New York Tri-State International Film Festival

New York Tri-State International Film Festival is a relatively young film festival based in New York that strives to create an opportunity for emerging filmmakers. Our goal is to be a platform for low budget independent films that tend to create unique narratives and explore social, political and/or psychological themes and topics. Our festival is a platform for emerging filmmakers, actors, cinematographers, editors and producers all around the world to present their films and to be recognized for their talent and have their films seen globally. It is important for us to play our part in the emergence of new talents in the world of cinema, and, as a result, we consider our festival as a nodal point where the exchanges of perspectives and ideas are made possible.
Please note that the festival is held in an online format each month, but we do have an 'online' screening. Our previous screening was a successful experience with more than 70 films participating.
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New York Close-up Magazine is associated with the New York Tri-State organization but works independently. With this magazine, we are trying to introduce and promote the latest projects in cinema, television, music videos and screenwriting.

We are hoping to be able to focus on both old and new films and shows, and try to show the best of both worlds. We want our readers to get familiarized with the faces behind these great works of art, and focusing on these aspects of art can be quite a complex and specialized task. In this magazine, our main task is to shine the spotlight on creative artists, who try to add something unique to the world of arts; filmmakers, producers, actors, screenwriters and many others who contribute greatly to cinema and television.

Currently, New York Close-up Magazine only operates on a digital platform, but we have plans to get it on paper soon, hopefully in the near future.

Coordinator (New York Close-up Mag): Garry Turner

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Interview with film creator of A Movie is Born, Peter Boiadzhieff

Please tell us about yourself. How did you start your career, and how did you get into the world of filmmaking? What are some of the projects you made before ‘A Movie is Born’?

My name is Krassimir, that in old language translation means beautiful world. I grew up in a small town called Petrich in small country named Bulgaria. The town is border between Greece and Macedonia former SFR Yugoslavia, located in Eastern Europe. The town was birth place of the famous oracle 'Vanga' the famous warrior 'Spartacus'. In these days there was no cell phones, no internet, we had a black and white TV with two channels. It was an amazing time … I used to tell amazing stories, but at this time not everyone had access to video cameras. I had a camera Smena Symbol that was amazing camera for that time.

Then I served in military for year and half and moved to capital city Sofia where I worked as software developer. Later, I arrived in Atlanta Georgia and had an opportunity to work with very talented film makers and actors. I was making films for fun and entertainment and slowly transition to career. I joined the Fork Shop filmmakers’ group where we met other people and begun collaborating on each other film projects.

These are the other project that I worked before and you can get more details from web site bellow:
“The Secret Project 53”
“Braaking Newz”
and tv show “Platinum Models Atlanta”.

As a filmmaker, who or what are your influences?

I got influences from different sources, one can be from person, another from recent movie that I watched, or from actor and actress, and sometimes from nature. For example, just walking 5 mikes hike in the forest can bring great ideas and ignite my imagination. It could be kayaking in kayaking in Allatoona lake or rafting in Ocoee River Tennessee.

However, the best influence I got from Stephen Blackmon who is the founder of The Fork Shop. He inspires me with ability to get people together and create something from nothing. He is a great film maker and impressive person.
It is snowing in Marietta

What is your vision as a filmmaker? What types of stories you endeavor to tell through filmmaking?

What is my vision? This is not easy question to answer, I have many great ideas in my head but not sure which one to pick up that will be used as my vision. My vison is to be able to translate the script via visual elements and let the film speak by itself. That is not easy task, but I love writing the script, casting actors, filming, editing and delivering the final cut. I would love to inspire, motivate, or just make viewer, the audience to be curious, let them decide …

My favorite stories are love drama, crazy comedy, and mystery. For example, stories like Borat Subsequent Moviefilm watch the film in Amazon video click here and make them twisted with unexpected ending. Also, I love to tell or create stories about Bigfoot, legend of skinned Tom, and talking about my experience while rafting in Ocoee River.

What are the most difficult aspects of making a film today? Similarly, how has Covid-19 affected independent filmmaking in your field of work?

There are many things that can be very difficult for example transforming the script in to storyboard and make decision what scene to include and what scene to cut from the film. However, creating the film won’t be difficult with the access to many tools in today’s world. I believe that anyone can make a movie, but the most difficult part will be generating a revenue of that movie.

The pandemic affected film industry very bad, not just the big studios but independent film makers, too. The project that I suppose to finish is in pending status and I became one person camera with few people on the set, or just me and few actors. We need to wear masks, take Covid tests, even vaccinated against the virus. The Fork Shop stopped meeting, we used to meet and create short films every two weeks … I would like to be positive and hope that Covid will end soon, when soon I don’t know, but I hope so.
Peter is running

Your film has an interesting premise. Could you tell us about ‘The Fork Shop’, and why you decided to make a film about this community?

“The Fork Shop” is a group of different people, like actors, film makers, directors, producers, and etc. where we meet every two weeks and make a short film in couple of hours. The goal is to have a feel what is to be to be on the set and making a short film by doing it, it is not a class. In other words, a practical film making school. Also, you can collaborate with different film makers and be a part of their film projects and you never know you might end up famous one day.

Why I decide to make a film for the “The Fork Shop”, because I am a film maker. We filmed lots of short films at the Fork Shop, some of them are alive published online others are forgotten somewhere on abandoned storage device. I wanted to give a live to footage that will be forgotten and this is how “A Movie is Born” has been released. However, the idea was different, but this is another long story for another time or movie.
Who is the Boss?

What is the most challenging aspect of filmmaking? You have made both fictional and non-fictional films, what were the challenges you faced?

This question is similar to the previous one “the most difficult aspects”. Let me answer how I challenge myself while making the next film. I would like to work with bigger crew next time and able to film scenes that someone said it won’t be possible. There are many challenges, like finding the locations, funding the film project, but for me the biggest challenge was casting the actors and, in some cases, replacing the actor with new one and changing the character for that actor.

As someone said, anything is possible you just need to look at new prospective of the situation and find a solution.

How was the film received at film festivals around the world? Please tell us about your festival run.

The film “A Movie is Born” received several nominations by these festivals:

• Vancouver Independent Film Festival, Canada, Quarter Finalist
• High Tatras Film and Video Festival, Slovakia, Finalist
• Culver City Film Festival ®, Culver City, California, included in the program and screened in the theatre
• Gold Star Movie Awards, special mention-feature length documentary
• Toronto Independent Film Festival of Cift, Canada, finalist
• Bridge Fest, Canada, Award winner for best feature comedy film

What would be your best piece of advice for aspiring filmmakers?

I cannot give any advice, but I can give my opinions from my point of view. If you like to be a film maker, get a camera and start filming, read books, take a film school, but don’t expect that the school will give you all the answers.

Are you going to earn money, might be or maybe not, nobody knows until you begin making films?

I will give two quotes: “Do what you can’t!” and “The best film school is making a feature film without budget!”

What project(s) will you be working on next?

I am working on two scripts right now and completing my rafting videos. Rokamboll?