A SUNRISE, 5min., Italy
Directed by Matteo Medri
On one side fantasy reigns. Beauty. The pleasure of contemplation.
On the other, the everyday life, the routine, the passing of time.
Two different worlds that, for a dazzling moment, touch each other creating a vision, an opportunity. "A Sunrise" is about an epic encounter, interpreted by the elegance and skill of the prima ballerina of the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Virna Toppi, to the notes of the famous minimalist composer Wim Mertens. This is "A Sunrise".

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Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

The desire to make a poetic short film, on the beauty of the universe
and its connections.
So that the protagonist is seen in mythological sense, as a mermaid
who protects the universe and its inhabitants.

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

The first idea, in its early stages, stayed with me in my head for a
few months, then once the idea itself was well defined, it took a few
weeks to produce the project, both to plan the production, and also
because we decided to film everything in daylight using what nature at
dawn would give us as lighting. All in all, it took a relatively short
time.

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

Poetic and emotional.

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

The biggest obstacle was finding the right combination for shooting with
the three cameras that we used, so you can catch all the points of view
needed for post production taking also in consideration the sunrise.
So we planned the shots till the last second, hoping also in the
collaboration of the weather, that would give us the right lighting for
the photography and shots imagined.
Other than that it was a particular fun experience to be at the beach at
sunrise with a priest and his congregation with chairs in their hands,
while we were trying to film, they were doing mass. A very surreal situation.

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

Absolutely thrilled! We were very pleased to hear the feedback on our
video, making us understand that what we wanted to communicate through
the video actually reached the viewers. So thank you very much!

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

After a first experience of videoclip when I played in a rock band, at
the age of 18, I was captured by the potential of the audiovisual
instrument and I was fascinated by the work behind the scenes, the
dark side of the moon. And so I started to approach the world of video
and filming, having the good fortune to meet along my journey great
professionals, who allowed me to grow and experiment with the ideas
that, as time passed, grew in my head.

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

I don't have a film in particular that I've seen the most, there
are genres that maybe in some periods I "explore" more, but let's
say I like watching a lot of movies. On average I watch about 200
movies a year (between platforms, cinemas, etc.), I'm "a nocturnal
being", and I love watching a good movie every night at the end of a
day of work or vacation, I don't care if it is 11 pm or 1 am... a
movie always closes a day.... or maybe sometimes it starts your day,
if you work at night!

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

It would be very helpful to put us in touch with realities connected
to the festivals for co-productions, productions or collaborations in
general.

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

It works well, it would be useful to receive emails regarding the most
important festivals, deadlines and main information.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Being Italian don't have just one favorite dish, but I love good
food, Mediterranean cuisine, so definitely handmade pasta, but also
the piadina romagnola and everything our cuisine offers us.... I
certainly don't like "classic" dishes revisited in what is usually
called a "modern version"....

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

Yes, I would hope for that... we have two screenplays in evaluation
and hopefully they will soon enter the next stage of production!