Thursday, May 2nd, 2013
Official Selection 2013 / Nominated For Best Short Film
Mónica has made it clear, she wants to be just friends… Feeling sad, Danny starts working with his friend Andrés in their workshop on a new invention. A big challenge for 12 year old boys: to solve the magic of photography and the mysteries of love. On a golden afternoon in 1976 they discover the power of friendship and love. It all starts with a magnifying glass, a small flashlight and a broken heart….
Director: Giovanni Granada
Producer: Giovanni Granada, Doris Martinez
Writer: Giovanni Granada
Key cast and other credits:
Danny – Pablo Valencia
Andrés – Diego Concha
Mónica – Gabriela Ancona
Director’s Statement
‘This film seeks to emphasize the value of friendship, of ingenuity, the thrill of achievement, the search for self completion. I want to vindicate the young geniuses who must hide their talent in order to fit into society.
Contemporary cinema tends to focus on raw aspects of our reality, the loss of innocence and the destruction of relationships, of societies, of life itself. I want to focus on innocence, on what is constructive, on friendship, on hope.
El Invento is a film that resonates with that child within us. A film that will remind the viewer of that special afternoon many years ago as a child, when he had a great idea and ran with excitement to tell it to someone. That afternoon when that girl from around the block stopped, looked at him and smiled, and left forever in his memory and his heart that emotion which is rarely experienced again in adult life.’
Giovanni Granada
Director’s Bio
Born in Bogotá, Colombia. He graduated from the IED in Milan. Trained in Commercial Photography and Production both in Italy and France. He began directing commercials in 1991 after further studies and workshops at Tisch in NYU and Rockport, Maine. He promptly developed a unique visual and narrative style.
As a Director he translates smoothly the ever-changing marketing trends into a vivid cinematic language. He has directed over a thousand commercials in film both for the colombian and latin american market. Several spots he directed have reached world markets. Giovanni is a remarkable visual storyteller, a craftsman of light. And he has many stories left to tell.
In 2011 he wrote and directed his first narrative short film called El Invento (The Invention). In 2012 he is writing and developing his first feature film called Maxima Altura (Maximum Height) to be funded and produced in 2013.
The Story
El Invento is a story inspired by events in the life of Giovanni Granada, writer and director of this short film, and his friend Nicholas Bright. The two friends, young inventors in 1976, who not only constructed the invention depicted in the film, but also spent long days and sleepless nights devising ways to approach their platonic loves. That was the year they discovered photography and their lives changed forever.
Online Links
Judges’ Comments
“An utterly beguiling film, redolent of Wes Anderson… quirky and touching.” – Steve Furst
“A lovely, charming story, professionally structured, well written and great performances. Spielberg would be impressed!” – Tim McInnerny
“Very Sweet, very pretty.” – Olivia Coleman
“An absolute joy to watch.” – Sarah Godfrey
Posted in: Official Selection, NFF2013, Nominated Films, 2013 Films In Detail