BRAINLAND, 13min., UK
Directed by Chiara D'Anna
In 1935 Egas Moniz, renowned Portuguese neurologist, visit psychiatrist Sobral Cid in order to persuade him allow his patients to be act as subjects for Moniz's experiemntal treatment - frontal leucotomy. After some resistance Cid agrees. The first such operation is staged, but Moniz's exhaltation is cut short by an attempt on his life. This self-contained chamber opera is actually scene 7 from a longer opera of the same name that tells three stories from the history of 20th century brain science (rather than a screenplay we worked with a libretto). it was filmed very quickly with little resources and involved professional and non-professional cast & crew.The music is by Stephen Brown.

https://www.brainlandtheopera.co.uk/

Get to know writer/producer Ken Barrett:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

The opera 'Brainland' weaves together stories from the history of 20th century neuroscience, stories involving large egos and questionable ethics. One of those stories, the origin of the psychosurgery movement in the 1930s, is a self-contained chamber opera with a story arc and dramatic conclusion. That gave us the idea to make it as a short film. It was created by a collective of artists including writers, composer, designer, costumier, choreographer, first time film director, mixed professional and student cast, a unique historical location and a tiny budget.

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

We started writing the opera in 2019 and continued through Covid. The idea for the film arose in early 2023, it was filmed in October 2023, editing completed in February 2024.

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

'Opera lives'.

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

Constraints of money and time - it was filmed in a 200 year old operating theatre in Central London and we only had one day to complete the shooting by director Chiara D'Anna dead a great job!

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

Delighted to get such positive responses - particularly as our story telling medium is opera!

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

I am interested in telling stories and film fitted the bill for this story.

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

'A Matter of Life and Death' from 1946 by Michael Powell and Emerich Pressberger.- I even recorded an episode of our 'Brainland' podcast discussing it with a flim historian ( https://shows.acast.com/brainland/episodes/a-matter-of-life-and-death-the-movie-and-its-origins)

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

This is our first submission to festivals and are delighted by how this has gone.

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

Film Freeway is a great platform that makes submitting to festivals very simple.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Any meal in Italy

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

We want to stage the rest of the opera and as a next step may stage the other psychosurgery story in the piece, on the infamous 'ice-pick' lobotomy, with puppets. The opera website is: www.brainlandtheopera.co.uk