Private Project

True Love

True Love is a touching film which reminds us of the compassion we can all possess, no matter what age we are.

Fourth grade student, Tommy, has a new assignment. He and his class is to write an essay about true love and how much a person can love another. The class is informed that the essays will be read in class the next day and will be judged with the best essay being put on display in the front office for the remainder of the school year. Later that night and after a heartfelt moment with his mother, Tommy completes his essay.

The next day in class Tommy displays a 'blank' sheet of paper to his class. Needless to say his teacher and the panel of judges are less than impressed... that is until Tommy teaches them all the true meaning of love. Tommy's 'blank' paper is displayed in the school's office as a result.

  • Michael Giannantonio
    Director
  • Michael Giannantonio
    Writer
  • Michael Giannantonio
    Producer
  • Boualem Hassaine
    Producer
  • Brad Piccirillo
    Key Cast
  • Maria-Magdalena
    Key Cast
  • Sean Laguna
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    drama, family
  • Runtime:
    15 minutes 46 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 1, 2015
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Theatrical Screening
    UltraStar Multi-tainment Center at Ak-Chin Circle
    United States
    July 22, 2014
    Private Theatrical Screening
  • 2017 Life Film Festival
    Hollywood, CA
    United States
  • 2016 International Christian Film Festival
    Orlando
    United States
    April 30, 2016
    Florida Premiere
    Best Director Nomination
  • 2015 The Film Awards

    United States
    Best Narrative Short Honorable Mention
  • 2015 Directors Circle Festival of Shorts

    United States
    Best Religious / Spiritual Short Film
  • 2016 Ozark Shorts Film Festival
    Hollywood, CA
    United States
    Official Selection
  • 2016 Fun Family Friendly Film Festival

    United States
    Official Selection
  • 2015 International Family Film Festival
    Raleigh Studios, Burbank, California
    United States
    November 6, 2015
    Official Selection
  • 2015 Jerome Indie Film & Music Festival
    Jerome, AZ
    United States
    September 4, 2015
    Official Selection
  • 2015 ITSA Film Festival
    Sonora, California
    United States
    November 14, 2015
  • 2015 ROMA Cinema DOC
    Rome
    Italy
    June 14, 2015
    Italy Premiere
  • 2015 AMFM Fest
    Flagstaff, AZ
    United States
    August 29, 2015
    Official Selection
  • 2015 Arizona Community Short Film Festival
    Phoenix, Arizona
    United States
    January 21, 2015
    Best Actor
  • 2015 AZ Film Wars
    Grand Cinemas, Tucson, AZ
    United States
    June 13, 2015
    Best of Fest Trailer Award , Audience Choice Award
  • 2015 Best Shorts Competition
    San Diego, CA
    United States
    Award of Merit
  • 2015 The Short Film Awards

    Best Film Nominee
  • 2015 Accolade Global Film Competition
    La Jolla, CA
    United States
    Award or Recognition
  • 2015 Global Independent Film Awards

    United States
    Humanitarian Award, Best Short Film, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Drama, Best Faith Based Film, Best Director, Best Editing, Best Cinematography
  • 2015 Indie. Short & Documentary Film Festival
    Mumbai, Maharastra
    Martinique
    Official Selection
  • 2015 Great Lakes International Shorts Festival

    United States
Distribution Information
  • 24 Flix
    Country: Worldwide
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Michael Giannantonio

Michael Giannantonio is highly experienced and knowledgeable in all aspects of live and planned productions including: scriptwriting, development, broadcasting, financing, pre-production, production, post-production, marketing and distribution. Michael’s current goal is to write and direct major motion pictures for a global market.



Michael was born on March 12, 1973 and was destined for the entertainment industry. He displayed his creative and leadership abilities at a very young age. By the age of 11, Michael had made his first musical recording. Before age 12, Michael was performing complex magic tricks for his friends and family. Michael also discovered the video camera at a young age and began writing scripts, developing ideas and producing home videos at a very young age. Michael then made his professional debut as a musician at age 15. This led to a 10 year career as a professional lead guitarist in a popular rock and roll band.

In 2003, after becoming a world renowned stage hypnotist and magician and having started numerous successful companies, Michael formed another company, talent agency responsible for the representation of entertainers. His stage acts were also being regularly featured on national and international television shows, in print media and even on radio broadcasts. During this time, Michael also found himself writing and consulting for feature films, as well as producing professional video related works and arranging feature film financing in his “spare time”.



In late 2004, Michael, now performing hundreds of live shows per year for casinos, fairs, festivals, theme parks and more, found himself somehow feeling "empty" inside. In 2005, Michael wrote, produced and directed his first award winning short film titled, “The Devil Inside”. The success of this short film led to Michael’s retirement from the stage any his transition into film and television.



Michael currently finds himself writing, producing and directing films, television shows, documentaries, commercials and more. Michael, alongside his production company, Summitstar Films, finally feels he has finally found his true calling and loves his aspiring career in film and television. Michael looks forward to a long and prosperous career sharing his creative visions with the world.

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Director Statement

We all meet people on this journey we call life. On my journey, and at a very low point in my own life, I met a young man in India who's brief Facebook status inspired me to write and produce the film, True Love. What I failed to know at that time was the roller coaster ride I was to embark on as a result of that decision.

True Love taught me a lot about myself, especially after the loss of my friend, actor and colleague, Brad Piccirillo. Brad's life cut short in a freakish accident shortly after the principal photography of True Love.

Life is fragile and can be taken at any moment. Look to those around you, tell them what they mean to you, and do it now.... look for the inner beauty in people as a whole. That is the spirit of the short film, True Love.