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Poet Richard Diamond (TWENTY GOOD YEARS)

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1) What is the theme of your poem?

The theme of my poem is mortality

2) What motivated you to write this poem?

Turning fifty and realizing that most of my life is over motivated me to write this poem

3) How long have you been writing poetry?

I have been writing poetry on and off for thirty years however over the last two years I have been more prolific as I didn’t write much during the period of my life when my children were younger as I had less time to devote to writing.

4) If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that be?

If I could have dinner with one person it would be Axl Rose the lead singer of the rock band Guns N Roses as I have been a huge fan of his work since I was about twelve years old and would love the opportunity to learn more about his creative process.

5) What influenced you to submit to have your poetry performed by a professional actor?

I wanted to have my poem performed by a professional actor because I thought it would be interesting to hear my work performed by someone else and to have it interpreted in a different way other than just on the page.

6) Do you write other works? scripts? Short Stories? Etc..?

Yes I have other works, I have many other poems and a few short stories

7) What is your passion in life?

My passion in life is writing

Poet Zionna Edwards (AWAY WE GO)

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Get to know the poet:

1) What is the theme of your poem?

The theme of this poem is youth and future and combining that to become more of a melancholy look into that idea of youth and the future fading away. Not only that, it’s seeing that youth has kept them away from seeing the truth of things and these truths are evident in the poem. It’s also about fear of the future but eventually having to move on from this fear and go through it.

2) What motivated you to write this poem?

What motivated me was how I am looking forward to the future and maybe how other people look towards it too. The future is vast and sometimes I have this fear of the future that grates on me. I was also looking at the idea of youth and the climate of the culture of today and what we have inherited as the youth of this time.

3) How long have you been writing poetry?

I have been writing poetry since I was 14 and I was in high school at the time. Langston Hughes inspired me but I wasn’t always someone who liked writing.

4) If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that be?

This is a hard one but I think it is someone who has also influenced me tremendously and that is Zora Neale Hurston, who was an anthropologist but also one of the writers featured within the Harlem Renaissance and that is an era full of artists, writers, musicians I would love to meet. Ms Hurston seemed to be an interesting woman based on what she knew as both an anthropologist and writer.

5) What influenced you to submit to have your poetry performed by a professional actor?

I thought it would get more traction but also that my voice as of right now isn’t the best at vocalizing what I want to say sometimes and this was the way to go as of now.

6) Do you write other works? scripts? Short Stories? Etc..?

I do indeed write short stories and I want to eventually go on to create novels. It’s hard to sit down and focus on short stories sometimes because I have multiple WIP’s (work in progress) and because my attention span is like that of a goldfish.

7) What is your passion in life?

My passion in life is to influence the world in a more positive way. That means helping the children in my family and having them also read literature but to help the cycle of trauma to stop. That means to put out works that inspire others to be and do more positive things and change the world by using kindness, empathy and being gentle towards those around them. That means having black women and girls see themselves as a main character they can relate to and be heard by and hopefully influence them to become a writer and write about their feelings and experiences.

Poet Ryan Rahman (CRISIS OF THE SELF)

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Get to know the poet:

1) What is the theme of your poem?
I think the biggest theme overall is the sense of loss, whether it be identity, purpose, or direction. And then you have the self-reflection and self-doubt that comes with it.

2) What motivated you to write this poem?
When I initially wrote Crisis of the Self, I was in a weird place. Long story short, I fell into that trap where I was comparing myself to others. Everyone seemed to have life figured out except me. Nothing seemed to be going right in mine. I felt lost and disillusioned. I was questioning pretty much everything. Myself, life, etc. With it being a new year, I decided to revisit this poem and see what could be improved upon. Even though I don’t feel like this anymore, I felt it deserved to be shared because I figured there are people out there who’ve felt similar at one point or another. And if anything, it serves as a reminder of how far I’ve come since then.

3) How long have you been writing poetry?
2010 was the year I finally wrote a poem I was truly satisfied with. I tried my hand at it previously but nothing I wrote ever came out the way I wanted it to. Crazy to think that particular poem took 13 years to find a home.

4) If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that be?
Jorge Luis Borges. I’d love to talk to him in-depth about the short stories he wrote.

