Roberto F. Canuto

Roberto F. Canuto

Headshot 2013
Born Roberto Fernandez Canuto
(1973-04-13) April 13, 1973
Gijon, Asturias, Spain
Residence Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Education - CCII at Complutense University of Madrid
- MFA at NYFA - Los Angeles MFA
Occupation Film director, filmmaker, screenwriter
Years active 2009–present
Notable work

Roberto Fernandez Canuto (born April 13, 1973 in Gijon)[1][2] is a Spanish film director and screenwriter. He belongs to a new generation of filmmakers from Spain with learning or working experiences internationally and with multicultural influences. Roberto F. Canuto is one of the first European directors to establish stable collaborations within the Chinese industry.[3] Since 2010 he co-directs all his films with the Chinese director Xu Xiaoxi and together open a film production company in China, Almost Red Productions.[4][5]

Even still at an early stage of his career, Roberto obtains international recognition as all his films have been selected and awarded in many international film festivals. Due to the themes treated and the distinct style of his films, Roberto F. Canuto is considered in some circles as a promise and a director to follow.[6]

Biography

Roberto F. Canuto was born in Asturias, Spain. Since an early age he was curious for moviemaking. He remembered to watch The Jungle Book at a movie theatre when he was only 5 and question his family about the process of making a movie. During his childhood he starts music studies and obtains degrees in Piano, Harmony and other relates subjects at the "Royal Conservatory of Music of Asturias" (Spain) and he joins a short curse on acting at the "Superior Dramatic Art School of Asturias" in 1989. It is during these years when he discovers independent films from US and authors from Europe and, according to the director: "that was probably the moment when I decided that my dream was to follow my storytelling passion".[7]

He studies Arts in Audiovisual Communication at Madrid’s Complutense University and in 1998 he obtains a Bachelors Degree (Licenciate) specializing in Filmmaking. During his years of study he collaborates as a film critic in different media and classic directors influence him after he attended frequent sessions at the Spanish Cinematheque. Also, he organizes film seminars at the cinema room of his Hall of Residence "Empresa Pública", but his first attempts to direct shorts were frustrated.[8]

A short trip to London (UK) to visit a close friend became an adventure that expand for over 8 years, working in fields, far away from filmmaking (from Chef to representative of companies as Prada or Calvin Klein). Frustrated with his life style and having a job that focus only in monetary gain, he decided to gave up everything, travel to Los Angeles (CA) and enrol in a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) - Filmmaking at the New York Film Academy, Universal Studios (Hollywood), that allow him to be in contact with filmmaking again. He graduated in 2009 with the feature film "Desire Street".[9]

From 2008 his film career starts developing, directing some films that achieved great reactions in the festival circuit, including awards, and most of them created with his usual collaborator, Xu Xiaoxi. During the two years of study in US, Roberto directs over 14 short films in celluloid and digital formats and collaborates in more than other 20 shorts covering different crew member positions, from Cinematographer to Script Supervisor, allowing him to know the profession inside out. His two graduation projects became the most successful films, "Toto Forever" (Year One graduation) and the feature "Desire Street'", co-directed with Xu Xiaoxi (Master graduation). Both projects received "Best Film" awards. "Desire Street" at "Asturian Film Festival 2014" and "Special Mention" for "Best International Feature" at "Mix Mexico International Film Festival 2011" and "Toto Forever" at "LesgaycinePTY, International Film Festival of Panama", together with other awards, nominations and special screenings.

During the years of study in Los Angeles, the directors start the collaboration with composer Andrea Centazzo, Italy's top orchestral percussionist. An artist known for his ability to "synthesize Oriental percussive vibration with timbales understanding of Contemporary Music and the soul of jazz and rock."[10] Andrea Centazzo composed the scores for all their films since then: Mei Mei (2009), Toto Forever (2010), Desire Street (2011) and Ni Jing: Thou Shalt Not Steal (2013).

