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The Idiot

Chronicling a day in the cranky life of a film rental shop proprietor, THE IDIOT captures the struggle between cinephiliac Johnny and his frustrated co-proprietor, Rosie, at odds with his film-dominated view of the world, the crime-havocked recession plaguing his lifeless street, and his customers who alone can save his business from ruin but who are all only ever a film request away from stirring his wrath.

  • Arturo M. Merelo
    Director
  • Simon Shaw
    Director
  • Simon Shaw
    Writer
  • Simon Shaw
    Producer
  • Beatriz Merelo
    Producer
  • Matthew Houghton
    Key Cast
  • Janna fox
    Key Cast
    "Rosie"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, comedy, tragicomedy, cinema verite
  • Runtime:
    20 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    December 22, 2010
  • Production Budget:
    8,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Los Angeles Cinefest
    Los Angeles
    United States
    Semi-finalist
  • CortoNero FilmFest

    Italy
    April 10, 2018
    Offcial Selection
  • Riviera Maya Underground Film Festival
    Cancún
    Mexico
    October 9, 2011
    North American Premiere - Mexican Premiere
    Best Fiction Short Film
  • London International Motion Pictures Awards - LIMPA
    London
    United Kingdom
    May 24, 2019
    Semi-finalist
  • Festival RAUCH

    Argentina
    June 15, 2010
    Argentinian Premiere
    Mención Honorífica
  • I've seen Films International Film Festival
    Milano
    Italy
    August 10, 2019
    Italian Premiere
    Official Selection - Finalist
  • Barcelona Planet Film Festival
    Barcelona
    Spain
    February 6, 2018
    Spanish Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Aasha International Film Festival
    Nashik
    India
    September 16, 2019
    Indian Premiere
    Official Selection
  • I Filmmaker International Film Festival
    Palamós, Catalunya
    Spain
    November 20, 2019
    Semi-Finalist
  • El Ojo Cojo
    Madrid
    Spain
    May 20, 2010
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Arturo M. Merelo, Simon Shaw

ARTURO M. MERELO - Director:

Born in Spain in 1982 to a family of travellers, he has called France, Canada, United States, Italy, England, Guatemala and Mexico home. He studied Communication (cinema branch) in Spain, and since then expresses himself through photo frames as well as poetry, storytelling, juggling, and magic.

To finance his filmmaking and gain diverse life experience, he’s worked as a street magician, video game tester, radio announcer and cherry picker—among other plants.

Consequently his three award-winning short films have been all made in different countries and languages: THE IDIOT - Shot in England in 2010 and awarded several international prizes;
EN LA FRONTERA - Shot in Chiapas, Mexico in 2018 and awarded and selected in more that 30 festivals; and
QUARUME - Shot in Sicily, Italy in 2018, awarded and selected in more that 25 festivals internationally. In addition, he’s done several "small pieces" and other experimental short-films.

He has worked in commercial production companies in México and as professor of world cinema history, narrative and direction.
The Idiot - Shot in England in 2010 and awarded with several international prizes - https://vimeo.com/37446729

En la Frontera - Shot in Chiapas, México. 2018

Quarume - Shot in Sicily, Italia. 2018

He has worked in commercial production companies in México and as proffessor of cinema history.

He has shot three shortfilms and some other "small pieces" as the beggining of the online series "Los hombres ultraparanoides" and other experimental shortfilms.

You can check some of this in his web: http://cocinacinematica.weebly.com

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Director Statement

Cinema as a way of discovering the human soul.