FRED Film Radio - English Channel

The interview conducted at the River Film Festival in Padova offers a profound insight into the short film “40 Degrees North, 73 Degrees West” and the work of its director, Sandy Williams. The discussion explores themes of community, history, and the overlooked narratives within Black and Indigenous communities in the United States.

The interview begins with a question about a poignant phrase in the short film: “We cannot know history only if we hear from the point of view of the hunter without listening to the lion.” Sandy Williams reveals that this powerful statement came spontaneously from a community leader during the filming, reflecting a central theme of the film. The unscripted interviews and perspectives captured in the film, combined with Sandy’s narration, create a rich tapestry of voices and experiences.

The film’s unique approach to uncovering and presenting history challenges the often negative or limited portrayals of Black communities in the media. Sandy Williams explains that the film is part of a larger archival project, the 40 Acres Archive, which aims to document forgotten histories along the East Coast. This project not only seeks to uncover the past but also to document the present, creating a legacy for future generations.

The portrayal of community and culture stands out as a significant element, resonating deeply. One moment in the film features a woman speaking about the simple yet profound aspects of their community—music, good food, and good people. This sense of belonging and community, despite the erasure of their history, is a powerful message that transcends geographical and cultural boundaries.

Sandy Williams elaborates on the film’s metaphor of skywriting, symbolizing the ephemeral yet enduring nature of history. The erased records of communities like those in Brooklyn, New York, persist through the memories and lives of the people. The project highlights the importance of acknowledging these foundations and understanding that such histories are integral to the present and future.

In conclusion, Sandy’s film and archival project underscore a universal human need for safety, community, and love. By bringing to light these hidden histories, the film fosters a deeper understanding and appreciation of the rich cultural tapestries that make up our world. The encouragement for Sandy to continue this impactful work emphasizes the importance of these stories in shaping a more inclusive and empathetic society.

The post “40° N, 73° W”, Interview with director Sandy Williams appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

The interview conducted at the River Film Festival in Padova provides a captivating and heartfelt look into the story behind the short film “The Suitcase” and the dedication of its producer, Rebecca Vittoria-Romanoff, to raising awareness about autism.

Rebecca, the producer of the short film, shares how the project began almost by chance through the Romanoff Imperial Foundation. The foundation, primarily operating in Brussels, became interested in autism-related issues after recognizing a growing need for awareness. Rebecca highlights that one in 167 children is born with autism spectrum disorders and emphasizes that awareness is crucial for early intervention.

“The Suitcase” emerged from this awareness campaign. As Rebecca Vittoria-Romanoff explains, the story revolves around a woman who loses a special suitcase, which is then found by three orphaned children. Inside the suitcase, they discover a child with autism, whom they initially believe to be an extra-terrestrial. The narrative follows the children as they attempt to reunite the child with his mother, showing that in the world of children, there are no barriers between those with and without disorders. This perspective offers a powerful and moving narrative, which has garnered significant success, winning over 12 international awards.

Rebecca Vittoria-Romanoff highlights a particularly poignant moment in the film when one character expresses the wish that his mother would stop worrying about him, only to be reminded by another character that he is lucky to have a mother, underscoring the harsh reality faced by many children without families.

The Romanoff Imperial Foundation’s work extends beyond cinema into various philanthropic efforts. Rebecca Vittoria-Romanoff describes how the foundation has supported animal shelters, provided aid to earthquake victims in Albania, and more. This humanitarian dedication is reflected in their film work, which aims not only to entertain but also to raise awareness and inspire change.

In conclusion, Rebecca expresses the intention to expand “The Suitcase” into a full-length feature film to delve deeper into the lives of children with autism. Her enthusiasm and passion for the cause are evident, leaving a sense of hope and admiration for the foundation’s work.

The post “The Suitcase”, interview with Producer Rebecca Vittoria-Romanoff appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

Fred Film Radio sat down with Wendy Mitchell, Festival Producer of Sundance London 2024, to hear more about how the festival collaborates with the Utah edition to bring some of the highlights of its lineup to a UK audience, what characterises a “Sundance” film, some of the standouts of the programme this year, as well as areas they are always looking to improve, such as diversity and helping newcomers into the industry.

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The post “Visiting Hours”, an interview with director Patricia Mazuy appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

After “Apnée” at the Cannes Critics’ Week in 2016 and “Bloody Oranges”  at the Cannes Film Festival in 2021, Jean-Christophe Meurisse is back in Cannes with “Plastic Guns” at the Directors Fortnight 2024.

Following “the exchange of person” device, Jean-Christophe Meurisse directs a surrealistic comedy mixing humour and horror about a man in his forties mistaken for a brutal murderer by the police.

“Cinema is here, I think, to show what cruelty and evil are. I stretch things out a bit “ says Jean-Christophe Meurisse, clarifying that the film is even more cruel and real as it is mixed with comedic and surrealistic moments.

