THE BEST PROJECTSOF 2024
Greetings, film producers and directors in pursuit of captivating films and scripts!
Our team is ecstatic to facilitate direct correspondence between you and the talented auteurs behind these awe-inspiring creations. The most enticing aspect? Our aid comes at zero cost to you. Embrace this golden opportunity to delve into extraordinary cinematic marvels and forge alliances with impassioned storytellers. Reach out today and let us be your guiding light in transforming your artistic vision into a tangible masterpiece at the Barcelona Indie Awards Film Festival.
Women and Roads. The Way to Yourself. Mallorca.
Three women Russian and Ukranian origine in one car travel around the island with a camera in search of real stories. There are 24 heroines in their film. Women from 20 countries come to one beautiful island to live, to create and to love. Their journey gives hope that all difficulties can be overcome, and there is a place on earth where people from different cultures, nationalities, religions can find themselves. Mallorca is like the big and kind heart of the world.
Kristina Kretova was born in 1981 in Leningrad.
She writes books-bestsellers for childгen and teenagers, which are included in the lists of libraries and become prize winners.
ln 2021, Kristina Kretova publisbed the book “Antifragile: women in the history of Russia”, the continuation of the idea of which was partly а film-rally, shot together with Anna Kameneva about the women of the Baikal region. Thus the project “Women and roads. The way to yourself” was born.
ln 2022 the directors shot а film already оn Ladoga. And in 2023 filming took place in Uzbekistan.
Anna Kameneva was also born in 1981 in Leningrad.
ln 2004 she graduated from the Faculty of Philology of SPbSU, after she received а second higher education at the Faculty of Law of SPbSU. For 10 years she managed а magazine, while in parallel doing business, including PR and event. 3 years ago she returned to songwriting & directing videos for children.
ln 2021, together with Kristina, she filmed her first documentary “Women and Roads. Way to yourself. Baikal” and founded eponymous joint project and А&К Production company.
Both directors live and work in Russia, Spain, Israel and UAE.
Kristina Kretova
The shooting of the film gave us an amazing sense of community of women from absolutely all corners of the planet, the feeling that everything has already been and will still be in everyone’s life. In the knowledge of the world and other people, we get to know ourselves, allow ourselves to live, make mistakes and be ourselves.
Anna Kameneva
Through the diversity of women’s faces and their destinies, as well as through the dynamics of road travel, we reveal the diversity and beauty of our planet.
When Kristina and I were filming our first film on Lake Baikal, our synergy in working on the project itself led to a decision – the film has two directors who mutually understand and complement each other. This, in part, continues the good intentions and goals of our films.
In the process of filming, I “fell in love” with each of our heroines, “admired” each filming location, savored every moment of the trip and work. Real people and their stories. But realism can also be different. And this is the choice of the director, which facet of our diverse and largely imperfect world to show and highlight in his film. Kristina and I chose inspiration, the beauty of the human soul, but honest, without embellishment. Because of this, our films are “alive”, they give ground for reflection, they even give someone hope and faith in their abilities.”
Coney Island Cousins
Two distant cousins reunite in Coney island, but their night out is interrupted when they encounter a dead body with deep pockets which could forever change their lives.
Al Padilla is a filmmaker based in New York who started his career working as a lighting technician on popular shows such as Sopranos and 30 Rock, among many others. Al went on to direct a short titled, Blind Wingman, which was selected at the Cannes Film Festival. He also wrote and directed a feature titled, Best Man in the Dark which garnered the Best Film Award at the Rincon Film Festival. Al continues to write screenplays and is presently releasing a crime-comedy feature titled, Coney Island Cousins.
Striving to include diversity in independent films.
The Soldiers (Mother Ukraine—Layers of War)
This short film is based upon news articles and interviews of the people immersed in a horrific war and includes soldiers from both sides. It begins with a little boy at a train station who is waiting with his mother to get out of the war zone. He misses his father who enlisted in the battle and speaks to his imaginary friend for comfort. We then hear from the soldiers who find themselves entangled in a web of rage, doubt and fear.
An eclectic playwright with roots as a journalist, Linda strives to create situations thwarting alienation in her audience. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, she launched her writing career as a reporter for ‘Newsday’ when she graduated from New York University. Immersing herself in theatre and film for several years, she raised her son singly, rescued four dogs, and taught high school English before receiving her Master of Arts in NYU’s Educational Theatre in Music and Performing Arts Professions.
She wrote over 20 plays and films, many of which she directed from New York to Los Angeles. She was positively reviewed by The Los Angeles Times for her comedy drama, ‘Prime Rib Wedding.’ The Tampa Bay Times wrote a feature article on Ms. Pallotta. She wrote and directed a short film for Orange TV, ‘Envirokids’ in Orlando for the county’s EPA as she taught theatre at Valencia College. She later was adjunct professor at CUNY’s Baruch College in NYC.
Ms. Pallotta was recently thrice selected winner in the IndieFEST FilmAward Festival and 8 times selected a semi-finalist in international film festivals for her short and full length screenplays. She is published in the international journal ‘Literature Today’ as well as ‘Fresh Words.’ During the pandemic, Linda was chosen to be a finalist in the women’s festival of playwrights in New York City’s Crossways Theatre. The playwright volunteers at Red Door Community (formerly Gilda’s Club) for those challenged by cancer, leading an improvisational workshop for both children and adults. She is a member of the Dramatist Guild.
The purpose of my life is to create situations that others can identify with within their own lives, to make my audiences feel less alone. If, through my words, I can make life better for some, to share experiences in order to make others happier, then my goal to thwart alienation will be completed. Hopefully my words will .reverberate and help those who need clarification towards what they’re feeling. Creating a tear, a smile, a retort or a belly laugh makes me know my audience is feeling my words. If my words “comfort the afflicted and afflict the comforted,” I will be an artist, for only then will I have embroidered a live tapestry called film.
Awakenings
During the Pandemic and as we seek humanity everyday in our lives. Awakening of the soul is what will unite us and rise above all the madness of the world. This short video with my poetry has been produced during the pandemic and is dedicated to all humanity and those that lost their loved ones without saying goodbye.
