We're happy to announce you will soon be able to stream Friends, Foes & Fireworks in Belgium, as the ink has just dried on a deal to bring our 2018 mumblecore drama to Pay TV platform Pickx.
For us it highlights the long shelf life of a film with FF&F now six years old but still attracting new platforms and ways to watch.
IN CORPORE & APPLETV
Our sensual, sex-positive, female led film, which delves deep into the grey areas of relationships is now streaming on AppleTV.
This news comes just a couple of weeks after the film landing on VUDU and we can’t be any more happy with this great news. Since its 2021 release, In Corpore has become available on a number of other platforms. Check them out here.
Tubi Picks up Nexus Production Groups' Indie Psychological Thriller Machination
After being released through Vimeo on Demand, followed by Blu-ray and DVD though Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Walmart, MACHINATION is now available to stream free on TUBI.
Currently available in the US, Canada, Mexico, and Australia, Tubi can be accessed on a wide range of devices. Tubi gives fans of films and television programs an easy way to discover new content that is available completely free.
To watch MACHINATION now click here. If you enjoy it, tell your friends and share the link!
Love Actually International Film Festival | In Corpore
What are your plans for this upcoming Valentine’s day?
The In Corpore 'Anna & Manny' story set in Malta has been selected for Love Actually International Film Festival - a critically acclaimed annual screening event, produced by Film Loft | NY on Valentine’s Day each year. 2022 is the the 18th year of screenings.
Love Actually features stories about love, sex, and romance told by acclaimed storytellers from around the globe. WHAT A PERFECT MATCH!
Starting Feb 14th, 2022 (Valentine’s Day), the event will be going ONLINE ONLY (via screening partner BINGEWAVE) from 6.00 pm EST and people from around the globe will be able to get tickets to watch the full slate of films.
NPG’s Sarah Jayne and Ivan Malekin, the directors of In Corpore, will be taking part in the virtual Q&A after the program of films, from 7.30pm EST onwards.
Tickets are now on sale - https://luvfest2022.bingewave.com/f/18th-annual-love-actually-int-l-short-film-showcase.
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.
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.
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.
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.
New Year's Eve Improvised Friendship Drama Secures AVOD Platform.
Our first improvised feature, Friends, Foes and Fireworks, which was filmed in a single night on New Year's Eve, has just been released on TubiTV. Could the timing be any better? Tubi is one of the most popular ad-supported streaming platforms in the world where you can watch free movies and TV shows online in HD on any device. With many of our American friends still in lockdown, you can safely stay in this New Year's Eve with Friends, Foes & Fireworks. Watch here (US only). For worldwide options, click here.
Watch worldwide now, including TubiTV.
New York based Producer Represents Contemporary Relationship Film during Release Week
With In Corpore being released worldwide this week, on Boxing Day no less (yay, happy holidays!) our New York based producer Clara Francesca has been snowed under with an influx of reviews, both written and through Zoom.
Back in Malta, it has been a task in itself for us to create a list of all the interviews Clara has and will take on leading up to Christmas and well into 2021 in order to market them all through all the social media sites for the relationship drama film.
It’s a super way to celebrate the film, which is about looking inwards towards one’s goals, desires of the body and soul and personal aspirations. This makes it very much a film for the holidays as we reflect back on a hard year and the fresh one ahead, while also trying to cultivate self-love and also keeping communications in a relationship open when we are doing so during a pandemic.
We thank our PR company October Coast for the hard work in spreading the word and Clara for taking this task on like a true creative champion.
All the reviews and press interviews will be posted on our Media section so check back regularly.
Happy holidays
Press for one of Clara’s Interviews in the US. on the 30th of December 2020
Sensual, Sex-Positive, Contemporary Relationship Drama on Pre-Sale !
The time has come - the In Corpore World Premiere screening through Lido at Home is now open for pre-sale. The release date is next week - the 26th of November.
For now this is an Australia wide premiere, but we are working hard on securing a worldwide release before the end of the year. As you can imagine, it has been difficult to release a feature film in 2020 due to the current world situation, but we are not giving up!
Take advantage of the pre-sale window now, and purchase your tickets for the world premiere through LIDO AT HOME to see a film that does not shy away from presenting sex-positivity, while exploring relationships around the world and delving into the grey areas of relationships.
Check out the In Corpore IMDB, where you can leave a review and some shiny stars from the 26th of November.
World Premiere Date Set for Sensual Drama Feature Film
In Corpore is the second ambitious feature film to be co-produced and co-directed by Ivan Malekin and Sarah Jayne Portelli and will be available throughout Australia on the Lido At Home streaming service from November 26th, with pre-sales opening on November 19th.
Entirely improvised, sensual, contemporary, and anchored by powerful performances by new talent from Berlin, Malta, Australia and New York In Corpore tells the stories of four separate relationships, each varied in their labels, each unfolding in different parts of the world.
In Melbourne the polyamorous Julia strays from her monogamous marriage; in Malta Anna hides a secret from her husband Manny; in Berlin sugar baby Milana alienates her real life lover Rosalie, and in New York Julia faces the consequences of her affair.
The film explores the nature of commitment and the idea of sacrificing personal desires at the altar of love – is it selfish to follow the desires of the body and the soul or is this the only path to fulfilment?
Even if it means hurting the one you love?
View the trailer for In Corpore go to the films official page.