5) What influenced you to submit to have your poetry performed by a professional actor?
I read my poetry out loud during the creative process and after I’ve finished but it’s nice to hear the final product being read from someone else’s perspective. I’ve tried those free to use text-to-speech websites but they’re pretty awful. It just made sense to me to have a professional read it. Besides, I think it’s a neat idea and it seemed like a good way to gain more exposure.

6) Do you write other works? scripts? Short Stories? Etc..?
I’ve written some short stories and a few one-act plays. I’ll continue writing poems but this year I’d like to revisit the plays I already wrote and see how I can polish them up so they can be sent out again. I also want to start working on the ones I’ve been brainstorming for some time now. In terms of possibilities, I’m excited to see what 2025 has in store.

7) What is your passion in life?
Nowadays? Creating my own happiness, doing things that make me feel fulfilled. Life can beat you down if you’re not careful. Self-love and self-care is important!

Poet Nickie DeSardo (MY BODY ISN’T PERFECT)

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Get to know the poet:

1) What is the theme of your poem?

The ways in which my body has betrayed me (through autoimmune disease) and how I have betrayed it by not protecting it.

2) What motivated you to write this poem?

I was asked to write a poem of my body as a protest and all I could think
was how my body never protested anything. Betrayal was the only sense I had in terms of my feelings towards my body. I imagined that it was equally as mad at me, hence attacking itself.

3) How long have you been writing poetry?

I have been writing poetry since the 4th grade, but I never shared a single
poem with anyone until I entered my MFA program. Sharing my innermost
feelings aloud was both powerful and nerve-wracking,

4) If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that be?

My partner. I know this question intends for a more profound answer, but
he’s the only person I want to sit across from. I’d choose him every time.

5) What influenced you to submit to have your poetry performed by a professional actor?

I wanted to hear how someone else hears my words.

6) Do you write other works? scripts? Short Stories? Etc..?

I write memoir (which I don’t publish) and social justice articles (which I
do)

7) What is your passion in life?

To be a voice for those whose voices aren’t heard. I’m loud.

Filmmakers Sam Hall (FIGHTERS)

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FIGHTERS, 4min., USA
Directed by Sam Hall
A deep space research station is under attack from an overwhelming force. Hope arrives in the form of an elite squadron of fighters.

https://www.instagram.com/samgoingwest/

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

I’ve spent most of my life helping make other people’s stories and I wanted the chance to do something my way.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

About two years though progress wasn’t always consistent.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Kinetic action

4. What was the biggest obstacle you fa ced in completing this film?

Motivation maybe. It was sometimes a struggle to keep going and sometimes weeks would go by where I didn’t touch it. There were technical challenges as well but I mostly enjoy those.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

I thought it was interesting, especially the reviewer who thought it reminded them of a game of which I’m unfamiliar. Generally I’m just glad it makes sense. That was something I was never quite sure about.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

May 19, 1999.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

Batman (1989) for sure.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

I really couldn’t say.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

Much better than I thought festival submission could be. I put it off for a while because I thought it would be harder.

10. What is your favorite meal?

A smoothie consisting of a banana, frozen mangoes, orange juice and vanilla protein powder.

11. What is next for you? A new film?

– I’ve been working on a follow up as well as another space project that’s much slower and more about the beauty of space and exploration.

Producer Jason Edwards (HYBRID)

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HYBRID, 14min., USA
Directed by Chris Romrell
A story of a family’s internal struggle during a global crisis. While trying to navigate unknow fears and events they have to learn how to draw closer to each other and work together.

https://www.instagram.com/chris.romrell/

Get to know Producer Jason Edwards:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

My desire was to bring old Hollywood back to the silver screen and really bring a movie that all audiences could enjoy. I felt the character and the story line fit that perfectly.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

The critical issues were making sure we put together out a great quality film, so it took us about 1 year from concept to completion.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Thrilling, suspenseful

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

Producing a feature quality film on a short budget

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

Amazed, humbled and so proud of our team, cast and crew.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

After my last short” jump” I felt this story would be attractive to audiences

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

I love Alfred Hitchcock/Steven Spielberg type of movies, as well as George Lucas. Star wars : A new Hope is my favorite

