It was an important showcase for Apulian cinema which, successfully for a week, participated in the prestigious NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA) with a selection of five short films directed by as many talents of Apulian cinematography. “San Vitu Rock” by Fausto Romano, “Albertine, where are you?” by Maria Guidone, “La Pescatora” by Lucia Loré, “Super Jesus” by Vito Palumbo and “Lea and the Flamingo” by Antonio De Palo, are the five short films selected in the “InFocus: Puglia Cinema” section of NewFilmmakers Los Angeles, created within the Italian Cultural Institute of Los Angeles, with the patronage of the Italian Consulate of Los Angeles.
The project was born from an idea by Silvia Bizio who, together with the director of NFMLA Larry Laboe takes care of the artistic direction and Simone Di Cori the general organization, found a positive response in Anna Maria Tosto, president of Apulia Film Commission, Antonio Parente, director of Apulia Film Commission, and Luca Scandale, director of Pugliapromozione, who joined the initiative with great enthusiasm.
“We immediately accepted the challenge – commented Antonio Parente, director of the Apulia Film Commission -. Continuing to attract large productions, including Hollywood ones, to our land is essential to then support local talent. Small projects need a driving force, a thriving industry. But the cinema of big producers needs a lively undergrowth. The two things feed each other.”
“The charm of cinema is a multiplier of attraction that conveys the emotions and beauties of Puglia. Apulian filmmakers are an expression of our culture and creativity. This is why we took the opportunity to work together with the Apulia Film Commission again – said Luca Scandale, general director of Pugliapromozione -. Travel is a dimension that can also be savored through the big screen, even before choosing the holiday location. The excellent network results of the mission in Los Angeles, in the heart of Hollywood, encourage us to continue working in this direction.”
The curated focus of NewFilmmakers Los Angeles, therefore, on the one hand gave great visibility to the Apulian territories, on the other it offered the authors an incredible networking opportunity in what is considered to all intents and purposes the capital of world cinema. In fact, Italian directors were offered numerous meetings with important representatives of streamers and film studios and interviews with prestigious magazines in the American sector. In short, a week of intensive course in everything that cinema represents in America.
“Apulian Cinema in Hollywood” is a project created by the Apulia Film Commission Foundation, Puglia Region/Tourism Department and Pugliapromozione using resources from the Puglia POC 2014/2020, Axis VI, Action 6.8
