MARA RAVINS CV JAN 2020
MARA RAVINS
e: mara@mararavins.com t: +1 416 831 5114
www.mararavins.com . https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0712476/
(Canadian & EU Latvian Citizenships)
WRITER/ DIRECTOR/ PRODUCER
FILM:
BAD INTENTIONS: Current Dramatic Feature film in development based on optioned novel by acclaimed Norwegian author Karin Fossum (2018 Canada Council residency grant for writing)
SIBERIAN STORY: Current Dramatic Feature in development. An exploration of exile through the experiences of 13-year-old girl deported to a Siberia. Canada Council Established Film Artists Development Grant 2011/12 for 1st draft/ Quarterfinalist PAGE International Screenplay Awards
SOLACE, (2006) Digital, 19 min. black & white, Drama exploring violence and grace.
Riga “Arsenals” International Film Festival, Latvia, October 2008
Silver City Film Festival, 2nd Prize best dramatic narrative film, New Mexico, 2007
Stephen Bulgar Gallery & John Spotten Theatre, National Film Board of Canada, 2007
New Riga Theatre, Latvia, October 2006
MATIN DANS UNE FORET DE PINS, (1998) 16mm., col. Feature doc/drama (Latvian w. English subtitles) the lives of six young people unfold in a journey where the boundaries between documentary and fiction, reality and dream cease to exist.
Montreal World Film Festival, Cinema of Tomorrow: New Trends, Canada 1998. (In the Telefilm competition for Best Canadian Film)
Riga “Arsenals” International Film Festival, Latvia 1998.
“Andaluzijas Suns” Kinoteatris, Riga, Latvia, theatrical run, October, 1998.
Cinematheque & John Spotton Theater, Toronto, theatrical run, November, 1998
Balticum Film & TV Festival, Bornholm, Sweden, Official Selection Competition, June 1999.
Marseille International Doc Film Festival, France, Official Selection Competition, June 1999.
St. Petersburg “Message to Man” Documentary Film Festival, Russia, June 1999.
Encontros Internacionais de Cinema, Portugal, November 1999. (special Jury award)
SAND IN HER SHOES, (1994) 16mm., col., ½ hour, a woman’s magic, ritualistic journey to empowerment, shot in the desert of New Mexico.
Riga, Arsenals International Film Festival, Latvia, 1996.
International Women’s Film Festival Minsk, March 1997.
VELVEETA AFTERNOON, (1991) 16mm., col., ½ hour, drama exploring the ambiguous and deceptive nature of language and memory in coming to terms with personal truth through two characters; a small town 50’s woman and her young guest.
BLUE SKY/GREY SKY, (1989) 5 min., 16mm./video, a filmic journey of a woman through the alienating landscape of the subway.
TELEVISION:
SKIN DEEP, 13 x 30 min. documentary series on plastic surgery, INNER CITY FILMS (LIFE and Discovery Health Channels). Produced, directed, edited 7 episodes (2001)
ART PERFORMANCE 1981-1986: ORTHO/HETERODOX, STATIC INTERFERENCE, SOIREE, SON OF SOIREE, WHEN DID WE EVER HAVE BREAKFAST TOGETHER? PLASTIK PASSION, ESTIMATED PURITY, WHY DON'T YOU DANCE WITH ME, LA, LA, LA, A PIE, FATHERLAND, (As in the Canadian Anthology of Performance Art, 1970-1990, Coach House Press, 1992.)
EDUCATION
ONTARIO COLLEGE OF ART & DESIGN New Media (Film, photo, video)1987
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO Hon. B.A. History (major), Theater (minor) 1981
LANGUAGES Latvian, English, Conversational German and French
PAINTINGS & PHOTOGRAPHY:
Group exhibitions since 2014 with LATVIS and EKKT (Estonian artists), Hamilton Artists Inc. July 3-6, 2014, Interwoven Realities, Visionary Art Show, Dec 31, 2023, analog photo work with private collectors, solo painting exhibit of 30 works May 21 - Jul 13, 2024 at Supernova Gallery Cafe, Toronto.
AWARDS
Production and development grants for film projects from Canada, Ontario and Toronto Arts Councils, Ontario Creates (fka OMDC), the NFB, Danish Film Institute, Sundance Documentary Film Fund fka Open Society Institute Doc Fund in New York.
OTHER RELEVANT INDUSTRY WORK:
LAIKA FILMS INC. Director/Owner since 1999. Freelance script/story editor, new media financing & development consultant. Ongoing film and art projects in creation. Mentoring young creatives.
2009 - 2022 - ONTARIO CREATES f.k.a. Ontario Media Development Corporation - Senior Analyst evaluation film, TV and Interactive Digital Media projects for financing, teaching workshops, seminars.
ART DIRECTION/ PRODUCTION DESIGN (selected):ARRESTING DESIGN, Design Dept. Head, Reality TV, 1st season, W Channel. (2003)
ODYSSEY (8 episodes), Buyer, 35mm. Sci-Fiction TV Series, Showtime (2002)
A SORDID AFFAIR, Art Director, 35mm. Feature, Arto-Pelli/Gemini Filmprodukc. (1999)
DANGEROUS OFFENDER, Head Set Decorator, 35mm., Feature, CBC (1995)
BLOOD & DONUTS, Art Director, 35mm.,Feature, Cnd Film Center/Daban Films (1995)
BOULEVARD, Head Set Decorator, 35mm., Feature, Norstar (1993)
TC 2000, Head Set Decorator, 35mm., Feature, Film One Productions (1993)
RED HOT, Assistant Wardrobe Designer, 35mm., Feature, Red Hot Motion Pic. (1992)
GERDA, Production Designer, 16mm., col., Feature, Gerda Film Production (1991)
FRIDAY THE 13th, series, Assistant Wardrobe Mistress, Triumph Ent. (1988-89)
MYSTERIOUS MOONMEN OF CANADA, Production Designer, 16mm., ½ hr.
The film received a 1989 Genie Award. A film by Colin Brunton. (1987)
Please contact directly for references. Press articles are on website.