANIMATED SHORT

It’s the Gravy

BEST ARTHOUSE COMEDY

Not a Thing

BEST ORIGINAL FIRST TIME DIRECTOR

A Survivor Amongst Survivor’s PT 1

BEST INDIE DOCUMENTARY

Tumble Weave

BEST INDIE ORIGINAL SHORT FILM & BEST INDIE PRODUCTION COMPANY

Der Rote Klang

by Elisa Quarello

BEST ORIGINAL NARRATIVE SHORT, BEST DIRECTOR & BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Where The Paper Boats Go

by Konstantinos Xanthopoulos

BEST LGBTQ+ FILM & BEST EDITING

Apart

by Luca Pirero

BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM, BEST ORIGINAL STORY, BEST CAST & BEST INDIE PRODUCTION COMPANY

A Hollywood Mom Short

by Verva Gerse

BEST ORIGINAL FEATURE SCRIPT & BEST INTERNATIONAL WRITER

Miss Dress

by Panos Boras

BEST ORIGINAL FILMMAKER & BEST ARTHOUSE LGBTQ+ FILM

Special INDIE Event at MIA, International Audiovisual Market 2024, Rome

Dojo

BEST INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR (Category: Narrative Short Film), BEST SCREENWRITER, BEST ORIGIONAL ACTION MOVIE & BEST CASTING DIRECTOR

Not Without Gloves

BEST INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR (Category: Experimental Short Film), BEST INSPIRATIONAL SHORT FILM & BEST ARTHOUSE CINEMATOGRAPHY

The Pathos of Hamlet

BEST ORIGINAL INDIE NARRATIVE SHORT, BEST CINETOATOGRAPHY & BEST AMERICAN INDIE PRODUCER

The Stones of Rome

BEST ORIGINAL DIRECTOR

Alta California

BEST INTERNATIONAL SCREENWRITER

The Mongrel

BEST ORIGINAL TELEVISION SCRIPT

Uncle Franco’s Birthday Suit

BEST ARTHOUSE AMERICAN FEATURE SCRIPT

Monument to Love

BEST INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY & BEST ORIGINAL CINEMATOGRAPHY

Balkan Jazz

BEST INDIE FILMMAKER & BEST ORIGINAL STORY

The Assassin’s Apprentice 2: Silbadores of the Canary Islands

BEST ARTHOUSE FILMMAKER, BEST INDIE SHORT FILM & BEST ORIGINAL CINEMATOGRAPHY

Routine

BEST CAST, BEST INDIE DIRECTOR, BEST SCREENWRITER & BEST INDIE SOUND DESIGN

Searching for Camelot

BEST PRODUCER & BEST DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

Remnant

BEST ORIGINAL NARRATIVE FEATURE, BEST FILMMAKER, BEST SCREENPLAY & BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER

The Esteemed Priority

BEST ORIGINAL ANIMATED PROJECT

Non temere

BEST SONG WRITER, BEST EUROPEAN SINGER & BEST HUMAN RIGHTS MUSIC VIDEO

Thankful

BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE SCRIPT, BEST ORIGINAL WRITER & BEST ORIGINAL IDEA

Hoot Afternoons Have Been in Montana

BEST INTERNATIONAL VIDEO POETRY & BEST EDITING

Cataclysm Down – Under Part 1

BEST ARTHOUSE DIRECTOR

Ye Ole Glorya

BEST DIRECTOR & BEST ORIGINAL COMEDY

Big Momma Earth

BEST PRODUCER & BEST INTERNATIONAL COMEDY

SONNE- Never let me go

BEST INTERNATIONAL INDIE FILMMAKER

Colombano & La 21Esima Fetta

BEST ORIGINAL INDIE FILM & BEST ARTHOUSE FILMMAKER

Canovaccio

BEST EUROPEAN INDIE DIRECTOR & BEST LGBTQ+ FILM

The Priory of Sion

BEST INTERNATIONAL INDIE WRITER

The Addends – Numeri Ardenti

BEST EXPERIMENTAL INDIE DIRECTOR

Eye of the Storm

BEST ORIGINAL DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

Cabaret Cuba

BEST INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

The Demon

BEST EUROPEAN ACTOR

Luzinete

BEST INTERNATIONAL SCREENWRITER & BEST ORIGINAL INDIE SHORT

Nossos Caminhos (Our Paths)

BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE SCRIPT

Wave Man

BEST EUROPEAN FEATURE SCRIPT

Roll the dice

BEST INDIE EXPERIMENTAL PROJECT

2020: life and death of a virus

BEST PRODUCER (Category: Experimental Short)

PAULA’S DAD and the right button in his head

BEST ARTHOUSE SHORT FILM

Giulietta e Romeo?

BEST INTERNATIONAL FIRST TIME DIRECTOR & BEST SCREENPLAY SHORT

Etnoragù

BEST EUROPEAN NARRATIVE SHORT

The One Arm Bandit

BEST ARTHOUSE COMEDY

Independent cinema is shrouded in fog. What does “independent cinema” mean after all? A low-budget movie? Cinema free from masters, be it politics or the lobby of the moment? My point of view is simple: making independent cinema means being true to myself. Giving life to what I feel. Being willing to do anything to give it life. I am lucky that a small production, “The Shadows Factory” allows me to realize my projects. Respecting the atmospheres I see. Trying to involve the faces I see from the moment of writing. I admit it: I need to have control. Control over locations. Control over stage design. Control over costumes. Control over so many things. I try to take care of everything that can represent a saving on expenses. My second film, Katabasis” is a very personal film. Maybe too much. Already in my first film, “Santa Guerra” I had a role as an actress. In “Katabasis” for an infinite number of reasons I had to be the leading actress. This required a great effort. I’ve been tied up in every way for days, I was grabbed by the neck a total of 78 times, I had wax poured on me for two afternoons, I put out a cigarette in the palm of my hand for 4 times, I stayed in a grave for hours, lots of nude scenes, lots of sex scenes… Well… All these things were the least difficult. There was an even stronger emotional component. And after 2 months I was tired, emotionally destroyed. I was so tired that everything that happened off the set seemed like a parallel life to me. And in this parallel life, one day I saw open an heavy window. It was closed. The impact was very strong. Apparently, however, I only had a little bruise. The makeup solved everything. It wasn’t like that. The days after, I couldn’t see clearly. I blamed it on tiredness. I continued. When I was behind the camera, I couldn’t “focus” anymore. I blamed it on tiredness. And then I was becoming intractable. I didn’t trust other people’s focusing. I had come to trust only my mother’s eyesight. And she’s not an operator or a focus puller. Until, on December 7, 2023, I shot the final scene of the film as an actress. I remember that day that I didn’t feel well and that I asked to repeat the scene more than 50 times. In the end, I closed my left eye with one hand. I couldn’t see anything with my right eye. There was an emergency visit to the hospital. My eye was flooded with blood. The doctors were confused.

For ten days, serious illnesses were hypothesized and ruled out. The cause was simpler and was discovered during eye surgery: after a few days, the impact against the glass had created a hole in the retina. Problem solved. In January, other problems began. This time in my left eye. Between January and October, I had at least eight hemorrhages in my left eye. On October 14, I had surgery. I hope this is the end of a nightmare. All this because of a collision that I didn’t give importance to. Or at least, not the importance it deserved. This experience of mine means nothing. I don’t deserve applause because I took a risk the eyes to make a movie. I’m certainly not a hero. I’m just a person who loves cinema. In fact, I love independent cinema. And when I’m involved in a movie, it comes before everything else, even myself. I think it should be this way. And I think it shouldn’t be forgotten this when you want to become a director (in this case also an actress) of an independent movie.

