PUNCTURED HOPE: From the African Rain Forest to Sunset Boulevard

Toronto Pictures is hosting a gala screening of PUNCTURED HOPE in Los Angeles.

The screening will take place at the Laemmle’s Sunset 5 theater on Tuesday, November 10 at 7:30 PM (8000 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood).

Invited to attend are members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association® and members of the Broadcast Film Critics Association.

RSVP (1) 647-296-3459 or (corporate@filmail.com).

The Awards qualifying run of public screenings for PUNCTURED HOPE will take place in Los Angeles at the Encino Laemmle Theater – Town Center 5 between November 13 to 19 (17200 Ventura Blvd., Encino).

The feature film PUNCTURED HOPE – A STORY ABOUT TROKOSI AND YOUNG GIRLS’ SLAVERY IN TODAY’S WEST AFRICA is Toronto Pictures’ entry for Awards season nomination consideration. IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448093

Written, directed and produced by Bruno Pischiutta and produced by Daria Trifu, the film is inspired by the true story of an irrepressible survivor. She was genitally mutilated and sexually abused for years when, as a virgin girl, she was enslaved to became a victim of the Trokosi practice. The story is based on the biggest form of women slavery that exists today in the world.

The film was an official selection at the Montreal World Film Festival where it achieved critical and public success. News: http://www.editurl.com/3jv

About PUNCTURED HOPE:

PUNCTURED HOPE is the first main stream feature film (USD 5.8 M, Hollywood standard, 35 mm, 91 min., English Language, Color, Not Rated) that is based on an African story interpreted by an all African cast of professional actors and shot in Africa under the brilliant direction of internationally acclaimed and visionary Maestro Bruno Pischiutta.

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/TorontoPictures

About Bruno Pischiutta: Born in Udine, Italy in 1947, Bruno Pischiutta began his film career in the late 1960s as an actor in films by Francesco Rosi, Nanni Loy and Billy Wilder. In 1975 he founded the Centro Iniziative di Azione Culturale in Rome. He made his directorial debut in 1975 with COMPAGNE NUDE, and he moved to Canada in 1983. His other films include ULTIMO INCONTRO A VENEZIA (1977), ISOLA MECCANICA (1978), THE COMOEDIA (1981), LIFE’S CHARADE (1987), MAYBE (2003).

Word Press: http://torontopictures.wordpress.com

About Toronto Pictures: Targeting a global audience, Toronto Pictures explores different cultures and addresses controversial issues of our time in dramatic format. Toronto Pictures produces Hollywood standard, 35 mm feature films that provoke thought not violence.

Website: http://torontopictures.ning.com

CONTACT: Daria Trifu

Toronto Pictures, Inc.

Email: corporate@filmail.com

Tel: (1) 647-296-3459

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Film Director Bruno Pischiutta’s CAUSE is worth fighting for

Director Bruno Pischiutta and Producer Daria Trifu on the set of PUNCTURED HOPE in Africa

Toronto, Canada (TransWorldNews) — On the occasion of his film, PUNCTURED HOPE, being announced as Toronto Pictures’ contender for the 2010 Academy Awards, Director Bruno Pischiutta has addressed the members of his private social network in a letter that breaks down the concept of his company’s CAUSE.

“Through PUNCTURED HOPE we want to help to free the slaves of the Trokosi tradition and to eliminate the barbaric practice of genital mutilation from the world.

We have other goals too.

We want that the rights of women and children are respected. We want to fight intellectual pollution, stupidity, racism and discrimination. We want to show that nonviolent film can be commercially viable and it can help to make a better world. We want to win the fight against ignorance and bigotry. We want to use film as an artistic weapon to improve the lifestyle and mentality of the viewers, to make their life better and to make them think in a positive way about major social problems that anguish our world today.

Our business identifies with our art; our art identifies with our life. We have decided, long time ago, to live a life with a CAUSE that motivates us, our art and our work. Our CAUSE is driven by high ideals and it is more important than anyone of us.

It is a new world; it is time for a new morality! It is time to put the important things first. We are working for our CAUSE through the medium of film because we are filmmakers. Film is our way to express ourselves and we are aware that our films will live after us: they will become our legacy.

PUNCTURED HOPE is a very important film and it is a product that we are proud of. In the other way, it is only one component that is part of a very complex and sophisticated agenda, it represents one moment in time when the participation of everyone who is inspired by our CAUSE is welcome”.

