Bella Vita

  • Bella Vita garners Audience Choice Award at La Costa Film Festival

    http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/la-costa-festival-espn-films-735933

    The network's film division took home best feature documentary for Brothers in Exile and best documentary short for Tommy and Frank. (Brothers in Exile also won the Audience Award for feature documentary.)

    The festival kicked off Sept. 18, 2014, withFrank vs. God, starring Henry Cusick andEver Carradine, at the Omni La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, Calif.

    Throughout its four-day run, the festival screened 43 films from 13 countries and drew a number of prominent filmmakers including Ed Harris and Ron Shelton(Bull Durham). More than 4,500 attended this year's incarnation.

    This year, the festival launched a partnership with Peter Guberand Mike Tollin's Mandalay Sports Media to co-curate the festival's sports-themed narrative, documentary and shorts programs.

    The 2014 jury featured a roster of industry professionals, including producer Cash Warren, Boys & Girls Clubs of Carlsbad CEO Brad Holland, Emmy winner Ira Opper, KUSI-TV sports director Paul Rudy and former San Diego Chargers kicker John Carney.

    A complete list of winners can be found below:

    Sports Jury Competition Winners:

    Feature Film: Brothers in Exile (ESPN Films)

    Short Film: Tommy and Frank (ESPN Films)

    Audience Choice Awards:

    Narrative Feature: Una VidaRichie Adams

    Foreign Narrative Feature: White LiesDana Rotberg

    Documentary Feature: Brothers in ExileMario Diaz

    Documentary Feature: Bella VitaJason Baffa

    Short Film: TandemMatthew Douglas HelfgotJared Hillman

    Foreign Short Film: Bis gleichBenjamin Wolff

    Honorable Mention: h2mexicoBrent Deal

    Festival Honors:

    Legacy Award: Ed Harris

    "Ambassador of Sports" Award: Ron Shelton

    High School Short Film Competition Winner: SofiaJason Phillips and Brandon Chase of Canyon Crest High School

    Email: Tatiana.Siegel@THR.com
    Twitter: @TatianaSiegel27

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  • Bella Vita Releases Worldwide

    BELLA VITA RELEASES WORLDWIDE on DVD, iTunes, Digital VOD AND IN SELECT THEATERS VIA TUGG.COM

    Los Angeles, CA (September 22, 2014)After a whirlwind year of festival screenings worldwide including multiple audience, cinematography and best feature awards, Jason Baffa's Bella Vita releases worldwide today on DVD, iTunes, Digital VOD and in select theaters in the U.S. via the on-demand theatrical platform, TUGG.com.

    Bella Vita (www.bellavitafilm.com) is Baffa's chronicle of Chris Del Moro's pilgrimage back to his ancestral Italian homeland with elite professional surfers Dave Rastovich, Lauren Lyndsey Hill, Conner & Parker Coffin and Italian stand-outs Alessandro Ponzanelli and Leonardo Fioravanti as they explore the burgeoning surf culture blossoming amongst the Mediterranean’s oldest and cherished traditions.

    “We’ve had an amazing international festival run,” notes L.A. based filmmaker, Baffa, “ I see it as a film about life as told through the eyes of these surfers traveling in Italy. I’m so honored how audiences throughout the world have embraced it’s introspective themes and I’m excited to finally show it to the world.”

    “A stunning piece of visual art" as reviewed by the London Arts News, Bella Vita has screened at festivals in 8 countries, winning awards in the U.S., France, UK and Germany.

    “The film has a lot of heart. I see it as a fantastic Italian meal, where course after course something is served up that is better than before,” says renown free-surf professional and environmental activist Dave Rastovich.

    Shot in 35mm and supported by its core community via a Kickstarter finishing campaign, the visually-stunning coming-of-age surf journey features Chris Del Moro tracing the roots of his Italian heritage in a tribute to the grandparents who raised him and on a hunt for the elusive waves that captured his imagination as a young boy.

    Rollicking to a superb surf film style soundtrack including a track by Grammy Award Winning Artists, Mumford & Sons, the film explores the history of a passionate Italian surfing subculture in a reflective look at the ways this group has sustained its traditions in the face of globalization and hyper-commoditization by embracing time-tested methods focusing on sustainability and craftsmanship.

    Staying true to its grass roots origins, the film is currently available in major U.S. theaters via TUGG.com, an on-demand theatrical distributor which, like Kickstarter, allows passionate film audiences to support and promote local screening events by pre-purchasing tickets toward an activation threshold.  Anyone can request and promote a screening within their immediate community and the film has seen a remarkable turnout among surf lifestyle enthusiasts and retail outlets sponsoring screenings around the country.  Visit www.bellavitafilm.com/see-film for info on local screenings and on how to host a screening.

    Bella Vita's custom-designed collector's edition DVD release features an eight-panel package with postcards and artwork by Del Moro as well as commentary from Baffa and Del Moro, a companion "making-of" feature and English, Italian, Spanish and German subtitles.

    Complimenting the film’s roll-out, a series of “Filmmaker Edition” wines are in the works via Italian cast-member and wine-maker, Piergiorgio Castellani, under the Zio Baffa label.

    Additionally, special edition publisher Arkitip has released a limited edition companion book, Arkitip #0059 - Bella Vita, with a selection of stills, interviews, sketches, backstory and artwork created by Del Moro. Each issue includes a custom Bella Vita Velcro-wallet thanks to the support of Quiksilver.

    Filmmakers and Cast are available for interviews upon request. Photos and editorial assets are also available upon request.

    For more information on Bella Vita and to view the film trailer, please visit

    http://www.bellavitafilm.com

    Media Contact: Greg Schultz / greg@haymakerprojects.com

    DVD Distribution: James Ravenel / james@wearegrandview.com

    Theatrical/Digital/TV: David Kennedy / dkennedy@goldcrestfilms.com


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  • Bella Vita Wins Audience Choice Award!

    Bella Vita wins the Audience Choice award at the 2014 Costa Rican International Film Festival

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  • French Premiere

    Bella Vita will be making its French Premiere at the International Surf Film Festival d'Anglet. Mark your calendars for Friday July 11th at 6pm.

    For more info & tickets: http://surf-film.com/

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  • Newport Surf Fest

    Stoked to be kicking off Surf Fest IV for newportFILM on Thursday July 10th in Queen Anne Square.

    Make sure to RSVP and come meet Director, Jason Baffa by RSVPing here: http://bit.ly/1jkYUWS

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  • Honolulu

    If you're in Honolulu, join Jason Baffa at the Ward Village Courtyard Cinema for a screening of Bella Vita. This is an outdoor screening, so you'll have to bring your own chair.

    Starting June 12, Ward Village, in partnership with the Hawaii International Film Festival and Consolidated Theatres, will host Courtyard Cinema, a new monthly film series that will showcase a selection of HIFF curated films!

    Check out www.wardvillagecourtyardcinema.com for all the details.

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