"Punishment Island" in the world

In the last months "Punishment Island" travelled all over the word: in Taiwan touring at universities for the Taiwan Ethnographic Film Festival, in Egypt at Luxor African Film Festival in the Freedom category, in Italy at Sguardi Altrove where it won Best Film for the press (in the picture), in Canada at Festival du Film Ethnographic du Quebec.

It is a pleasure to announce that people in Africa can now watch the film easily and readily on the platform https://afridocs.net/

Next live screenings will be:

Skopje (Macedonia) in occasion of the event Women Rights Night, 31st of May 7pm. https://www.womensrightsnights.net/28-31-may-2018.html

Monselice (PD, Italy) in competition at EtnoFilmFest, 1st of June, 6pm http://www.etnodramma.it

Punishment Island wins Visioni Dal Mondo

We are happy to announce that Punishment Island has won both the award for best documentary (in ex aequo) and the award of the young jury at the 3rd edition of Visioni Dal Mondo in Milan.
For italian readers two reviews of the film following the festival:

http://www.cineclandestino.it/punishment-island/
http://27esimaora.corriere.it/17_ottobre_10/punishment-island-doc-ragazze-lasciate-morire-uganda-9df3e3a6-adde-11e7-aeaa-c10a797c4526.shtml

Next screening in Florence, XXXIX International Festival Cinema and Women, Saturday 11th November 5:30pm at Cinema la Compagnia, Via Cavour.

Premieres in Uganda/Italy and Taiwan

Updated screenings.
The film will be premiering in Kampala, National Theatre, Sunday 24th of September, midday.
Q&A with Comfort Abemigisha (author of the artwork and translator) and Laban Ahimisibwe (location manager and fixer).

The film will screen in European premiere in Milan, Unicredit Pavillion, Sala Tiglio, Saturday 7th of October, 4:15pm. In competition at Visioni dal Mondo, Immagini dalla Realtà. Q&A with writer/director Laura Cini and producer Sirio Zabberoni.

The film will screen in Asian premiere in Taipei, Taiwan International Ethnographic Film Festival, Sunday 8th of October, 8:50pm.

More screenings soon in the UK.
This is the trailer of the film:

World premiere

Finally, the film will be screened in world premiere at the National Theatre of Kampala, Sunday 24th of September 2017, midday. African Movie Night Kampala at the Bayimba International Festival 2017. 10th Anniversary edition! In October the film will be screening in Taipei at the Taiwan International Etnographic Film Festival.

Waiting for the film premiere, you can watch the film trailer at this link:

https://vimeo.com/146881258

People in Uganda, waiting for the upcoming premiere, the trailer of the documentary "Punishment Island" will be screened on the 9th of May in Kampala, National Theatre, courtesy of African Movie Night Kampala Monthly Screening. Soon posting news about the film premiere.

Artwork for the documentary!

Drawing materials bought for Comfort thanks to the funds raised through the crowdfunding for the artwork has reached Uganda and Comfort is at work! Thanks to all supporters again and to Laban for taking the picture!

Campaign ended successfully!

Thanks!!! Our campaign finished last night and was successfully funded at 107%. Both our crowdfunding campaigns ended with the final very generous stroke of two women who prefer to keep their name anonymous, like two fairies protecting this Punishment Island project.

Apart from the anonymous supporter, our thanks go to:

Enrica Giovannardi
Silvia Cappelli
Antonella Bundu
Sheila Windridge
Pirjo Ojala
Maria Pesli
Johannes Wilms
Markgame35
Lucas Vossoughi
Philine Von Duszeln
Carlo Boschi
Lella Sion, Letizia Fuochi, Silvia Conti, all the musicians who played at the concert night on the 10th of April in Florence and all those who supported by coming to the concert.

Thanks a lot from me and Comfort Abemigisha!!

You give us the hope and the energies to complete this documentary!

- 3 days left and thanks!

Our second and last campaign is coming to an end. 3 days left to support the work of Comfort Abemigisha for the documentary. Info and contributions at this link http://www.ulule.com/artwork-island/

In the meanwhile we want to thank the people who have helped so far towards reaching the goal:

Silvia Cappelli
Markgame
Pirjo Ojala
Lucas Voussoughi
Antonella Bundu
Maria Pesli
Philine Von Duszeln
Johannes Wilms
Sheila Windridge
Carlo Boschi
Punishment Island team

and Lella Sion, Letizia Fuochi, Silvia Conti and all the musicians who played at the crowdfunding concert at Circolo Rigacci.

42% left, translating in 290 Euros to reach our goal and get Comfort ready to draw and draw!

Thanks!

- 5 days left!