Out of State-A Gothic Romance

BEST INTERNATIONAL NARRATIVE FEATURE, BEST STORY, BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY & BEST DIRECTOR

Aneyshia

BEST INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR (Category: MUSIC VIDEO) & BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Cherzoso The Silent Film

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTHOUSE SHORT FILM & BEST ACTRESS

The Dead Ringer

BEST ORIGINAL FEATURE SCRIPT & BEST INDIE WRITER

Trebbia’s last Hero

BEST INTERNATIONAL INDIE DOCUMENTARY SHORT

Reawakened

BEST INTERNATIONAL BOOK

Eternal

BEST AMERICAN WRITER

Not Without Gloves

BEST EXPERIMENTAL  DIRECTOR & BEST INSPIRATIONAL SHORT FILM

The Assassin’s Apprentice 2: Silbadores of the Canary Islands

BEST INTERNATIONAL NARRATIVE SHORT FILM & BEST ORIGINAL SCREENWRITER

Routine

BEST AMERICAN DIRECTOR, BEST INDIE ORIGINAL ACTING & BEST INDIE PRODUCER

Amen-Amen-Amen: A Story of Our Times

BEST INDIE DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

Paradox

BEST ARTHOUSE SCI-FI

The Girl Made of Earth and Water

BEST INTERNATIONAL SUPER SHORT FILM

Brothers of Babylon

BEST ARTHOUSE FEATURE SCRIPT, BEST INDIE WRITER & BEST ORIGINAL IDEA (Category: International Feature Script)

An impossible secret

BEST INTERNATIONAL ORIGINAL SCORE & BEST INDIE FILMMAKER

Voyeur

BEST INTERNATIONAL SCREENPLAY

Ricchezza vera

BEST EUROPEAN SONG & BEST SONG WRITER

The Girl Who Faded Away

BEST INTERNATIONAL INDIE MUSIC VIDEO

Dojo

BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM, BEST ACTION MOVIE, BEST THRILLER & BEST CASTING DIRECTOR

THE BLANKET – Die schwarze Decke

BEST INTERNATIONAL ANIMATED SHORT FILM & BEST EDITING

Remnant

BEST INDIE FILM & BEST INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR

The Pathos of Hamlet

BEST INSPIRATIONAL SHORT FILM & BEST ORIGINAL FILMMAKER

The Stones of Rome

BEST INDI CINEMATOGRAPHY & BEST ORIGINAL PRODUCER

Emergency Musical Response: Part 1 – Journey to Netherworld

BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT, BEST FILMMAKER & BEST INDIE PRODUCTION COMPANY

Hate Can Kill

BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT DOCUMENTARY

Hot Afternoons HaveBeen in Montana

BEST ORIGINAL VIDEO POETRY

Eye of the Storm

BEST INDIE DIRECTOR (Category: Documentary)

Omnipotent Resolution

BEST ORIGINAL SINGER, BEST CHOREOGRAPHY, BEST ARTHOUSE SOUND DESIGHER & BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTHOUSE MUSIC VIDEO

Monument to Love

BEST HUMAN RIGHTS DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

Thankful

BEST ORIGINAL WRITER & BEST ARTHOUSE FEATURE SCRIPT

I Waited for You

BEST ORIGINAL EXPERIMENTAL DIRECTOR

In a Whole New Way

BEST EDUCATIONAL FILM

Luzinete

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY & BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY SHORT

Errata in blue

BEST EXPERIMENTAL INDIE FILMMAKER, BEST EDITING & BEST ARTHOUSE PRODUCER

Entangled

BEST EDITING & BEST ORIGINAL STORY

Uncle Franco’s Birthday Suit

BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE SCRIPT

The Mongrel

BEST PILOT TV/TELEVISION SCRIPT

Nossos Caminhos Roteiro

BEST INTERNATIONAL INDIE SCREENWRITER

Artists and Aliens

BEST ORIGINAL SOUND DESIGN

L’Amour est temps de reflets

BEST INDIE SHORT FILM

Blind Faith: Moments of Missed Understanding

BEST EXPERIMENTAL PROJECT

Can’t Figure It Out

BEST ARTHOUSE FILMMAKER & BEST EXPERIMENTAL SCREENWRITER

Ye Ole Glorya

BEST COMEDY

Big Momma Earth

BEST DIRECTOR (Category: Comedy)

