Martina Amati
Short Film Promotion Scheme Awardee
Martina Amati moved into drama in 2008 with her film 'A'Mare'. The 14 minute film premiered in a competition at Sundance and won a number of awards among International Festivals, including the BAFTA/LA Certificate of Excellence at Aspen and the UNICEF award in Bilbao.
Martina Amati
Her second drama 'I-Do-Air' won the BAFTA for Best Short Film 2010. Martina has just completed 'Chalk', a 20 minute Cinema Extreme film commissioned by Film4 and the UK Film Council, that will premier at the Berlinale Film Festival 2011.
Your connection to the British Council?
The British Council promoted the short films and myself as a director among International Film Festivals and through grants facilitating my attendance to the screenings.
Your current projects?
I am developing my first feature with Cowboy Films and I am training to set a new freediving personal best.
What/who originally turned you on to film?
Francesco Leonetti who was the voice of the craw in Pasolini’s 'Uccellacci e Uccellini' and my tutor at school opened my eyes to this world.
Career high so far?
Screening my first short drama 'A'Mare' to a public audience on the other side of the globe and winning the BAFTA with 'I-Do-Air'.
Your first job in the film industry?
Making coffee.
'If I knew then what I know now…'
Drink less coffee.
Favourite British film?
Peter Brook’s 'Lord of the Flies'.
If you could have directed/been involved with any film ever made, which one would it be?
I would have loved to be part of Francis Ford Coppola’s 'Apocalypse Now'.
First film you remember seeing?
First film I saw on the screen was 'Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs'. First film I remember making me cry was Francois Truffaut’s 'The 400 Blows'.
Favourite scene from a film?
The fairground scene from Francois Truffaut’s 'The 400 Blows'.
Favourite screen kiss?
The kiss between Sandro and Claudia in Michelangelo Antonioni’s ' L’Avventura'.
Favourite screen hero and/or villain?
Beatrice Dalle in 'Betty Blue ' is my heroine; Dennis Hopper in 'Blue Velvet' the villain.
Who would play you in the film about your life?
PJ Harvey or Nick Cave (in drag).
