Interview with actress and producer Alida Pantone

Last week we followed London based Italian actress and producer Alida Pantone to the International Rome Film Fest, where she was with a film out of competition in the Official Selection of “Alice Nella Città”: “Coming Back” by Alessio Rupalti.

Alida is the producer for River Crossing Productions, a film production based in London founded by film director Luisa Pretolani. River Crossing Productions has been producing Luisa’s films for the past 3 years and has recently started working with young talents.

We met Alida Pantone several times, and she has always been able to charm us with her elegance and her impeccable taste for fashion. At the Rome Film Fest she did not disappoint, rocking a tres-chic outfit by Italian Maison – and one of Dutchess of Cambridge favourite – Luisa Spagnoli.

Q: Please, tell us more about “Coming Back”.

A: Alessio has been one of the first directors we decided to collaborate with – Alida says – coming with a solid experience working with Italian director Pupi Avati, we wanted to support the story he wished to tell. British writer Ivor Baddiel came on board to write the script.

The film is about how Brexit has affected people’s lives, and how difficult it can be, at times, to understand people’s choices, and most of all how those choices affect everyone around them.

Q: River Crossing’s 4th short movie PIE is about to be completed. In the movie, directed by Luisa Pretolani, you star alongside its writer Rachele Fregonese.

A: Yes. “PIE” is a funny short film. We wanted to bring a new spin to how we perceive feminism. We shot it in just one day, a very small budget and lot of laughs. I play the perfect ‘50s housewife (Doris), opposite to Rachele’s modern woman Rayon. I’d like to mention that the film is dedicated to two great women we sadly lost this year: Rita and May. 

Q: What’s next?

A: Acting-wise, I’ve been cast in “The Wretched” by Evandro Rosolen, a very interesting feature to be filmed in January. It will be a black and white, German Expressionism inspired, gothic, vampire story, set in modern-day London. 

On November 3rd I’ll have the honour to host the Italian London Film Festival, organised by Alessandro Ananasso and Alessandro Marchese.

I’m also in pre-production with a couple of short films as producer and working as production manager on a lovely winter tale: “The Magical Toy Shop” by AJ Lamb that will be shoot later in November. 

Next for River Crossing Productions is the feature film set during the Second World War “The Cook”. The main cast is already on board and so is our amazing crew, with whom we work like a family.

And there is, of course, the London Rolling Film Festival. I’m organising the 10th edition and to celebrate this important goal, I decided to take the Festival on tour to 10 towns around the World.

Q: A Festival World Tour sounds quite challenging! Congratulations! Can you tell us a bit more?

A: Yes it is quite a challenge, but when I decide to do something I can’t say “no” to myself…no matter how difficult it might be, I find a way to make it happen.

There are a few international screenings to be confirmed but the London Rolling Film Festival “X Tour” will open in London in February 2020 and then will tour nearly all continents, travelling to various cities in Europe, US, Russia, Australia, Sout-East Asia and Africa.

Submissions are now open on Film Freeway for both the official London competition (with the filmmaker’s attendance to the festival, still being the main rule for the final selection) and the “X Tour” Edition, that is open to all shorts under 12 minutes. The perk about this very X Edition is that each town hosting the festival will have its own jury and prize, so submitting your short to the X Edition, will enter it automatically to 10 different competitions… at the price of one!

Q: Is there anything you can’t do?

A: I like to think there’s nothing I can’t learn to do.

 

Stay tuned.. these Italian women have a lot to tell. Brexit or not.