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Showing posts from November, 2016

Interview: Animator Donato Sansone

Video artist and animator Donato Sansone has made the short list for Oscar contention with his latest work, " Journal Anime ." He has joined the ranks of an emerging generation in Italy's southern region of Basilicata that has received international acknowledgement for their work as filmmakers.  Sansone is from a small town called Bella. By coincidence, I recently spent a week in his charming hometown, and I can say that it's what many of us Italian-Americans imagine when we dream of the land of our origins.. quaint and lovely with warm, kind people, delicious culinary products and gifted chefs who know well how to utilize them. I spent an unforgettable week there attending the town's exceptional film festival, which showcased compelling topics and filmmakers from all over Italy. So, it's no surprise the town has produced a talented filmmaker of its own. I asked Sansone about his work and his origins in this beautiful, justly named town of Bella. Our inte

Michele Vanucci's "Il più grande sogno" (I Was a Dreamer) Now in Italian Theaters

With director Michele Vanucci and lead actor Mirko Frezza It's always great to be in Rome for Opening Day of a film. The director and casts usually make their way through a few theaters to present it or to say a few words afterwards. Such was the case for Michele Vanucci's  Il più grande grande sogno,  a film I originally saw back in September via the Sala Web program of the Venice Film Festival. This year, a great selection of films were made available on this internet platform for those of us who couldn't make it there in person. I was thrilled to meet the cast and director in Rome last night, and tell them how much I adored this film. Below is my original review. Not much has changed for me the second time around, except that I realized much of the humor was lost in translation. Since I saw the film in the theater closest to the neighborhood in which it was filmed, there were family and friends of the cast members, in particular Mirko Frezza. They were laughing in p

Interview: Alessandro Masi - A Lucano in Hollywood

During my adventures in finding interesting subjects for my "Basilicata: Terra di Cinema" series, I'm often amazed at the reach of filmmakers from Lucania. They travel the world to make and present their films, follow their dreams and experience different cultures. They learn the language and assimilate quickly, embracing the differences in lifestyle, work and even cuisine. Film Distributor Alessandro Masi is no different. Born and raised in Potenza, he is blazing his way through America following his passions of cinema, marketing, and business. Well-schooled in the entertainment industry, Masi has also worked as a producer. So he is familiar with being on both sides of the coin. Curious about this Lucano in America, I asked him a few questions about his American adventure and his thoughts on the highly acclaimed Italian Oscar entry, Gianfranco Rosi's documentary "Fire at Sea". When did you move to the United States? This is my third lon

Fabrizio Corallo's "Dino Risi Forever"

On this #FlashbackFriday, I'm taking a look back at one of my favorite films in this year's edition of the Festa del Cinema di Roma- Fabrizio Corallo's documentary,  Dino Risi Forever. With director Fabrizio Corallo To mark the one-hundredth anniversary of the birth of the master of Italian-style comedy, the festival paid tribute to Risi by premiering  Corallo's beautiful film, which featured intimate interviews showing the director's sense of humor and insight, which inadvertently made him an icon. In the telling interview, Risi spoke of his memories working with the likes of Sophia Loren, Ettore Scola and Dino De Laurentiis. He spoke of his passion for writing screenplays, "Writing was something that I really enjoyed." And Scola spoke of his collaboration with Risi. "I started working with  Dino and I did about ten films with him in all." Risi also spoke in depth about his friendship and collaboration with Vittorio Gassman. The two w

Basilicata Filmmaker in the Running for an Oscar

It's just been announced that Donato Sansone's Journal anime has made the short list as a candidate for Best Short Film at the 2017 Academy Awards. The film is an artistic improvisation made between September 15 and November 15, 2015, inspired by the international news published in the newspaper Libération and the November 13th series of bombings that took place last year in Paris. The film explores the concept of freedom of expression as a tribute to Charlie Hebdo and its fallen journalists.  Watch the Teaser..

A Visual Tribute to Mark My Last Day in Italy's Magnificent Region of Basilicata

Approaching Rionero in Vulture Today is my final day of a beautiful cinema-themed stay in Italy's stunning region of Basilicata. During the last two weeks, I've seen numerous films shot in the region from Francesco Rosi's 1969 Cristo si e' fermato a Eboli to the contemporary films made by Italy's new generation of brilliant directors like Gianni Saponara,  Adelaide De Fino and   Silvio Giordano .  Talking cinema made in Basilicata with Lucano journalist Michelangelo Russo I've also had the pleasure to speak with people from all walks of life here.. from moviegoers to politicians to festival organizers about the relevance of the region's young filmmakers and how the region has changed since the fanatical revelations and images of Rosi's important but dated three-hour epic. Matera where countless films have been made  To mark my last day in Basilicata this time around, I'd like to reflect on the regions's natural beauty and t