Author: matthewtoffolo

COUNTRY was the winner of BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT at the March 2022 POLITICAL Feedback Film Festival. 1. What motivated you to make this film? It was my personal experience of not only doing political organizing but also running for County Committee myself. It’s a fascinating subject that I knew nothing about, and when I saw… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Fahim Hamid (COUNTY)

TO ADD OIL was the winner of BEST PERFORMANCES at the March 2022 STUDENT Feedback Film Festival. 1. What motivated you to make this film? Having grown up in Taiwan and then attending university in Florida, I occasionally find myself missing home. Taiwan plays a big influence in the work I make as a filmmaker… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Oliver Lin (TO ADD OIL)

FLEETING STRUCTURE played at the March 2022 SCIENCE & NATURE Festival. 1. What motivated you to make this film? There are a lot of smart people who haven’t studied math – curious about life and how we got here, and I like to discuss deep issues. Fleeting Structure is an art & design project, documenting… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Patrick Lysagnt (FLEETING STRUCTURE)

CONTEMPLATION was the winner of BEST MUSIC FILM at the March 2022 Film Festival. 1. What motivated you to make this film? My first inspiration for this film was the sound designer Hélène Vogelsinger and her latest album I discovered in 2020. I immediately wrote her a personal message to let her know how much… Continue reading Interview with Dancer/Choreographer/Director  Lena Strützke (CONTEMPLATION)

Common Ground? was the winner of BEST SHORT FILM at the March 2022 POLITICAL Feedback Film Festival. 1. What motivated you to make this film? It was a mix of my desire to make a documentary, and this issue, which I care deeply about. I had found my way into the UVA Center for Politics… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Raed Truett Gilliam (Common Ground?)

HAPPENED was the winner of BEST DANCE FILM at the March 2022 Film Festival. 1. What motivated you to make this film? The goal was to share the idea of a day dream – taking you from what is known to that spontaneous feeling of inspiration and then holding on to it. 2. From the… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Jason Riker (HAPPENED)

PARALLEL was the winner of BEST FANTASY FILM at the March 2022 FANTASY/SCI-FI Film Festival. 1. What motivated you to make this film? I always loved the science fiction genre and wanted to make a film that specifically explored string theory. In order to humanize the film and tell a story about something I personally… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Shawyon Fazel (PARALLEL)

(WEL)COMING IN, 7min., Canada, Dance Comments from: Directed by Emmanuelle Roberge Writer Jennifer Lee Arsenault Writer Cindy Mae Arsenault (Wel)Coming In is a dance video honouring the process of coming out for LGBTQ+ people while also extending an invitation to openness to others.

BLACK DADDY THE MOVIE is the 2022 feature film winner at the BLACK Feedback Film Festival. 1. What motivated you to make this film? I was tired of the narrative that black fathers are not involved in their children’s lives, that black men are locked up, baby mama making, violent, toxic individuals who’s lack of… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Damon Jamal Taylor (BLACK DADDY THE MOVIE)

KEEP PAINTING, MOM played to rave reviews at the March 2022 ANIMATION Feedback Film Festival. 1. What motivated you to make this film? When I was younger, I had depression problems. At school I did not feel well and not in the right place, mostly because I was an artist. With time, it is art… Continue reading Interview with Animator/Director Heloise Magny (KEEP PAINTING, MOM)