In Search of A P-I-G

BEST PICTURE, BEST INDIE DIRECTOR & BEST CAST (Category Narrative Feature)

Rough Shot

BEST AMERICAN FEATURE SCRIPT

The Taste of Rain

BEST ORIGINAL NOVELIST

Walking In Memphis

BEST INTERNATIONAL TELEVISION SCRIPT

Fire Flies

BEST ARTHOUSE FEATURE SCRIPT

No Porn Avocado

BEST ORIGINAL COMEDY SHORT

Anything You Lose

BEST AMERICAN DOCUMENTARY FEATURE & BEST ORIGINAL EDITING

I Swear

BEST ARTHOUSE DIRECTOR (Category: Music Video)

American Phantasmagoria

BEST INDIE BOOK

Remnant

BEST INTERNATIONAL NARRATIVE FEATURE, BEST ORIGINAL DIRECTOR & BEST SCREENPLAY

What Kind of Day

BEST INTERNATIONAL DRAMA

Anything You Lose

BEST ARTHOUSE PRODUCER & BEST INDIE DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

Out of State-A Gothic Romance

BEST INTERNATIONAL PICTURE

The Assassin’s Apprentice 2: Silbadores of the Canary Islands

BEST ORIGINAL FILMMAKER, BEST NARRATIVE SHORT FILM & BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER

Routine

BEST INDIE DIRECTOR, BEST SCREENWRITER & BEST EDITING

Not Without Gloves

BEST ARTHOUSE CINEMATOGRAPHY, BEST INDIE DIRECTOR & BEST EXPERIMENTAL SHORT FILM

Tony N’ Tina’s Wedding

BEST INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR & BEST ARTHOUSE PROJECT

Eye of the Storm

BEST DOCUMENTARY (Inspired by a True Story) & BEST FILMMAKER

Blanche

BEST INDIE FILM

Thankful

BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE SCRIPT & BEST ORIGINAL IDEA

THE BLANKET – Die schwarze Decke

BEST ANIMATION & BEST ORIGINAL EDITING

Dojo

BEST NARRATIVE SHORT, BEST ACTOR OF THE YEAR, BEST PRODUCTION COMPANY & BEST ORIGINAL STORY

Alta California

BEST ARTHOUSE WRITER & BEST ORIGINAL FEATURE SCRIPT

“Only You Can Save Her,” pilot teleplay of series THE BOY WHO EARNED HIS MAGIC

BEST TELEVISION SCRIPT

Monument to Love

BEST ORIGINAL DIRECTOR, BEST INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FEATURE & BEST ARTHOUSE PRODUCER

Ye Ole Glorya

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY & BEST INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR (Category: Comedy)

Big Momma Earth

BEST ARTHOUSE COMEDY & BEST CAST

The Order

BEST EXPERIMENTAL FILM & BEST ARTHOUSE DIRECTOR

Nossos Caminhos (Our Paths)

BEST INDIE FEATURE SCRIPT

Luzinete

BEST SCREENWRITER, BEST INDIE FILMMAKER & BEST ORIGINAL SHORT FILM

Cosmic Light

BEST ARTHOUSE MUSIC VIDEO & BEST ORIGINAL SONG

Am I a painter?/Czy jestem malarzem?