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

I think your festival is very well represented and we have been very impressed with the substance and support, the one thing I see as a need in festivals is access to the next phase. Networking or introduction to studios could be great but we haven’t competed our experience with you so your festival may already do that effectively

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

Phenomenal , very easy and useful

10. What is your favorite meal?

Pizza

11. What is next for you? A new film?

We are currently working on the feature script and turning Hybrid into the next great feature Sci-Fi

Filmmaker Pablo Chouza (MEXILLONARIA)

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MEXILLONARIA, 15min., Spain
Directed by Pablo Chouza
The mussel in Galicia has its own character. Consumed from the Iron era to the present day, marking a turning point with the arrival of the first boats in the Ría de Arousa around 1945. At this time, it goes from a rustic and primary collection to being transformed into a crop, becoming the economic engine for many localities coastal

https://mexillonaria.com/

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

The silence about women’s work and the problem environmental were the keys to doing something in the sea where I live, where I bathe, where I sail and where I want to die.

2. From idea to finished product, how long did it take you to make this movie?

In less than a year it was ready. Seek financing and find The Mulleres Salgadas Association was the definitive boost.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Relaxing and reflective.

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

Financing for post-production.

5. What were your initial reactions upon seeing the audience speak? about your movie in the comments video?

Delighted to keep their attention and that they reached the end of the documentary

6. When did you realize you wanted to make films?

The documentary is something so necessary and so accessible… it is always more easy to tell stories that are made to invent something fictional.

7. What movie have you seen the most in your life?

Very difficult to count, but Heima ((2007) I played it so many times
I’m sure they are at the top of the list… hehe. Seriously, for me it is
impossible to count or decide on just one.

Filmmaker Miguel Ángel Vives Ponzanelli (Onámuh)

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Onámuh, 22min,. Mexico
Directed by Miguel Ángel Vives Ponzanelli
Onámuh, a humanoid marked by past abuses, searches for resources to survive. Árret, a deity of the earth, helps him and takes him to her lair, where Onámuh finds the energy he needed. However, his need turns into an addiction, leading him to abuse Árret and make her his prisoner. As the environment rapidly deteriorates, Onámuh must make a fatal decision due to his accumulated guilt.

https://www.instagram.com/pm.a.v/

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

Philosophically, I’ve always loved the ideas Nietzsche had around nature and the way Humans perceive it in terms of an ego out of proportions. We humans tend to try and trap nature in our supposed “reason” but, in that futile attempt, we unleash a destructive force that tries to compensate the shameful fact that we understand almost nothing in the greater scheme of the natural universe. I wanted to portray that struggle with visual metaphors, symbols and allegories.

This brings me to the social part of the motivation to do the film. I’m mexican and, inside my country, we have deep problems concerning the destruction and exploitation of the natural environment. So, I saw an opportunity to try and create awareness of the problem that affects Mexico but also the entire planet as well. A good film can change perspectives and put people into action. Hopefully, this short film generates a bit of that in the audiences that watch it.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

It took me and my team around one year and a half.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Surreal Ignorance

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

Production was the best part but also the most difficult one. We filmed in the jungle inside Veracruz. To access one of the locations we had to make a 70 meter rappel down beside a roaring waterfall. So, all the members of the crew, equipment, lights, art, props, sound, actors and various guides (my producer is a rappel master also, he took care of absolutely everything) had to go down with ropes and pulley systems. We filmed for two days inside the cave and that meant going up and down for two days in a row.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

I cried. Really, I did. I felt like the film directors that inspired me to do films. My sole purpose has always been to give audiences something worth watching you know? Good quality, good script, performances and attention to detail! The feedback video gave me validation to do more without compromising.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

I went to a trip in Tepoztlán with my father and, walking under the sun, it hit me. At first, I wanted to be a musician but I honestly wasn’t that good. Then, literally in a matter of seconds, I realized that I knew a hell of a lot in terms of films. My parents are addicted movie watchers but not just as a hobbie. We had almost academic discussions about the films we went to watch at the theater, when I was little. They taught me the basics. So I decided that maybe that was the way to go.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

(Just one is impossible, sorry) Clockwork Orange, The Godfather, No Country for Old Men, Pulp Fiction, Scarface

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

I think that what you already offer is pretty good. Maybe a YouTube Channel with a good volume of subscribers to premiere the short film, that would be nice. Aside from that, I really appreciate your efforts.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

Great platform. Efficient, easy to use and I’ve never really had any issues whatsoever.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Sushi in all of it’s presentations, Mexican food in all of it’s presentations, Italian Pizza and Lebanese food.

