young ali: those were the days has been nominated for the Cassavetes award and the Godard award at the Arthouse Film Festival.
you can still watch the film virtually till Jan 20th.
tickets avail here: Arthouse Film Festival
Film Festival Circuit
"Young Ali" screens virtually at the Arthouse Film Festival 2024....
in Amir Motlagh, ANIMALS, Art, Film Festivals
Tickets and info is available for virtual screenings of “Young Ali: those were the days” at the Arthouse Film Festival Jan 14-20th
Jury Member for 24FPS International Film Festival
in Amir Motlagh
will be on the Jury for one of my favorite film festivals on the circuit - 24FPS International Short Film Festival..
they have an amazing 2023 lineup, you can find the films here….
while I don’t believe in any competition when it comes to art, I agreed to this because this is one of the very first film festivals to champion my work, and they have a great lineup year after year put together by festival director Barry Smoot.
cheers
"Three Worlds" invited to screen as a "Festival Spotlight" film at VAiFF
Three Worlds screens once again in Chicago as a “Festival Spotlight” film for the annual VAiFF. Screening takes place at 1:30pm, Sunday Oct 7th at Fort Knox Studios. Producers will be on hand to take questions. Tickets for the event are part of the festival pass. Click here:
THREE WORLDS Reviewed by Premier Arthouse Cinema Site PINNLAND EMPIRE
in Amir Motlagh, Art, Cinema, Film Festival, Film
When you make art & you put it out into the world, it becomes a vulnerable time if you haven’t done the necessary work to detach. Essentially, equanimity is the only barrier between this raw period and the world. I seldom read or look at reviews, but this one was a bit different because I felt the reviewer got it (the essence), for lack of a better term, and that connection is wonderful.
So, when you got a moment, check out this THREE WORLDS review from the stellar arthouse cinema site, PINNLAND EMPIRE.
“Amir Motlagh dispels some of the superficial stigmas put on Los Angeles while at the same time embraces the very real superficialities associated with L.A. (outside of Los Angeles being the epicenter of the entertainment industry, it’s a very cool city unlike any other if you know the right people).
And putting all Mekas/Malick comparisons aside, this is very much Motlagh’s own film. The movie is filled with obvious autobiographical content that comes off as genuine & organic as opposed to pretentious. That’s not an easy task with a film like this (ambient, sprawling, artistic and sometimes chaotic). A young filmmaker could easily get self-absorbed & pretentious with a movie like Three Worlds but that’s not the case here.
This will definitely require a second (or third) viewing. And that’s a good thing. This isn’t something to fully digest in one sitting.”
Three Worlds Upcoming Screenings
“Three Worlds” screens Sept 23rd at the Mockingbird Cinema, Birmingham UK as part of the B’ham Sci-Fi Convention Fest. Then back to Chicago, as the “Spotlight Film” for VAiFF Fest Oct 7th (location info coming shortly).
THREE WORLDS pre-order is live!
Our second feature film for 2018 (Three Worlds) is now available for pre-order! Please show your support by committing early & locking into our lovingly easy pre-release rates.
Available on Vimeo On Demand (worldwide) starting Sept 7th, 2018. (i think we'll let it drop Thurs ;) )
Premieres on Amazon Prime Video in the latter half of Sept, with a full digital rollout in the following months.
The full OST (soundtrack) by Julian DW Brink premieres on all music platforms Sept 14th, 2018.
This release marks the conclusion of the "Three Marks, Too Many Signals" series of works.
PS: If you haven't yet watched MAN yet, now is a good time, after you pre-order this! 💚
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Synopsis
Three Worlds is a psychological science fiction drama that explores the three lives, or 'worlds,' of a man who undergoes an experiment that triggers haunting memories and alternate life 'memories.
Credits
Written & Directed by Amir Motlagh
Produced by ANIMALS, Amir Motlagh, Charles Borg
Director of Photography: Amir Motlagh
Starring:
Amir Motlagh
Samantha Robinson
Rey Deegan
Keaton Shyler
Gregory Linington
Editing: Bryan Tuck, Amir Motlagh
Original Score by Julian DW Brink
Sound Designer & Re-Recording Mixer: Stephen Holliger
Media Quotes
“It’s always exciting whenever a distinct new voice makes itself heard on the indie landscape. Amir Motlagh is such a voice.
honest and soulful.. ”
— Adam Schartoff FILMWAX RADIO
“It’s rare to mix rawness with beauty.”
— Pinnland Empire
““These unique experiences are made even more exceptional for their Iranian-American perspective.”
