What is the best thing that I love about my work? I am a “film curator” who organizes film screenings principally in Berlin. I love to see the other people´s reaction to the movies that I´m screening: the enthusiasm of the public as well as the critics give me an incredible energy, esssential to go on.
What is my idea of perfect happiness? Doing what I love, having by my side the people that I like more!
What is my greatest fear? Not to have enough resources in order to continue to do what I like. Sometimes I fear that “I cannot manage” to reach a certain goal, because I´m working principally by myself and I do not have the necessary financial support in order to involve other collaborators in a more stabile way.
What is the trait that I most deplore in myself? Sometimes I´m so passionate about what I´m doing that I really feel sad when something goes wrong with my plans. So: taking things a bit too personal! I mean: it is positive to love my work, but sometimes a little detachment is needed in order, also, to go on better 🙂
Which living persons in my profession do i most admire? At the moment It is difficult for me to find other “film curators”, so people who take care of every aspect of a festival or of a single screening. But I admire many cinema owners, who take enormous risks in order to show some good film, maybe not the most “fashonable one”. In Italy for instance
there is Antonio Sancassani, owner of Cinema Mexico in Milan, that I admire a lot for its independency and tenacity.
What is my greatest extravagance? I don´t think I´m too extravagant, but when I decided to carry on a crowdfunding campaign by myself I have made very funny things like self-made videos with a giant toy flamingo in order to persuade people to contribute to my campaign…..
On what occasion would I lie? For me it is very difficult to lie: I cannot do it well. But maybe I could avoid to share some information, if this can be useful to reach something
or someone that is very important to me. But… staying anyway in the sphere of morality!
What is the thing that I dislike the most in my work? The fact that I cannot live from it, as I´m always earning a little money and on a freelance basis.
When and where was I the happiest, in my work? When, on a very warm Sunday afternoon, I had unexpectedly more than 300 people for one of my screenings. It was in April 2018, the film was “Principe Libero” and the cinema was the Babylon in Berlin, Mitte. I fought so hard to have a guest but at the end it was not possible, so at the
beginning I thought that nobody would have come….
If I could, what would I change about myself? I would love to be a more relaxed person in some situations… and less strict to myself.
What is my greatest achievement in work? Being able to reach also “famous” actors and directors, who normally go to big Film Festivals and not to independent screenings like the one I organize!
Where would I most like to live? I love to live in my actual city, Berlin. Without it, I would have not reached what I was dreaming about. But I would also like to live in Italy, my Country of origin, if there would be some concrete opportunities in my field.
What is my most treasured possession? I would say “moral integrity”, if it does not sound a bit too loud…. ! And: true friends.
What is my most marked characteristic? It seems that I always look quite distracted, sometimes a bit too much in my world!
What is my most inspirational location, in my city? It´s the river channel (“Panke”) near to my home. It is not the most attractive point of Berlin (well… not at all) but it has something that calms me and gives me energy at the same time.
What is my favourite place to eat and drink, in my city? There are so many places… I don´t know!
What books influenced my life and how? “Crime and punishment” by Dostoevskij made me discover the great Russian Literature: my absolute favourite. It helped me to understand the others better , and to love humanity in spite of everything. “Il Gattopardo (The Leopard)” is also a great book that made me understand the importance of an historical consciousness. Then “Madame Bovary” has taught me how to desire… and “Pinocchio” taught me how to live!
Who are my favorite writers? The Russians (Tolstoj maybe is my favourite) , Shakespeare, Eugenio Montale. But also: William Faulkner, Tennessee Williams.
You Only Die Once. What music would I listen on my last day? Revolver by The Beatles
Who is my hero or heroine in fiction? Frank-N-Furter in Rocky Horror Picture Show 🙂
Who are my heroes and heroines in real life? All those people who devote themselves to help others in difficulty, selflessly.
Which movie would i recommend to see once in a lifetime? Rear Window by Alfred Hitchcock
What role plays art in my life and work? I would say the main role (specifically: cinema!)
Who is my greatest fan, sponsor, partner in crime? Probably my parents are my greatest fans.
Whom would I like to work with in 2019/2020? I would like to work with some professionals of the Berlinale Film Festival.:
I have been sending my CV there since years…!
Which people in my profession would i love to meet in 2019/2020? Anybody who is passionate about working in film industry, and from whom I can learn something
What project, in 2019/2020, am I looking forward to work on? I hope that i will be able to continue the project I have started this year, CineDi´ – Italienisches Kino am Dienstag. It is a periodical appointment with Italian “new” cinema , with guests from Italy. It was made possible through a Crowdfunding campaign, but now I have to find other solutions in order to organize more dates .
Where can you see me or my work in 2019/2020? You can see me at cinema Babylon (Mitte) almost every Sunday afternoom, as I´m curating most parts of the screenings for
“CinemAperitivo”. And then at Kino in der Kulturbrauerei, once per month until the end of October, for “CineDi´”.
What do the words “Passion Never Retires” mean to me? Well, you really never stop doing what you like, if it´s really what you like. So you will always return to your “passion”, soon or later. This works also with meaningful relationships, or with some particular places that you have in your heart.
Which creative heroines should Peter invite to tell their story? I know many brave women who work in the Film Industry and I would be happy to suggest some names to you!
How can you contact me? This is my email: info@maracinemaberlin.com
but I´m also on Facebook (“Mara M” ) and on Instagram and Linkedin.
This is also my website (under construction, but working!):
http://www.maracinemaberlin.com