Issue 005 - London 2016 by Film Fest International

Film FILM: THE MAGAZINE /FEB 2016

THE MAGAZINE

EVERYONE GETS SCR#@%D!

DEDICATED TO THE BUSINESS OF FILM

WELCOME TO THE INTERNATIONAL FILMMAKER FESTIVAL OF WORLD CINEMA LONDON 2016.

WELCOME TO THE INTERNATIONAL FILMMAKER FESTIVAL OF WORLD CINEMA LONDON 2016. Dear Filmmaker,

Firstly, sincere congratulations to all filmmakers and scriptwriters who entered their latest project into the International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema London 2016! With a full calendar from London to Milan stretching across almost an entire year, we are delighted that the growth we have seen in entries to all of our festivals has been extraordinary which of course, makes the judging selection so much more difficult, particularly as the quality of work entered is always of such an outstanding level! Part of this were sure is the inherent convenience and lower cost of very high quality digital equipment, so hopefully filmmaking can now be achieved at a much faster rate and of course, gives the opportunity to so many more potential and existing filmmakers.

Carl Tooney Publisher publishing@filmthemagazine.com Steve Grossmith Director of Marketing and Editor steve@filmthemagazine.com Chris Dawes Associate Editor chris@filmthemagazine.com Stephen Mina Graphic Designer/Illustrator stephen@filmthemagazine.com Dan Hickford Sponsorship & Marketing dan@filmfestinternational.com

All articles, including all editorial used in this publication (whether printed or digital) do not necessarily represent the views of any of the International Filmmaker Festivals representatives, staff or associates. No part of this magazine, whether printed or electronic may be reproduced, stored or copied without the express prior written consent of the publisher. Requests for permission should be directed to: publishing@filmthemagazine.com Although we make every effort to ensure all of the information in this publication is up to date and accurate the publisher takes no responsibility for any omissions or errors.

As a team, we all love the buzz that comes from meeting filmmakers at every festival and interviewing these artists either on camera or audio (for Podcasts). This is one of the most enjoyable parts of hosting our festivals because whether cast or crew, they always have the most amazing stories to tell and we have never been disappointed. In fact for the first time ever, over 50% of the available interview slots were booked prior to the start of London 2016, which is a wonderful testament to how we always try to go that extra mile. Being entertained and moved by a film or documentary is something that we want everyone to experience and this happens to be an industry which is often driven by passion, particularly from independent filmmakers. And as such, we admire this amazing art form known as film, and as always the creativity, vision and sheer talent that we see from filmmakers from all corners of the world is a true reflection of this passion. Have a wonderful Festival and were looking forward to meeting you all in London! The Festival Team.

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Actor/Director/Producer: Maria Soccor Co-Writers: Maria Soccor & Frank J. Orefice Jr.

Maria Soccor’s Lords of BSV receives four nominations for the International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema London 2016: Best Film Best Documentary Jury Award and Best Cinematography in a Documentary. Written by Ken Simmons. After winning nine major awards in 2015, Maria Soccor’s Lords of BSV kicks the New Year off with four nominations at the London International Film Festival 2016 (London IFF 2016). The award winning project is up for Best Film, Best Documentary, Jury Award, and Best Cinematography in a Documentary. It will screen February 24 at London IFF 2016. The new nominations continue the tremendous acclaim Lords of BSV has received in Europe as well as in America. It was named Best Feature Documentary at the Milan International Film Festival 2015, plus Soccor won Best Director of a Feature Documentary, and Lords of BSV was recognized for Best Music in a Feature Film, at the Madrid International Film Festival 2015. The film added to its list of honors by winning Best Documentary at the I FilmMaker International Film Festival Marbella in Marbella, Spain on December 8, 2015.

Lords of BSV tells the inspiring story of the breathtaking Brukup dancers in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of New York City. One of the world’s most esteemed movie critics, 30 year veteran Sandy Kenyon of WABC-TV Eyewitness News, applauds the powerful message of Lords of BSV. He says, “These performers are dedicated to making their community a better place by sharing what they know with the youngsters of BedStuy.” Referring to their Brukup dance, he adds, “The style made its way to Brooklyn in the 1990s, and now the veterans have revived it to keep kids away from gangs and heal their own pain.” The founder of the Documentary Channel, acclaimed Emmy Award winner and Academy Award nominated director/producer Tom Neff, calls Lords of BSV, “an example of the finest in documentary filmmaking today.” “It is a perfect marriage of in-depth content with a unique approach to form,” says Neff. “Maria Soccor followed her heart to create a unique vision of a unique art form while simultaneously developing a strong underlying theme of dance and art as a way out for inner city youth. Soccor’s documentary is a definitive refutation to the stereotype of the inner city youth as violent and uncaring; these young artists are focused, involved, and determined to make a difference.” Neff continues, “Lords of BSV is extremely visual and engaging, impeccably researched and presented, and inspiring to the audience.” Journalist Kim Jarrett from soulciti.com also raves about Lords of BSV. She writes, “No film compares to that in which first-time, groundbreaking director Maria Soccor reinvents film by standing with the Lords of Bed Stuy, New York, and pointing the lens at life,” says Jarrett. “Affirming that truth is more raw and magical than fiction, BSV’s Brukup dancers delight the eye and capture the mind with wit, will and charm. Soccor gives, gets much respect; this beautifully-produced documentary is an instant classic.”