If you would like to review the film, or to interview the cast and crew, contact Ivan Malekin and Sarah Jayne directly though this website.
Psychological Drama Wraps after Second Week of Production
If week one of filming Machination was a whirlwind, then week two was a hurricane with over 2kgs of worms, blood, moody neon lights, night shoots, early mornings finales and some wicked acting. But damn straight we had the best sleep deprived time of our lives in the process and came out the other end with a treasured film experience to add to our already unforgettable 2020.
Machination took four months of our lives to get from the outline writing to the wrap and we did it all with a minimal crew of no more than six on larger days and just a key cast of four people and had Maltese actor Steffi Thake featuring in 99% of the full-length feature. For those interested in our filmmaking process read how Ivan’s article From Writing to Wrap: Making a Feature in Four Months here.
After 10 days of filming Machination, we wrapped at Selmun Bay around 7am! Picture: Creative Creep Brand
Steffi may have had most of the screen time since the film is about her character Maria and her downward spiral as she deals with mental illness and her past demons during a global pandemic, but Steffi handled it like a champion. The lead actors performance was moving and sad to watch, at times her situation and reaction to what was happening around her was relatable, other times the absurdity of the situation bordered on dark humour.
So now Machination is now in the ‘to edit’ bucket, a task that Ivan Malekin will start taking on in the coming week, while also editing our documentary Cats of Malta simultaneously.
If you want to know more about Machination go to the films official page here and join our Creatively Connected Newsletter for news about the film exclusively here.
Machination Week 1 Done
Our latest feature Machination has just wrapped Week one of production. It’s a two week shoot, but we now have a week off to recover and rest for a moment before planning and prep begins for Production Week two. Machination is about a woman battling the monsters in her head during a global pandemic and stars Steffi Thake as Maria. If the first weeks rushes are anything to go by, it will be a very powerful performance.
We are thrilled with the results so far and grateful to the small but dedicated team helping us to make this film happen during a real pandemic here in Malta, part of the worldly global pandemic which inspired the writing of the Machination story. It may seem like a timely film, but it’s story more than what you see on the surface - it’s story about a woman battling mental illness, facing here past demons and how the two meet to break the human spirit.
Mental illness is a topic we need to talk more openly about as the monsters in people’s minds can be life threatening, and any event that is large and out of our control, spurred on by heightened media can feed anxiety and trigger symptoms for a sufferer. Sometimes with devastating results.
The beautiful thing about working so closely with Steffi in the improvised process from conception stage, from the very first story outline (that was more focused on the absurdity of conspiracy theories and the media hype surrounding such theorists views which emerged through the pandemic here in Malta), is that together, through research and advice from psychological professionals, the story of Maria and the monsters she is battling became more of the character piece we are interested in and can relate to. A big step away from the genre horror film we had originally envisioned, which we honestly were not sure we wanted to make.
The Machination we are filming now is relatable, it could happen to you or me and it’s a character study of a woman who, throughout a pandemic outbreak is being pushed to her mental limit due to the reality she has created in her mind.
Lockdown Inspires Filmmaking
It’s a crazy time, I don’t have to tell you that, we are all living through this COVID-19 pandemic hell and some of us are having a hard time more than others due to factors in our lives which existed before this hit. Some of us now are feeling the hardship suddenly wash over us as we loose our jobs, our income, our physical connection to others and our sanity.
To keep us going in lockdown and self quarantine we have been writing screenplays, developing ideas and shooting films. These films are short films which fit under our Life Improvised micro film banner and shot mostly in one location, with Sarah Jayne as the lead and Ivan Malekin as DOP.
The first one is called Hiding and is about a woman becoming more and more paranoid about the rise of COVID-19. She puts herself in self-quarantine as she battles her fear.
The second micro-short is called Hoping, and is a reflective look at our ‘new normal’ with hope for the days ahead.
Subscribe to our newsletter to receive these micro-shorts as soon as they are ready for release.
CBI Workshop in Basel
On Wednesday we will be jetting off to Basel, Switzerland to fill two director places as part of Robert Marchand's Character Based Improvisation Workshops, which take place all over the globe.
Lucky for us we were funded by the Arts Council Malta though the Professional Development Grant, which is covering a majority of the costs associated with this trip, thus allowing us to learn more improvised techniques for working with actors and developing scenes. We know this is going to be beneficial for us as the way Robert teaches is based on director Mike Leigh's method, which differ from our own process, so we excited about the possibly of utilising parts of what we learn when we direct To Hold the Moon.
Originally we were meant to be attending the workshop early this month in Berlin, but the German section of the tour never went ahead. Thus the offer to attend the Basel workshop from October 31st until November 5th was put on the table. As much as we were looking forward to returning to hip Berlin for a second time this year, we are looking even more forward to discovering a new country and meeting a new group of actors and directors committed to improvisation, plus learning from one of the top teachers of improv in the world, Robert Marchand.
You can find out more about the CBI workshops and Robert as a teacher through his website.
Our Lady in Netherlands
Some good news this month. Our first micro-short in the Life Improvised series has been selected into the MoziMotion Film Festival in the Netherlands, which runs from October 5th-13th. The improvised micro short stars local actor Marysia S. Peres as a woman waiting for her date at a Maltese festa, and was shot in Naxxar, right in the middle of the celebrations, marching bands, fireworks, spectacle. A lot of fun!