In 2011 Roberto decides to travel to China and start a film career there, combining the western and eastern culture in his work. Together with Xu Xiaoxi founded officially their own production company, Almost Red Productions, where they alternate the fiction narrative projects with commercial/advertisement works. Their latest narrative project released is the Chinese and Spanish production short film "Ni Jing: Thou Shalt Not Steal", that is playing in the festival circuit as August 2014 and obtainss already awards like Best Film (Riverside Saginaw International Film Festival, Michigan, USA), Best Actress Sherry Xia Ruihong and Runner up Short (Asturian Film Festival, Spain) together with other nominations and international screenings. Also Almost Red Productions collaborates with some organizations, like "Concentric Circles ", a non-profit company that aim to improve the health system in poor Rural Areas of China.[11]

In August 2014 the Contemporary Art Museum A4 in Chengdu (Sichuan), one of the most prestigious museums in China. organised an exhibition titled ID/EGO, dedicated to the filmmakers Roberto F. Canuto & Xu Xiaoxi, that included a showcase of pictures and objects used during their shootings and the presentation in China of Desire Street and their latest short film Ni Jing: Thou Shalt Not Steal (2013). The exhibition had a very positive reactions and a very good turnout in all the projections. Due to the success, the exhibition was extended for further weeks.[12]

Roberto lives between his working place in Chengdu (China) and his hometown in Asturias (Spain). The directors are working in a new drama that will represent an Ethnic minority in a rural Chinese area, that will be shoot at the end of 2014.[13]

Filmography

Roberto F. Canuto, while attending the Master of Fine Arts at NYFA, directs many shorts as "Me Inside Me", "Lila" or "Our Sweet New Home", but most of them remain unreleased. His graduation films, the short "Toto Forever" and the feature "Desire Street" (co-directed with Xu Xiaoxi), are the works that bring more attention, awards and international recognition. In China, produced by Almost Red, he directs also with Xu Xiaoxi "Ni Jing: Thou Shalt Not Steal" that attracts media attention, with press interviews and TV coverage. The film, as August 2014, is in the international festival circuit with very successful results including awards for Best Film or Best Actress among other nominations.

Desire Street (2011)

For detail information, see Desire Street (film).

Desire Street (aka "La Calle Del Deseo" or "Calle Deseo") is Roberto F. Canuto & Xu Xiaoxi's first feature film, produced as a graduation work in their Master of Fine Arts at the NYFA in Hollywood. The story follows three family members (mother, daughter and son) as they try to survive their loneliness and obsessions by going through different sexual experiences and relationships with a prostitute. "This film has a flamboyant style that is oddly downplayed by characters that tend to be frustrated by the barrenness of their urban living. The protagonists are socially malformed as they struggle with self identity and self acceptance".[14] The directors take as a reference the Mexican melodramas of the 1960s. They exaggerate the representation of the characters to accentuate the irony that is a basic element in the story, creating many situations of comedy. At the end of the story the family became the main reference for the individual survival. The reception at film festivals was very good and score positive reviews and awards (Best Film at Asturian Film Festival in Spain and Special Mention Best Feature at Mix Mexico International Film Festival ):

From Mix Mexico International Film Festival's Jury, 2011.

From Asturian Film Festival's Jury, 2014

The premiere of Desire Street in Spain took place in 2014 at the "Asturian Film Festival" and in China at the "Contemporary Art Museum A4" of Sichuan also in 2014 .

The producers are in talks to sell distribution rights worldwide.

Ni Jing: Thou Shalt Not Steal (2013)

For detail information, see Ni Jing.

Ni Jing: Thou Shalt Not Steal (Original Chinese: 逆境; pinyin: Ni Jing; literally: "adversity"; Spanish Title Ni Jing: No Robarás) is the first film made in China by Almost Red company and it is a co-production with Spain. It tells the story of a naive Chinese girl who is forced to confront betrayal after she awakes in a remote forest covered in blood.[18] The film received the award for Best Short Film in the World Premier at "Riverside Saginaw International Film Festival", 2013 and the awards for: Best Actress (Sherry Xia Ruihong), runner up Best Short Film, and a nomination for Best Actor (Yinhui Wan) at the 9th Asturian Film Festival, 2014. The Ni Jing: No Robarás Spanish premier took place at the prestigious "FICXIXON, Gijón International Film Festival" in 2013. The critical reactions in general were very positive:

Ni Jing: Thou Shalt Not Steal is now playing in the International Festival Circuit.