“As a first time director, I am humbled that Lords of BSV has received national and international recognition,” says Soccor, who produced the short film, Play House, which was screened at the 2013 South by Southwest Festival (SXSW). “I am also very proud that our documentary is nominated for Best Documentary at London IFF 2016.” While Lords of BSV continues to gain accolades, Soccor’s short comedy Cinecoma, which she produced, has been picked up for distribution by Just the Story TV. Also, her new comic series SPEAR, illustrated by artist Rolo Ledesma, recently launched at the 2015 New York Comic Con in Manhattan. As an actress, Soccor has appeared in over 20 movies, including Playmakers of New Orleans starring Zoe Saldana as Tracey Austin, Saldana’s sister. Her television credits include NCIS New Orleans on CBS, Another World on NBC, and K-Ville on Fox starring Anthony Anderson and Cole Hauser. Soccor is also a trained dancer, and she was inspired to document the stars of Lords of BSV after witnessing their unique talents. “It is the most fabulous urban artistry I’ve ever seen,” Soccor says. “They are the most dynamic dancers in New York City.” Soccor’s goal in creating Lords of BSV was to erase the negative stigma and stereotypes about urban dancers. “Dance gives them dignity, a sense of identity, and keeps them from lives of crime,” she states. “There is tragedy throughout the entire film, yet the dance lifts them above the negativity surrounding them. Through dance, they find love for each other, and survive.” She adds that the art form has tremendous positive social significance. “Brukup is not just a dance, it is a culture,” she comments. “Through the art, the dancers overcome poverty and homelessness, becoming better people. BSV serves the community by keeping kids off the streets and showing them how to turn anger into the art of dance. Their dancing saves lives.” BSV provides a positive alternative to the negative spiral of street life, despite the lack of funding or facilities. “I want to show the world what they do, teaching students without classrooms, without schools.” says Soccor. “My dream is that one day they will have a school to truly nurture and spread their gift.” ABOUT LORDS OF BSV AND BRUKUP Created in 1998, the Bed-Stuy Veterans (BSV) became kings of the Brooklyn underground dance culture. They are revivalists of a dance style known as Brukup, which originated in Jamaica, West Indies in the early 1990s from George “Brukup” Adams. Brukup is a hybrid dance chronicled in the New York Times that incorporates bone breaking, connecting, pausing, popping, mutation, morphing, ballet and hip-hop, mixed with theatrical miming. www.LordsofBSVfilm.com Run Time 79 Mins

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THE PHOTOGRAPHY ON THIS PAGE FEATURES IMAGES FROM THE DOCUMENTARY “LORDS OF BSV”.

LORDS OF BSV

The international honors for the documentary directorial debut by actress/director/producer/comic creator Soccor follows five honors at American film festivals. In the United States, Lords of BSV was chosen Best Documentary at the 2015 Visionfest Film Festival in New York City and the Rahway International Film Festival 2015, received the Audience Award for Best Feature Documentary at the Hudson Valley International Film Festival 2015, and won the Jury Award for Best Documentary at the Long Island Film International Expo 2015. Also, Soccor received the Emerging Director Award at the Langston Hughes African American Film Festival 2015.

STRONGBOY Written & Directed By Keon Hedayti

THE REMAKE Writer/Director: Lynne Alana Delaney

“If you could do it all over again…would you”? Sure! Who wouldn’t want to go back for a second chance at that elusive something that had so much promise the first time around? Take another shot at a love that has the potential to make your life complete? Heck, yes!

Our two main characters, Sheridan O’Connor and Riccardo Rossi, might be able to give you just a few pointers on why not to let nostalgia win over common sense. When these two veteran actors are reunited to star in an updated version of their earlier film, the gloves come off and this Hollywood remake starts to look a lot more like a rematch. Sheridan and Riccardo, played by Lynne Alana Delaney and Ruben Roberto Gomez, were paired up in a cult classic in the 70’s when barely out of their teens. They go for round two in the world ring of moviemaking years later as they head toward the final round of their film careers. The production heats up as their on-screen sparring turns Director Frank Zelski into a reluctant referee. Not only are they in for a few surprises of their own as they begin to relive the past through their character’s eyes, but it’s a virtual smack down when they come face to face with what fate has in store for them in front of a live television audience on Larry King’s TV talk show. It becomes the perfect impromptu reality show as they are forced to bare all and face some long hidden truths.

The mother-daughter dynamics of Sheridan and her daughter Lori (played by Tessa Munro) turn the tables on tradition as Lori unwittingly tries to play matchmaker to Sheridan and the one person her mother never wanted to see again. Take a backdrop of filming a Hollywood movie within a movie, a bittersweet script of love lost/ love regained, throw in a few tragic secrets that inexplicably connect our star-crossed lovers, and you get a delightful throwback to the light-hearted Romantic Comedies of the 1970’s. Sheridan’s sharp-tongued sarcasm and Riccardo’s vulnerability only serve to highlight the inspiring theme that we should never give up on love.

As a first time Screenwriter on this project, Lynne Alana Delaney tackled her fair share of issues in addition to preparing for her role as Sheridan. Wanting to create a human story that would not only be a vehicle for their acting but appeal to a general audience was always a top priority. And, as with most independent films, it had to be the type of film that could be made within their limited budget. Given their short pre-production schedule, finding a Director who could relate to the characters on the page as well as the original writer became a further luxury they didn’t feel they could afford. Luckily, Lynne Alana Delaney found she was able to remake her own career as she seamlessly fell into the role of Director on this project. The finished product speaks for itself and Sheridan and Riccardo are more than ready for the next rematch!

