Breaking the Silence in Brussels: Using documentary film to inspire change

Last week in Brussels we were part of a history making event that was breaking the silence on women's rights in Malta. On Valentines Day, Malta's ban on abortion was discussed within the European Parliament for the first time.

At the same event, our film No Woman is An Island screened and was followed up by a panel consisting of MEPs, activists, doctors and artists. To say it was an honour to attend EU Parliament in Brussels and stand with around 80 Maltese activists is an understatement.

We feel so proud of our collective efforts and no matter where you stand on the debate of abortion, it's a fair argument to state that women's body autonomy shouldn't be anyone else's business besides the woman.

After many similar discussions within EU Parliament laws were passed regarding LGBTQ rights and divorce in Malta. Now we’re waiting for the day that those responsible for European decision-making will do the same regarding the dire issues facing women and girls in Malta, particularly abortion.

The power of activism and the power of film are sometimes one and the same and both are not to be overlooked.

Thanks goes to MP Cyrus Engerer — the only Maltese politician to have voted in favour of abortion being declared a fundamental human right. Cyrus invited 'No Woman is an Island' and us, the producers to Brussels to stand with the Maltese activists within EU Parliement and on the streets at such a prestigious event.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? Read Sarah Jayne’s blog post talking about her experience in Brussels with No Woman is an Island here.

New Episode of Life Improvised in New York

We just wrapped production on a new episode in our Life Improvised series, filming in gorgeous Central Park in New York. It’s called Applause and deals with an actor pushing a director too far when talking casting opportunities.

It was a reunion with Nexus member Clara Francesca and In Corpore DOP George M. Ivanoff. We also worked with talented actress Shani Bekt for the first time. A lovely way to spend a sunny afternoon. Look out for Life Improvised: Applause on this website and our YouTube channel soon.

The cast and crew of Life Improvised: Applause

Psychological Horror Feature Film Machination takes a Bite out of AppleTV.

The news just keeps on rolling on for our Psychological Horror Feature Machination. Last week the latest platform was Tubi TV and this week the film has landed on AppleTV. You can watch in most English speaking counties, such as Australia, /nZ, Malta the US and Canada.

MACHINATION DVD & BLU RAY PRESALE

The pre-sale for Machination on DVD and Blu-Ray is now on. July 5th is the release date for the title in these formats sold through Amazon. Included are a bunch of special features -- interviews with Steffi, BTS footage of the shoot, plus the trailer. Secure your own copy now.

Machination Release Date Set, Trailer Released

We're super excited to announce that our latest feature film, psychological horror/drama Machination, will launch worldwide on May 20th!

Early this week we had the trailer released as an exclusive through ComingSoon.

Machination will stream first on our Vimeo On Demand page, before expanding to additional platforms. Pre-Orders are now available.

Click the link above to watch the trailer, another exclusive, plus place a pre-order today to be one of the first to watch Machination on May 20th.

A dark film exploring the affect the pandemic has had on mental health, Machination is claustrophobic, intense, and led by a gripping performance by Steffi Thake. It is a sharp, spiralling thriller about the consequences of breathing in constant fear.

It's reassuring to know that the hardworking team from October Coast PR, who we worked closely with on In Corpore, are again onboard to send the word out about Machination. This is a different film for us regarding genre, so we can't wait to see what transpires.

Stream Machination first on our Vimeo On Demand page. Pre-Orders are now available.

Film Director Sarah Jayne interviewed on YouTube Channel 'The Independents'.

Sarah Jayne was interviewed last week by filmmaker Dia Taylor of Taymaynari Productions for her YouTube Channel The Independents.

A former production designer, turned film director talks film and about her extensive experience as an independent filmmaker. Click here to watch.

Cats of Malta Christmas Special Interview

Just when we thought it was safe to sign off for Christmas, the last interview for Cats of Malta in 2021 is happening this Saturday on ONE TV. Yes, it’s a special Christmas edition!