Here we go, last days to the end of our last crowdfunding campaign.

Thanks to the old and new supporters, we are now gratefully and unexpectedly close to reach our goal. We have still 42% missing, but being our target quite low, this doesn't translate in many Euros left. Any small contribution will help us a lot and then, in no time, Comfort will have his paper and will start to draw the unknown story of Akampene, the tiny dying island!

All further info and contributions at http://www.ulule.com/artwork-island/

Thanks!!!

Make or Break!

- 7! Last week left to support Ugandan artist Comfort Abemigisha in the making of the artwork for the documentary. Help us to support him if you can, any small contributions is vital for us to proceed. Information and contributions at this link http://www.ulule.com/artwork-island/ or if you want to support with Paypal or in other ways you can get in touch with us at this Email address: punishmentisland@gmail.com  Thanks!!!

This is the talented guy  you are supporting!

-22

Last week, we organized a concert in Florence to contribute towards our goal to finance Comfort's artwork for the film. We raised 300 Euros. We are closed to our goal and we have 22 days left to support. Any details and contributions at this link: http://www.ulule.com/artwork-island/

A crazy moment from the concert:

- 28

28 days left to support the artwork by Comfort Abemigisha for the documentary. African art lovers, with a little contribution, you can help us go a long way. In exchange you will have prints of his work, and one day, they might have a certain value. For sure, he is a very talented African young man. Many thanks to those who would like to help. All contributions and further info at the link http://www.ulule.com/artwork-island/

Or you can write to us at punishmentisland@gmail.com if you would like to contribute, but you rather do it through paypal. That is possible. Thanks!

Thanks to our Early Birds!

We knew that this time it was going to be difficult, that's why we want to thank our first supporters on the crowdfunding for the Artwork, who gave us hope we may have a chance to raise the budget to finance the drawings for young Ugandan artist Comfort Abemigisha.

So many thanks to:

Carlo Boschi, Johannes Wilms, Sheila Windrige, Philine Von Dueszeln, Maria Pesli, Johannes Wilms and Antonella Bundu.

We still have one month and 600 Euros to raise. Have a look here http://www.ulule.com/artwork-island/ and remember that any small contribution counts. Thanks!

10 of April in Florence!

Those of you in Florence are invited to come to a big night of music to support the making of the documentary.

For info, you can write to punishmentisland@gmail.com and/or follow us on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/PunishmentIsland

New crowdfunding - The Artwork

We have just launched a new crowdfunding, with the aim of completing the artwork young Ugandan artist Comfort Abemigisha is preparing for the documentary. By buying printed postcards of his drawings you will help us promoting African art and finishing this stage of production. All funds raised will be used for buying drawing materials, paying the prints & platform fees, but mainly for paying Comfort for his work. Comfort Abemigisha lives in Kampala, Uganda, recently graduated in Industrial and Fine Arts and sells his paintings internationally. He has been involved in the production of "Punishment Island" documentary since its early stage, translating all interviews and researching the stories. With its unique style that mixes African contemporaneity and tradition, his drawings will illustrate the stories as told by the survivors. Video of Comfort introducing himself, information, documentary teaser and contributions at http://www.ulule.com/artwork-island/

Be the first to support us!

You can also follow us on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/PunishmentIsland

Trailer!

Long absence from this blog, but our project isn't forgotten, of course. We have been editing what we shot with the funds collected through the crowdfunding campaign. Now we are in the middle of another tough part: finding the money to complete production and for post-production. We have a 30' rough cut and undergoing the difficult process of approaching institutions, foundations, broadcasters, sponsorship. Not much creativity at this stage, frustration is the word at present, but that's part of the work! We will make it soon or later (better soon than later of course). In the meanwhile, at this link you can see the updated trailer of the film. Hope you enjoy.

https://vimeo.com/77210684

Thanks to all cast and crew!

Back to Punishment!

We haven't blogged for quite a while. Luckily I got funds to shoot another project set in Northern Tuscany and I just came back from a long session of shooting with Philine, same DoP of Punishment Island and new great sound recordist. So now, back on the mission. We have a 27' minutes rough cut which is being supervised by sound editor in Germany. We already applied for Sundance documentary funds, and as soon as Tim has finished we will compete for Premio Corso Salani, a prize for independent Italian documentarists in the memory of great Corso Salani. At the same time we are applying for ITVS in the States and other foundation, while sending it to various broadcasters in Europe. Hopefully we will be able to go back soon and do the finishing shots. In the meanwhile, I want again to thank ALL the people who made this possible. More that time goes by, more that I realized what WE have achieved together. I can never thank enough. 

https://www.facebook.com/PunishmentIsland

Still alive!

