Private Project

Francesca

'Francesca' was inspired by the art and life of American photographer Francesca Woodman, who committed suicide by jumping out of an East Village apartment window on January 19, 1981, at the age of 22. Madden who lives in the Lower East Side / Chinatown neighborhood of New York City tell us, 'Almost thirty years and now I’m looking down from a similar window'.

Captivated by the mysterious black and white photography of Woodman (which features herself), Madden echoes, 'Ghostly images appear like gossamer blurred apparitions'.

'Francesca' was directed by art photographer and filmmaker, Gaëna da Sylva. da Sylva’s abstract poetic short films combine the magic of movement and static photography often using a multi-layered approach.

  • Gaëna da Sylva
    Director
  • Bill Madden
    Writer
    Gone, Unfair
  • Bill Madden
    Producer
    Gone, Unfair
  • Gaëna da Sylva
    Producer
  • Gaëna da Sylva
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Music Video, Short
  • Runtime:
    3 minutes 41 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 25, 2014
  • Production Budget:
    1,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada
  • Language:
    English
  • Film Color:
    Black & White
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Accolade Global Film Competition
    La Jolla, California
    November 25, 2014
    Award of Merit
  • Alaska International Film Awards
    Anchorage, Alaska
    June 15, 2015
    Northern Lights Emerging Talent Award
  • Canada International Film Festival
    Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    April 11, 2015
    2015 Rising Star Award
  • Filmmakers of the Year Film Festival
    Jakarta, Indonesia
    November 26, 2014
    Music Director of the Year
  • Honolulu Film Awards
    Honolulu, Hawaii
    May 5, 2015
    2015 Gold Kahuna Award
  • International Film & Photography Festival
    Jakarta, Indonesia
    November 26, 2014
    Diamond Award - Best Music and Song
  • Mexico International Film Festival
    Baja, Mexico
    May 1, 2015
    2015 Golden Palm Award
  • The IndieFEST Film Awards
    La Jolla, CA
    February 17, 2015
    Award of Merit
  • The Indie Gathering International Film Festival
    Hudson, Ohio
    August 30, 2015
    Alternative Music Video - 2nd Place
  • WorldFest-Houston International Film & Video Festival
    Houston, Texas
    April 8, 2016
    Cinematography/Videography - Gold Remi Award
  • World Music and Independent Film Festival
    Jeffersonton, Virginia
    August 19, 2015
    Remi Award
  • 12 Months Film Festival
    Cluj-Napoca, Romania
    July 31, 2015
    Romania Premiere
  • 3rd Mumbai Shorts International Film Festival
    Andheri, Mumbai, India
    December 20, 2014
  • 5th Dada Saheb Phalke Film Festival-2015
    Tivoli Resort, Chattarpur, New Delhi, India
    April 30, 2015
  • Access Code Short Film Festival
    Bangalore, Karnataka, India
    December 27, 2014
  • Bare Bones International Film & Music Festival
    Muskogee, OK
    April 10, 2015
  • Buffalo Niagara International Film Festival
    Buffalo, New York
    April 10, 2015
  • Capital Cinema Cultural Exchange (CCCE) Filmmakers Lab
    Albany, New York
    February 26, 2015
  • Clean Shorts Film Festival
    Choctaw, Oklahoma
    April 3, 2015
  • Columbia Gorge International Film Festival (CGIFF 2015)
    Washougal, WA
    August 6, 2015
  • Festival of the Cinematics
    New York, New York
    March 28, 2015
  • Festival Parachute Light Zero Act II
    Les Nautes, 1-5 Quai des Céléstins, Paris, France
    March 21, 2015
  • Goa Short Film Festival
    Kothrud Pune, Maharashtra, India
    May 29, 2015
  • Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema
    Idyllwild, California
    January 6, 2015
  • IMA International Film Festival
    Thrissur, Kerala, India
    December 9, 2014
  • Madrid International Film Festival
    Madrid, Spain
    July 9, 2015
  • Milledgeville Film Festival
    Milledgeville, GA
    April 15, 2015
  • Nacogdoches Film Festival
    Nacogdoches, Texas
    February 26, 2015
  • New Hope Film Festival
    New Hope, PA
    August 1, 2015
  • On the Line Film Festival
    St. Paul, Minnesota
    August 5, 2015
  • Paterson Falls Film Festival
    Paterson, NJ
    June 6, 2015
  • People of Passion International Film Festival
    Braeside, Victoria, Australia
    January 16, 2015
  • ReelHeART International Film Festival
    Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    July 6, 2015
  • St. Tropez International Film Festival
    Cote d'Azur, South of France
    May 11, 2015
  • The International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema Milan 2015
    Milan, Italy
    December 2, 2015
    Italy Premiere
  • Tupelo Film Festival
    Tupelo, Mississippi
    April 16, 2015
  • Washington DC Independent Film Festival (DCIFF)
    Washington DC
    February 25, 2015
  • Women’s Director International Film Festival
    Rohini, New Delhi, India
    March 14, 2015
  • Chelsea Fashion & Film Festival III
    Holy Apostles Theater, Chelsea, Manhattan, New York
    March 31, 2016
Director Biography - Gaëna da Sylva

Based in Quebec, art photographer and film maker, Gaëna da Sylva discovered photography as a teenager. From the first time that she saw oil catch the light in a puddle of water, light and its interaction with form have continued to fascinate her. She has published three collections of photographs and a collection of poetry. Gaena's abstract poetic short films combine the magic of movement and static photography often using a multi-layered approach.

More about Gaëna da Sylva: http://www.brightfieldproductions.co.uk/gaenadasylva/

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Making Francesca was a delight, a beautiful adventure in discovering the person behind the photographies. I travelled through her images, filling my imagination with her state of mind as she was creating that so personal universe within her self portraits.