Check out Pink Panther on ONE TV Christmas Day 6pm Central European Time (CET), where you can see director Sarah Jayne talking Cats of Malta in Maltese and English.😺🇲🇹 You can also watch online here.

We will be sending the details out in a Cats of Malta newsletter later this week and we have the link up on the website when it's available.

Cats of Malta Cinema Screening & Sponsor Announcement

After working for over a year on Cats of Malta, our documentary celebrating the island’s stray cats and the people who look after them, is finally set to have a premiere screening in Malta!

Several screenings actually, with three showings of the film lined up for November and December at both Eden Cinemas in St Julians and Spazju Kreattiv in Valletta. If you are in Malta, we hope to see you there! The dates are as follows:

• Premiere @ Eden Cinemas — Thursday 25th November, 8pm in the foyer, for a 9pm start. Includes a Q&A with the cast and filmmakers. Tickets €9 and now on sale here.

• Encore @ Spazju Kreattiv Cinema Saturday, November 27th. 5.30pm. Tickets on sale soon.

• Encore 2 @ Spazju Kreattiv Cinema Saturday, December 3rd. 9.00pm

In further news about Cats of Malta, we have secured two sponsors; Malta Tourism Authority and Borg Cardona & Co. Ltd., who are donating cat food as part of their sponsorship contribution to our interviewees.

Check out what they are all about on the Cats of Malta website and if you are in Malta we hope to see and meet you at the screenings above.

Our Latest YouTube Video Bares All

This week we released our latest YouTube video about sex scenes and intimacy shown in indie films.

We discuss our experiences distributing and marketing our sex-positive, female-driven relationship drama In Corpore. It’s an honest no-holds-barred look at the roadblocks we faced, plus we share alternative ways to get your film in front of its audience if it’s getting overlooked through the mainstream channels and audiences.

Watch, like, share, and subscribe to support our work. Of course, comments about the topic in the YouTube comments section is awesome...it’s getting people talking already!

Life Improvised Micro Short Shot in Lisbon Coming Soon

We shot this Life Improvised film titled Encentro on our last weekend in Lisbon in early May, we can’t wait to bring this story about two friends who are keeping a certain matter from each other in order to save their relationship. It was a pleasure to work with Lisbon locals on this one, which will be released in a weeks time through our newsletter. Join our Creatively Connected monthly Newsletter to see Encontro first or subscribe to our YouTube channel for a notification.

“After a pandemic, lockdown lifts and life goes somewhat back to normal. Ines seizes the moment and invites her friend Joanna to catch up on life as they walk through Lisbon, but there’s something troubling Ines.”

Sex-Positive , Contemporary Relationship Feature Film Lands Female Focused Platform

It’s exciting to learn that the demand to stream our latest release In Corpore online has been so steady since we released the film on Boxing Day during a pandemic. We are always on the look out for new platforms and distribution options for the sex-positive relationship drama, even though initially we were unsure about what the response would be when we released this feature film, which deals with unconventional women and their equally unconventional choices for work, partner and lifestyles.

In Corpore is shown through a female gaze and is lead by three female protagonists, so it’s fitting that now the sensual look into modern coupledom has been picked up by Reel Women’s Network - an online streaming service for content made by women.

As a bonus, director Sarah Jayne is also featured on the Reel Woman’s Network filmmakers page for all to see.

New Art Department Masterclass Unleashed

Our latest educational class, How To Become an Art Department Dynamo, is finally released. The course is presented by Sarah Jayne, who has fifteen years of experience working in various art department roles in Australia and internationally. You can take the course through Ribbon Experiences, Udemy or Skillshare through our referral link. The latter allows you to watch and sign up to Skillshare for free (for the first 14 days) and not only view our course but watch thousands of others on all sorts of topics.

If you watch on any platform we ask you to please leave a short review and share it with others who will benefit from taking that class. If Art Department is not your thing, you can view our other masterclasses here.

