PERFECT MATTRESS: A LOVE STORY played to rave reviews at the February 2020 ROMANCE Feedback Film Festival. Q: What motivated you to make this film? A: This particular film draws many parallels to my formidable years of romance – including the actual act of “mattress store hopping”. On a similar note, this was me closing… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Derek Osinski JR. (PERFECT MATTRESS: A LOVE STORY)
Category: film notes
Interview with Filmmaker Hendricksen Armand (STATE OF FLOW)
STATE OF FLOW played to rave reviews at the April 2020 Documentary Film Festival. Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? Hendricksen Armand: I found this wonderful art browsing on social media and I never thought of Hula Hooping being more than keeping a plastic circle from falling off your waist. I immediately… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Hendricksen Armand (STATE OF FLOW)
Interview with Filmmaker Fernando Lorenzana Gámez (THE DISTANCE)
THE DISTANCE was the winner of BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY at the March 2020 LGBT Film Festival in Los Angeles. Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? Fernando Lorenzana Gámez: I wanted to write something about a strong friendship between women. At the beginning was the idea of a group of girl friends that have… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Fernando Lorenzana Gámez (THE DISTANCE)
Interview with Filmmaker Jan Johnson (SHOOTER)
SHOOTER was the winner of BEST MUSIC at the January 2020 LA Feedback Film Festival. Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? Jan Johnson: I was concerned about the rise in gang violence in Chicago (my hometown) and specifically the rise in girl gang violence. According to the DOJ “one in 4 new… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Jan Johnson (SHOOTER)
Interview with Filmmaker Barbara van Rijn (THE CURE)
Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? Barbara van Rijn: As a daughter of a Pharmacist I am brought up with the belief that herbal and traditional medicine is not to be trusted. After living in Ghana for a while, I realized that people in Ghana look at this very differently. I wanted… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Barbara van Rijn (THE CURE)
Interview with Filmmaker Jeremy Abrams (FIGHTING CHILDHOOD CANCER)
Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? Jeremy Abram: The Vanderslice family were friends of my wife, and when I saw a social media post that included a photo of Louie looking out of the window from his hospital room at Children’s Hospital of the Kings Daughters in Norfolk, Virginia at a crowd… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Jeremy Abrams (FIGHTING CHILDHOOD CANCER)
Interview with Filmmaker Ciaran R. Maidwell (THERE’S STILL GOOD)
THERE’S STILL GOOD was the winner of BEST MUSIC at the LGBT Toronto Film Festival in May 2019. Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? Ciaran R. Maidwell: There’s Still Good was inspired by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s TEDTalk “The danger of a single story”. In it, she says “the single story creates stereotypes,… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Ciaran R. Maidwell (THERE’S STILL GOOD)
Interview with Filmmaker Jessica Chung (SUSHI MAN)
SUSHI MAN played to rave reviews at the September 2018 Under 5 Minute Film Festival in Toronto. Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? Jessica Chung: This was my thesis to get my animation bachelors diploma. 2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Jessica Chung (SUSHI MAN)
Interview with Filmmaker Manfred Borsch (MIRRORS)
MIRRORS played to rave reviews at the September 2018 Experimental Film Festival in Toronto. Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? Manfred Borsch: Julian Scherle (aka Són) – a good friend since our student days – told us about his newest project called Rituals. Each track on his new album was to be… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Manfred Borsch (MIRRORS)
Interview with Filmmaker Sean Wehrli (GLENDALE)
GLENDALE played to rave reviews at the August 2018 Experimental Film Festival in Toronto. Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? Sean Wehrli: I have a major passion for visual storytelling, with film and music videos at the top of that list. This project specifically came out of a major draw to the… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Sean Wehrli (GLENDALE)
Matthew Toffolo's Summary 