Experiencing Interruptions?

The Key to Heaven

In this narrative documentary directed by Rossano B. Maniscalchi, Ara Davidi Ghazaryan describes his relationship with art and the meaning he gives to the path he has taken in his life and work.
It is a personal and unpublished story, filled with evocative suggestions and enriched by the visionary images created by the director.

  • Rossano B. Maniscalchi
    Director
    Denying Beauty, Failing Light, Touch Me, Anyway, A Thin Slice of Life, In the Ring, To the Point (and many more)
  • Serena Del Nero
    Writer
  • Rossano B. Maniscalchi
    Writer
  • Ara Davidi Ghazaryan
    Producer
  • Ara Davidi Ghazaryan
    Key Cast
    "as himself"
  • Eleonora Pieroni
    Key Cast
    State of Consciousness, Nati Due Volti, Copperman, Don Matteo, Paper Empire, (and many more)
  • Duane March
    Key Cast
    "Narrator"
    In the Ring (2021)
  • Eva Di Giovandomenico 
    Key Cast
    "Ophelia"
  • Serena Del Nero
    Art Director
    Denying Beauty, Failing Light, Touch Me, Anyway, A Thin Slice of Life, In the Ring, To the Point
  • Francesco Buggea
    Camera
    RTV8, Italia7, TV Prato, TELE Iride, Mediaset
  • Ara Davidi Ghazaryan
    Jewelry
  • Andreas Woll
    Music
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Runtime:
    6 minutes 3 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 4, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    9,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Italy
  • Country of Filming:
    Italy
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • La Jolla International Fashion Film Festival
    La Jolla, San Diego, California
    United States
    July 30, 2022
    North American Premiere
    Award for BEST NARRATION (Duane March)
  • Film Miami Fest / Best Shorts Worldwide
    Miami, Florida
    United States
    November 19, 2022
    Awards for BEST FASHION SHORT and BEST FASHION AUDIENCE CHOICE
  • FilmHaus Berlin
    Berlin
    Germany
    November 24, 2022
    European Premiere
    Finalist: BEST CHARACTER-DRIVEN DOCUMENTARY and for BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY
  • Best International Film Festival
    Bucharest
    Romania
    November 30, 2022
    Official Selection
  • SENSEI Tokyo FilmFest
    Tokyo
    Japan
    December 10, 2022
    Far East Premiere
    Nominations for BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY, BEST DOCUMENTARY CINEMATOGRAPHY and BEST PERFORMATIVE DOCUMENTARY
  • Best Shorts Competition
    La Jolla, San Diego, California
    United States
    December 17, 2022
    Awards of Merit for ART DIRECTION (Serena Del Nero) and for NARRATION/VOICE OVER TALENT (Duane March)
  • Pure Magic International Film Festival 2022
    Amsterdam
    Netherlands
    January 4, 2023
    BEST VOICE ACTOR (Duane March)
  • Wisdom Tree International Film Festival
    Pune
    India
    January 18, 2023
    Indian Premiere
    Award for BEST DOCUMENTARY
  • Kalakari Film Fest
    Dewas
    India
    February 20, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Accolade Global Film Festival
    La Jolla, San Diego, California
    United States
    February 21, 2023
    Awards of Merit for DOCUMENTARY SHORT (Rossano B. Maniscalchi) and for NARRATION/VOICE OVER TALENT (Duane March)
  • Your Way International Film Festival
    Valletta
    Malta
    April 30, 2023
    Award for BEST MICRO SHORT FILM
  • French Riviera Film Festival (FRFF)
    Cannes
    France
    May 21, 2023
    French premiere
    Award for BEST DOCUMENTARY
  • Global Short Film Awards (GSF Awards)
    Cannes
    France
    May 25, 2023
    Awards for BEST FILM and BEST FASHION AND BEAUTY FILM
  • Fashion Film Festival Chicago
    Chicago
    United States
    November 18, 2023
    Bronze Medal "Medaille de Bronze"
  • Sarajevo Fashion Film Festival
    Sarajevo
    Bosnia and Herzegovina
    December 15, 2023
    Finalist Best Documentary
  • Cannes World Film Festival
    Cannes
    France
    August 7, 2024
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Rossano B. Maniscalchi

