A NEW BEGINNING was the winner of BEST FASHION FILM at the May 2022 Fashion/Experimental Festival.
1. What motivated you to make this film?
I wanted to tell a story about self acceptance through a fashion film. Clothing is the first speech we deliver to the others. I wanted to push it further and express the power we have to shape our inside world and, therefore our life. At this time, my best friend was developing a tracking camera technology and I felt it was the perfect project to test it for the first time! It was a very experimental shooting, full on green screen with realtime CGI on set. One month later, we shot it with a quite small crew in one day!
2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
It took about 3 months.
3. How would you describe your film in two words!?
Singular and hopeful
4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
Actually, the biggest obstacle was building a crew, in the middle of July, everybody was full of job. Between, feature films, tv shows, advertising and so on, the post covid period in France was very big for the crews. I had to give loads of phone calls!
5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
It was very pleasant. We don’t have so many occasions to have a direct feedback from the audience. Beside the fashion aspect, above all this project is personal and I appreciated a lot hearing them talking about their perception.
Watch the Audience Feedback Video:
6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
Well, when I was a kid, I always wanted to be a comics drawer « and » writing the stories.. It is more or less the same !
7. What film have you seen the most in your life?
I don’t have a bedside film but I can say « Requiem for a Dream » by Darren Aronofsky was a very striking film for me. The absolute modernity in the editing, the music interaction, while always being connected to the emotion, are all very impressive. I think it was a true creative wake-up call for me!
8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?
Actually your concept to record people talking about the films is really nice. I wish it could be everywhere the same!
9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?
It was quite flowing.
10. What is your favorite meal?
Well, reducing food into one meal si much too reductive! We could do a specific podcast about food!
11. What is next for you? A new film?
Absolutely, among various commercial works for luxury and cosmetics clients, I am currently in post production on my next fashion film. It will be released for the next Couture Fashion Week in Paris, in July.
Matthew Toffolo's Summary 