GLENDALE PARADISE back in New York

It’s amazing that we now have our second festival in New York. GLENDALE PARADISE will return to the Big Apple on November 14 at 6 p.m. to screen in Shorts Block 19 of the New York Short Film Festival, which takes place at the Cinema Village in downtown Manhattan. See you all there.

For ten years, the NYSFF has showcased the best of short filmmaking and celebrated indie films and filmmakers from around the world.

GRAMPS is not one for a joke!

I loved this creepy location where we shot last semester. I had so much fun with this scene but I think I was the only one enjoying it! šŸ˜‰

GLENDALE PARADISE in Cypress

We are delighted that our film GLENDALE PARADISE celebrates its European premiere at theĀ  Cypress International Film Festival. The festival starts on October 28th and continues until November 2nd in the beautiful town of Nicosia at the Melina Merkouri Hall.

According to FilmFreeway, the Cyprus International Film Festival (CYIFF) is one of the TOP 100 Best Reviewed Festivals among 5,500 film festivals worldwide and a holder of the EFFE label, Europeā€™s quality stamp for remarkable arts festivals credited with work in the arts, community involvement, and international openness.
It takes place on the beautiful Mediterranean island of Cyprus, and it has various partnerships with Athens, Cannes, New York, and Los Angeles.

 

Stretch with DOWN DOG

Check out this fun project I shot back in the Spring 24 Semester with Cine students at NYFA. It is so delightful to watch Hilary Barry and Ben Solenberger practice Yoga in this cheeky skit.

THE STAFF WRITER takes off

If you are flying via Milan Malpensa Airport stop by the large LED screen in Termin 1. The MAX3MIN Film Festival screens THE STAFF WRITER amongst 10 other films in the program UNfasten your seat belt & Enjoy your time.

Passengers can enjoy the short films from September 20-30, 2024.Ā 

GLENDALE PARADISE premieres in New York

I am so proud that the SOHO International Film Festival will screen GLENDALE PARADISE.
The screening will be on Saturday, September 21st at 11:15 am at the beautiful historic Village East by Angelika in Theater #1 in the shorts program Crosby Street Series.

The SOHO Film Fest celebrates the cutting-edge of digital technology while honoring traditional forms of storytelling and encourages new and seasoned filmmakers from New York City and around the world to create and send in their fresh and innovative cinematic pieces.

 

MOVING DAY in Northern California

I am delighted that The Mountain Showday Film Society shows MOVING DAY for their 10th Annual Short Film Competition in Walnut Creek.
Their Annual Short Film Competition has become an exciting addition to their program, presented each September to Society members, their guests, and the general public. The final program includes 8-12 Finalists, with a total running time of approximately 90-100 minutes in the program.

There will be a 3:30 PM and a 7:30 PMĀ  screening on Saturday, September 14th at the Las Lomas High School Theater, each followed by a Q&A.
Hope to see you all there. šŸ™‚

79Ā° NORTH in Nyack

On August 23rd the Nyack Phone and Drone Film Festival screens 79Ā° (degrees) NORTH. I am so proud that this beautiful project I shot during the Arctic Circle Artist and Scientist Expeditionary Residency Program found its way to the big screen. This 2-hour event takes place from 7:30 pm – to 9:30 pm at the Fabulous Hotel Nyack.

The NPDFF provides a platform for aerial filmmakers to showcase their work, emphasizing innovative flight techniques, aesthetic beauty, compelling stories, and more. The NPDFF program is hand-selected by a jury made up of local professionals, creative, media, and technical professionals as well as established drone cinematographers.

You can read all about my residency here: winter-sailing-in-the-arctic-around-svalbard

A FRIENDLY TURN in the Hamptons

I am so happy that A FRIENDLY TURN arrives on the East Coast. The Hamptons Comedy Film Festival screens the film on August 23 & 24 at the Sticks and Stones Comedy Club paired with stand-up comedy and other highly curated best-in-comedy films. Join us if you are around.

Winter AiR in Ano Asites on Crete

After my three weeks in northern Norway above the Artic Circle, I had some time left until the end of my sabbatical and I was looking for something to unwind and process my Polar impressions. I knew that I would crave a space for myself after nearly three weeks in close quarters, and I found the Ano Asites Artist Residency in Crete, which was balm for the soul. Nestled in the Cretan mountains, this rural village with 250 inhabitants is right in the middle of the island. Itā€™s approximately the same distance to the north or the south shore, which one can reach in 35 minutes using the recently finished national road 97. Although there are great bus lines, I would recommend renting a car at least for some time during a stay.

The village itself is very picturesque, with a typical greek cafe and two small supermarkets. There are more restaurants and stores in the neighboring village, Kato Asites, including Earino, which has a fantastic view and amazing local cuisine.

The residency was very original and a hidden gem tucked away behind a stone wall in the old part of the town. It had a small patio overgrown with grapevines and orange trees where I usually had breakfast, a kitchen where I spent more time at the end when it got colder, an updated bathroom, and a bedroom upstairs with an outdoor seating area to enjoy the sunset and the vineyards. The house is well taken care of, and if I had any questions, I always had help from Mathew or Adonis.

 

 

Crete during the off-season was something else. I spent many summer vacations there with my parents, and although the last time I visited was back in the 90s, I thought I had a good idea about the island, but it felt like everybody left, including the locals. The first two weeks the weather was amazing, and I was still able to go swimming in the ocean. I had the beaches to myself and explored most parts of the island from Sitia to Chania and further. Among many other archaeological sites, I visited the popular Arkadi Monastery. I was alone and wandered around undisturbed for hours, taking in the quiet atmosphere. On my way out, I asked the cashier how busy this sacred place gets during the high season, and she said that they easily have more than a thousand visitors per day, usually from cruise ships arriving in buses. Also, most opening hours on Google were wrong; museums usually closed at 6 pm and had only half of their exhibitions open to save on wages and upkeep.

Later in November, it started to rain, and it got colder, especially up in the mountains. Most restaurants were closed now, and it was too cold to go swimming, but this gave me plenty of time to focus on writing and sorting through the countless images I took in Svalbard.

In the end, I took a detour via Athens, which was beautiful and still very busy for the off-season. This concluded my two residencies in 2023, and I hope to embark soon on a new project off the beaten paths.

 

So long,
Boris Schaarschmidt