The New York Film Academy prides itself on its international student body and faculty. As such, the Cannes Film Festival is beheld as one of the premier film festivals to be associated with. It’s with great pleasure NYFA finds a few of its own instructors represented in the prestigious international film festival. Since its very beginnings in 1946, the Cannes Film Festival has been a Launchpad for numerous filmmakers – from Federico Fellini to Quentin Tarantino.
Cinematography instructor Piero Basso’s Italian film, Darker Than Midnight, directed by Sebastiano Riso, will have its world premiere during Cannes’ Critics’ Week and compete for the esteemed Caméra d’Or. Piero, a native to Italy, received his Laurea di Dottore in Cinema and Art Studies from the University of Turin. His understanding of the field of cinematography has brought about several award-winning features, shorts, and documentaries.
His most recent film surrounds a fourteen-year-old boy, Davide, who takes refuge in the company of hustlers and outcasts. His double life between the expectations of his family and his new friends becomes unsustainable, forcing Davide to make difficult decisions on his own.
Darker Than Midnight will be the first movie screened on Thursday, May 15th, while at the same time being released in general distribution throughout Italy.
In addition to Piero’s fine work, Documentary instructor, Hilla Medalia’s new documentary THE GO-GO BOYS: The Inside Story of Cannon Films will be featured in Cannes Classics. Hilla is a George Foster Peabody award-winning director and producer with three Emmy award nominations under her belt. She also won the Paris Human Rights Film Festival Jury Award, Fipa Biarritz Jury Award, Golden Warsaw Phoenix Award, Faito Doc Grand Jury Award, and more.
Her recent documentary to premier at Cannes tells the inside story of two Israeli-born cousins, Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus, who somehow managed to turn the Hollywood power structure upside down, producing over 300 films and becoming a powerhouse in the independent film world.
“Celebrated, condemned, loved and loathed, Cannon’s cultural impact and legacy is undeniable, wielding a kind of pop-cultural power that continues to seep into modern life today.”
Part of NYFA’s hands-on curriculum includes the fact that many of the instructors are integrally involved with the professional world of filmmaking. Having two NYFA instructors being a part of this year’s Cannes Film Festival is a great honor and a clear testament to NYFA’s commitment to providing the very best instructors from all around the world.