This zany and inspiring Romantic Comedy is the first full-length feature film by Associated Artists Productions and a great tribute to never giving up on life or love. As with most true indie productions, The Remake has been a collaborative effort throughout. The husband and wife team of producers, Ruben Roberto Gomez and Lynne Alana Delaney and their fellow producer Timothy Delaney, wore a variety of hats during production hoping to create a film that would resonate with audiences everywhere. It doesn’t involve superheroes or superspies and there are no dramatic car chases, but has a simple, heartwarming storyline to which everyone can relate. The warmth and appeal of the female dominated family dynamics between Sheridan, her sarcastic sister Eileen, (played by Patrika Darbo of Mr. & Mrs. Smith) and her down-to-earth Aunt Peg (played by Sally Kellerman, of Mash) draws you into their rocky history while the contentious relationship between Sheridan and her mother Irene (So deliciously and evilly portrayed by veteran actress June Lockhart of Lassie/Lost in Space) add spice to the ancestral mix. Life has a great way of providing it’s own comic relief as we watch Ruben Roberto Gomez’ wonderful portrayal of his character, Riccardo, struggle with both the nuances of English and re-acquainting himself with just how tough Hollywood can be. If his agent, Marc (played by Robert Romanus of Fast Times At Ridgemont High) or the determined but firm Director, Frank Zelski (played by Timothy Carhart of Thelma and Louise) have anything to say about it, they will make sure Riccardo gets a few life-lessons along the way.

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Run Time 97 Mins

FROM TOP: JUNE LOCKHART, PATRIKA DARBO, SALLY KELLERMAN, RUBAN ROBERTO GOMEZ AND LYNNE ALANA DELANEY – THE O’CONNOR LADIES & GENT ON SET. CHECKING THE GATE DURING FILMING WITH PRODUCERS TIMOTHY DELANEY, LYNNE ALANA DELANEY AND RUBEN ROBERTO GOMEZ. LARRY KING AND KOMPANY.

Or maybe not?

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THE ANSWER Director: Pavan Kaul

The Answer is the true story of an American James Donald Walters, and his youthful quest for truth which took him from his birthplace in Romania, to Switzerland, England, and finally the United States, where in 1948 in Hollywood, California he had an extraordinary meeting with Paramhansa Yogananda, the great Indian Master author of Autobiography of a Yogi, a spiritual classic which remains the highest selling autobiography in all languages since 1946. The book was also lately in the news when Steve Jobs, revealed that he read it every year for the past 12 years and gifted it to his closest circle before he passed on. Does the universe have a purpose? What’s the purpose of life? Great visionaries throughout time have declared that there is in fact a reason behind existence, known intuitively by those who reach heightened states of awareness. But the question remains, how can a normal person reach these higher levels of consciousness? The young Donald Walters explored these existential dilemmas which were answered finally under the aegis of his Guru Paramhansa Yogananda known as the father of Yoga in the West.

to India) who essays the role of Yogananda, the movie is an unforgettable visual and emotional experience. Swami Kriyananda, who wrote the script and also composed all the music for THE ANSWER, departed for his Heavenly abode on 21st April 2013 in Asissi, Italy “I think the reason for this movie being important is not because it’s about a person. My life is not important, but what is essential to consider are the things I have been through in seeking what everybody seeks. People think they are looking for money, for love, success, fame, and so on, but beyond that everyone is looking for happiness, since ultimately we all come from bliss.

To me, anything I can do to bring back divine bliss into people’s lives, the more worthwhile my own life will have been for me. I want to work towards this cause, up until my last breath. I think this movie will be a priceless legacy, worthy of being treasured in all ages”. ~ Swami Kriyananda (1926-2013)

This film then is the saga of his anguished search, of his momentary illuminations and dark nights, of his determination to never give up, and of the winding path that lead him to the presence of his spiritual master. In his quest, we recognize the eternal search of every individual; through his inner battles, the discovery of our own inner strength; in his attunement with the expanded vision of his master, the hope for our own illuminations. The Answer, is a motion picture that presents, for the first time on the cinematic screen, one of the most widely-known and revered spiritual Masters of our times, Paramhansa Yogananda, through the living testimony and in the own words of his direct disciple Swami Kriyananda who lived with him, and vowed to carry his light to future generations. A first in the genre of movies about a true Guru Disciple relationship, the message it carries, is Universal. The film is a period piece; set in the 1920’s through to the 1950’s and was filmed across the U.S.A and Europe. Featuring an ensemble cast headed by Victor Banerjee (David Lean’s A Passage

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www.movietheanswer.com Run Time 108 Mins

THE IMAGES ON THIS PAGE ARE STILLS FROM THE FILM “THE ANSWER”.

Having spent his entire life in dedication to his Master’s teachings, he later came to be known as Swami Kriyananda the world renowned teacher, author, music composer and founder of the worldwide Ananda Community.

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Official Online Selection

Germany 2016

FILM: THE MAGAZINE /LONDON/FEBRUARY 2016

DIRTY GAMES THE PHOTOGRAGHS ON THIS PAGE WERE TAKEN DURING THE MAKING OF “DIRTY GAMES”.

Filmmaker: Benjamin Best

Even before the latest FIFA scandal took place, one thing was quite clear: that international sport is governed by fraud, corruption and manipulation. Like a cancerous growth, fraud and deception have infiltrated sports, creating fertile breeding ground for all kinds of criminals. And it is always a question of millions of Euros, or rather milliards of Euros, Francs and Dollars.

cians, corruptible sportsmen and women, powerful sponsors and people involved in organised crime. This film, which draws upon very personal stories by protagonists from all over the world, shows how the system operates, and it gives those who are protesting an opportunity to speak out against the system. In the process, it also exposes new and sinister wheeling and dealing in the world of sports.

The documentary film ‘Dirty Games’ deals with soccer, NBA basketball and boxing. Outwardly, sport seems to bring nations together and to create trust – and it also functions beyond social, cultural and religious boundaries, creating a sense of identity, an emotional home and a source of conversation for millions of fans. The award winning investigative journalist Benjamin Best (CNN Journalist of the Year 2011) takes a global look behind the scenes at the colourful world of sports and exposes the bitter taste behind the multi-billion sports business. From Europe to the USA. From South America to Asia. The sincere passion of the spectators stands in marked contrast to the deceptive mixture of greed, and of corruptible and power-mad officials, influential politi-

HOPSCOTCH Writer/Director: Shomshuklla Das

benjaminbest.de Run Time 90 Mins

For the first time I shot the whole film through the camera lenses and controlled the actors each and every movement. It was stunning, that this kind of exercise can happen, that the actor can take such instructions while acting.

