Author: matthewtoffolo

WATCH Poetry Reading 1) What is the theme of your poem? Love 2) What motivated you to write this poem? My partner taught me how to make poached eggs, the most difficult egg, and much like the egg our relationship was difficult. In the end, I realized his drama would always come before my needs.… Continue reading Interview with Poet Janine Parkinson (A RIDDLE OF BREAKABLE THINGS)

1. What is your screenplay about? Omissions is about a couple—Waan and Chai—whose marriage is in strife due to infidelity. The story opens on an airplane enroute to Baltimore to meet Waan’s family for Thanksgiving. The couple openly fight on the plane and separate before leaving the airport. What follows is three character perspectives of… Continue reading Interview with Screenwriter Jessica Sadler (OMISSIONS)

“CUIDANTSIQMI: Love and Care for the Land” was the winner of BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY at the June 2022 DOCUMENTARY Film Festival. 1. What motivated you to make this film? The issue of climate change is affecting many people in the Andes, their agriculture, their physical and mental health. Usually we always talk about the Antarctic deglaciation,… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Teo Belton (CUIDANTSIQMI: Love and Care for the Land)

1. What motivated you to make this film? Shine a light on the issue. 2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film? Approximately one year. 3. How would you describe your film in two words!? Compassion, please. 4. What was the biggest obstacle you… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Duffy Hecht (SHOPPING CART PEOPLE)

LINE 25 was the winner of BEST DIRECTION at the July 2022 ROMANCE & RELATIONSHIPS Festival. 1. What motivated you to make this film? Michael: Opportunity. I rode the bus at line 63 in Tel Aviv, in real life, and there I saw the same situation. At that time, I was an acting student at… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaking Team Shira Alon & Michael Sternberg (LINE 25)

HOW DID WE GET HERE was the winner of FUNNIEST FILM at the LA COMEDY Festival July 2022. 1. What motivated you to make this film? I wanted to try a different form of film than just a regular short. Experiment a little. I come from a sketch comedy and improv background at Second City… Continue reading Interview with Writer/Producer Matt Frierdich (HOW DID WE GET HERE)

MUTINY! was the winner of BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY at the LA COMEDY Festival July 2022. http://www.MutinyShortFilm.com http://www.MatthewGratzner.com 1. What motivated you to make this film? I wrote the film at the end of 2019 at a very challenging time in America: Just prior to the 2020 election. Mutiny! is actually a very, very subtle commentary on… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Matthew Gratzner (MUTINY!)

DICK was the winner of BEST SHORT FORM SHORT FILM at the July 2022 LA LGBTQ+ Film Festival. 1. What motivated you to make this film? The homoeroticism in Insomnia: Combat Fatigue which I knew was in the public domain. 2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Kevin McLellan (DICK)

A PERFECT STEP was the winner of BEST FILM at the July 2022 SPORTS & RECREATION Film Festival. 1. What motivated you to make this film? When I met Kiran Upadhya, through my friend Saraswathi (co-producer), who is Kiran’s taekwondo student, I was amazed to see this master so passionate in this Artform, and helping… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Naumi Barua (A PERFECT STEP)

THE JESSICA CABIN at the winner of BEST FEATURE FILM at the July 2022 LGBTQ+ Film Festival. 1. What motivated you to make this film? The Jessica Cabin started as a simple text from my creative partner, Riley Rose Critchlow. She messaged me and our friend Chase Williamson and said: When are we making a… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Daniel Montgomery (THE JESSICA CABIN)