As a highly acclaimed photographer and film maker (globally ranked in the top 100) Rossano B. Maniscalchi has worked with many high-profile fashion brands, and his commercial work is limited to specifically chosen high caliber brands.
Rossano works with esteemed companies on promotional films for products that are unique and prominent within the fashion world. His work has always been outstanding, whether in the field of portraiture, art, still life, fashion, culture, beauty and glamour photography, or in advertising and in his work with celebrities such as Barack Obama, Tilda Swinton, Michelangelo Antonioni, Prince Charles, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Wim Wenders, Arnaldo Pomodoro, Susan Sontag, Ray Manzarek (The Doors), Mikhail Gorbachev, Salman Rushdie, Andrea Bocelli, Rita Levi Montalcini, Milos Forman, just to name a few.
As photographer and filmmaker he has collaborated in advertising campaigns for Ferragamo Shoes, Sunglasses by Armani, Cartier, Ungaro, Gap, Guess, Limited, Stefanel, Max Mara, Calvin Klein Shoes, Levi’s, Role and Mercedes Benz.
Rossano has a studio in the city of his birth, Florence, Italy. His work takes him to Florida, California, New York and throughout Europe for promotional campaigns. Maniscalchi has a definitive signature style. He communicates a unique personal message and perspective in his work. His many years of creativity for well-known fashion salons and advertising agencies combined with still life, portraiture, fine art and sculpture, have all influenced and developed his modus operandi.
Maniscalchi’s extensive portfolio has been exhibited extensively at art galleries and museums throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. His work continues to maintain important global recognition and his published books have been major sellouts.

Among the film awards he/his films have won are:
BEST FILM, BEST DIRECTOR and BEST FASHION & BEAUTY FILM for "Beyond"
- Global Short Film Awards, Cannes, France 2024
Best Film on Romance for "Beyond"
- Berlin New Wave Film Festival, 3rd Season, 2024
BEST FILM and Best Fashion Film for "The Key to Heaven"
- Global Short Film Awards, Cannes, France 2023
Best Documentary for the film "The Key to Heaven"
- French Riviera Film Festival, Cannes, France 2023
Best Documentary for "The Key to Heaven" and Best Art Film for "In the Ring"
- Wisdom Tree International Film Festival 2023
Best Fashion Short and Best Fashion Audience Choice for "The Key to Heaven"
- Film Miami Fest / Best Shorts Worldwide 2022
Best Cinematography for "Anyway"
- Croatia Fashion Film Festival 2022
Best Narration for "The Key to Heaven" (Narrator: Duane March)
- La Jolla International Fashion Film Festival 2022
Best Cinematography for "Anyway"
- Style, Experimental, Fashion Film Festival Jan. 2022, Los Angeles
Best Director for "In the Ring"
- Best Istanbul Film Festival 2022
Best Director for "Touch Me"
- Best Istanbul Film Festival 2021
Best Cinematography for "Anyway"
- Best Istanbul Film Festival 2020
Best Cinematography for "Anyway"
- La Jolla International Fashion Film Festival 2020
Best Artistic Director for "Denying Beauty"
- Palm Beach International Mini Movie & Film Festival 2019
Best Director for "Denying Beauty"
- La Jolla International Fashion Film Festival 2019
Best Supporting Fashion Brand for "Touch Me"
- La Jolla International Fashion Film Festival 2018
Best Visual Effects for “Cocoon Redux”
- Seattle International Film Festival 2017

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Director Statement

“Capturing our pure, human form in the silence of light. Life - a luminescent force. Inside myself, the precise instant when an image must be captured and held.”