Toto Forever (2010)

For detail information, see Toto Forever.

Toto Forever (aka Toto Para Siempre or Siempre Toto), is the first international successful film directed by Roberto F. Canuto and written by Roberto and Xu Xiaoxi. The film participates in over 30 international film festivals, mainly of LGBT theme, with awards as Best Film at "LesGayCinePTY in Panamá 2010", Third Award for Best Short Film at "6th CinegailesAST in Asturias, Spain, 2014",[21] nominated for Best Film at Kashish 1st Mumbai International Film Festival [22] together with other selections and Opening Ceremonies in different venues. It is considered Cult film in many circles, after becoming a Classic in the underground Gay Cinema with many screenings around the globe.[23][24]

The critical reactions were very positive:

Toto Forever is still showing at international festivals and the distribution rights worldwide, own by the company Almost Red Productions are still available.

References

  1. ↑ Lorenzo, Claudia. "Roberto F. Canuto Y Xu Xiaoxi, Directores de cine". www.lne.es (in Spanish). La Nueva España. Retrieved 22 August 2014. Roberto F. Canuto (Gijón, 1973)
  2. ↑ "Roberto F. Canuto". netflixis.com. Retrieved 4 August 2014. Roberto F. Canuto Birthday: 04/13/1973 Place of birth: Gijón (Asturias), Spain:
  3. ↑ Nieto, Francisco (December 14, 2011). "Influencia Del Cine Chino en España (2000-2010)". www.china.globalasia.com (in Spanish). Global Asia. Retrieved 4 August 2014. Otras propuestas más independientes también se han atrevido con la coproducción, como es el caso del film Desire Street, dirigido por Roberto F. Canuto y Xiaoxi Xu.
  4. ↑ "Roberto F. Canuto, director de cine y guionista". Elrollohigienico.com (in Spanish and English). El Rollo Higienico, Revista de Arte y Cultura. September 30, 2010. Retrieved 4 August 2014. Roberto starts his collaborations with Xu Xiaoxi in early 2008.
  5. ↑ Garcia Ingrisano, Alejandro. "Directores de cine españoles en el extranjero – Revista Tiempo". alejandrogarciaingrisano.wordpress.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 August 2014. Toda una generación de jóvenes está dando el salto a trabajar en otros países y otras lenguas
  6. ↑ King, Dickie (January 2011). "Desire Street (Review)". MTG. Archived from the original on January 2013. Retrieved 4 August 2014. The collaborations of Roberto Canuto and Xu Xiaoxi make them the future wave as these two engaging directors bring together fresh insight with redesigned camera work.
  7. ↑ King, Dickie (January 2011). "Desire Street (Review)". MTG. Archived from the original on January 2013. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  8. ↑ Redacción (October 25, 2013). "Entrevista a Roberto Canuto y Xiaoxi Xu". El Rollo Higiénico: Revista de Arte Y Cultura (in Spanish). Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  9. ↑ Soto, Beatriz (October 13, 2010). "Roberto F. Canuto, Interview for El Rollo Higiénico". Youtube (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  10. ↑ Harris, Craig. "Andrea Centazzo Bio". AllMusic.com. All Music. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  11. ↑ "Chengdu & Spain partnership achieve international Awards (成都小伙携手西班牙搭档 方言短片获国际大奖 )". http://sichuandaily.scol.com.cn (in Chinese). Sichuan Daily Newspaper. January 10, 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2014. External link in |website= (help)
  12. ↑ Alan, Ariel (August 11, 2014). "Roberto F. Canuto successful in China with his art." (in Spanish). Cine Universogay. Retrieved 22 August 2014. reacciones muy positivas y una gran afluencia de público, ya que ha llenado las salas durante todo el fin de semana, por lo que la exhibición ya se ha prorrogado