THE PHOTOGRAGHS ON THIS PAGE WERE TAKEN DURING THE MAKING OF “HOPSCOTCH”.

The fascinating filmmaker Shomshuklla Das, explains how her latest film “Hopscotch” was created

It is my third feature, and as a filmmaker, I feel each new project needs to be different, otherwise the creative journey can get boring. It is written by me and directed. I was on a flight between Delhi and Mumbai and was restless to write something. I wrote the script in a 2 hour flight! That itself was a challenge. Thus the film started with challenges which are of course lovingly created. One solo actor, experimental with sounds and effects. But I loved the journey as a creative person because it was so tough. Not only that we shot the film in two days from 8am to 8pm. It was an intoxicating experience. Everyone in the team was energized. Sohini mukherjee, the actor is from the stage, thus she could perform without a break, though I kept on feeding honey and dry apricot to keep her sugar levels up, so that she doesn’t collapse. We remember at the end of the shoot the whole team was so exhausted we all collapsed on the floor.

As it is a psychological horror, thus I used props like soft toys and added elements like ankle bells, without the sound of the bells and top. To create a sense of eeriness, I introduced the hat to be used in a very unique way as well as the mirror. I am highly influenced by European films and I just wanted to create something that I have learnt all of these years. www.cuttocut.com Run Time: 86 Mins. FILM: THE MAGAZINE /LONDON/FEBRUARY 2016

JAREEDY Writer/Director: Mohamed Hisham

The Filmmaker behind “Jareedy”, Mohamed Hisham, explains how this fascinating film came to be made. PLEASE CAN YOU TELL US YOUR BACKGROUND? My name is Mohamed Hisham and I am an independent filmmaker currently living in the city of Dubai. I started my work in creative editing in Egypt and then made my move to the UAE. In 2010 I decided to launch my filmmaking career to be able to express my ideas and reach a greater audience. DID YOU ALWAYS WANT TO BE A FILMMAKER? My passion for Filmmaking started in my early teenage life, there was no apparent reason for my choice but I felt as though it was my calling, an urge that motivated me later on to embark on this career path. As with everything else, it wasn’t easy at the beginning, I faced many obstacles and difficulties, but these setbacks only became the driving force for me to achieve my goal and here I am today, with my second film “Jareedy” and hopefully it will not be my last!

Also, the scene where the boy was standing on the rock was one of the major challenges as we needed a solo shot of him and nothing else in the frame, but since the Nile is very wide in this area we had to film on boats, which resulted in the cameras shaking and not enough light sources in the middle of the body of water. WHERE DID YOU FIND THE OTHER MEMBERS OF YOUR FILM TEAM AND HOW DO YOU KEEP THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM RUNNING WELL? The entire staff were present in Egypt, except for Ghalia Ben Ali, she was in Belgium and of course I was in Dubai, we would communicate via phone and the Internet to complete preparations for the film. Most of the crew are working in the production business in Egypt and enjoy high professionalism; we have also created strong ties and friendships amongst the team. The song was composed and recorded in Belgium, where Ghalia made a great effort in completing it in the Nubian Language (FTM: please see below for an in-depth interview with Ghalia who was kind enough to elaborate on this). This film wouldn’t have been possible without the support and confidence of Filmedia (Ahmed Kardous) and The Cell (Wael Farag). I truly thank them for their faith in me and my abilities. Also, not forgetting to mention Ashraf Mahrooqi and Samo Riera who are considered two of the best directors of photography in Egypt and whom I also consider my friends.

WE OFTEN WONDER WHY ANYONE WOULD WANT TO MAKE A FILM; IT CAN BE A VERY DIFFICULT PROCESS - WHAT DRIVES YOU? Passion. It’s the only thing that drives us and gives us the motivation to overcome the difficulties and obstacles. As I said before, humans are constantly trying to answer the question of “what is my purpose in life?” The driving force of this search will always be passion. It is the keyword of our purpose and if it didn’t exist we will not achieve anything with our lives. WHAT ROLE HAVE FILM FESTIVALS PLAYED IN YOUR LIFE SO FAR AND WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE THEM TO SHOWCASE YOUR FILM? International film festivals are a good opportunity to network and exchange experiences from different cultures. It also gives independent filmmakers the chance to present their work in addition to giving many directors room for developing and improving their work especially the good and important projects, it is here where the evolution process begins.

WHERE DID THE IDEA FOR MAKING “JAREEDY” COME FROM AND WHY WAS YOU SO PASSIONATE ABOUT MAKING THIS FILM? No one really knows where ideas come from, I think with meditation and immersion in different subjects one becomes prone and more sensitive to receiving inspiration and ideas, which i consider to be messages or gifts from the universe. I’ve paid Aswan and Nubia several visits, it was there that I was introduced to the “Jareedy” which is a small boat Nubian children create with their own hands. This to me represented the means to conquer the fear of the river Nile. Also, the nostalgia the Nubians carried around for their sunken land left a huge impact on me. Knowing that there is no way of returning to their homeland someday compelled me to direct this film and tell this story. PHOTOGRAPHICALLY, THE FILM HAS A WONDERFUL LOOK TO IT, VERY VIBRANT IN PLACES, HOW DID YOU CHOOSE THE LOCATIONS? I spent a year and a half travelling between Dubai and Cairo then to Aswan and Nubia to scout for the perfect locations for the film. The region is distinctive for its magical nature, between the river Nile and the granite rocks, the desert sands to the forests of green trees. During this period, I took many photographs that helped me determine where to film my scenes. I also familiarised myself with the residents of the area and cast some of them to be my main actors in the film, no actor can deal with that nature the way they can, as it all lies at the heart of their culture, this was all intended to maintain the credibility of my story. WHAT WAS THE MOST DIFFICULT PART ABOUT MAKING THE FILM? Dealing with the actors was the most challenging part of this project as they didn’t really know the story of the film but were instead following my instructions in both performance and dialogue. The language of the film is the Nubian language, which is a language that I do not understand; I actually had to record audio files and number them according to each scene in order to be able to work on editing the film, which was a very difficult process.

