Florida Film Festival 2019 – The Garden Left Behind
A Mexican trans woman struggles to make a life for herself as an undocumented immigrant in NYC.
Interview with Director Flavio Alves
Watch The Garden Left Behind on Prime Video and Vudu
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Just like all my films, The Garden Left Behind is about people who are vulnerable, isolated, and marginalized. As a queer and Latinx, I know what it means to be an outsider. So, as a filmmaker, I feel it’s my responsibility to bring to the forefront stories of people who have historically been underrepresented on the big screen.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
The Garden Left Behind couldn’t be more timely or more important to watch. Not only that, our main character is a woman who puts her heart and soul into finding love and financial stability and anyone can relate to this story.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
This film is deeply emotional and personal to me, and I want to use it as a platform to elevate voices in my community. Although LGBTQ+ representation in films has improved considerably in recent years, the large majority of people have no idea about the day-to-day struggles that transgender individuals are faced with.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
Making a film is a process, and as a filmmaker, while working on any script, I always expect to find roadblocks and face challenges. Totally expected. Honestly, if the story does not evolve from the original idea, you are not doing your job.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
The most important feedback I received was to make sure that the script would be writing in consultation with members of the trans community, and all trans roles would be played by trans actors.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Not at all. I am glad I was in the position to address their main concerns. We also hired trans women and men to work with us behind the camera. In order to make an authentic film, it's important to have everybody at the table.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
Increase our audience
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
I would like to invite anyone willing to help to take this film to the highest level.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
All of my films seem to deal with people who are economically vulnerable, isolated, ostracized, and marginalized. My hope is that the more stories that are told about marginalized communities and subcultures, the more awareness will spread, and the less marginalized they’ll continue to be.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Transgender people, especially transgender women of color, are disproportionately affected by violence. And, I put my finger on it. I knew that by writing a tragedy ending type of film, it would trigger an emotional response, but, as an activist, I’m excited by the change that’s going to come from it. I want people to be upset because that is exactly how I feel.
Would you like to add anything else?
We pioneered the use of eBay as a crowdfunding platform to raise money online. We raised over 100K by selling donated items on eBay.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I have several projects on the pipeline, including directing a TV show.
Interview: April 2019
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. 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
The Garden Left Behind
A Mexican trans woman struggles to make a life for herself as an undocumented immigrant in NYC.
Length: 1:28
Director: Flavio Alves
Producer: Roy Wol
Writer: John Rotondo, Flavio Alves
About the writer, director and producer:
FLAVIO ALVES is a Brazilian writer, film director, and producer. He was granted political asylum in the United States in 1998. Before becoming a filmmaker, Alves worked as an assistant to then-New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and to then-New York mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner (D-NY). His latest film, The Garden Left Behind, premiered at SXSW, where it won the Audience Award. Flavio lives in New York.
Key cast: Ed Asner, Michael Madsen, Carlie Guevara, Miriam Cruz, Anthony Abdo, Alex kruz, Tamara Williams, Dawn Young
Facebook: The Garden Left Behind
Twitter: @FlavAlves
Instagram:
Hashtags used: #thegardenleftbehind
Website: www.thegardenleftbehind.com
Other: IMDb
Funders: eBay (we pioneered the use of eBay as a crowdfunding platform, where we raised over $100K). For more information please visit our site at www.ebaymyfilm.com
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Florida Film Festival/Orlando - April 13th and 19th; Sunscreen/St Pete - FL April 28t; Bentonville Film Festival/Bentonville, AR - May 9th.