- Interviews
Meeting with Gianni Canova President of the jury for the Debut Film
(2024, USA, 91')
American director Sarah Friedland’s debut film tells the story of Ruth, an eighty-year-old woman about to enter an assisted living facility, as she navigates conflicting emotions and desires in the search for a new definition of her identity and memory. The film was made in collaboration with the residents and staff of a continuing care retirement community in California, who participated both as cast and crew.
Sarah Friedland is an American director and choreographer who worked as a caregiver for New York artists with memory problems, learning to interpret their body language. Her feature film debut, Familiar Touch, reflects this personal experience. Her previous short films have been showcased at numerous international festivals, including New York and New Orleans. In 2023, she was named one of the 25 New Faces of Independent Film by Filmmaker Magazine.
Meeting with Gianni Canova President of the jury for the Debut Film