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WHAT MESSAGE WERE YOU TRYING TO CONVEY TO YOUR AUDIENCE WITH “JAREEDY”? I want to say dreaming is an experience that exists amongst all the inhabitants of this planet and we’re still to find out if we are following that dream or if it is haunting us. Dreamers must listen to that persistent voice inside their heads, as our subconscious knows what we do not. This is why before facing the world we have to initially face our fears, therefore, we all have our own “Jareedy”, it is our means to cross over to the other side. IN THE FILM, GHALIA BENALI HAS TO SING A SONG IN NUBIAN, HOW AND WHY DID YOU CHOOSE HER, PARTICULARLY AS SHE DOES NOT SPEAK THE LANGUAGE? I believe in the law of attraction; when you are a firm believer that you will obtain something, the universe has its way of bringing it right to your doorstep. This affirmation brought me and Ghalia together despite her being Tunisian and not Egyptian and didn’t speak the Nubian language. Her drive was passion and as I said before, passion is the keyword to success. She believed in this project and was exceptional in her contribution to this film. She also believed in the Nubian cause whereas many Nubian artists didn’t.

PLEASE CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR NEXT PROJECT? I am currently working on a new feature film, but still looking for funding. It will be titled “The Bridge”. This film is inspired from my personal experience of the Egyptian revolution that took place in 2011. I was standing on Qasr Al-Nile Bridge and witnessed the huge conflict that occurred between the police and the people, an event that had the whole world watching. The idea of this film depicts the transformation of a person trying to cross from one side of the bridge to the other. This person that was at one end of this infamous bridge in the afternoon never to be the same once he has finally made his journey to the other side onto Tahrir Square, a transition that occurs in just three hours.

The well known Tunisian singer Ghalia Benali, tells FTM how she came to be part of “Jareedy”.

THESE PAGES FEATURE IMAGES FROM THE FILM “JAREEDY”.

HOW WERE YOU APPROACHED TO BE IN “JAREEDY” - HOW DID IT HAPPEN? It was through a common friend of Mohamed who put us in contact, his name was Weaam Ismael, who wrote the lyrics of “Jareedy” in Arabic and it was beautiful poetry that he wrote and he thought that I would be the best person cast to put it to music and sing. So I was contacted and then I sent in a first trial and was then asked to add more and more specific things and Mohamed had a kind of rhythm in his head and he wanted this translated to music and the first proposition to Mohamed was a kind of blues, because Nubia to me is already Africa, very quiet and very slow – but also with a kind of sadness, a kind of separation. But then we talked with Mohamed again and he was talking to me about the kind of fiction, but it wasn’t about Nubia but about the story of a little boy and that the idea for the story came to him when he was in Nubia but actually the story could be set anywhere. WERE YOU UNSURE ABOUT ACTUALLY WORKING ON “JAREEDY”? I wasn’t scared, but actually in the beginning I refused. And I said to Mohamed that the dialect and language is a whole culture, the whole civilisation and I wasn’t sure that I could do it at the start. Then I listened to the song everyday and then Mohamed sent me a video with a Nubian singing the song and I tried to imagine their daily lives and then looked into the history of Nubia, And for me singing that one song – Abeyessa – was really the most difficult part but I loved the song and I loved the people and the civilisation and dialect. HAS THIS EXPERIENCE HELPED YOU AND HAS IT MADE YOU MORE CONFIDENT? Of course! To sing in Spanish, in Turkish I was already kind of confident and although my heart was beating I loved this thing and I thought it would take time but OK, I can do it. And of course it took a lot of effort, trying to catch the soul of this but because I loved it I could do all of these things! Run Time 28 Mins FILM: THE MAGAZINE /LONDON/FEBRUARY 2016

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I KNOW YOU Filmmaker: Colin Gerrard

SYNOPSIS This film does not push the envelope of cult personality and distortion of media; neither does it break the bonds of false exaggeration. Rather it enfolds it. It’s a game of confidence.

THE IMAGES IN THIS SECTION ARE TAKEN FROM THE FILM “I KNOW YOU”.

What if you couldn’t tell the difference between what was real and what was not? What if you could get away with something and everyone seemingly believed you? Sometimes it doesn’t matter who you are, it’s who they think you are.

Politicians, reality TV, and people with positions of power are what we look at for reasons to why some are never telling the truth. Society sometimes puts more faith in fame then substance. Just ask a lot of children these days what they want to be when they grow up, a lot of them will tell you; “I want to be famous”. Would you want to be famous and have the public follow your every movement, everyday? This narrative fiction film should have you guessing about what is real...and what is not.

www.7colliproductions.com Run Time 8 Mins

UNSOLICITED MATERIAL Writer/Director: Andre Muse

Aspiring comedian Ed Surname videotaped his life 24/7 for 20 years to share if following a childhood dream was the meaning of life or an unrealistic waste of time.

ALL IMAGES IN THIS SECTION ARE PART OF THE DOCUMENTARY “UNSOLICITED MATERIAL”.

The line between fact and fiction has become so blurred in society today that being able to discern between what is real and what is not has becoming increasingly difficult.

Made from the 10,000 video tapes he left behind, this documentary explores the illusion of fame in society, the role of money in happiness and the dilemmas of artistic ambition. You’d be forgiven for thinking this is just a personal story, when in fact it’s a satire on show-business and all performers. This is where it breaks the mould; it’s not a “mockumentary”, but instead is real footage of a man’s real life, edited satirically.

