Category: directing a film

Interview with Filmmaker P.J. Norton (EXPIRATION DATE)

EXPIRATION DATE played to rave reviews at the February 2019 LGBT Film Festival in Toronto. Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? P.J. Norton: In making Expiration Date, it was important for me to tell a gay love story in which sexual orientation was part of the given circumstances and not the central… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker P.J. Norton (EXPIRATION DATE)

Interview with Filmmaker David Lykes Keenan (BODIES OF WATER)

BODIES OF WATER was the winner of BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY at the February 2019 LGBT Film Festival in Toronto. Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? David Lykes Keenan: The story is based on a pivotal moment in my life. As shown in the film, it was the moment when I found the courage… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker David Lykes Keenan (BODIES OF WATER)

Interview with Filmmaker Michael Davis (HINDSIGHT)

HINDSIGHT was the winner of BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY at the February 2019 ROMANCE Film Festival in Toronto. Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? Michael Davis: What motivated me was getting the opportunity to tell a story that plays backward. I also thought it was a really interesting character study on people and relationships.… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Michael Davis (HINDSIGHT)

Interview with Filmmaker Katie Garibaldi (STAR IN THE EAST)

STAR IN THE EAST played to rave reviews at the February 2019 Experimental Film Festival in Los Angeles. Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? Katie Garibaldi: “Star in the East” is a song I wrote about the Biblical story of the three kings who follow a star to welcome the newborn baby… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Katie Garibaldi (STAR IN THE EAST)

Interview with Writer/Actor/Producer Judith Eisenberg (THE SECRET LIVES OF TEACHERS)

THE SECRET LIVES OF TEACHERS played to rave reviews at the February 2019 ROMANCE Festival in Toronto. Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? Steve Anderson: I was a high school history teacher and I wanted to make a short film about my years of teaching. I was lucky enough to retire early… Continue reading Interview with Writer/Actor/Producer Judith Eisenberg (THE SECRET LIVES OF TEACHERS)

Interview with Filmmaker Cameron Kostopoulos (PERSON(A))

PERSON(A) was the winner of BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY at the February 2019 Experimental FEEDBACK Film Festival in Los Angeles. Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? Cameron Kostopoulos: I was fascinated by the idea of the persona, and the separation of the persona from the body. I wanted to portray the human identity as… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Cameron Kostopoulos (PERSON(A))

Interview with Filmmaker Gabriel Galand (HORLA)

HORLA played to rave reviews at the October 2018 HORROR Feedback Film Festival in Toronto. Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? Gabriel Galand: “Horla” was my thesis project for my Bachelor of Fine Arts and I wanted to make a film which had room for cinematography and production design. I remembered liking… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Gabriel Galand (HORLA)

Interview with Filmmaker Danja Politis (ANIMUS PER MACHINA)

ANIMUS PER MACHINA played to rave reviews at the January 2019 Female FEEDBACK Film Festival in Toronto. Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? Danja Politis: I always wanted to make an animation that was longer than three minutes on my own. At the time I was still at school and was given… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Danja Politis (ANIMUS PER MACHINA)

Interview with Filmmaker Andy Brewster (A PIACERE)

A PIACERE played to rave reviews at the December 2018 Los Angeles FEEDBACK Film Festival. Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? Andy Brewster: I believe some of our best work as storytellers comes out of processing our own individual experiences. And, for me as music student at college (in addition to being… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Andy Brewster (A PIACERE)

Interview with Filmmaker Raghuvir Joshi (YAMAN)

YAMAN was the winner of BEST MUSIC at the Janaury 2019 LGBT Feedback Film Festival in Los Angeles. Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? Raghuvir Joshi: Yaman was a personal story to begin with. The struggle to separate from my soulmate after having discovered my sexuality was the most excruciating yet rewarding… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Raghuvir Joshi (YAMAN)