BEST ANIMATED SHORT

The Stones of Rome

BEST EXPERIMENTAL NARRATIVE SHORT & BEST ARTHOUSE ACTOR

The Pathos of Hamlet

BEST INTERNATIONAL FILMMAKER, BEST INDIE SHORT FILM & BEST EXPERIMENTAL CINEMATOGRAPHY

Hot Afternoons HaveBeen in Montana

BEST VIDEO POETRY OF THE YEAR

Omnipotent Resolution

BEST INTERNATIONAL MUSIC VIDEO, BEST DANCE FILM, BEST ORIGINAL SONG & BEST ARTHOUSE FILMMAKER

The Liminal Space

BEST EXPERIMENTAL CINEMATOGRAPHY & BEST ARTHOUSE INDIE DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

Saban Bajramovic- My Journey

BEST EUROPEAN DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

Artists and Aliens

BEST INTERNATIONAL SCI-FI & BEST INDIE ORIGINAL PROJECT

The Call Center

BEST PILOT TV

Fire Flies: The Golden Dragon

BEST ORIGINAL FEATURE SCRIPT

Fire Flies

BEST INTERNATIONAL NOVELIST

Limitless in Las Vegas

BEST AMERICAN WRITER

Lucky in Long Island 2

BEST AMERICAN FEATURE SCRIPT

An Ever After Drama

BEST NARRATIVE SHORT

Running Out Of Time

BEST MUSIC VIDEO & BEST SOUND DESIGN

Embrace Disruption

BEST EXPERIMENTAL FILMMAKER & BEST ORIGINAL EDITING

Emergency Musical Response: Part 1 – Journey to Netherworld

BEST EUROPEAN MUSIC VIDEO

Giulietta e Romeo?

BEST INDIE SHORT & BEST FIRST TIME DIRECTOR

Brothers of Babylon

BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE SCRIPT

Not Without Gloves

BEST EXPERIMENTAL DIRECTOR & BEST ARTHOUSE PRODUCER

Hot Afternoons Have Been in Montana

BEST INTERNATIONAL VIDEO POETRY

Cate and the Garden Bandits by Betsy Coffeen

BEST INTERNATIONAL BOOK & BEST ORIGINAL WRITER

The Quest for Camelot

BEST ARTHOUSE PRODUCER & BEST ORIGINAL DIRECTOR

The Lost Village

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Hotel Purgatorio: Room 917

BEST WE/TV SERIES & BEST ORIGINAL INDIE DIRECTOR

The Four Of Us Are Dying

BEST ARTHOUSE FEATURE SCRIPT

Ye Ole Glorya

BEST DIRECTOR (Category: Comedy) & BEST ORIGINAL EDITING

Big Momma Earth

BEST SCREENPLAY & BEST ARTHOUSE COMEDY

Fire Flies

BEST AMERICAN FEATURE SCRIPT

Artists and Aliens

BEST INDIE SONG & BEST INTERNATIONAL SCI-FI

Dreams Of Aqua Marine

BEST EXPERIMENTAL PROJECT

Shattered Rainbows

BEST INDIE FEATURE SCRIPT

The Call Center

BEST INTERNATIONAL PILOT TV

Who Are These Bugs

BEST INDIE SONG

A Pilgrimage Into Tibet

BEST INTERNATIONAL FILMMAKER (Category: Documentary Short)

Precious the Baby Dragon

BEST INDIE WRITER & BEST MANUSCRIPT

Risveglio Planetario

BEST EUROPEAN INDIE MUSIC VIDEO

5 Marzo1955 una canzone per Carla

BEST ARTHOUSE SUPER SHORT FILM & BEST FILMMAKER

THE BLANKET – Die schwarze Decke

BEST ANIMATION & BEST INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR (Category Animated Short Film)

The Assassin’s Apprentice 2: Silbadores of the Canary Islands

BEST FILMMAKER, BEST NARRATIVE SHORT FILM & BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER

Routine

BEST INDIE DIRECTOR, BEST INTERNATIONAL SCREENWRITER & BEST PRODUCER

Love Is My Gun

BEST ORIGINAL MUSIC VIDEO

The Horror Filmmaker’s Handbook: Creating Terrifying Cinema

BEST INDIE WRITER (Category: Book/Manuscript)

