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THE FILMMAKERS
    
 

MAURIZIO BENAZZO
Producer, director, cinematographer (left)

Italian-born Maurizio Benazzo has worked in film and television in a variety of roles, both in front of and behind the camera.

Recent camera credits include a series about New York for RAI Television, Italy; producer and on-screen presenter for "Gotham" - a highly acclaimed offbeat magazine series for Metro TV, New York; and many more.

Maurizio co-produced "At The Movies", which was first broadcast in Brazil and featured Helena Duncan and Nelson Motta. It was later adapted for RAI, Italy, and featured Giovanna Calvino, Salman Rushdie and Isabella Rosellini.

A successful screen actor, Maurizio has appeared in numerous feature films, TV shows and commercials.

Apart from his film and television work, Maurizio also serves as president of HealthShare International, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing health training and educational sponsorship to indigenous groups in the rainforests of South America.

CREDITS

I am that I am: The Teachings of Nisargadatta Maharaj

What is Yoga?

Asana Dance

The World of Taub

The World of Sikhism

TELEVISION

Gotham

At the Movies

HEAT, DUST AND CHAPATIS
The moment we heard about the Kumbh Mela we knew it was a story that needed to be told. It seemed beyond belief, that so many millions of people could gather together and almost no-one outside of India know anything about it. How could such an incredible event have escaped the notice of the rest of the world?

The next step was to decide how to tell that story. We decided to travel to India and search for a local co-producer who could act as a translator and guide. The format would be fairly conventional, with preplanned interviews and scripted voiceover.

But nothing in India ever goes the way you anticipate. Rather than try to force the event into our narrowly defined journalistic "plan", we stood back and allowed India's far better plan to unfold.

We shifted our objectives and decided to create something far more organic and free, with set pieces that would capture both the sublime and the surreal. We also wanted the gurus to speak in their own words and show off their own particular meditation techniques, some of which - such as sitting on nails - sparked a debate on whether the "true" path can include such blatant spectacle.

Ultimately the Kumbh Mela turned out to be an expression of devotion and joy on a scale unheard of in the West. It was simultaneously exhilarating, uplifting, and enlightening. We hope and believe we have captured something of its essence in our film. Namaste!

Nick Day
Maurizio Benazzo

NICK DAY
Producer, director, editor, photographer (right)

Nick Day studied cinema at the British Film Institute and trained and worked as a video editor in London before relocating to New York City.

His credits include a diverse range of films, documentaries, news stories and commercials for international clients such as RAI Italy, ZDF Germany and Channel 4 UK.

Nick also co-produced the feature series "At The Movies", which was broadcast in Brazil and Italy, featuring Giovanna Calvino, Salman Rushdie and Isabella Rosellini.

Nick has written several screenplays, including The Fallen, which won him the screenwriter's award at the Breckenridge Film Festival.

Nick also serves on the board of HealthShare International as its vice president. In addition, he has worked with various Tibet support groups, helping to build two schools for Tibetan refugees in Nepal and India.

Nick is a long time member of International Campaign for Tibet.

CREDITS

The Fallen

Secrets of the Pine Barrens

The Dartmoor 100

Enough is Enough (Short)

Vox Pops: Gems or Dross? (Short)