almalibera

Born in Italy, Maria Elena, a graduate in Modern Languages and Literature and post-graduate in Communications and Advertising, moves to England. Her foray into film production begins with meeting writer/director Newton Aduaka.A four year struggle to get a project off the ground through the industry follows. This takes her across Europe in search of funding, while also joggling a job as Translator and Subtitler. In 1997 she and Newton decide to go independent. They set up their company and she produces her first film throwing her entire savings and energy into it. ON THE EDGE is a gamble which pays off. It’s presented in over fifty international film festivals including Cannes, Toronto, Berlin, Fespaco and Edinburgh and wins prestigious awards and various special mentions. The film also screens theatrically in Europe.In 1998 she once again decides to challenge herself further by producing her first feature film. RAGE sees her tackle the daunting job of producing an independent feature in the UK without any industry backing a film which is neither in the romantic comedy nor the gangster genre, but a daring character study of the vulnerability, challenges and dreams of youth in multicultural London. A contemporary urban story set in the hip hop milieu, RAGE is released theatrically to huge critical acclaim, becoming the first independent film by a black film-maker to gain a national release in Britain. It debuts at the Toronto Film Festival followed by the London Film Festival and continuing to various other worldwide festivals to date. Winner of several awards including Carlton's Multicultural Achievement Award for Film.