News

'Ukraine's Soul' triply honored at the Luis Bunuel Memorial Awards

5/13/2022

The short documentary Ukraine's Soul: A Tribute to Heroes has won Best Director and Best Documentary Film at the 2022 Luis Bunuel Memorial Awards held in Kolkata, India. The film was also honored with an Outstanding Achievement Award for Best Soundtrack. Called an "incredibly eye-opening, important, and well-conceived documentary," Ukraine's Soul, directed by Marcelle Abela, explores the phenomenon of Ukrainian heroes and others who keep making music, in the harshest conditions, to lift people's spirits during the 2022 war with Russia. Meanwhile, the documentary was also awarded a Special Mention at the Athens International Arthouse Film Festival. Featuring live performances by Amellia Anisovych, Illia Bondarenko, Vera Lytochenko, Iryna Manyukina, and the Singers of the Odesa Opera among others, Ukraine's Soul, which will be released to the public after its festival run, was filmed in March on location in Ukraine, Poland, and Russia.

'Ukraine's Soul' wins Best Soundtrack in Odesa

5/5/2022

Documentary filmmaker and composer Marcelle Abela has won Best Soundtrack for Ukraine's Soul: A Tribute to Heroes in Odesa, Ukraine. Featuring Mariella Delia and Tatiana Zueva as solo violinists, with live performances by Singers of the Odesa Opera and the Saint Petersburg Crowd, as well as additional music by Mykhailo Verbytsky, Ukraine's Soul was also awarded a Knight NFT from The Goblet of Knight Collection as part of the prize. The NFT can be viewed here. The soundtrack of Ukraine's Soul: A Tribute to Heroes was released by Avinu Films in March and is available to listen on the usual streaming platforms.

'Ukraine's Soul' officially selected for Emberlight Film Festival 2022

4/16/2022

Ukraine's Soul: A Tribute to Heroes, a new film by Maltese-American filmmaker Marcelle Abela, has been officially selected for the 2022 Emberlight International Film Festival. Called an "incredibly eye-opening, important, and well-conceived documentary," by Colton Pometta, the festival's director, Ukraine's Soul explores the phenomenon of Ukrainian heroes and others who keep making music, in the harshest conditions, to lift people's spirits during the 2022 war with Russia. Ukraine's Soul features performances by Amellia Anisovych, Illia Bondarenko, Vera Lytochenko, Iryna Manyukina, and the Singers of the Odesa Opera among others, in addition to violin solos by Mariella Delia and Tatiana Zueva. Filmed on location in Ukraine, Poland, and Russia in four languages, Ukraine's Soul: A Tribute to Heroes will be screening multiple times at Michigan's Historic Ironwood Theatre in the last week of August.

'America's Woman' poster to be exhibited at the Artburg Gallery in Los Angeles

10/11/2021

The promo poster of the upcoming feature documentary America's Woman: The History Not Told (exp. 2023) has been officially selected to be physically exhibited at the Artburg Gallery in the heart of Los Angeles' Arts District, California, by the Make Art Not War Foundation (501c3). The poster featuring George Washington, the character of America's Woman designed by Dellaf Semiga, and the concept art of the poster itself designed by the documentary's filmmaker Marcelle Abela, is one of 30 posters chosen to be publicly exhibited at the gallery from November 27 through December 4, as part of their 2021 film festival. America's Woman will be Abela's second feature documentary and it is expected to enter production next year.

Original score 'Mikha'El' wins Bronze at the Global Music Awards

8/10/2021

Documentary filmmaker and composer Marcelle Abela has won the Bronze Medal for her original score Mikha'El at the prestigious Global Music Awards held in San Diego, California. The GMA Bronze Medal is the fourth to be received by Abela for her film score in her debut feature documentary Mikha'El and the eighth overall award for the film. Additional music was provided by the Australian composer Peter Cavallo and cello solos were performed by the Italian soloist Angelo Maria Santisi.

The Global Music Awards competition is a well-known international showcase for original music, unique voices and emerging artists. It has a large international following. Entries were judged by industry professionals and by Emmy and Grammy winning artists. Abela's score Mikha'El has also been nominated for Best Composer at the 2021 Paris Art and Movie Awards. The soundtrack of the documentary was released late last year and is available on iTunes, Spotify, and Amazon Music.

Original film score 'Mikha'El' wins Award of Recognition at the Impact DOCS Awards

7/31/2021

The Maltese-American documentary filmmaker and composer Marcelle Abela, of Avinu Films, has won a prestigious Award of Recognition from The 2021 Impact DOCS Awards Competition. The award was given for Abela's exciting original film score of the feature documentary Mikha'El, which is the first historically accurate film about the great Archangel in cinema history. Mikha'El was shot on location in eight continents. Additional music in the film was provided by the Australian composer Peter Cavallo and cello solos were performed by the Italian soloist Angelo Maria Santisi. The Impact DOCS Award of Recognition is the third to be received by Abela for her film score in Mikha'El and the seventh overall award for the documentary as it proceeds in its festival run. The soundtrack of the film is available on iTunes, Spotify, and Amazon Music.

Impact DOCS recognizes film, television, videography and new media professionals who demonstrate exceptional achievement in craft and creativity, and those who produce standout entertainment or contribute to profound social change. Documentaries were received from 30 countries, including veteran award winning filmmakers and fresh new talent. Entries were judged by highly qualified and award winning professionals in the film and television industry.

In winning an Impact DOCS award, Marcelle Abela joins the ranks of other high-profile winners of this internationally respected award including the Oscar-winning director Louie Psihoyos for his 2016 Best of Show – Racing Extinction, Oscar winner Yael Melamede for (Dis)Honesty – The Truth About Lies, and Emmy Award winner Gerald Rafshoon for Endless Corridors narrated by Oscar winner Jeremy Irons, and many more. Rick Prickett, who chairs Impact DOCS, had this to say about the latest winners: “The judges and I were simply blown away by the variety and immensely important documentaries we screened. Impact DOCS is not an easy award to win. Entries are received from around the world from powerhouse companies to remarkable new talent. Impact DOCS helps set the standard for craft and creativity as well as power catalysts for global change. The goal of Impact DOCS is to help winners achieve the recognition they deserve for their dedication and work.”

'Mikha'El' wins European Best Documentary in Brittany

7/14/2021

The documentary Mikha'El has won the European Best Documentary Award at the Brittany International Film Festival, which was held in Locronan on July 5 to 10, 2021. The debut feature film written and directed by Marcelle Abela representing the country of Malta, produced with Mariella Delia, starring a large ensemble cast and narrated by Warren Wilcock, won this award during its French premiere, from among 60 official selections originating from the European continent and a total of 89 selections from around the world. In their comments about the film, the jury thanked Abela "for making us travel around the world to discover the exploits of Archangel Michel, the prince of the heavenly army whose name means: Who is like God?" This is the sixth award for Mikha'El, having earlier this year won two Best Director awards, one Best Documentary award, and two Best Film Score awards in Los Angeles and India respectively. The original music for the film was composed by Marcelle Abela, with additional music by Peter Cavallo. The documentary will be released to the public later this year.

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