11. What is next for you? A new film?

Keep on filming new projects. I just finished a short documentary about deforestation and I’m writing a new fiction script for a short film that will function as a kind of “proof of concept” for a feature film, hopefully.

Filmmaker Lorenzo Ayuso (EXTREME GRAVITY)

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EXTREME GRAVITY, 7min., Spain
Directed by Lorenzo Ayuso
What would be the worst thing that could happen to you when trying to kill yourself? It is said that dying is not the worst, but the way you die, and Camilo is about to find out how much of that is true.

https://lorenzoayuso.com/filmografia/extrema-gravedad-2023/
https://www.instagram.com/lorenzo_ayuso/

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?
I always have doubts about whether or not I want people to know about the motivation behind ‘Extreme Gravity’. It’s not that I want to hide it at all, but the origins start with me being in a very dark place. I’ve been struggling with depression for about 15 years, with ups and downs all down the road, but I was at my lowest point around 2018-2019. As a part of trying to take some perspective and distance myself from every negative thought that came through my mind, I decided to write something as a form of cathartic experience, putting myself at the worst possible scenario and trying to subvert it and find the humor and the absurdity in it. A question popped up into my head: “What would be the worst thing that could happen if someone wanted to commit suicide?”. I love Kenneth Anger’s ‘Hollywood Babylon’, especially when he digresses about the fading stars who wanted to die on their own terms, making it a big deal out of it, but failed tragically and miserably… That inspired me to create this story about a guy willing to make a big finale that goes incredibly wrong. And in this particular time, in which everyone feels the need to record everything and post it on social media to make sure it exists, this finale should be taped in order to be seen as much as possible, hence the idea of someone recording or streaming his suicide in one shot. That would also lead to playing with the internal pacing of a single shot, and create an exciting challenge.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
Well, it was quite a long time to finish the movie! I wrote the first draft around spring 2019, and we were pretty much ready to shoot it on April 2020. But the pandemic happened, and the project was put on hold for more than a year. When we finally rolled cameras in August 2021, we thought that we had left the worst behind us, but little did we know. We had to endure a number of problems during the post-production, and even the original production company disbanded… There was a moment when I thought ‘Extreme Gravity’ would never see the light of day… I really thought the project was doomed and done for good. Luckily, we bounced back and managed to keep it alive and finished it two years after shooting. It was an extremely difficult situation, but after that, this film has brought nothing but good things to me and the cast and crew.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?
Pretty mental!

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
Like I said, we had our fair share of obstacles at every stage of production. Post-production was particularly difficult for us. A close friend and collaborator was having health problems and had to leave the project with her work halfway done… We found another artist to finish her work, this individual compromised to do it in a short time… but he disappeared with the material for almost a year for no reason! He eventually reappeared and tried to make amends, but what he presented to us was unusable. By the time we got everything back, my colleague was fully recovered and was able to get back on track. It was discouraging, but I’m glad everything worked out in the end.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
I loved it! Listening to their thoughful comments on the film made me feel that it really worked, that the drama felt believable and the twist worked. I’m also really proud of my lead actor, Álvaro Márquez, and was really happy that his performance received great reviews.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
Honestly, I can’t remember a moment in my life when I didn’t want to be a filmmaker; well, when I was 6 years old, I really wanted to be a Ninja Turtle, but I don’t think that counts… Anyway, I think the turning point, the moment I realized that I had to make movies, was when I was 13, after I saw Antonia Bird’s ‘Ravenous’ on VHS. Now it has become a cult classic but when it was released it was quite a box office flop, with little to no promotion, and I can’t remember what made me want to see it. And, boy, did I love it! I was amazed by the mix of genres and tones, western and horror, with some dark comedy… That movie helped me to understand the countless possibilities of storytelling and convinced me to dedicate my life to telling my own stories in such bold ways.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?
That’s a tough one! I could narrow it down to two, both coincidentally from the year I was born: Predator and Evil Dead 2. I vividly remember the day I saw the latter for the first time and how it impressed me: I was so shocked when I finished it that I immediately watched it again!