From Malta to Melbourne: In Corpore Featured in Lovin' Malta

Popular Maltese news outlet Lovin’ Malta did an extensive interview with co-director Sarah Jayne about our latest film In Corpore. The article focuses on love and sex and how our international, sex-positive relationship drama tackles these complex topics from the perspective of the female gaze. We are very grateful to Lovin’ Malta for the terrific write-up. Read the article here and choose a platform to watch In Corpore here.

SEX-POSTIVE, RELATIONSHIP DRAMA LANDS NEW PLATFORM

It is always wonderful news when you learn that your feature film has landed on a new platform. In Corpore, is now streaming through Uk Film Channel, not just in the UK, but in other regions too - US, the rest of Europe and Oceania. Enjoy and don’t forget to leave an IMDb review, plus some stars afterwards.

Pandemic Film Machination Film Poster Process Revealed

It was a welcomed surprise to receive an email from our Machination poster photographer Fran Stivala last week. Fran was writing an article for WHAM Malta detailing how she photographed and created our attention-grabbing poster, and it’s now live. The poster image, starring Maltese talent Steffi Thake is perfect, it oozes the tension we needed and pops with the coloured lights. You can read the article here and look at the poster.

The link to the article can also be found in our PRESS section.

New Years Eve Friendship Drama now streaming on Tubi →

Our favourite New Year's Eve female-led friendship drama Friends, Foes & Fireworks is now streaming through TUBI TV in the US and Australia.

That’s huge news which we will happily drink too! Check it out on TubiTV here.

Gross out B grade comedy Dace Decklan: Private Eye Now Streaming on TubiTV

Another bit of news for our American readers. Ivan's 2011 gross-out comedy Dace Decklan: Private Eye is now freaking audiences out on AVOD platform Tubi. You have been warned. If you still dare to see what all the mayhem is about, watch on Tubi here or stream online worldwide though other platforms here.

Educational Short Film Tackling Violence Against Women Lands on TV Platform

Daughter, our 2016 educational film about violence against women and victim-blaming (starring Katherine Langford), was purchased by ShortsTV, a cable and satellite television channel dedicated to short film. Daughter will be soon screening across television screens in North America and Europe, and we couldn't be happier. So to our friends and readers who live in the States and Europe, look out for it and let us know when you spot it.

Latest YouTube Interview for In Corpore

Just before the end of 2020, Clara Francesca was again taking part in press interviews to discuss her role as an actor and producer on In Corpore, our sex-positive film that looks at the grey areas of relationships.

This time around Clara spoke with The Fan Carpet's Marc Jason Ali EXCLUSIVELY and the video is now up on YouTube. You can watch it here, or find it on our MEDIA section. with all the other In Corpore media bites.

New Masterclass Launched: The Art Of Improv Indie Filmmaking, by Indie Film Hustle Academy

New year, new course - or new courses in our case as we have a couple coming out this year.

Here is news of the first course we are so excited to share.

Our biggest achievement and news from the last couple of months is here - we have once again joined forces with Alex Ferrari, author and filmtrepreneur behind Indie Film Hustle to bring our fellow creatives a new masterclass - "The Art of Improv Indie Filmmaking".

The masterclass is presented by Indie Film Hustle Academy, which is Alex's boutique platform for specialised masterclasses with industry and independent professionals. To be selected by Alex to have our masterclass upon this niche platform, which is taking off around the United States, is a real honour.

Suitable for aspiring filmmakers or more experienced artists looking for a new approach to film, this course will inspire you through the creative freedom improvisation fosters, and how putting away the script can lead to new discoveries, making your own work, behind and in front of the camera, fresh and exciting.

This masterclass "The Art of Improv Indie Filmmaking" will go deep into the following areas:

Directing Improvisation - Learn how to direct actors and stage the camera in improvisational scenes.

The Scriptment - Learn how to develop your story idea into an outline scriptment you can shoot from.

Working with Actors - Learn how to build your characters with your actors in a collaborative environment.

You can check out the masterclass "The Art of Improv Indie Filmmaking" right here through this link: https://www.ifhacademy.com/course-Improv-indie-filmmaking

If you have any questions, please get in touch via email.