CIU alumnus wins at international film festival
November 29, 2022
Congratulations to CIU alumnus Dr. Victor Carrera. The movie he co-produced is the winner for Best Leading Actor at an international film festival held near Atlanta in November.听
Carrera, who lives in Quito, Ecuador, earned a Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies from CIU in 2021, focusing on arts, culture and mission in his dissertation.
His award-winning film is titled 鈥淭he Son Of My Life.鈥 It鈥檚 about a strained relationship between father and son who reconnect through love, acceptance, and the rhythm of a harmonica. The film had a total of 12 nominations and fit well with the theme of the festival which was 鈥淩estoration.鈥澨
Get to know Victor Carrera in this email Q&A:
How long have you been involved in filmmaking?
I have been involved in film production for over 15 years. In 2009 I moved to study screenwriting at the track and developed two feature film scripts. Currently, I direct documentary and narrative films and also serve as executive producer.听
Why is filmmaking important to you?
The God-given talent of storytelling has been cultivated in character-driven narrative and faith-based genre.听With different film works officially selected in top film festivals in the United States and Europe, I shaped the core of the message with a Master of Divinity in Pastoral Care which gave me the skills to understand the human soul, and a Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies at 星空无限传媒 through which I developed the capacity to understand cultures and the arts through a Christian worldview.听 听
Where did the inspiration for 鈥淭he Son Of My Life鈥 come from?
Psalm 71:20.
You who have听shown听me many troubles and distresses
Will听revive听me again,
And will bring听me up again听from the depths of the earth.
What is the background of听 Joaquin Gonzalez? / Is he known elsewhere for his acting?
It was a delight to work with and direct Joaqu铆n Gonzalez.听He is from Venezuela and lives in Quito, Ecuador, mostly working in short films and advertising.听
Where was the film shot and how long did it take to shoot it?
鈥淭he Son Of My Life鈥 was shot entirely in Tumbaco, Ecuador, a small town outside Metropolitan Quito, the capital of Ecuador.听We produced this film in about two months. It was entered in the Speed category of the 鈥168 Film Festival,鈥 meaning a whole short film delivered in seven days. We used the old ferri tunnels, a popular market, and created three different sets in my cinema studio.听
Where can people view the movie?
We are entering film festival circuits, starting in Europe and the United States.
How was your Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies related to this film?
鈥淭he Son Of My Life鈥 is my latest production after receiving听my Ph.D. at CIU.听It was incredible to see different skills related to my study in action, especially the search for common ground with unbelievers that work in the film and arts scene of Quito.听It is a blessing to share biblical principles and applications on a more humanistic level in which CHRIST JESUS restores all.
Are you working on other films?
Yes, I usually navigate between narrative and documentary film.听Currently, I am in talks to produce a TV series to be filmed in Atlanta in 2023.听
Watch the official trailer for 鈥淭he Son Of My Life鈥 on 听
How will a Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies assist your future endeavors? Check it out.
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