he Book of European Short Pitch. - Nisi Masa

MARTIN BONNICI & CHRIS GALEA
MALTA
IS-SHAB
Tel: +356 274 321 35
E-mail: martin@martinbonnici.com
Intention
Can you find balance again after losing the most important
thing in your life? And can faith and belief help
you through the journey of regaining this balance?
How does someone who has known only one life for
many decades, adapt to a sudden change? The intention
of this project is in itself an internal journey aimed
at questioning accepted norms of life, love and old
age.
Through subsequent drafts we have discovered a
world that’s grounded in Mediterranean traditions and
religion but also allows nature’s magic to work itself
into everyday moments. With the help of Guzeppi,
we explore a rural world were emotions are rarely expressed
but colour every aspect of life as its inhabitants
seek to release them.
The story is sombre but supported by light comic moments,
aimed at provoking the audience into questioning
the value of life, the strength of one’s beliefs and
the eternity of love.
“After losing his wife, an old
farmer embarks on a journey that
makes him question life, but comforted
by her memories and his
faith in humanity, he finds a way
to be with her for eternity....”
Synopsis
Guzeppi is a 74 year old farmer from the small Mediterranean
island of Gozo. He’s been married to Rita
for 55 years and in their old age, they still enjoy a loving
relationship and find magic in everyday moments.
Every year, they celebrate their anniversary with the
first fog of November, sitting together in their field at
the edge of a cliff, as they are covered by the advancing
fog.
One day, Rita dies unexpectedly, and Guzeppi yearns
to fill this void that she leaves behind. As Guzeppi
spends his days trying to recreate the moments he
used to share with his wife, he makes friends with an
old man called Karmenu, and a lonely street dog.
With their help, Guzeppi begins to understand more
what it was that Rita brought into his life but ultimately,
Guzeppi must accept that nothing can replace the love
and company of Rita and seeks a way to join her for
eternity.
PRODUCTION FACTS
Estimated Budget: 35.000 €
Shadeena Film ltd.
Supported by Studio 7, a Maltese production
house, that offers studio space and
rental services.
Looking for a co-producer that can bring
additional talent to the project in the form
of Director of Photography, post-Production
and others as well as the remaining funds.
Director Biography
Through the past 7 years Martin Bonniċi
has worked with various Maltese agencies
and production houses and for the
last 2 years as a freelance Director and
Post-Production Artist. As of January
2012 he is engaged fulltime as director of
Shadeena Films. Shadeena Films’ first inhouse
project, Tele-Monkey, an animated
short directed by Martin Bonniċi, has just
been completed.
Scriptwriter Biography
Christian Galea is primarily an actor who
has written and co-directed theatre productions
and composed music for video
art and theatre productions. He is now directing
his attention towards film. He has
studied literature at post-graduate level
and lectured on Shakespeare. Currently
he writes scripts for corporate a/v productions
and reviews publications on a prominent
newspaper in Malta.
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