Private Project

Maschere Di Legno (Wooden Masks)

After a long absence, Nina returns home to her village in the Italian pre-Alps to attend the local carnival. Struggling with coming to terms with her identity, it is thanks to Luca, an old friend and local mask-maker, that she learns to accept herself.

  • Alexander Vanegas Sus
    Director
    A whole Host, The End Of An Era
  • R.A. Daunton
    Writer
    A Whole Host
  • Alexander Vanegas Sus
    Producer
  • Francesca Iemma
    Key Cast
    "Nina"
  • Luca Galli
    Key Cast
    "Luca"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    April 28, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    1,300 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    Italy
  • Country of Filming:
    Italy
  • Language:
    Italian
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.39
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Alexander Vanegas Sus

Italian-Colombian raised in Italy, in 2013, feeling the repercussions of the 2008 economic crisis, I joined the military looking for stability. There, I was humbled as a person, but most importantly, I experienced situations that changed my outlook on life. Because of this, I understood I needed to pursue my dream, so in 2016, I moved to the UK to study Film. Since then, I have enthusiastically worked on developing as a Film Director, never wasting a precious moment and striving to improve with each new project - even self-teaching how to shoot on film. After graduating with a First Class in 2019, I moved to London where I was hired as a Runner at Twickenham Studios. In 2020, by networking at events and looking to step up, I was hired by Nu
Boyana Film Studios UK, where I progressed from intern to Post-Production Coordinator. In March 2023, I was naturalised as a British citizen, expanding my cultural heritage, now British-Italian-Colombian (quite the mouthful). Today, I still work on feature films whilst eagerly developing and shooting new shorts to pave my career path. As a director, my goal is to create new and exciting films that challenge the viewer's understanding of standard cinematic practices.

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Director Statement

For "Maschere Di Legno", I knew from the get-go that I wanted to accurately represent the folkloristic and isolated setting. This is a story that is very personal at its root, having spent a lot of time in Schignano when I was younger. In fact, some of my family members still live there. Throughout the years, as I grew older, the carnival became but a distant memory -at some point, I even questioned myself on its very existence. My mother still likes to tell the story of the school teacher who called me a liar for making up such places. It was only after moving to the UK that I felt an urge to reconnect with the place, feeling nostalgic for the mountainous landscapes of Northern Italy more than ever. Travelling back to the family cabin, I suddenly re-discovered the local culture that somehow left an indelible mark in my mind. Turns out, the carnival was not just a dream! As a filmmaker, I immediately felt the urge to let the world know that Schignano and its carnival are very much alive and well! Partly inspired by Charles Fréger's work (Wildermann), I embarked on a journey to open a window on Schignano's people and customs, little did I know how this would also have me reflect on my own identity. I hope that through this short, I'll be able to give you a tiny glimpse into the life and culture of this magnificent town.