toronto film festival – Matthew Toffolo's Summary

Interview with the Film Team of BLACK STAINS. Winning Short Film

BLACK STAINS won BEST FILM at the July 2020 Experimental Film Festival. What motivated you to make this film? Trent D. Williams, Jr (TDW: From personal experience not seeing a lot of films surrounding the African-American male experience through dance. This film looks at different the African-American male experience in a multigenerational sense by capturing… Continue reading Interview with the Film Team of BLACK STAINS. Winning Short Film

Interview with Filmmakers Ilana Gordon & Jaime Lyn Beatty (DESIGNATED RIDER)

DESIGNATED RIDER was the winner of BEST PERFORMANCES at the Comedy Festival in August 2020. Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? Ilana: Jaime Lyn and I met years ago when we both were doing comedy in Chicago. I immediately fell in love and started plotting ways to trick her into working with… Continue reading Interview with Filmmakers Ilana Gordon & Jaime Lyn Beatty (DESIGNATED RIDER)

Interview with Filmmaker Isabel Restrepo (SMOKE FOR THE CLOUDS)

SMOKE FOR THE CLOUDS was the winner of BEST SOUND & MUSIC at the August 2020 Dance & Music Festival. Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? Isabel Restrepo: My wish was to give a visual portrait of our music through film. I wanted to do it myself to be sure I could… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Isabel Restrepo (SMOKE FOR THE CLOUDS)

Interview with Filmmaker Nikodem (DOJO)

DOJO played to rave reviews at the August 2020 Dance & Music Festival. What motivated you to make this film? Nikodem: When I was watching my kids sports events, I noticed the hysterical behavior of some parents in the stands. I then imagined the point of view of a child whose only wish is to… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Nikodem (DOJO)

Interview with Filmmaker Marta Renzi (IN SEARCH OF LOST TIME)

IN SEARCH OF LOST TIME played to rave reviews at the August 2020 DANCE & MUSIC Festival. Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? Marta Renzi: My work is always low-budget. I had been making a lot of work outdoors where I was at the mercy of the elements: – natural light, threat… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Marta Renzi (IN SEARCH OF LOST TIME)

Interview with Filmmaker Jessie James (HALF A MAN)

HALF A MAN was the winner of BEST DANCE FILM at the August 2020 Music & Dance Festival. Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? Jessie James: I had just moved to London a few months previous to our production days and I was really feeling quite stuck in a creative rut. Being… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Jessie James (HALF A MAN)

Interview with Filmmaker Kate Mitchell (GOLDEN)

GOLDEN played to rave reviews at the August 2020 Experimental, Dance, Music Film Festival. Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? Kate Mitchell: After making a book (Fashioning Women), about how what women wear defines who we are- the outside; then TERRAIN, a dance and photography project about the disparagement of women’s aging… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Kate Mitchell (GOLDEN)

Interview with Filmmaker Ronald Henry (CONFESSIONS OF THE BAT)

CONFESSIONS OF THE BAT played to rave reviews at the FAN FICTION Festival in August 2020. Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? Ronald Henry: I have developed my creative flare since middle school and I decided to combine my love of stories and the art of filmmaking in order to make amazing… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Ronald Henry (CONFESSIONS OF THE BAT)

Interview with Filmmaker La’Chris Jordan (JANUARY 14TH)

JANUARY 14TH played to rave reviews at the Los Angeles Action/Crime/Thriller Festival in August 2020. Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? La’Chris Jordan: JANUARY 14TH was inspired by my parent’s 35-year marriage. January 14th is the date of their wedding anniversary and I wanted to commemorate their life together. They were best… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker La’Chris Jordan (JANUARY 14TH)

Interview with Filmmaker Sibel Guvenc (ONE STEP APART)

ONE STEP APART played to rave reviews at the June 2020 Experimental, Dance, Music Film Festival. Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? Sibel Guvenc: ONE STEP APART is a hybrid fiction dance/drama short film about a couple struggling with a past secret that puts their relationship on the verge of separation. Their… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Sibel Guvenc (ONE STEP APART)