Out of State A Gothic Romance

BEST INTERNATIONAL NARRATIVE FEATURE, BEST DIRECTOR, BEST CASTING DIRECTOR & BEST PRODUCTION COMPANY

Atlas Of  Uncertainty

BEST INTERNATIONAL SOUND DESIGNER

Say My Name

BEST ARTHOUSE SHORT FILM, BEST FILMMAKER, BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY & BEST CASTING DIRECTOR

An impossible secret

BEST INTERNATIONAL DRAMA & BEST FILMMAKER

In a Tamasic World

BEST INDIE SONG & BEST ARTHOUSE MUSIC VIDEO

The Golden Years

BEST INDIE DIRECTOR & BEST ARTHOUSE NARRATIVE SHORT

Remnant

BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE, BEST INTERNATIONAL CINEMATOGRAPHER & BEST PRODUCTION COMPANY

Dojo

BEST ORIGINAL NARRATIVE SHORT, BEST INTERNATIONAL ACTOR, BEST ACTION MOVIE & BEST ACREENPLAY SHORT

Dylan Brody’s Driving Hollywood

BEST INDIE COMEDY

Sinestesìa

BEST ORIGINAL MUSIC VIDEO & BEST ORIGINAL SOUND DESIGN

Alta California

BEST ARTHOUSE SCREENWRITER & BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Pirandello’s Wife

BEST INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS FEATURE SCRIPT

Camino de Santiago – The Pilgrims Speak

BEST ORIGINAL DOCUMENTARY SHORT

Ischaemic

BEST ARTHOUSE FEATURE SCRIPT

Nika

BEST INDIE NARRATIVE FEATURE

The Visitors

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Emergency Musical Response: Part 1 – Journey to Netherworld

BEST ORIGINAL DIRECTOR (Category: Short Film)

Alchemy On The Amstel (III)

BEST ORIGINAL EXPERIMENTAL SHORT FILM & BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER

1991. Who is your Neighbor?

BEST ARTHOUSE DOCUMENTARY

Greta GarBitch: A true story of life loss light and love

BEST ARTHOUSE BOOK & BEST AMERICAN WRITER

TutuTango

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY (Category: Video Poetry)

Omnipotent Resolution

BEST SONG, BEST DANCE FILM, BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTHOUSE SHORT & BEST SINGER

Luzinete

BEST INDIE SCREENWRITER & BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTHOUSE SHORT FILM

Connor and Sonia

BEST ARTHOUSE FEATURE SCRIPT

Eye of the Storm

BEST INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FEATURE & BEST DIRECTOR

Prima del Giorno Dopo

BEST CAST & BEST INDIE FILM

Colombano & La 21esima Fetta

BEST EUROPEAN INDIE DIRECTOR & BEST ORIGINAL EDITING

Blind Faith: Moments of Missed Understanding

BEST INTERNATIONAL EXPERIMENTAL FILM & BEST INDIE PRODUCER

Can’t Figure It Out

BEST EXPERIMENTAL FILMMAKER & BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Aneyshia

BEST ORIGINAL SONG, BEST INDIE MUSIC VIDEO & BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTHOUSE SINGER

Anything You Lose

BEST AMERICAN DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR, BEST ORIGINAL EDITING & BEST ARTHOUSE DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

Lacrime di Vento

BEST EUROPEAN INDIE PRODUCER & BEST EDUCATIONAL SHORT FILM

Thankful

BEST FEATURE SCRIPT, BEST ORIGINAL WRITER & BEST ORIGINAL IDEA

The Stones of Rome

BEST EXPERIMENTAL NARRATIVE SHORT & BEST AMERICAN ACTOR

The Pathos of Hamlet

BEST ARTHOUSE INDIE FILMMAKER, BEST INSPIRATIONAL SHORT FILM & BEST EXPERIMENTAL EDITING

Monument to Love

BEST INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR & BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

Balkan Jazz

BEST PRODUCER & BEST FILMMAKER (Category: Documentary Feature)

Promised

BEST ARTHOUSE SHORT

Catalysm downunder

BEST INDIE FILMMAKER

Life’s Mapped Out

BEST ORIGINAL INDIE SHORT & BEST INDIE PRODUCER

Man in the Mountain

BEST ORIGINAL SCI-FI

-What and who has inspired you the most in your artistic career?