  13. ↑ "Chengdu & Spain partnership achieve international Awards (成都小伙携手西班牙搭档 方言短片获国际大奖 )". http://sichuandaily.scol.com.cn (in Chinese). Sichuan Daily Newspaper. January 10, 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2014. External link in |website= (help)
  14. ↑ King, Dickie (January 2011). "Desire Street (Review)". MTG. Archived from the original on January 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  15. ↑ "'Desire Street', del gijonés Roberto F. Canuto, mención al Mejor Largometraje Internacional en el Mix México". Europa Press. Europa Press. 26 May 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  16. ↑ "Palmares del 9 Festival de cine Asturianu 2014". www.asturias.com (in Spanish). June 15, 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2014. trata con gran maestría técnica y con un buen tratamiento del guion sobre el choque generacional y los conflictos sexuales y familiares de una sociedad multiétnica.
  17. ↑ King, Dickie (January 2011). "Desire Street (Review)". MTG. Archived from the original on January 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  18. ↑ "Ni Jing: Thou Shalt Not Steal (2013)". IMDB. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  19. ↑ Chao, Bin (June 24, 2013). "Ni Jing Press Screening in Chengdu (微电影《逆境》成都试片)". News.ifeng.com. Fenixnet Entertainment. Retrieved 31 July 2014. 该片在成都实景拍摄，对白以四川方言为主。虽然内容十分“接地气”，但这对跨国组合在创作中却非常默契
  20. ↑ "Chengdu & Spain partnership achieve international Awards (成都小伙携手西班牙搭档 方言短片获国际大奖 )". http://sichuandaily.scol.com.cn (in Chinese). Sichuan Daily Newspaper. January 10, 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2014. 《逆境》在成都小酒馆试映，如同悬疑片的节奏让现场影迷眼前一亮。 External link in |website= (help)
  21. ↑ "They say, premiáu nel Festival CinegailesAST en Xixón" (in Asturianu (Dialect from Spain)). Asturias Mundial. February 3, 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014. El Tercer Premio recayó también ex-aequo en los filmes Toto forever de Roberto F. Canuto
  22. ↑ "Una coproducción española bare el Festival Internacional de Cine Queer de Bombay" (in Spanish). Like-gay.com. 2010. Retrieved 1 August 2014. ha tenido el honor de inaugurar las proyecciones.
  23. ↑ Alan, Ariel (August 20, 2014). "El cine es el patrimonio cultural de nuestro país". www.cine.Universogay.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 August 2014. considerado ya un clásico del cine gay después de muchas selecciones en festivales internacionales y de su temática Yaoi, siendo una “Cult Movie” en algunos círculos.
  24. ↑ "El film "Toto Forever" fue galardonado en el "LesGayCinePTY 2010" de Panamá". torredembarra-gay.lacoctelera.net (in Spanish). 2010. Retrieved 1 August 2014. El premio al mejor cortometraje recayó en “Toto Forever”, del español Roberto F. Canuto.
  25. ↑ "Una Noche LGBTI inolvidable en Panamá". culturapride.com. Cultura Pride. March 15, 2011. “Toto Forever” obtuvo buenas criticas (aunque yo no pude terminar de verla), esta película de gran éxito internacional promete convertirse en uno de los nuevos clásicos del cine Gay y esperamos muy ansiosamente ver la nueva película de su director Roberto Canuto.
  26. ↑ Klemm, Michael D. (July 2009). "City of Ghost". cinemaqueer.com. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  27. ↑ "Roberto F. Canuto, Director de Cine Y Guionista". elrollohigienico.com (in Spanish). September 30, 2010. Retrieved 1 August 2014. El deseo, la ruptura, el conflicto..., Toto Forever se posiciona en el drama, en lo extremo, en la fractura del joven protagonista para componer un mapa de sensaciones que revoca en la esperanza de aquello que existe más allá de las fronteras de la cotidianeidad.
  28. ↑ King, Dickie (January 2011). "Toto Forever (Review)". Movies-TOO-Gay. Archived from the original on January 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2014.

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