What are Your Favorite Films?
As PFF 2015 kicks off, we encourage you to Find YOUR New Favorite Movie … there are SO many amazing films to choose from! See the complete schedule here. We have asked filmmakers who will be screening their films at this year’s festival about some of their favorite movies.
Frank Ferendo is co-director/producer of PFF 2015 Feature Competition Film ANGEL OF NANJING. Frank and co-director/producer Jordan Horowitz are here at PFF, and will be attending all three screenings, with a Q&A after each. Check screening times here. Frank recently shared some of his favorite films with us, and began by telling us …
For my favorites, I limited it to just this year... otherwise I may have a brain aneurysm trying to pick even my top five in each category. But this year was really quite easy for me. I gage my favorites on emotional impact. I want to be moved in some way.
- Favorite Comedy
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY: Struck a cord with my childhood sense of adventure.
- Favorite Drama
WHIPLASH: The writing is superb, Miles Teller's playing is fantastic, and J.K. Simmons is mesmerizing.
- Favorite Documentary
POINT AND SHOOT: Blurs the lines between documenting and participating.
- What film(s) are you looking forward to seeing at PFF 2015 (besides your own of course!!)?
BAD EXORCISM: I am currently working on a paranormal thriller that involves demonic possession and revolves around a group of high school kids. I'm curious to see a comedic approach to the genre.
- What is a favorite film that you think most people have never seen, but should? IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: Yes we have all seen it on TV while flipping through the channels during the holiday season. However, most people have never really sat down and watched it from beginning to end... and they should.
- Do you have a favorite film poster?
I've only ever had one movie poster that I really ever cared about … FIGHT CLUB. Perhaps there are other posters out there that I think are much better designed; however, this one was on my wall because it is my favorite movie of all time.
ANGEL OF NANJING
The Yangtze River Bridge in Nanjing is one of the most famous bridges in China. It is also the most popular place in the world to commit suicide. For the past 11 years, Chen Si has been patrolling this bridge, looking to provide aid for those who've gone there to end their lives. Incredibly, he has saved over 300 people since he began - nearly one every two weeks.
Frank tells us that after PFF he is switching gears completely and starting to work on a feature narrative. He has written three scripts in the past year, and is hoping to shoot one of them in the next year.
You can check out what’s in development at:
– Laurie Smith