Rehearsal was key for the actors and for the director who comes from a theater background and owes it all to preparation in order to allow improvisation.

The four leading actors and actresses, Delphine Baril, Charlotte Laemmel, Laurent Stocker, and Gaëtan Peau, rehearsed with Jean-Christophe Meurisse for a long time.

The post “Plastic Guns”, interview with director Jean-Christophe Meurisse appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

Spectateurs! by Arnaud Desplechin, special screening at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, is a love letter to cinema and its audience.

“This film is not an apology for directors I loved, or actresses and actors – explains Desplechin. It’s a depiction of what happens to common spectators. What does it do to us to watch films? How does it subconsciously affect us?”

Walking in the footsteps of a young Paul Dédalus, as the film were a coming of age story, Desplechin builds a mix of documentary, fiction and fantasy to analyze what cinema means to all of us.

There’s no such thing as a film more important or relevant than other, there are no guilty pleasures when it comes to films. Films are a popular art and we’re equal when looking at a white screen in the movie theatre.

The post “Spectateurs!” interview with director Arnaud Desplechin appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

After winning the Un Certain Regard Award for Best Performance in 2022, French- Tunisian actor Adam Bessa is back in Cannes as the protagonist of “Ghost Trail” by Jonathan Millet.

Opening film of the 63rd Semaine de la Critique of Cannes 77, “Ghost Trail” sees Adam Bessa as Hamid, a Syrian refugee who’s part of a secret group pursuing the Syrian regime’s fugitive leaders.

About Adam Bessa and his being perfect for the role, director Jonathan Millet said: “he has an air of gravity about him that makes you believe he has been through the worst events”.

Adam Bessa confirms that he’s not afraid to explore the dark feelings embodied by the human beings he’s asked to portray on screen.

Adam Bessa then proceeds to explain how he worked on the physicality of his character, a person who has been through an enormous amount of pain in his life. His body had to show that without Bessa’s Hamid having to spell it out.

The post “Ghost Trail”, interview with actor Adam Bessa appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

At the 77th Festival del Cannes, in the Official Selection,  actress Noémie Merlant presents her second feature, “The Balconettes “(Les Femmes au Balcon), in which she also co-stars with Souheila Yacoub and Sanda Codreanu.

With a mixture of genres, comedy, horror and fantasy, Noémie Merlant tells the story of three women who take their live back by simply being together and being free.

As the film doesn’t hide from vulgarity, violence and reality though treating those with a sense of humour, Noémie Merlant explains her tone choice: “To make fun of the aggressors was a way to talk about it, to share”.

Written with Céline Sciamma who directed Noémie Merlant in Portrait of a Lady on Fire, 2019, the film purposely leaves no space for good guys, even though it acknowledges their existence.  Noémie Merlant e focuses on portraying the bad guys, the aggressors, trying to understand who they are and why these women found themselves in those violent and abusing situations.

For this second feature after the debut Mi iubita mon amour, in 2020, Noémie Merlant admits finding inspiration in the early Pedro Almodovar films, his women, his atmospheres and camera movements.

The post “The Balconettes”, interview with director Noémie Merlant appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

For his second feature film, “My Sunshine“, presented in Un Certain Regard at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, Japanese director Hiroshi Okuyama is also director of photography, scriptwriter and editor.

Inspired by his own childhood memories and his experience in figure skating as a child, Hiroshi Okuyama depicts a delicate coming-of-age drama set in a small Japanese island about a special bond between a figure skating rising star and a young athlete with good potential.

In Cannes, the Japanese director reveals that he conceived the film to try and preserve the memories from his childhood he might forget one day.

As it also deals with themes such as sexual orientation and lgbtq+ topics , the film’s purpose is also an invitation to respect and enhance diversity and uniqueness.

The post “My Sunshine”, interview with director Hiroshi Okuyama appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

At the 77th Cannes Film Festival, in the Director’s fortnight, this year director Ryan J. Sloan and actress Ariella Mastroianni brought their dream come true: “Gazer“.

Shot in 16mm, Ryan J. Sloan’s debut feature was conceived, written, produced and financed by the director and lead actress Ariella Mastroianni.

In his director’s notes Ryan J. Sloan wrote: “It is also a testament to the power of community” . With this declaration he’s not only thanking the people supporting his project and turning it into a reality but he’s sending a message out there in the cinema world.

To really welcome a new generation of independent filmmakers, we need to create a community, a film movement.

Ryan J. Sloan and Ariella Mastroianni unveil how they came across this time perception disorder,  dyschronometria, that had never been represented on screen. It comes from a novel, The man who is took his wife for a hat by Oliver Sacks, that Ariella Mastroianni was reading at the time they were desperately looking for a good film subject.

Shot in 16 mm, the film, to quote J. Sloan again, is a love letter to the films that first inspired him.

The post “Gazer”, interview with director Ryan J. Sloan and actress Ariella Mastroianni appeared first on Fred Film Radio.