PUNCTURED HOPE is screening in Los Angeles at the Encino Laemmle Theater – Town Center 5 between November 13 to 19.

About Bruno Pischiutta: Born in Udine, Italy in 1947, Maestro Bruno Pischiutta began his film career in the late 1960s as an actor in films by Francesco Rosi, Nanni Loy and Billy Wilder. In 1975 he founded the Centro Iniziative di Azione Culturale in Rome. He made his directorial debut in 1975 with COMPAGNE NUDE, and he moved to Canada in 1983. His other films include ULTIMO INCONTRO A VENEZIA (1977), ISOLA MECCANICA (1978), THE COMOEDIA (1981), LIFE’S CHARADE (1987), MAYBE (2003). For more info: http://www.editurl.com/3e7

About PUNCTURED HOPE – A STORY ABOUT TROKOSI AND YOUNG GIRLS’ SLAVERY IN TODAY’S WEST AFRICA: Written, directed and produced by Bruno Pischiutta and produced by Daria Trifu, the film is inspired by the true story of an irrepressible survivor. She was genitally mutilated and sexually abused for years when, as a virgin girl, she was enslaved to became a victim of the Trokosi practice. IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448093

For Video clips & Director interview: http://www.youtube.com/TorontoPictures

The film was an official selection at the Montreal World Film Festival. For more info:  http://www.editurl.com/3jv

About Toronto Pictures (OTC Symbol: TTOPF): Targeting a global audience, Toronto Pictures explores different cultures and addresses controversial issues of our time in dramatic format. Toronto Pictures produces Hollywood standard, 35 mm feature films that provoke thought not violence. Official website: http://www.torontopictures.com

CONTACT: Daria Trifu

Toronto Pictures, Inc.

Email: corporate@filmail.com

Tel: (1) 310-734-8669

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Vil fjerne slaveri med film

FILM: Regissør Bruno Pischiutta sammen med skuespillerne. De har laget en ny film om tradisjonen Trokosi. Foto: Toronto Pictures

I Afrika lever kvinner som slaver. Filmen «Punctured Hope» skal få lederne i verden til å reagere.

By Maren Gjelvik

Publisert: 19.10.09 | 08:51

– Vi fortalte ikke til noen hva filmen egentlig handlet om. Ikke engang myndighetene i Ghana. Da kunne vi blitt drept, sier Bruno Pischiutta til Klar Tale.

Han har regissert den nye filmen «Punctured Hope». Den forteller historien om Belinda Siamey. Hun er fra Ghana i Afrika. Der blir tusenvis av jenter ofre for tradisjonen trokosi. De må være slaver for prester. Siamey var en av dem. I filmen spiller hun jenta Edinam.

– Vi hadde ikke hørt om trokosi før vi fikk et brev av pastoren Kingsley Sam Obed. Han fortalte om tradisjonen og mente at vi burde lage en film om det, sier Pischiutta.

Italienske Pischiutta driver et film-selskap. Filmene hans handler om problemene i verden. Blant annet alkoholisme, spise-forstyrrelser og om kvinner som blir misbrukt. Først var Pischiutta og produsent Daria Trifu skeptiske til det Obed fortalte. De måtte undersøke om historien var sann. Derfor dro de til Afrika.

– Vi besøkte blant annet stedene der jentene må bo. Mange av dem blir i templene hele livet. Vi så hvordan disse jentene lever. Da bestemte vi oss for å lage filmen, sier Daria Trifu.

Nesten alle som jobbet med å lage filmen var afrikanere. Det var også alle skuespillerne.

– Noen av skuespillerne er kjente i Afrika. Jeg er veldig imponert over alle sammen. Vi filmet ofte langt inne i skogen. Det var ikke som i Hollywood, sier Bruno Pischiutta.

Belinda Siamey studerer til å bli advokat. Men tidligere var hun slave. Pischuetta mener at hun kan sammenlignes med den kjente skuespilleren Meryl Streep.

– Hun levde seg sånn inn i historien. Når vi sluttet å filme en scene, fortsatte hun med å gråte. Det var så virkelig for henne, sier Pischiutta.

Han mener at «Punctured Hope» ikke bare er trist. Den skal også vise hvordan livet er i en vanlig afrikansk landsby. Barn leker og voksne krangler. Akkurat som alle andre steder.

