TFV Network

In this episode of the Showcast, we uncover the incredible story behind "The Glassworker," Pakistan's first-ever hand-drawn animated feature film, fresh off its premiere at the 2024 Annecy International Animation Film Festival. We'll be speaking with the film's director, the man with the vision, Usman Riaz. Described as an anti-war film, "The Glassworker" chronicles the epic romance between a young glassworker in training and a young musician searching for her own voice, against the backdrop of their country's years of war and strife. In our podcast conversation, Riaz shares insights into the film's ambitious multi-year production, share with us the origins of the story and the message he hoped to communicate with it, and discusses such elements as style and the importance of music. As we celebrate this historic milestone in Pakistan's film history, we also reflect on the significance of "The Glassworker" and the impact it may have in inspiring a growth in the country's burgeoning animation sector. (Image: Mano Animation Studios)

CHAPTERS

(00:00) Intro

Welcome to The Cinephile Corner! Every day, TFV's Matt Micucci dives into a randomly selected film, sharing his opinion on a wide range of classics and hidden gems in two minutes or less, in the name of insatiable cinephilia.

Today's film is "The Other Side of Hope" from 2017, directed by Aki Kaurismäki.

In the latest episode of the Showcast, TFV's Matt Micucci speaks with Polish director, animator and writer Wojtek Wawszczyk. His new animated feature, "Diplodocus," premiered at the 2024 Annecy International Animation Film Festival and Market. The film tells the captivating tale of a young dinosaur on a quest to rescue his mysteriously missing parents, traversing a variety of strange worlds in the process. It also tells the parallel tale of the artist who created him, struggling to stay true to his vision. In our conversation, we'll dive deep into the film's messages, its stylistic influences and the lengthy, dedicated process of bringing "Diplodocus" to life. We also get to know Wawszczyk, as he shares the origins of his passion for animation and some of the elements that drive his creative journey.

CHAPTERS

(00:00) Intro

(01:12) Meeting Wojtek Wawszczyk

(03:44) The struggle to remain authentic

(05:50) A multidimensional experience

(07:07) A touch of surrealism... and Monty Python

(08:52) Animation style

(11:00) A long journey to "Diplodocus"

(13:10) Outro

In this episode of the Showcast, recorded live from the 2024 AVP Summit in Reggio Calabria, Italy, TFV's Matt Micucci converses with DeVon Franklin, acclaimed producer, as well as founder and CEO of Franklin Entertainment. In this episode, Franklin talks about the origin of his passion for storytelling, the motivation behind becoming a film producer and how he eventually came to establish Franklin Entertainment, as well as the vision behind the company and the stories that he wanted to produce. We also reflect on the current state of the audiovisual industry, amidst intense cultural and technological changes. In our conversation, Franklin particularly addresses a tendency within the industry to focus on things that are beyond one's control, rather than focusing on things that are within one's control, and refers to his belief, supported by facts that people are hungrier for stories than ever. (Photo: Erma Pictures/AVP Summit)

Our latest episode of the Showcast from the 2024 AVP Summit features TFV's Matt Micucci in conversation with Jacopo Chessa, head of the Veneto Film Commission, one of the most important film commissions in the country. Chessa offers an overview of his film commission's many activities, from nurturing audiovisual talent to promoting the region's potential and benefits on an international level. In addition, he also talks about some of the more recent notable film productions that have been filmed in Veneto and discusses some of the more forward-thinking initiatives that it has embraced. Following up on that, Chessa offers his thoughts on the current moment of the audiovisual sector at large and whether Italy has been quick to respond to rising technological innovations, particularly when compared to other territories around the world. (Photo: Veneto Film Commission)

In the latest Showcast episode recorded at the 2024 AVP Summit in Reggio Calabria, Italy, TFV's Matt Micucci converses with Christina Lee Storm, an audiovisual producer with over 20 years of experience of working on major projects. Additionally, Lee Storm has been at the forefront of strategic and creative development of emerging technologies for series, film and multi-platform storytelling, including as founder and CEO of her company, Asher XR. In this episode, Lee Storm talks about some of the biggest innovations within audiovisual storytelling, touching on such diverse topics as immersive experiences and artificial intelligence. She also shares with us her thoughts on the current environment within the industry, in a time that she sees as being characterized by what she defines as the "entertainment umbrella." (Photo: Erma Pictures/AVP Summit)

In our latest episode of the Showcast recorded live from the 2024 AVP Summit, TFV's Matt Micucci sits down for a conversation with Marco Follini, head of Italy's Audiovisual Producers Association (APA), organizer of the event, which took place this year in Reggio Calabria, in the South of Italy. Follini provides us with an overview of the APA and its many activities within the country's audiovisual sector. He also talks about the importance of the AVP Summit, which gathers together top professionals and producers of this sector for networking opportunities, stimulating conversations, panel discussions and much more. Beyond more industry-related topics, Follini shares with us his earliest memories of cinema and whether he ever envisioned being so involved in the realm of audiovisual production. (Photo: Erma Pictures; Translation: Bruna Cammarano)

In this latest episode of the Showcast recorded live from the 2024 AVP Summit, TFV's Matt Micucci speaks with Anton Giulio Grande, a renowned name in the world of high fashion and head of the Calabria Film Commission, the film commission of the Italian region that hosted this year's edition of this major event. Grande shares with us the growing prominence and presence of the audiovisual sector in Calabria. He talks about some of the projects that have been shot in this region in recent times and discusses the experience of Calabria hosting this year's edition of the AVP Summit. He also shares his passion for cinema, how it has been a major source of inspiration in his work and creations in fashion, and shares his thoughts on the state and environment of the audiovisual industry at large today. (Photo: Erma Pictures/AVP Summit)

Welcome to The Cinephile Corner! Every day, TFV's Matt Micucci dives into a randomly selected film, sharing his opinion on a wide range of classics and hidden gems in two minutes or less, in the name of insatiable cinephilia.

Today's film is "Dust in the Wind" from 1986, directed by Hou Hsiao-Hsien.

In this episode of the Showcast, recorded at the 2024 AVP Summit in Reggio Calabria, Italy, TFV's Matt Micucci shares a conversation with Morgann Brun, production manager of La Planète Rouge, a digital production studio located in Marseilles in the South of France. Some so many technological innovations and developments have swept up the realm of audiovisual storytelling over the past years and on this episode, we will be focusing on digital production studios. In the case of La Planète Rouge, it entails a studio with a custom LED volume and Brompton video processors specifically serving as highly realistic, immersive sets for movies. In our podcast conversation, Brun highlights how La Planète Rouge transitioned from a VFX company to a digital production studio and shares how digital production studios open up new avenues and opportunities for audiovisual storytellers and creators. (Photo: AVP Summit)