The documentary’s viewpoint is that what goes on inside a performer is quite different to what they project externally and that society shouldn’t provide the show-business career ladder that rewards its climbers with fame and fortune when they really need something else to make them happy.

Starting as a teenager, Ed creates a reality-sitcom just for fun where his camera shoots an exaggerated version of himself interacting with the public. But with the camera on 24/7, the lines between Ed’s performances and real life become blurred. Ed eventually needs the show to succeed to support his growing family, a predicament he tries and fails to confront himself about in the mirror. When rejected by hundreds of companies who refuse unsolicited material, publicity attempts become ridiculous, like filming intros on the roof of a furious neighbour’s house. Two scenes are so insane we won’t describe them, but you’ll laugh like never before. The project evolves into a demystification of show-business; the lows behind the highs of paydays and fanfare. Unsolicited Material fools you into thinking it’s all silly capering, leaving only those open to deeper psychoanalysis to watch the real story play out. Ed always planned to share cocktails on the beach with his wife when the project finished. The documentary alternates between Ed’s journey from childhood to adulthood and footage of his last month chasing fame in London, narrated by a talk with his childhood influence Andre. How can an ending so sad also be so happy? Run Time 118 Mins FILM: THE MAGAZINE /LONDON/FEBRUARY 2016

Writer/Director/Producer: Bulent Gunduz

BULENT GUNDUZ, the Filmmaker behind Kurdistan-Kurdistan, give’s FTM a fascinating account of the story and background to his latest film that is in competition in London.

SYNOPSIS Set during the1990’s at a time when the Kurdish language was banned in Turkey, Kurdistan-Kurdistan tells the story of Delil Dilanar, a famous Kurdish singer, who had to flee his Kurdish village in Turkey (Northern Kurdistan) to escape from persecution simply because he had sung Kurdish songs at a wedding. Twenty years later, at his concert in New York City, he announces that he has decided to return to his home country. When Delil finally returns to his birthplace, his family and hundreds of his fans welcome him and despite the overwhelming joy of being united with those that he left behind, he cannot escape the feeling of loneliness and alienation. During his twenty years of exile, Delil’s beloved grandmother had passed away, his nieces and nephews who were only a few years old when he fled have grown into their twenties, whilst at the same time he was meeting others for the very first time. Delil overcomes his unexpected feeling of alienation when his family surprises him by inviting his music master, Egîdê Cimo, from Yerevan, Armenia to join them. After his arrival in the Serhat, which is Delil’s birthplace and a region in Kurdistan, Master Cimo then passes on his secret to his successor, Delil. During a stroll in Serhat Region’s plateaus, meadows and rivers which have always been a source of inspiration for Dengbejs (in Kurdish tradition this is those who have

After Master Cimo shares his secret, Delil begins to celebrate by sharing his beautiful songs, those songs that have always intertwined the reality of his country, Kurdistan and Kurdish people’s struggles, lost childhood, forced migration, and the longing for freedom. Kurdistan Kurdistan - On the film and the “cinema of reality”. In this film, the actors or rather the real characters play themselves and thus embody themselves. The radio used during filming is the same one that uncle Delil used in the 1990’s to listen to Radio Yerevan. In fact, everything was done so as to give the appearance of reality to the film. The twenty years that a mother spent waiting for the return of her child needed to be emphasized as was an incredible scene in which the mother gives her son a bath when he is forty, as if with the cleaning and the washing she wanted to free herself of the weight of those twenty years of waiting. This bath will give him a “balm” to the heart, to the point that after the shooting she would not know how to thank us. When we are talking about the “Dengbej” the area that comes to mind is the Serhat, the Kurdistan region encompassing Bingol, Mus, Erzurum, Van and Agri. We will never forget those long winter evenings spent listening to all of those Kurdish stories wondering what comes next: “Is it that the hero will survive, he will find his way or has he found his beloved”? So many issues for which we would eagerly await answers.

As you can imagine these stories had so much more influence on us than the TV series of today. They told us so much more in a literary and artistic way. Unfortunately, although this influence is very strong, it could not prevent the arrival and growth of television that has managed to penetrate every village and so influence our culture. The story we tell here is not intended to be based entirely on “Dengbej”, it aims to show how after more than twenty years of exile a Kurdish artist can and will rediscover his sense of belonging to the homeland that is deeply rooted in all of us; it is part of our consciousness. Thus one can explain how Delil returning to his native village and meeting his mentor there - Egide Cimo managed to overcome the isolation in which he was plunged during his exile. Nothing was the same again in this village; it is only the presence of his teacher that will allow this “Dengbej” to revive the culture that he had missed so much. Of course, it was inevitable that this films multi-faceted cultural story would eventually find a political reference, since our main character simply considers all suffered pain, exile and repression are only the result of one single thing: being a people without a state.

Run Time 98 Mins

FILM: THE MAGAZINE /LONDON/FEBRUARY 2016

IMAGES FEATURED ON THIS PAGE WERE TAKEN DURING THE PRODUCTION OF THE KURDISTAN-KURDISTAN.

KURDISTAN KURDISTAN

mastered a rich and complex musical style of Dengbej in which the vocalist enacts multiple roles: a storyteller, musician, historian and linguist simultaneously). Master Cimo tells Delil that this will be his last trip to Serhat Region and that he wants to pursue the sound of a legendary voice with Delil, which he had last heard seventy years ago by Evdalê Zeynikê, one of the greatest masters of Dengbej.

THE FILM INDUSTRY NETWORK LAUNCHES INTO THE NEW YEAR AT ‘LONDON’S 2016 INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF WORLD CINEMA.’ The International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema London, Feb 2016 - Sees the UK launch of The Film Industry Network (TFIN) with membership and advisory services to film makers who wish to seek film advise with regards to film structure, production set up, finance, world sales also distribution.

