Well into its 5th edition, the Madeira Film Festival already has some returning participants such as Charlie Manton.
The Madeira Film Festival is already in its 5th edition and as years went by the festival came to grow and improve, earning its fair share of fans along the way who are not only limited to spectators but also include producers and directors.
Such is the case of Charlie Manton, a young British director participating in the festival for his second time now. Last year he presented his short film ‘Beneath the Water’, which casted actresses Louisa Conolly-Burnham and Miranda Wilson.
After his international debut at the Julien Dubuque Film Festival in Iowa, USA, he comes to Madeira for the European premiere of ‘Second Skin’, on the 28th of April at the Baltazar Dias Municipal Theatre.
To find out more about his most recent work, Essential Madeira went and talked with Charlie Manton.
One year has passed and you’re back to MFF. How would you describe your participation last year?
The Madeira Film Festival last year was incredible, we had the best week and met some wonderful people. We are looking forward to coming back with ‘Second Skin’.
Why Madeira again? What made you come back to this festival?
So many things but mainly the beauty of the island and also the intimacy of the festival and how it’s such a unique/special occasion. Hope to come back many times!
What surprised you more at the festival? And in the island?
I didn’t know what to expect when I arrived last year, although when I did, I was blown away with every aspect of the festival and the island. Like I said it is really unique to any other film festival.
What are your expectations for this year’s edition?
Hopefully some new experiences and new films! We are going up into the Laurissilva forest this year as we unfortunately missed it last time. Have seen the programs line up and there are plenty of films that I’m looking forward to seeing.
About the movie. How would you describe it?
The Story Of A Girl In A Cardboard Box.
You said before that you “lean towards films with a strong send of atmosphere”. Both ‘Beneath the Water’ and ‘Second Skin’ have that strong and heavy atmosphere. Why that?
I love to create an atmosphere and bring the audience into the film’s world. And when creating a short film, where it’s a limited time I feel building that helps.
Lucy (Lauren McCrostie, ‘Second Skin’) and Daisy (Louisa Connolly-Burnham, ‘Beneath the Water’) both they try to escape from their house, looking for something that is not there. Both have a bad relationship with their mother. Is there any reason for that or is it just a coincidence?
It is mostly a coincidence. But I like the theme of escaping, a search for something that is missing. I’m also more drawn to stories with female leads.
Tim Burton is one of your references. How was it to work with Lauren McCrostie, the lead of Burton’s upcoming movie. What did that mean for you?
Lauren McCrostie is such a unique and talented actress. Reminds me of a young Tilda Swinton or Julianne Moore. She has a quality, which is hard to put a finger on but she’s a really special talent. And yes - Love Tim Burton, so was great to hear her experience of working with him.
Nature boy (Louis Partridge) doesn’t talk but his actions speak for himself. Is he the little guardian angel, Lucy’s ‘not so talking Jiminy cricket’?
Yes - exactly. He is the ‘wise old man’ of the film. He hasn’t been affected by society as he lives out in the wild and has this pure outlook on everything.
Which were your biggest difficulties while shooting?
It was a strange shoot with loads of locations. We shot it in four days in the UK and then another day in December in NYC for the city sequence. Filming in NYC was interesting as it was ‘gorilla style’, we got plenty of strange looks! Also it was chucking it down with rain and the box got very heavy very quickly. We had an amazing crew on this film so everything went really well.
