Private Project

La Mia Italia

"La Mia Italia" is a war drama/romance short fiction set during the Second World War and based on the melange of two true stories.

Fighting on the battlefield, Sante (21 years old), a young Italian partisan, has been held in an Albanian prison camp, nearby the Devoll river.
The memory of his long-lasting Love for Elsa is all that keeps him going.

  • Jay Manari
    Director
  • Jay Manari
    Writer
  • Jay Manari
    Producer
  • Henry Thompson
    Key Cast
    "Sante"
  • Inna Bagoli
    Key Cast
    "Elsa"
  • Sara Rizzano
    Key Cast
    "Elsa Flashback"
  • Ivano Cavaliere
    Key Cast
    "Welsh Soldier"
  • Mauro Mercatali
    Key Cast
    "Father"
  • Jay Manari
    Editor
  • Aleksandr Korolev
    Colorist
  • Jonathan McKinney
    Composer
  • Nikola Vukovic
    Sound Designer
  • Runtime:
    15 minutes
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    Italy
  • Language:
    Italian
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Greece International Film Festival
    Athens
    Greece
    April 27, 2023
    European Premiere
    Winner of Best Short Film, Best Sound Design, Best Coloring and Nominee for Best Directing
  • Rome Prisma Film Awards
    Rome
    Italy
    July 27, 2023
    Italian Premiere
    Finalist for Best Short, Nominee for Best Trailer and Best Film Poster
  • Robinson Film Awards
    Poggiomarino
    Italy
    April 7, 2024
    Winner of Best Romantic Short
  • Cut International Short Film Festival
    New Jersey
    United States
    September 22, 2023
    American Premiere
    Winner of Best Drama Short
  • Athens International Monthly Art Film Festival (AIMAFF)
    Athens
    Greece
    July 5, 2023
    Winner of Best Costume Design
  • Calcutta International Cult Film Festival
    Calcutta
    India
    September 9, 2023
    Indian Premiere
    Best Romantic Short - Winner
  • Gold Wheat Awards
    Instabul
    Turkey
    July 30, 2023
    Winner of Best Cinematography and Best Drama
  • Symbotic Film Festival
    Kiev
    Ukraine
    August 9, 2023
    Best Editing and Best Short Film
  • Aasha International Film Festival
    Maharashtra
    India
    December 15, 2023
    Winner of Best Short
  • New York Istanbul Short Film Festival
    New York City, New York
    United States
    November 12, 2023
    Official Selection for Best Low Budget
  • London Director Awards
    London
    United Kingdom
    February 16, 2024
    Finalist
    Best Drama Director
  • Kalaburagi International Film Festival
    Karnataka
    India
    February 24, 2024
    Finalist
    Best Short Film
  • Västerås Film Festival
    Västerås
    Sweden
    May 12, 2024
    Swedish Premiere
    Best Romantic Film
  • Robinson Film Awards
    Poggiomarino
    Italy
    April 13, 2024
    Annual Winner
    Best Romantic Short & Best Film Youth Audience Award
  • International Independent Permanent Memories Film Festival
    Ferrara
    Italy
    April 30, 2024
    Best Romance Short
    Winner
  • Monza Film Fest
    Monza
    Italy
    Bimonthly Winner
    Best Romance
  • WideScreen Film & Music Video Festival
    Toronto
    Canada
    July 27, 2024
    Honorable Mention
Distribution Information
  • WeShort
    Distributor
    Country: Worldwide
    Rights: Video on Demand, Pay Per View
  • StreamAuteur
    Distributor
    Country: Worldwide
    Rights: Video on Demand
Director Biography - Jay Manari

Jay Manari is an independent director-writer-producer, member of Directors UK, protecting the rights of UK-based screen director members. Jay started out working on independent films and commercials both in Europe (Italy) and in the U.S (California - LA & New York) back in 2014 where he worked with LA producers, such as Ed Polgardy, and, in the last years, in the UK, with series producer Jon Jennings, assisting directors like Ben Taylor (known for popular shows like for ‘Sex Education’) and Amanda Brotchie (known for ‘Gentleman Jack’).

In 2018, Jay founded MiraBan, an Arts & Entertainment running film events, online film courses, and networking opportunities, such as the MiraBan UK Film Awards (MUFA), a British, London-based, Film Festival focused on diversity in auteur movies. Member of Film Hub London and winner of the BFI FAN Film Exhibition Fund, MUFA provides a spotlight for under-represented, emerging, and experienced independent, auteur filmmakers.

We work as a bridge from the festival circuit to film distribution, ensuring that independent filmmakers reach a wider audience thanks to meaningful partnerships with Independent Streaming Platforms (WeShort, StreamAuteur, Klipist)

In June 2024, Jay was nominated 'Filmmaker of the Month' by My First Job in Film Company, the largest community of emerging filmmakers in the UK.

In the last five years, Jay has been working both as a producer's assistant and director's assistant in London-based High-end TV Dramas (such as 'Renegade Nell' by Disney Plus), as well as producing his own independent film productions available on multiple online distribution platforms.

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Director Statement

"Your success hinges on your inner strength, determination, and ability to rally others to your vision."