I have been blessed to have had many great people in my life and teachers over the years but the one person that I am most grateful for inspiring me is my late fiancé and co-writer of my album, Erick. He changed my life and enriched it in such positive ways. To have unconditional love is a rare thing on this planet and I definitely don’t take that for granted. He knew my potential, he believed in me and I absolutely love the instrumental pieces of music he wrote for me. When he suddenly and unexpectedly passed away in 2007, three days after we got engaged, I got to see how strong I really was and decided to finish our project on my own. Our project was only half complete at that point and as I had so much emotion during that difficult time of grief I chose to find my courage and channel my heart and soul into the songs and write all the lyrics and melody. I was pushed so far out of my comfort zone and have since grown and learned so much about myself. Once again I got to put in practice all that I had honed as a child studying music to then watching Erick in the studio producing bands for years. Finishing my album by laying the vocal tracks and producing our album at Trackdown, Fox Studios was very important to me and definitely a magical experience I will never forget. I wanted to make him proud, complete our project and keep my promise I made at his bedside. And I have! The unique way this album has come to be is nothing short of miraculous and I feel very blessed. “Tragic Fairytale” is my homage to him and a very special song about love, loss and grief and a reminder to keep an open heart, despite the pain, because true love can never die.

-Every true artist is also a revolutionary against power. Do you think there is still room today to express one’s revolution through art?

Absolutely, I do. Creating my documentary short film Change The World and the soundtrack and seeing my art and life journey inspire people around the world and touch their hearts is such a wonderful gift that I am very grateful for. I have deep compassion for myself and every other woman who has suffered any form of violence and I am honored to use my voice for good and speak for those who can’t. My spirit couldn’t be silenced and to now be heard in every country is something so special and is very hard to describe. When I look back at what I have endured and the miracle of surviving the murder attempt to now having my voice heard and winning these special film festival awards is something I could never have imagined would happen! I vowed to make a stand and leave this world a better place than I found it and I am committed. Women are now finding their voice and self-worth and it is fabulous to see. I feel future generations will look back at this point in time with fascination, shock, and dismay and also awe at the courage women have shown by standing up and speaking out about the injustices and violence they have suffered since time immemorial. The social fabric is changing and I’m hopeful the momentum will continue and begin to move more quickly. I see the future in a positive light. I believe change is possible and that we are at the dawn of a new day. As more and more women are in leadership positions, the world will naturally become a more inclusive one and love will become the focus again. Violence will no longer be a silent global epidemic, all girls will receive an education, and helping others will become our primary goal. We have set the wheels in motion to ensure future generations have a safer and more equal world. My message is one of peace, love and unity and being an example of how to turn tragic into magic is the legacy I am creating. Power to the people and music is the universal language. One should always feel empowered to share their voice through art.

-We live in a world where, unfortunately, war still exists. Do you believe that if there were more dissemination of art through the media and social networks, the world would be a more peaceful place?

That is a every interesting and complex question. It breaks my heart to watch the news and see that war is still happening in the Middle East, Europe and around the world. To think that these atrocities are still happening on Earth in this day and age, is beyond my comprehension. Unfortunately, we live in a society that’s strucuture is built on power, and places such emphasis on status, wealth, beauty and fame. For independent artists of any genre, they are faced with the difficulty of having their work heard or seen in a market that is flooded and algorithms in place. I truly believe that peace starts within and we are all responsible for our own healing. That being said, art can definitely inspire the masses and cause a revolution. We are lucky to live in a time where we have social media and can be in control of our own destiny and choose to put our work out for people to find. If your voice is clear it will resonate and artists need to believe in themselves and create without the desire for an audience. The creative process for me is always organic and I have never been motivated by fame, money or others’ approval. I merely speak and sing from my heart and I am very grateful that I have been heard and am inspiring people. There is no greater joy for me than to know that what I have endured has not been in vain and in fact is touching hearts around the world. If that is what you call “a love revolution” then I can die happy knowing I made a positive difference in this world.

