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)

Interview with Filmmaker Aimiende Negbenebor Sela (UTOPIA)

UTOPIA was the winner of BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY at the January 2019 LGBT Feedback Film Festival in Los Angeles. Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? Aimiende Negbenebor Sela: I would say what motivated me to make Utopia was my own struggle with race, identity, and self-acceptance. I am Nigerian (African American) and though… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Aimiende Negbenebor Sela (UTOPIA)

Interview with Filmmaker Damien Starr (I’LL BE FINE)

I’LL BE FINE was the winner of BEST FILM at the December 2018 COMEDY Festival in Los Angeles. Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? Damien Starr: This was a student project and the restriction was to have it within 3 minutes. I wanted to challenge myself in a couple of ways, firstly… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Damien Starr (I’LL BE FINE)

Interview with Filmmaker Premila Puri (ITSY)

ITSY was the winner of BEST PERFORMANCES at the January 2019 Female Film Festival in Toronto. Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? Premila Puri: When my husband narrated his experience with a spider in his car, I was really moved by his simple act of kindness towards a tiny spider. It made… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Premila Puri (ITSY)

Interview with Filmmaker Alessandro Schuster (THE BOY WITH THE TEDDY)

THE BOY WITH THE TEDDY was the winner of BEST MUSIC at the January 2019 European Short Film Festival. Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? Alessandro Schuster: Get lots of inspiration from great movies. And I wanted a child to be the key figure. I also think that the theme of the… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Alessandro Schuster (THE BOY WITH THE TEDDY)

Interview with Winning Screenwriter Gracious Vallarious (VIN AND JILL)

Matthew Toffolo: What is your screenplay about? Gracious Vallarious: “Vin and Jill” is about finding acceptance in your true self, even if it means leaving behind an old life. 2. What genres does your screenplay fall under? Drama-comedy. 3. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie? To bring non-transgender people into a world… Continue reading Interview with Winning Screenwriter Gracious Vallarious (VIN AND JILL)

Interview with Winning Screenwriter Farook Qais (THE PORTAL)

Matthew Toffolo: What is your screenplay about? Farook Qais: ‘The Portal’ is about a girl becoming a woman, her relationships with people in her life and the small matter of defending earth from whatever emerges out of a mysterious portal. 2. What genres does your screenplay fall under? It’s a sci-fi drama. 3. Why should… Continue reading Interview with Winning Screenwriter Farook Qais (THE PORTAL)

Interview with Winning Screenwriter Robert Tartell (Hard-Hearted Hannah & Funny Boneyard)

Matthew Toffolo: What is your screenplay about? Robert Tartell: Hard-Hearted Hannah: A rookie detective, sent on a routine hotel skip case, find himself instead up against a diabolical serial killer with a grudge against the Eight Air Force, holding their 25th reunion there. Can he stop him before he kills again…and again? Funny Boneyard: A… Continue reading Interview with Winning Screenwriter Robert Tartell (Hard-Hearted Hannah & Funny Boneyard)

Interview with Winning Screenwriter Gregory N. Ranky (GECKO ON-SIGHT)

Matthew Toffolo: What is your screenplay about? Gregory N. Ranky: In a world like ours, where conscious robots are commonplace, a courageous female android enters a futuristic martial arts tournament to save her old neighborhood from developers. 2. What genres does your screenplay fall under? Action, Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi, Sports (these last 2 primarily). 3.… Continue reading Interview with Winning Screenwriter Gregory N. Ranky (GECKO ON-SIGHT)