Isle of Death – a silent film on Rachmaninoff’s creative block.

A classic story that needs to be told – Wall Street International

Isle of Death is a new silent film exploring the legendary pianist Rachmaninoff’s creative block and his obsession for Arnold Böcklin’s painting The Isle of the Dead. The project, by Italian filmmaker Alberto Bona, will have a track composed by BFI silent film accompanist Costas Fotopoulos. This collaborative enterprise received backing from prominent conductor and Royal Opera House music director Sir Antonio Pappano.

Isle of Death launched its crowd funding campaign on Kickstarter: the set goal is to raise funds to shoot in 35mm and to contribute to save the art of making analogue films. Bona aims to follow the footsteps of celluloid loyalists, including the high-profile likes of Chistopher Nolan, Quentin Tarantino and Steven Spielberg.

On Wednesday, 2nd September, a public launch was held in London at the Cinema Museum. For the occasion, the trailer was accompanied by Costas Fotopoulos.

Isle of Death attracted the interest and the praise of film director Tony Palmer, conductor Sir Antonio Pappano and Art critic Richard Cork.

Tony Palmer, who directed the Rachmaninoff documentary The Harvest of Sorrow (1998) says: “The proposal to make a silent film of this haunting image and music is to be much applauded”.

Sir Antonio Pappano, who conducted Rachmaninoff’s work several times, finds this is “an intriguing idea… already compelling in its mood and atmosphere, and stylistically very attractive”.

According to Richard Cork, “this new film on Arnold Böcklin’s The Isle of the Dead deserves to be welcomed. It encourages us to explore the painting in depth, and discover its haunting power”.

For more information and to support the campaign visit: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/arepofilms/isle-of-death

Isle of Death is a modern film adaptation of Arnold Böcklin’s The Isle of the Dead, perhaps one of the most well known, loved and enigmatic paintings of all time. It inspired many artists, including Sergei Rachmaninoff, who wrote a symphonic poem based on the canvas. The meaning of the work is however unknown. Italian actor/filmmaker Alberto Bona and British silent film accompanist Costas Fotopoulos aim to solve the riddle, through a highly creative cross-collaboration. The cast includes actor Daniel Vivian, whose credits include X-Men (2000), Morning Star (2014), Perfect Husband (2014), Smash & Grab (2013).

Alberto Bona is a versatile actor/filmmaker who delivers his flamboyant performances all around Italy and UK. Film credits as an actor include award winning Circumstances (2008) by Marco Sanges, Dermo Sluchaetsa (2006) by BFI award nominated director Rob Brown and BIFA award nominated L’Assenza (2013) by Jonathan Romney. Bona adopted nome de plume Arepo to produce, film and edit several experimental short films in 16mm including Contemplazione (2014). For more information: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2853747

Costas Fotopoulos is based in London and works internationally as a concert and silent film pianist, and as a composer and arranger for film, the stage and the concert hall. He studied piano at the Royal Academy of Music, London, and at the Juilliard School, New York. He has given many solo and chamber performances in this country and across the world. His debut solo piano album, Piano, features works by Rachmaninoff as well as his own Toccata. He has recorded repertoire for BBC Radio and the piano solo work by Nicholas Sackman, Cross Hands, for the Metier label. Costas won a Scholarship Award at the International Johannes Brahms Competition. For additional information, go to www.costasfotopoulos.com.

The Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art opened in London in 1998. Its new home – a Grade II listed Georgian building – was restored with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund and contains six galleries, an art library, cafe and bookshop. The Collection is known internationally for its core of Futurist works, as well as figurative art and sculpture dating from 1890 to the 1950s. For more info, tweet @Estorick

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