Category: Blog

In 2017, Nan Li won the New Director Award at the 9th Macau International Film Festival for her feature film “Brutal Truth”.
Nan Li’s screenwriting works “Pacific Family Letter”, “New Style New Year” and “Communal Youth Years” have been funded by the Special Fund for Promoting Shanghai Film Development, Young Screenwriters Project and Shanghai Culture and Arts Project.
In 2021, wrote and directed the TV series “Happy Boo Year”, which was co-invested and released by TikTok, starring by Li Dang, Qin Niu Zhengwei, Zhang Yan, Dannen (10 million fans), Zhong Fu Xiang and Sun Chen Jun, reached 350 million plays.

Director Statement

Jan 2022, Hunan, a woman jumped to her death, the child is 2 months old.

Mar 2021, Hong Kong, a woman jumped to her death, the child is 5 months old.

Dec 2020, Henan, a woman jumped to her death, the child is 7 days old.

Nov 2019, Jinan, a woman jumped to her death, the child is 4 months.

Dec 2018, Fuzhou, a woman jumped to her death, the child is 1 month.

…

The report “Guidelines for the prevention and treatment of post-partum depression”, issued by the Chinese official, states the prevalence in China is 1.1%-52.1%.

In this extremely wide range and vague data, I see the scream that cannot be shouted and the life that has been lost.

I am a mother of a 2-year-old daughter who has also suffered from postpartum depression.

The whole short film is born from the truth and from the lament of 52.1% of women.

* About the teeth and imprisoned in chains plots of the short film come from the news in January 28, 2022.

A woman in Xuzhou, China, was imprisoned in a dark room, having eight children, with no teeth and no legal outcome to date.

Elly Cho’s work has been exhibited around the world and has received numerous awards. Her art explores the intersection between nature, the environment and human behavior, cross various mediums including painting, mixed media, video and performance art.

 Cho’s approach to art making, is largely inspired by the relationship between nature, environment and the viewer’s perception to nature based on their personal history.  She approachs the subject matter of cultural landscapes in narrative form, and these narratives often relate to her own life experiences and memories. In her video work, she has used familiar landscapes that stimulate viewers to engage with an imaginative response.

Cho’s awards include Sunny Art Prize in London, Award WINNER of The Best Experimental Film, Best Silent Film, Best Dance Choreography Film, and Best Director at Cannes World Film Festival, Berlin Shorts, New York International Film Awards, ARFF Barcelona /Around International Film Festival, Oniros Film Awards, Best Actor& Director Awards New York among others. Her work has screened at film festivals such as ‘AVIFF’ Cannes Art Film Festival and Asia Film Art International Film Festival in Hong Kong and “Times Square Midnight Moment” in New York. Her residency participation includes the 3-D Sculpture Park artist residency program in Switzerland and AHL Foundation Residency in New York.

Cho’s works are featured in major collections such as Seoul Municipal Museum and Musée Cantonale des Beaux-Arts du Valais in Switzerland, and in  such as ‘Nature’s Tempo’ at the Korean Cultural Services of New York, and ‘Going Green’ in conjunction with Queens Art Express in New York.  She is passionate about performance art, projects include ‘Sounds of Fragment: Ecological Dreams’ at the Nam June Park Art Center and Seoul Innovation Park.

Cho was born in and resides in Seoul, Korea, but was educated in Switzerland, UK and USA.  She holds a BA and MFA from the Slade School of Fine Art in London and an MA in Art Education from Columbia University, by which she recently was honored with the Teacher’s College Medal for Distinguished Service. After obtaining her MFA, she taught visual art courses as well as theory at universities in Korea.

Genre: #shortfilm #experimental #arffbarcelona #arffberlin 

#filmmakerspotligh #filmfreeway #officialselection #filmawards #cinema #Wscreen #WSXA #wscreenshowcase #onset #cinematography #experimental #indiefilm #indiependentfilm #aroundfilms #aroundfilmfestival #filmsubmission #womeninfilm

Marina Kunarova is a director and scriptwriter. Marina started working in the film industry since she was 17. She started as a clapper loader and worked her way up and eventually became a film director and scriptwriter. She has worked with films in different genres; however, her favorite is definitely action. Most of her filmmaking skills come from working on sets. She has also attended several filmmaking and scriptwriting workshops and seminars around the world. But she believes that practice is the best way to learn and improve your skills.

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Genre: #feature #fiction #history

#arffparis #wsxaparis #arffbarcelona #wsxabarcelona #arffberlin #arffamsterdam

#filmmakerspotligh #filmfreeway #officialselection #womaninfilm #filmawards #cinema #Wscreen #WSXA #wscreenshowcase #onset #cinematography #experimental #indiefilm #indiependentfilm #aroundfilms #aroundfilmfestival #filmsubmission

Roberto Ruiz Cespedes. Born in Santander (1987). Resident in Madrid. Roberto is a novelist, screenwriter and director. Diploma in Film Direction from the KINEMA film school in Bilbao (first of his class and awarded with the final year project in 2008-2011). Master’s Degree in Screenwriting for Film and TV from the TAI school in Madrid (Remarkable High, 2011-2012). He has worked on 30 projects in the directing and producing department.

