A FILM-MAKER from Kidderminster has been celebrating international success with his latest short movie ZAVATA.
Fernando Antonio Maffei recently won Best Screenplay in Milan, while cinematographer Lisa Muzzulini received Best Cinematography for ZAVATA at the Birmingham Film Festival.
And, in a remarkable run on the global festival circuit, it was also named a semi-finalist at Venezia Shorts and received Honourable Mentions at Folkestone Film Festival and Reale RIFF, further adding to its growing international acclaim.
The emotional short film, shot entirely in Trieste, Italy, tells a moving story of memory, family and reconciliation.
Zavata’s literal translation from Italian is ‘old slipper’ but it is also refers to a cake in Italy, similar to that of a custard slice.
The film was the brainchild of Fernando who wrote, directed and co-produced the piece and wanted to get Italian actor Francesco Tribuzio on board.
Fernando said: “That was always the plan – without him, none of this would have been possible.
“We’ve wanted to work together again ever since Artichoke in 2017, which is now available to stream.”
Zavata tells the story of Chef Francesco Trieste, portrayed by Tribuzio, who returns home after two decades to confront his past and reconcile with his sister, the Duchess Fontane.
Having reinvented himself as a renowned pastry chef, Francesco must navigate the complexities of his former life and the relationships he left behind.
Fernando said: “Our aim with Zavata was to build a bridge between British and Italian cultures, celebrating the beauty and complexity of both.
“The fusion of our diverse backgrounds enriched the storytelling and brought a unique depth to the film.”
Check out the trailer for Zavata below.
Investment needed
Fernando has a long held belief that more funding needs to be invested into the arts and more art funding needs to be put into film-making.
“I love the idea of cinema – and yes, a box office smash – but we need to bring money back to art, and art back to cinema.”
There are still five film festivals to go and then after that – later this summer – there will be a screening of ZAVATA in Worcestershire to showcase Fernando’s work and give local audiences the chance to see ZAVATA and celebrate it making waves on the international stage.
Fernando is already looking ahead to his next short film, Luigi Uncooked – a bold and imaginative new project that continues his passion for unconventional storytelling.
He said it would feature real cows filmed on location and brought to life through narration from a talented cast. The film will also see Francesco return in the title role as Luigi.
And Fernando is also set to attend the Venice Film Festival later this year, where he hopes to meet fellow producers and industry figures as momentum builds around his next feature film, The Barbershop Bear. This, Fernando said, was currently being pitched to major production companies.
For more on Fernando, follow Chilli Rose Productions – instagram.com/chilliroseproductions/ – on Instagram.