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?
I think the most important thing is to maintain the relationship between the artists and the audience, and between the artists themselves. Not just for the sake of networking, but to create a cool community that helps filmmakers stay on track, keep on working and growing.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?
It’s been mostly good, but as is often the case in this industry, you learn as you go along. I was really naive when I first started self-distributing my films, and I didn’t consider the possibility that someone was just creating the illusion of a festival to make money off of filmmakers who were eager to get visibility and maybe a quick selection. So I fell on a few of these illegitimate festivals over the years using FilmFreeway. That made me more cautious. There are many dubious festivals out there, and on the other platforms as well: maybe now it’s harder to spot them now, with the advent of IA, but it’s a matter of not being impulsive and doing a little research before you invest and submit your films.

10. What is your favorite meal?
I’m getting hungry just by thinking what to answer… I would say a good bowl of yakisoba! I love Japanese food.

11. What is next for you? A new film?
The near future is luckily quite packed! My first book will be on the streets in a matter of weeks in Spain, so I’ll be busy promoting it: it’s called ‘Van Damme, el héroe de Vitruvio’ (translated: ‘Van Damme, The Vitruvian Hero’) and it’s an essay on the complete filmography of Jean-Claude Van Damme and his impact on martial art cinema. There are also some other collective books on cinema that I have contributed to that will be coming out soon. Besides this, I have various music videos waiting on my schedule, and a couple of short films also waiting to be fully funded… And I’m slowly but steadily working on me first feature lenght film, which will have some elements in common with ‘Extreme Gravity’. It will basically be a found footage horror movie and I’m really excited about it!

Filmmaker Nathan William Frost (Pongo Labyrinth)

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Pongo Labyrinth [VTuber KawaiiMermaid120’s Final Livestream], 11min., USA
Directed by Nathan William Frost
An eerie glitchy stop-motion video made by Nathan Frost about a Virtual YouTuber’s final livestream.

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?:

I was inspired to make Pongo Labyrinth from growing up on the internet and seeing it evolve and devolve in real time. Mostly devolve, through online parasocial relationships of creators and Silicon Valley algorithms used to suppressed people In actual need of help. This new era of the internet has led to creators having to bend a knee to algorithms and be someone they’re not. Creators are forced to make quick and sanitized art to keep up with the algorithm. It leads to burnout and kills creativity. It also leads to creators getting addicted to likes and followers as a source of dopamine. Due to the abusive algorithm, some creators lean into their audience/viewers’ support for their own benefit. They become obsessed with power. Only then will viewers see the creators’ true colors as the persona starts to slip, one way or another. I made Pongo Labyrinth to express that mind-numbing horror of losing one’s true self on the internet.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?:

Pongo Labyrinth took a year to make from the idea stage to the ten minute and 30 second finished work. The idea of an orangutan in a fleshy landscape came to me while at college in biology class for some reason.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?:

DIGITAL DEMISE

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?:

Constructing the faceless ape took some trial and error to get the design right. I wanted to lean into a more uncanny look, as it’s not a real ape. It has no eyes or fingers. It’s a figment of the web. A digital hallucination, essentially, mimicking something.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?:

I’m glad they liked it! I appreciated that they respected it.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?:

It was a mixture of growing up watching Godzilla films and being exposed to a lot of the weirder art on early YouTube, like Don’t hug me I’m scared and Username 666.

It made me realize, wow, people can make things!

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?:

I’ve seen Looney Toons: back in action way too many times.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?:

The festivals I’ve been to have been good thus far. But I think for other artists, lowering prices would help, which can allow less fortunate filmmakers to get their art out there. Also, a complete ban of generative AI slop from all festivals. It kills art through its plagiarism.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

It’s been okay, it needs better moderation though. Film freeway does not ban nor acknowledge scam festivals that are there to steal money. But from the festivals that are real, they’ve been good and very kind!

10. What is your favorite meal?:

Chicken Bacon Ranch Quesadillas from Chili’s.

11. What is next for you? A new film?

I’m working on a feature-length film for my next project. I’m making it independently all by myself. It’s going to be my biggest project so far. It will be done eventually. I’m taking my time with it. That’s all I’ll say for now.