...the experience of both films (MAN + Three Worlds) is one that any film connoisseur must have. To sit with an awareness of the film, and, an awareness of how you are watching it, is a surreal act that can only be described as “art.” Motlagh’s work is definitely a piece of art in the medium of film.”
— Jonita Davis THE IRANIAN
“there is without a doubt a definitive boldness to “Three Worlds”, both in its tone and aspirations, and it will certainly require viewers to lean in a little closer, which is never a bad thing…..a curious and fascinating watch.”
— David Fowlie KEEPING IT REEL
"Three Worlds" wins "Silver Award" for Best Editing at QPIFF
Following up on our "Best Feature" nod, we won a "Silver Award" at the Queens Palm International Film Festival, placing 2nd in the "Best Editor" Feature Film technical category. This award is shared between editor Bryan Tuck and me, though Bryan was the real workhorse in the post-production on this project.
Zebras in America Podcast Episode 54 with filmmaker Amir Motlagh
in Amir Motlagh, Art
Was interviewed on the Zebras in America podcast with host Marcus Pinn (Pinnland Empire) and Scott Thorough. We discussed a range of topics, with the focus being my two latest 2018 films, Three Worlds + MAN.
Come listen in to Marcus Pinn of Pinnland Empire describe Three Worlds "like jazz".
Had a nice discussion yesterday with Zebras In America
I was interview on the Zebras In America podcast yesterday, (Pinnland Empire + Scott Thorough). The new episode should be up tomorrow. We discussed a range of topics, mostly centered on my new film projects (Three Worlds + MAN). These guys were great.
Will be a guest on FILMWAX radio later this month in support of the new projects
in Amir Motlagh, News, World Cinema
As part of the promotional run for the 4/21 double feature screening, I got invited to do the popular film podcast, FILMWAX Radio. The episode should air later this month.
My producing partner Charles goes in to film an interview segment with CHICAGO FILM NEWS later this week.
All in all, things are moving along on getting these films out into the public space. We have gotten several distribution offers (for the only film we are showing to companies right now), and are weighing our options.
My real drive at the moment is showing these films together since they are all part of the same series along with CANYON. But, of course, I'm flexible on this since this is not all under my control.
In any case, if you're reading this, and program film slots, let's talk. It's a win, win.
MAN & THREE WORLDS AN AMIR MOTLAGH DOUBLE FEATURE PREVIEW SCREENING presented by Chicago Filmmakers
in Amir Motlagh, Art, Cinema, Film, Film Festival, Film Festivals, MAN
The THREE MARKS, TOO MANY SIGNALS series of works gets a double feature screening of MAN & THREE WORLDS, presented by Chicago Filmmakers. The presentation starts at 6pm, Saturday, April 21st.
The box office is open, so we would love to see you there. I am planning on attending (schedule permitting) but my producing partner & co-writer on MAN, Charles Borg will be present. If you are press, or know anyone who would be interested in writing about the event, or needs screeners, please reach out.
This has been a long time coming, but we wish to come to other cities. If you are interested in booking the films, please reach out. Whether it be film festivals, one-off events, microcinemas, arthouse theaters or gallery spaces (etc), we are open and excited to hear from you. We want to bring this to you in a way that feels organic and connected.
I'll be updating as the date nears. Thank you all for the years of support. 💚
Upcoming Screening for MAN (w/ special surprise)
in Amir Motlagh, Art, Cinema, Film Festival, MAN
MAN screens at Chicago Filmmakers on April 21st. It's a special screening with a surprise. Will announce when its listed up on the site with a link to the box office.
MAN wins "Outstanding Achievement Award" for best "Postmodern Film" at CICFF
To be perfectly honest (which is my aim these days), & I've said this for many years & truly believe it, awards in the arts are incompatible. No exceptions. They are structurally made of other things, and those things do not fit.
The other reality is that I want you to see my film. I really do. And so, I'll play the rules as they are (though bending what I can), so that, in the end, you have access to this work & and that it reaches as wide an audience as is possible for an undeniable arthouse experience. And an award or two, might help that cause.
It is what it is, but, I believe this film has a much wider reach than at first might appear (we have been told that as well from industry people in Los Angeles, an unlikely place for such a reaction to this type of work).
With that said, MAN wins an "Outstanding Achievement Award" for best "Postmodern Film" at CICFF, in Kolkata (formerly, Calcutta) and with it, our first "laurel".
We still have yet to world premiere the film as this was an industry private showcase, and we are thankful to the organizers of this event to acknowledge our work. Festival programmers, and open-minded distributors, *makes hand into 90's cell phone*, call me.