We haven't been blogging for quite sometime now, but we are still here working on this production. The lack of post-production funds is making editing slow, but now we are getting there, soon we should have our first rough cut. Yesterday we had a party to thank our supporters which was also an occasion to raise some cash for post-production. Conad, an Italian food chain sponsored us giving us food and drinks, and the landlord of a wonderful place in the hills surrounding Florence gave it to us for free. We had a fun afternoon with food, drinks and music, while we helped the cause with a vintage market on the side. (may you be interested there are some articles on sale still...) Photos by Marco Mazzi, Elisabetta Cecchi, Nadia Angilella).

Final thanks!

Dear supporters, it is time to pick prizes (still have to be patient for the new trailer and obviously the DVD). The end of the campaign has been quite chaotic for the unexpected and happy events that took place and for the facts that we left immediately to Uganda (good planning, as rainy season has just started). Now with more ease, we would really like to thank by name again all our supporters. You are many and you shine! Thanks so much again for having supported the continuation of this project!

Stefania Matteini
ACTM
La Scena Muta
(all musicians, Letizia Fuochi & Silvia Conti)
Circolo Rigacci
Mick Csaky
Jurgen Von Duszeln
Teatro Verdi
Nadia Angilella
Carlo Boschi
Imogen Kusch
Cristina Zannoner
Anna Samueli
François Vergne
Yeah Musicadischicaffe
The Pilgrims
Guido Barlozzetti
Ombretta Guerrini
Giampiero Sgaragli
Libreria Cuccumeo
Renzo Nelli
Felice Codacci
Claudia Manfredi
Elisabeth Ritchied
Adelheid Kanat
Barbara Tucci
Danilo Pecchioli
Andrea Cini
Jacopo Prete
Mirella Boscherini
Julian Falge
Caterina Magri
Amgrim Ytterhus
Jessy Contorno
Filippo De Maria
Lucilla Saccà
Lisa Zini
Giada Araca
Michele Lanza
Julia Fellinger
Filiz & Norbert Fellinger
Annie Carletti
Velia Bianchini
Pina Scarnecchia
Silvana Ramunni
Marì Simonelli
Hugh Purcell
Claus Orso
Roberta Mossetto
Nora Von Duszeln
Patrizia Penco
Philine Von Duszeln
Elke Koch-Weser
Circolo Vie Nuove
Libreria Griot
Gianpaolo D'Amico
Michela Manetti
Claudio e Gigliola Verduchi
Margherita Razzanelli
Heidi Gronauer
Matthias Klaus-Von Dusseln
Alex Finn
Catia Giaccherini
Alessandro Conci
Max Buschfeld
Irina Janke
Styliani Parascha
Amanda Belz
Luca Lorenzini
Sabrina Masoli
Francesca Moretti
Elena Orsini
Chris Cohelo
Massimo Donnamaria
Massimiliano Naldini
Carlotta Givo Galeano
Antonella Rondinone
Silvia Cappelli
Pamela Pierini
Pino Fidanza
Marta Zanzotto
Michela Marino
Mario Figoni
Andrea Farolfi
Enrica Giovannardi
Filippo Celata
Rita Brugnara
Matteo Tortora
Sheila Windrige
Emily Tibbatts
Alessandro Gerebizza
Andrea Mancaniello
Carsten Schumann
Virginie Myalonnier
Renzo Gherardelli
Natale Leuzzi
Laura Pecci
Tomo Kimura
Nicola Usborne
Juliane Seifert
Julia Koppetsch
Merav Bat-Gil
Enza Quattrocchi
Raffaela Arban
Stefania & Daniele Aurigi
Beatrice Pazzaglia
Sandra Landi
Rebecca Swan
Paola Giustini
Carolina Bettoni
Dominique Dehareng
Micah Garen
Raphael Rueb
Rosanna Montano
Siba Westphal
Laura Delle Cane
Beatrice Benedetti
Hannah Ormston
Daniele Antichi
Daniela Fellinger
Martino Lega
Maria Pesli
Marco Mencato
Roberto Musto
Maria Grazia Proli
Claudia Di Lorenzo
Darren Robbie
Luigi Marzano
Angela Meucci
Timothy Lalonde
Alessandro Varucciu
Simona Merlino
Marco Casaretti
Andreas Kassab
Shivani Satya
Gianna Boncompagni
Miki Ambrozy
Giuseppe Lenzo
Giuseppe Di Paola
Claudia Tagliaferri
Anna Catala
Ondra Veltrusky
Chiara Carminati
Maura Martelli
Paola Bonaiuti
Nikolas Napierala
Deborah Rohan
Lene Hirschbach
Christian Bruno
Jakob Adebahr