MARA RAVINS CV JAN 2020
Mara.Ravins@gmail.com
416 831 5114
www.mararavins.com
(Canadian & EU Latvian Citizenships)
WRITER/ DIRECTOR/ PRODUCER
FILM:
BAD INTENTIONS: (dramatic feature film) Final Draft Script on optioned novel by highly acclaimed Norwegian author Karin Fossum (LA Times Book Prize, Glass Key Award). This psychological thriller set in a small northern town, is an elegant exploration of loss, redemption and the complex issues surrounding human morality and accountability, after a foolish late night decision causes the death of a young immigrant. Canada Council for the Arts Residency Grant 2018 for Gotland, Sweden Writer’s Residency
SIBERIAN STORY: (dramatic feature film in development) Final draft script completed. Project seeking producers. This film explores exile through the experiences of 13 year old Elizabeta, deported to a Siberian village, in a coming of age story where loyalty, self-sacrifice and family traditions are questioned in relation to love and being truthful to oneself. (Received Canada Council for the Arts Established Film Artists Grant 2011/2012 for 1st draft.)
Quarterfinalist PAGE International Screenplay Awards Competition 2016.
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)
THEATER AND ART PERFORMANCE:
1985-86 ESTIMATED PURITY, WHY DON’T YOU DANCE WITH ME?. LA,LA,LA, A PIE, FATHER/LAND
1981-84 ORTHO/HETERO DOX, STATIC INTERFERENCE, SOIREE, SON OF SOIREE, I ALSO PLAN TO CANCEL MY ARTS CANADA SUBSCRIPTION, WHEN DID WE EVER HAVE BREAKFAST TOGETHER? PLASTIK PASSION
(Documented 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
AWARDS
Film production and development grants from the Canada, Ontario and Toronto Arts Councils, OMDC, the National Film Board of Canada, The Danish Film Institute, as well as two grants from the prestigious Sundance Doc Fund (fka Soros Foundation Doc Fund) in New York.
OTHER RELEVANT INDUSTRY WORK:
ONTARIO CREATES fka OMDC: Analyst evaluating Film, TV and Interactive Digital Media projects for financing, 2009 to 2019.
ALLIANCE ATLANTIS COMMUNICATIONS INC. March 1998 – August 2003: Script and novel analyst for Motion Picture and TV Departments.
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.