-Are you working on a new project? If so, can you give us a sneak peek?

I am working on a new documentary film right now and even though I can’t say too much at this point, I am very excited to share this film once completed. It’s in alignment with my documentary feature film tetralogy and women empowerment.

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By Michele Diomà

It was the spring of 2022 when I received a short movie that intrigued me from the moment I saw the movie poster. It was titled “The Fool.” I hadn’t even finished watching it before deciding that I would ask the two young filmmakers behind it, Darius J. Rubin and Yoshima Yamamoto, to collaborate on my next film to be shot in New York. When you come across hundreds of projects each week, as I do, you quickly learn to recognize the artists who shine with a unique light. I am very happy today to say that the film we worked on together between Manhattan and Brooklyn, O – the fiRSt mOvie by aN alien, is now in post-production. I am equally excited to present to the Wild Filmmaker Community the new project directed by Darius, with cinematography by Yoshima: “In Service”.

Here is an exclusive interview with Darius J. Rubin:

-When did you first fall in love with Cinema?

Ever since I was a kid, I always loved movies. I think when I really fell in love with it was high school, as I was getting older and my eyes started opening to the magnitude of life that I hadn’t been aware of before. This coming-of-age experience was paralleled by a new experience of movies, as a form of rebellion against the stiffness of the authorities in my life at the time, like school and parents. Movies from that time include Pulp Fiction, Dazed-and-confused, Searching for Sugarman, Big Lebowski, La Haine, Boogie Nights, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. These movies aren’t necessarily my all time favorites, they’re all great, but they were the types of movies I was watching at the time that Cinema started playing a very big part of my life. 

-Tell us about your last short “In Service.”

It’s set at a funeral, and revolves around a group of young people who have lost a close friend to Suicide. The film explores the cacophony of sounds and voices that populate the space, as people use the experience of grief as an opportunity to bring the conversation back to themselves. This competition for social clout (a very 21st century phenomenon), actively prevents people from expressing the necessary vulnerability to process their grief. We try to explore this by poking fun at the asinine ways we all behave these days in pursuit of social validation. 

–When did you realize that this story had to be made into a film?

I’m not sure if there was a specific point that I realized it absolutely had to be a film, but the idea for the story came to me from personal experience, one that stuck with me and shaped who I am, so I thought that, after completing my first film (the Fool), “In Service” had to be the next step. It represented my opinion on society at the time, which I would like to say has grown since, where I was very frustrated with the competition I saw between people on social media, the dopamine roundabout of happiness and despair that constitutes our daily lives, when so much of it is lived online. The experience of the funeral, where I witnessed such a sacred and deeply human event be dominated by this dopamine-grabbing crusade for social-relevance, was, I thought, a perfect example of how we are all missing the trick about what’s really important. And what’s that? The understanding that we are all in this together, none of us have all the answers, so let’s just be honest about that and have a better time. When we are all competing, something like that becomes impossible.

–Is there a person you would like to thank for helping you bring your project to life?

There are lots and lots of people to thank but I would like to point out two people specifically. Adrienne Weiss runs a program called Directing Actors. I did this for two weeks in the lead-up to shooting, and it revolutionized the way I understood working with actors, the backstory of characters, connecting to the specificity of what motivates a character to act in a certain way. Secondly, I would thank Dina Amer for encouraging to me connect with myself and my voice, and for always pushing me to go deeper into the motivations for each character and each scene.  

Do you think the Wild Filmmaker Community is helping to turn your dream into a reality?

How could I do it without you Michele!