Burbank Film Festival - Rose Garden
A whole condo has its routine changed after Felix arrived. A smart little kid who knows he's going to die soon, but the way he faces his destiny changes everyone around him.
Interview with Writer/Director Rafael Nani
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Life, death, and meaning of life have always been questions I've been quite curious about. When I wrote the script, I was looking to discuss these issues, to see what other people think about them.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
The movie brings a new perspective to something that we’ll certainly face at some moment in our lives, although we’ll never be completely ready for it. In a funny and entertaining way, it’s a great eye-opening experience that makes the audience rethink their own lives and values.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
I believe Time is the only real villain in our lives, and it's always winning in the end. Therefore, we need to face it consciously. We need to make our existence worth it. This is what this movie is all about. Heal wounds and move on, because life never stops. I believe that, sometimes, regretting things we could’ve done can kill us much faster than the mistakes we make can kill us.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
I've had this story in my mind for years, so the script was really easy to write. However, the production was a little difficult to put together. The film has a peculiar script. It’s not conventional at all! It’s not easy to move forward in terms of financing when you don’t have a kind of “Hollywood script.” Sometimes people just can't think outside the box. Fortunately, we were able to find artists and investors with open minds to boost the project.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
The best feedback possible. People just love this movie! The story, the humor, the performance of the actors, the music, everything! They just adore it! After every screening, people come to tell me how pleasing it was, or how they got deeply emotionally involved in the story. And for an artist, that’s awesome. Besides that, the movie has been accepted to more than 30 film festivals and has won over 19 awards so far. I was not expecting such a huge success. I couldn’t be prouder.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I knew from the beginning that I had something good on my hands. However, I was not expecting this kind of reception and acceptance from American audiences at all. My objective from the beginning was to aim more at European and Latin American audiences. From the first frame of the movie, you can tell that this is not a “traditional American movie.” The sense of humor, the style of the performances, and the pacing are more like an “international movie.” So it’s wonderful to see how universal and powerful the cinema can be, and how far a good and well-told story can go.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I would like the film to reach more and more audiences. Besides that, it’s nice to get exposure for future projects.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Distributors. They could help the movie to reach more platforms and reach more people. That’s what I’m working on now for this project.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I'd like people to remember that we can't postpone happiness. Do whatever you need to do, and never forget to say I love you to the people that you love.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
I believe that everything related to the idea that life is a combination of new beginnings and fresh starts can be directly connected to “Rose Garden.”
Would you like to add anything else?
Thank you very much for having me, and thank you to all my great cast and crew!
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I'm finishing my first feature right now, and preparing the next one.
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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Rose Garden
A whole condo has its routine changed after Felix arrived. A smart little kid who knows he's going to die soon, but the way he faces his destiny changes everyone around him.
Length: 13min
Director & Writer: Rafael Nani
Producer: Rafael Nani and Adriana Sandreschi
About the writer, director and producer:
A Film Director graduate, post-graduate and master degree in Cinema, Rafael Nani has been working on the realization of several films and documentaries. Highlights for the short films “Don’t Call me Later” (2012), “The Regret of the Doubt” (2013) and "Rose Garden" (2016), which he wrote, directed and produced, and which entered into several film festivals around the world.
Key cast: Evan O'Toole, Roger Argo, Holgie Forrester, Robert Artz
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): Sales agents and distributors.
Site: www.rosegardenthemovie.com
Facebook: facebook.com/rafanani
Other: rafanani.com
Where can I see it in the next month?
Burbank Film Festival