You cannot live someone else's life. Four seasons. Four stories. Four couples. Four tangled desires. A bathroom pickup burns on its own homophobia. A street walker succumbs to a lover. Blackmail and queer romance walk a dangerous path together. Madness takes over a woman’s libido.

Interview with Director Luciana Canton

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

Because I had to.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

Because it will stir in you deep unanswered questions.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

Is there a difference between personal and universal? I assume not. The theme we started with was sexuality, but on making the film we realized love was our real theme.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?

I improvised the script with the actors and crew. We spent four months creating characters and trying out situations and, as we kept the interesting ones evolving, they came to be the movie on screen. But that involved also the month and a half of shooting, and the editing process, till we formed the stories properly. In some cases, we were on location still trying to understand the movie we were doing. It was intuitive, passionate, and mainly a group process. We made this movie without ANY money. It cost less than 2000 dollars.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

All kinds! It is fascinating to hear people's reactions. The only ones that disappoint me are the ones that are desperate for an explanation.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

All the time. I am constantly rethinking what I could have done differently and trying to step in other people's shoes. But in the end of the day, I think the movie is as good as it is. The movie itself is always making me think and wonder about a lot of things.

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

An audience, specially in dark times like the US is going through right now. I believe we carry a message of tolerance with this movie.

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

Definitely distributors and journalists. Buyers too.

What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?

If after watching Public Intimacy you look at your desires and beliefs in a slightly different way, that would be a lot. If the movie helps you confront your prejudices and hidden weaknesses, than I would be so happy. I believe movies should serve to make our lives, and our hearts, better.

What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?

Would you do that? Would you go to the bottom of things when it comes to your sexuality and your heart?

Would you like to add anything else?

Just want to give the actors credit for all the lines in the film. Our movie never had a written script.

What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?

I am working on a Brazilian version of Shakespeare's Midnight's Summer Dream, that will be settled in our current times and will deal with our Indian and Afro American gods and legends. I want to work with comedy now, in an intoxicating and dreamy way.

Interview: August 2017

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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela

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Public Intimacy (Intimidade Pública)

Length: 70min

Director: Luciana Canton

Producer: Suzana Rebelov

Writer: collaborative with actors and crew

About the writer, director and producer:

Luciana Canton studied film at the University of São Paulo. After graduating, she studied the Meisner Technique at the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts. Luciana teaches directing actors at the University of São Paulo, where she does her PHD. Public Intimacy is her first feature film. She won best director at the Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival.

Other prizes Public Intimacy won:

Manhattan Independent Film Festival/ Best Narrative Feature Film

Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival/ Best of the Festival

Women Art and Media Film Festival in Sydney, Australia/ Best Fiction Feature Film

Dona i Cinema International Film Festival, Valência, Spain/ Best Fiction Feature Film

Queer Hippo LGBT International Film Festival, Texas, USA/ Best Fiction Feature Film

Award of Merit on the Lucerne International Film Festival, Switzerland

I Filmmaker International Film Festival of Marbella/ Special Mention

Manchester Film Festival, UK/ Special Jury Mention

Key cast:

Yuri Bathista, Júlio Silvério, Maira Sera, Henrique Guimarães, Antonio Jorge Dantas, Biah Carfig, Lucas Oranmian, Talita Contipelli, Bruna Lessa, Andréia Ferriello, Rod Jubelini, Neusa Velasco, Sueli Lima e Thuany Parente

Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): YES. All of them

Social media handles: http://estudiodecamera.wixsite.com/publicintimacy

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/intimidadepublica/?ref=bookmarks

Where can I see it in the next month? Venice Film Week (you would have to go to Venice...)

Toronto Film Week, Canada (September 16th)

Festival Internacional de Cine de Guayaqui, Ecuador (23rd of September)