«Punctured Hope» hadde première i september. Det skjedde på Montreal Film Festival i Canada. I november skal den vises på noen få kinoer i USA. Trifu og Pischiutta jobber for at den skal vises flere steder. De håper at filmen kan få ledere i verden til å gjøre noe. Og å legge press på myndighetene i Ghana.

– Heldigvis ser det ut til at filmen filmen “>kommer til å få mye oppmerksomhet. Og da blir det lettere å få til. Jeg er stolt av filmen og stolt over at vi torte å lage den. Jeg tror at den kommer til å bli sett av folk i flere år fremover, sier Pischiutta.

klartale.no

Academy Awards Contender, PUNCTURED HOPE, Announces Screening Dates in Los Angeles

 

Writer/Director/Producer/Executive Producer Bruno Pischiutta and Producer/Executive Producer Daria Trifu on the sent of PUNCTURED HOPE in Africa

Toronto, Canada 10/18/2009 (TransWorldNews) –Toronto Pictures announced today that its Oscar entry, PUNCTURED HOPE – A story About Trokosi and Young Girls’ Slavery in Today’s West Africa, will start its theaterical run in Los Angeles at the Encino Laemmle Theater – Town Center 5 between November 13 to 19.

PUNCTURED HOPE is Toronto Pictures’ official entry for nomination consideration for best feature film at the 82nd annual Academy Awards.

Written, directed and produced by Bruno Pischiutta and produced by Daria Trifu, the film is inspired by the true story of an irrepressible survivor. She was genitally mutilated and sexually abused for years when, as a virgin girl, she was enslaved to became a victim of the Trokosi practice.

“We call on the support of the general public to join our cause and get involved in the promotion of PUNCTURED HOPE in every way they can. It is through the common effort of all those who are against the slavery and genital mutilation of women and children that we can achieve the abolishment of such on-going practices. PUNCTURED HOPE gives a voice to the victims of the practice of TROKOSI  in West Africa, under which young girls continue to become life-long slaves on a daily basis.” – Bruno Pischiutta and Daria Trifu

The film is a Canadian production of Adhara Properties and Toronto Pictures and it was shot in Ghana. The story is based on the biggest form of women slavery that exists today in the world.

 

PUNCTURED HOPE Cinema Poster

PUNCTURED HOPE is the first North American production (USD 5.8 M, Hollywood standard, 35 mm, 91 min., English Language, Color, Not Rated) to be shot in Africa and to feature an all African cast of professional actors.

 

The film was an official selection at the Montreal World Film Festival. PUNCTURED HOPE is the first main stream feature film that is based on an African story interpreted by African actors and shot on the continent under the brilliant direction of internationally acclaimed and visionary Maestro Bruno Pischiutta.

PUNCTURED HOPE aims to break new ground for the African Film Industry as it showcases outstanding young and emerging talent such as Actors Belinda Siamey, Ruffy Samuel Quansah and Joyce Akagbo as well as renown and widely celebrated Actors such as Fred Amugi and Gavinina Tamakloe.

The 82nd Academy Award nominations will be announced on February 2, 2010, with the awards handed out on March 7.

About Bruno Pischiutta: Born in Udine, Italy in 1947, Bruno Pischiutta began his film career in the late 1960s as an actor in films by Francesco Rosi, Nanni Loy and Billy Wilder. In 1975 he founded the Centro Iniziative di Azione Culturale in Rome. He made his directorial debut in 1975 with COMPAGNE NUDE, and he moved to Canada in 1983. His other films include ULTIMO INCONTRO A VENEZIA (1977), ISOLA MECCANICA (1978), THE COMOEDIA (1981), LIFE’S CHARADE (1987), MAYBE (2003). For more info: http://www.editurl.com/3e7

About PUNCTURED HOPE:

News: http://www.editurl.com/3jv

For Video clips & Director interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uZGJmZtMiE

About Toronto Pictures (OTC Symbol: ‘TTOPF’): Targeting a global audience, Toronto Pictures explores different cultures and addresses controversial issues of our time in dramatic format. Toronto Pictures develops and produces Hollywood standard, 35 mm feature films that provoke thought not violence.

For more info: http://www.torontopictures.com

For Blog: http://puncturedhope.blogspot.com

CONTACT: Daria Trifu

Toronto Pictures, Inc.

Email: corporate@filmail.com

Tel: (1) 310-734-8669