Great Guns Directors Win Big at YDA

Two Great Guns directors have been recognised at this year’s Young Director Award, which celebrates and nurtures young filmmaking talent. 

Newly-signed director Natasha Mynhier picked up a coveted Gold award for Mid-Length Film for her powerful short ‘In a Beat’. Starring Emmy-nominated actress and dancer Chloe Arnold, the 30-minute film follows Angela, a mother who struggles to balance her aspirations as a tap dancer alongside raising her autistic son, Darrel. 

Natasha Mynhier comments: “I was so thrilled that this story had the opportunity to be recognised! My whole team and family was on a Zoom call watching and we exploded with excitement when we saw the results! This is my first award as a filmmaker, and I could not be more touched that the YDA recognised us and spoke about the film’s topic with such nuance during the ceremony. It meant so much to me, our team, and the years of work we put into it.”

Following up from this project, Natasha has now begun work on her first feature film. She is also in the final stages of post on a series of shorts, set to be released next year. 

Great Guns’ Federico Mazzarisi, alongside co-director Sofia Rivolta, also picked up a Silver for Passion Project, recognised for the personal and evocative short ‘Learning From The Wind’ (or ‘Imparare dal Vento’). The film follows two teenagers who get to know each other – and themselves – whilst separated in quarantine. Inspired by Federico and Sofia’s own experiences, the film was devised and shot entirely in lockdown. 

Federico Mazzarisi comments: “Since I was a student, the Young Director Award has been a star-guide of excellence and creativity. I want to express my gratitude at being part of this festival with such a personal project, alongside filmmakers who shared sparks of life during this great event.”

Sofia Rivolta adds: “This is an extraordinary honour. A few days ago I graduated with a film degree, so winning an award at YDA is just the perfect start to the new professional path ahead of me. Our film was very personal and was made with lots of technical limitations. We are pleased and proud that the YDA jury appreciated our project and narrative, and put us among such beautifully shot and powerful films.”

Federico is currently based in Milan, working on a new special project for an iconic Italian brand – exploring the roots between two brothers and once more investigating relationships and separation via fictional-real stories. 

Sofia, meanwhile, has just finished work on the first season of a new pre-school animation series she created and directed for Italian broadcaster Rai Ragazzi. She’s also now writing the second season, set to go into production early next year. Whilst also developing new long and short fictional projects, Sofia notes the YDA recognition definitely gave her the push to stay creative.