Membership costs just $149 annually and can be tailored to bespoke need providing privileged access to film industry mentors with the knowledge, experience (and industry connections) to guide you from the pit-falls and costly mistakes that can spoil or terminally damage what could have been the greatest opportunity.

Co-founded by Ray Davies and partner Paul Eyres along with a group of advisors from various areas of film and television expertise, TFIN continues to provide a unique support service that is currently non-existent outside a handful of exclusive producer representatives worldwide.

‘TFIN’ 2016 AND BEYOND!

“IT’S NOT WHAT YOU KNOW – IT’S WHO YOU KNOW THAT MATTERS”

TFIN exists because we have a strong proven working knowledge of this intricate and complicated industry - ‘we know how it works’ and ‘we know how to work it to help clients succeed’ - says Ray Davies of TFIN.

TFIN are extremely proud to have available to members access to an extensive list of additional dedicated services and resources essential to satisfy the various and often complicated steps required for any project to reach fruition. These in-house services and ‘Go-To’ relationships built by our team over many decades complete the necessary stages of process and development ordinarily outside the scope of knowledge and certainly beyond normal access of anyone without extensive experience and contacts. We have extensive in-house skills and experience and solid ‘Go-To’ associate agreements in place with leading global resources specifically to ensure we cover every base with total confidence to help members achieve whatever the requirement. Our members can contact us at any stage of a project regarding all or any of ‘the next steps’ as we can advise and support you at every level so you know what to expect and ensure you are fully briefed and covered.

TFIN are looking to open new doors to support client’s needs and in 2016 we will expand on the team, bringing our next service into play. To expand connection further we are looking to appoint relationship managers in Europe and N America rolling out strategies to support TFIN Social networking, Film making, Producers, Directors, Script Writers, Entrepreneurs with new exciting distribution market strategies. Our fabulous relationship with ‘FFI’ has taken a new step and we would welcome contact from servicing, commercial inance or insurance groups with interest in supporting the next generation of talent in film making. We want to thank everyone that made us feel part of their journey, ‘YES’ we give advice but for us knowledge shared is a huge part of what makes ‘TFIN’ a success. It was not developed to gather aimless members, it was specifically created to drive careers!

‘TFIN’ BREAKING BARRIERS!

Take advantage of the 15 minute pitch in ‘The Producers Lounge!’ Finished Product or In Development? Let TFIN FFI’s client liaison team know your needs and reserve a place! This could be the pitch that changes your career path! ‘TFIN’ helps you to help projects you have an interest in, want to know more? We believe that paying forward is worth rewarding, refer two friends to TFIN that can really benefit from our support and get your / renewal membership absolutely FREE, complete with access to our showcase to distributors.

Do you have: • a commercially viable

finished film seeking route

to market?

• a script you feel could be

the next big box office

success? • a TV project you feel coul

be the next franchise

success?

Do you need: • help with planning or maybe

just help with a pitch pack?

‘Congratulations! You’ve made it this far, now take the first big step!

For information on how we can help drive and grow a route to market for Producers / Members, email the team: ‘We don’t promise miracles and not every project of course will become an overnight success, but we do promise to look diligently at every project we receive and to give our members genuine and honest feedback, advice and support.‘ For further information please visit our website: www.thefilmindustrynetwork.com Attending the 2016 London Festival: ray@thefilmindustrynetwork.com paul@thefilmindustrynetwork.com FILM: THE MAGAZINE /LONDON/FEBRUARY 2016

I realized then that making a documentary about my students wasn’t enough. They were all good actors who simply wanted to get back into the world of acting--and that became my new mission. Mark Mockett and I wrote a screenplay about their circumstances. Then script in hand, I withdrew my retirement fund of $25,000 and went off to make our film.

HOW DO YOUR FORMER STUDENTS FEEL ABOUT HAVING MADE A FEATURE FILM WUTH YOU? If they’ve learned anything from this, it’s that you have to make your own opportunities if you want to succeed. To them, the risk is well worth it.

Not only did John Henry Richardson direct, produce and co-write “...Where is she now?” but he also managed the cinematography and even act in his full length feature!

WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION FOR MAKING A “DOCUMYSTERY”? Two years ago I retired after 30 years as a professor in the field of filmmaking. It’s been my longtime dream to travel the world visiting my old students and making a “Where Are They Now?” documentary.

ROAD TO HOPE Director/Producer: Mike Wargo

NO PARENTS. NO FUTURE. NO HOPE. Road to Hope explores the realities of life in developing countries where hope for a better life is often an elusive dream for the orphaned children who cared for their dying parents. Through penetrating interviews, the filmmakers reveal the hearts and minds of the shepherds who emerge to restore faith in these children who might otherwise have been lost. Together, they walk the road to hope in search of a better life for themselves and for those they encounter along their journey.

HOW MUCH OF WHAT WE SEE IN THE FILM IS NON-FICTION? It’s based on true events. However, when we began shooting, the story soon took a surprise turn, becoming a search for a missing student, Marita, who disappeared the night before her graduation and has not been heard from since.

WELL YOU’VE HOOKED ME. DO YOU PLAN ON CONTINUING YOUR FILMMAKING ADVENTURES WITH YOUR STUDENTS? “ ...Where is she now?” gave all of us a rare opportunity to share the thing we love most: Making movies. Hopefully, this is just the beginning, as a sequel film script is already in the works. I have hundreds of students spread out across the globe and they have many wonderful stories to tell. Next stop: India.