Roberto has written and directed 20 short films, two experimental feature films and one feature film (2021). His first commercial film is STOYAN, a psychological horror thriller starring Tristán Ulloa, Marta Milans, Carlos Mestanza, Susana Hornos, Nicolás Coronado, Max Ulloa, Mariano Venancio, Natalia Rodríguez and Paulina Gálvez.

Shot in 2020/2021. Film with Official Selection at the 5th Pitchbox 2018 and Special Mention at Sitges Pitchbox 2017. Film produced by Gold Tower Producciones, American Road Films, Hache Producciones and STOYAN A.I.E.

Her short film BROKEN BASKET, starring Belén Rueda, was selected at more than 40 festivals within the Oscars Preselection circuit, such as the Short Film Corner (Cannes), HONORABLE MENTION by the Jury for Belén Rueda at the Queens World Film Festival (New York), among others. The film STOYAN is based on this short film. Roberto wrote and directed SIEMPRE FUI ALEX together with Sancho Ortiz de Lejarazu, a documentary short film about transsexuality in childhood. With more than 40 selections in national and international festivals, awarded to the best short film in CORTOS POR LA IGUALDAD (VALENCIA).

Roberto has published three novels. The latest MARMA RABBIT Boy (2020), published by the
Editorial Amarante. The first LOS JIMENEZ SUEÑAN COMO QUIEREN (2017)
and the second MERO FIRMAMENTO (2018), both published by Ediciones Camelot.

To date, Roberto has adapted MARMA RABBIT Boy into a feature film and is in the financing phase together with his brother and partner Iván Ruiz Céspedes. This project has been twice awarded at the II IMPULSE WORKSHOP (Government of Cantabria, November 2021), being invited with the project to the European Film Market in Berlin (2023) and the MAFIZ of the Malaga Festival (2022). The project is being pitched to professionals in the sector during this phase.

Roberto has written 20 feature films, miniseries and series on projects, in the development phase. Among all of them is the TRILOGÍA DEL NIRVANA, a set of three films with STOYAN that make up the second part and its prequel. MIRLO BLANCO: EL BODHISATTVA y MADRE HINDÚ. They are two film projects in the development phase after the imminent and expected success of STOYAN throughout this 2022. Roberto continues today writing more projects.

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Genre: #suspense #fantastic #fiction

#arffparis #wsxaparis #arffbarcelona #wsxabarcelona #arffberlin #arffamsterdam

#filmmakerspotligh #filmfreeway #officialselection #filmawards #cinema #Wscreen #WSXA #wscreenshowcase #onset #cinematography #experimental #indiefilm #indiependentfilm #aroundfilms #aroundfilmfestival #filmsubmission

Although Shihyun hated accounting, Sherry followed her parents wish and became a CPA. Although she lacked people skills, she took on Real Estate to supplement her income.

Then she became an emptynester with many unfulfilled dreams. Dreams of making films. In Oct. 2015, she started her youtube channel – The Mysterydecoder. And it now has over 47,000 subscribers with 12 million views.

To overcome funding challenges every Indie filmmakers faced, she wrote, edit and produced most of her 500+ films. To prove training and experience comes in second after talent, she made documentaries, comedy, Sci-Fi, horror, musical, romance and even western. To prove we can still make meaningful films during Covid quarantine, she made films in Taiwan and remotely directed many films in USA in 2020. Her 24 films produced during Covid Pandemic won 14 Accolade Global Competition award , 16 Indiefest Awards, 9 Best Shorts Awards during quarantine between Jan 2020 till May 2021. .While 54th Worldfest Houston awarded her with 4 Silver and 3 Bronze Remi for 7 films produced in 2020 and 2021..

It is hard to walk this path, but “Best Film 2017” from Hell Chess Film Festival proved this is the route to take. Thanks for Mindfield, Pinnacle and Royal Wolf for giving me encouragement and support over the years. And thanks for Bare Bone festival for awarding me best produced documentary in 2020. It takes a lot for festival to award an unknown filmmaker top awards but 25th annual Indie Gathering gave 2 awards while 12th annual Socal Film Awards gave out 3 awards.

Thanks to my talented cast and crew. Thanks to the judges and viewers for liking our efforts. Filmmaking is magical, it took me to places I have never been before.