BY THE WAY, DO YOU EVER FIND YOUR MISSING STUDENT? You’ll just have to see the movie to find out. For more information Please contact: blueridgeprods@aol.com Run Time 119 Mins

But that investment of time and energy paid huge dividends as the film successfully follows its principal characters through times of life, death and mourning in ways that are only possible with the passage of time. Through her narration, actress Torrey DeVitto (Chicago Med, Pretty Little Liars, Vampire Diaries) educates the audience about life, death and hope in Sub-Saharan Africa. Triple-nominated at the 2016 International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema – London for Best Feature Documentary, Best Director of a Feature Documentary and the Scientific & Educational Award, the film makes its official European debut at the festival on February 19 at 2:30 p.m. in Screening Room 2.

Filmed over a period of two years, the scope of the finished documentary is much broader than originally imagined. According to the film’s director, Mike Wargo, “We knew at the onset we’d be spending 3-1/2 weeks filming in Uganda, Kenya and South Sudan, but never expected that our story would take us to various parts of the U.S. and back to Africa two more times.”

roadtohopefilm.org Run Time 71 Mins

FILM: THE MAGAZINE /LONDON/FEBRUARY 2016

THIS SECTION FEATURES PRODUCTION PHOTOGRAPHY FROM THE FILM “WHERE IS SHE NOW?”.

Director/Producer: John Henry Richardson

One year and two maxed-out credit cards later, the result is a new kind of DocuMystery in which all the students are playing themselves (or variations on their real selves) under plotted circumstances.

THIS SECTION FEAURES STILLS TAKEN FROM THE FILM “ROAD TO HOPE”.

WHERE IS SHE NOW?

So, in 2014 I embarked on a filmmaking journey to London, Stockholm, Oslo, Salzburg, Vienna, Stuttgart and Amsterdam. I interviewed over 50 grad students and found that many of them suffered a similar dilemma: The lack of film acting jobs in their country. Most of them became discouraged and dropped out, left without a sense of direction to their lives.

HAPPY THOSE WHO CRY Director Statement – by Marcelo Torcida - Written by inspiration but Directed by “accident”!

This is the real historical story behind “Happy those who cry”. I wrote the script motivated by some experiences that had marked my life. My intention was to testify somehow the depth that I had reached with my soul in what looked like the worst moments of my life. But there was a new path prepared for me.

Now you have my story, the story that I wanted to tell. I hope not only that you enjoy it, but that it also inspires you. This then is my Magnum Opus.

COURIER-X

Run Time 92 Mins

THE IMAGES IN THIS SECTION ARE TAKEN FROM THE FILM “HAPPY THOSE WHO CRY”.

As a person who had actually lived the history I had very clear idea of the film that I wanted to make so that´s why I also chose the locations. Once there, the Executive Producer asked if I would help the some of the crew create the storyboards. So I did. However, some misunderstandings and friction between the Producer and former Director ended with the resignation of an important part of the team, including both of them. So that’s how, with no experience in the audio-visual industry, but entrusting God I said: “Here I´m here, let me make this film!”

GROWING IN THE MIDDLE OF GARBAGE This movie revolves around a musical group named H2O and formed by guys who made all of their instruments from recycled garbage. For instance, the bass is made with the top of a bath seat, the violins are made with disposables plastic soda bottles and the cello has as its resonance box a 20 litre returnable plastic bottle. The trumpet was made with tin funnel and the flutes using plastic pipes. The percussion however, are all original pieces. Everything about this movie was done to show how people living in an adverse environment (“Favelas”) can still lead happy and creative lives. It´s a matter of will.

Run Time 137 Mins

THIS PAGE FEAURES STILLS TAKEN FROM THE FILM “COURIER X”.

Marcelo Torcida; the director, producer, writer and editor of “Happy those who cry” was born in Asuncion, Paraguay in 1964. A former swimming champion, who then worked in the crop insurance industry for 30 years. Then, motivated by his life experiences, he ventured into the audio-visual art form in order to encourage and reflect in a country where art spaces are scarce. He created his first Feature Movie in 2014-5 and is now is owner of AGNUS Film.

Director/Producer: Thomas Gulamerian

A brief synopsis behind this fascinating film premiering on February 19th, at the International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema London.

“Courier-X”, nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Lead Actor, Best Supporting Actor and Best Hair & Makeup at The International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema London, is an events based drama. Written by Karl Wachsmann, and showcasing the affairs of a surreptitious smuggler (Bron Boier) whilst working for a former member of the German Stasi (Udo Kier), who is then solicited by the CIA (James C. Burns) for deleterious involvement of the well-known mid-air explosion of Flight TWA 800, killing all 230 passengers, and also to help cover-up the little known Nicaraguan blackmail attempt on the CIA, after the release of “Dark Alliance”, by Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, Gary Webb. After 20 years, the events of TWA Flight 800 continues to capture the attention and curiosity of people across the globe. A recent TWA 800 Documentary, which aired on Netflix, had over one-million views. With a theatrical release of “Courier-X”, this would translate to over 15 million dollars in theatre sales alone.

FILM: THE MAGAZINE /LONDON/FEBRUARY 2016

With this baked-in marketing, distributor curiosity is expected to be high. Udo Kier has been seen in more than 226 films, over his 30-year career, and has worked with everyone from Andy Warhol, Dario Argento, Werner Herzog, Gus Van Sant and his frequent collaborator Lars Von Trier. Kier, who is known for taking on both sinister & edgy characters, now embarks upon a very serious role, in a film which will surely be one of the most controversial political films ever made about the CIA and the events of Flight TWA 800.

A STORY ABOUT CAPTURING HAPPINESS

iFeel

LIFELOG PICTURES PRESENTS DIRECTED BY LUDWIG CIUPKA PRODUCED BY DOMINIC TREMBLAY AND LUDWIG CIUPKA STARRING RON WILDER AND ALI TATARYN WRITTEN BY LUDWIG CIUPKA AND DOMINIC TREMBLAY MUSIC BY CULT NATION FEATURING SONGS BY SOL SEPPY AND NOOSA

iFeelMovie.com FILM: THE MAGAZINE /LONDON/FEBRUARY 2016

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