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Genre: #mystery #documentary #short

#arffparis #wsxaparis #arffbarcelona #wsxabarcelona #arffberlin #arffamsterdam

#filmmakerspotligh #filmfreeway #officialselection #filmawards #cinema #Wscreen #WSXA #wscreenshowcase #onset #cinematography #experimental #indiefilm #indiependentfilm #aroundfilms #aroundfilmfestival #filmsubmission

Kris Krainock is an American writer and filmmaker, beginning his professional career with the publication of poetry and short stories in local and national literary journals. This culminated in the release of his first collection of poetry, ‘Criticisms, Witticisms & More’ in 2007 at the age of seventeen. After several amateur film efforts, Krainock wrote and directed the film that would prove to be his most successful venture to date; 2012’s ‘God of the Machine,’ which would go on to be selected to close The LA Shorts Fest as well as win the Viff! Indie Film Festival for Best Nevada Short Film. His most recent project, “Bizzarro e Fantastico,” explores life and death through trademark erudite philosophizing and pitch-black humor. Written, directed, and filmed entirely by Krainock on location in Paris and Rome, Krainock’s DIY approach is unique for someone in his position, considering he is also developing a television series poised for major streaming platforms, and working on a feature film project with the estate of his hero, Stanley Kubrick. However, Krainock says, “I don’t want to be the next Kubrick, I just hope to be the first Kris Krainock.”

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Genre: #comedy #drama #supernatural

#arffparis #wsxaparis #arffbarcelona #wsxabarcelona #arffberlin #arffamsterdam

#filmmakerspotligh #filmfreeway #officialselection #filmawards #cinema #Wscreen #WSXA #wscreenshowcase #onset #cinematography #experimental #indiefilm #indiependentfilm #aroundfilms #aroundfilmfestival #filmsubmission

Rishi Rajendra Manohar is an award winning actor, director, producer. After completing his graduation from commerce, Rishi along with his friends started a new venture for experimental theater called ‘Aajkal’ to promote theatrical activities. Aajkal’s productions like ‘Sorry Paranjape’, ‘Itihaas Gawaah Hai’, ‘Gangadhar Hi Shaktiman Hai’ were well received by the audience. Rishi’s first commercial play, ‘Dada Ek Good News Ahe’ gathered so much attention. Beside his directing and acting career in theater, He also acted on film productions such as, “Supporting Asian Role” and “Rangabhoomi”
Recently he has acted in Marathi web series ‘Petpuran’ released on Sonyliv. His latest film “Make A Wish” is still being screened at the film festivals around the world.

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Genre:  #shortfilm #studentfilm #first-timefilmmaker

#arffparis #wsxaparis #arffbarcelona #wsxabarcelona #arffberlin #arffamsterdam

#filmmakerspotligh#filmfreeway#officialselection#filmawards#cinema#Wscreen#WSXA#wscreenshowcase#onset#cinematography#experimental#indiefilm#indiependentfilm#aroundfilms#aroundfilmfestival#filmsubmission

“Making movies is a journey of self-discovery through identification with the characters and their stories and more importantly the engendering of a synergy between the filmmaker, the subject and the audience.” -Tony Villiani

Tony Villani is an award winning independent filmmaker active in both the U.S. and Europe Besides SOLDIERS, Six Stories, Six Wars (2021) his credits include international festival WINNERs SHINDLER’S WAR (2018), SUSAN & THOMAS (2017), ROMAN KOSHER (2014-19), and A Ticket to Hollywood, Europeans in Los Angeles, 1925-56: Prologue (2013-19). His other credits as story & script consultant, writer, and producer/director include documentaries on South Africa, the AIDS crisis, the Los Angeles’ Black community in 1920-50, and a series on all time Hollywood greats Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe, and Frank Capra is distributed by the A&E channel as part of their “Biography” series. 
His project , Dreamcatchers, Costume Design for Film (2013) on Special Oscar recipient, costume designer Piero Tosi is in the collection of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science. He has also worked in project development, and as associate producer and production manager on a number of non fiction films. He has acted in several pictures and has taught film in various U.S. and European colleges
and universities. He has been quoted in the Los Angeles Times, ABC News, The Guardian, the BBC.His current project to be released in 2023 is BlackAngelCity, Stories from Black LA.His film company, Californialand Pictures Filmworks is based in Los Angeles.

With an addicting blend of drama, thriller, mystery and romance, ”The Honey Trapper” series keeps the audience watching and guessing. The series explores various scenarios of the theme, “There are often many layers beneath the surface of a person or situation”. We are pleased to mention ”Honey Trappers” again via #wscreenshowcase #wsxa -Series created by: Felise Garcia

Genre: #drama #romance #thriller #webseries #newmedia #tvseries
#filmmakerspotligh#filmfreeway#officialselection#filmawards#womaninfilm#cinema#Wscreen#WSXA#wscreenshowcase#onset#cinematography#experimental#indiefilm#indiependentfilm#aroundfilms#aroundfilmfestival#filmsubmission