FILMMAKER BIOGRAPHY
Gerson Sanginitto (Director/Producer/Executive) is the co-founder and CEO of Reef Pictures, Inc., an independent production company based in Los Angeles since 2006. He also established in 2010 Sophia Filmes, www.sophiafilmes.com, based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Sanginitto’s love for art developed early, when he began stage acting at the tender age of fourteen. By age twenty, he was a veteran of the Brazilian theatre circuit. It wasn’t long before he entered the most prestigious and competitive theatre school in Brazil, O Tablado (established by Maria Clara Machado). Through his exposure to the creative arts, he developed a passion for filmmaking, and moved to America in pursuit of a degree in film production.
As a film student at California State University Long Beach, he worked on a long list of film projects, where he learned every facet of film production. His short film Contend (2004) entered the festival route, winning the ‘Grand Festival Award’ at the Berkeley Video and Film Festival 2005. His comedy The TV Broke (2005) based on a short story by Luis Fernando Veríssimo, was chosen for the CSULB’s 16th Annual Student Filmmakers Showcase at the Director’s Guild of America Theatre in Los Angeles, as well the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival 2006, and competed at the Delray Beach Film Festival 2007. His first feature, Maximum Cage Fighting (2005) (www.echobridgeentertainment.com), won best action film at New York International Film Festival. It was shot in Los Angeles and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, giving Sanginitto an opportunity to work once again in his homeland. Beyond the Ring (2006) www.quantumentertainment.com, his next effort, brought him together with old friend and stunt coordinator JJ Perry (Divergent, Argo, X-Men Origins: Wolverine).
Gerson worked as Co-director/Producer on The Morgue (2007), Reef Pictures’ first feature film. The Morgue turned out to be a huge success for Gerson, as it was invited to close the Cine Ceará International Film Festival in Fortaleza, Brazil, June 2007. Fabrication Films www.fabricationfilms.com is handling international distribution for the film, while domestic distribution is managed by Lions Gate Films www.lionsgate.com.
Gerson’s second feature with Reef, the high-octane thriller Big Game (2008), turned out to be the filmmaker’s most powerful film yet, and is sure to become a new classic in the thriller genre. Big Game was represented at the Marché du Film at the Cannes Film Festival 2008 and the American Film Market 2008 by Spotlight Pictures www.spotlightpictures.com for international distribution.
Big Game is currently represented by Fireside Releasing www.firesidereleasing.com for domestic distribution and it was released in October 2009 in all Hollywood and Movie Galleria stores throughout the country.
Gerson co-directed Commander And Chief (2009) which is represented by Handshaker Partners and as Associate Producer , As Mães de Chico Xavier (2010) (Paris Filmes), www.blogparisfilmes.com.br and It had its theatrical release on April 1st, 2011 in Brazil. Sanginitto’s perseverance comes from the discipline of his Martial-Arts background. He holds two 4th degree black belts, one in Judô and one in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. His greatest satisfaction comes from teaching Jiu-jitsu to his students from his personal dojo in Culver City, California, and making films.
Gerson released in Brazil, a suspence/science fiction thriller, Area Q, (California Filmes) www.californiafilmes.com starring Isaiah Washington, Murilo Rosa, Tania Khalill and Ricardo Conti. It was officially selected to compete at Los Angeles Brazilian Film Festival 2011 www.labrff.com and it had two nominations, best film and best director.
The film was also officially selected to compete at Hollywood Film Festival
http://www.hollywoodfilmfestival.com/ and was nominated one of the best films. Area Q www.areaqofilme.com.br had its theatrical release on April 13th 2012 in Brazil.
In 2013, he shot Breaking Bread, a comedy that won best short film at the Los Angeles Brazilian Film Festival - www.labrff.com In 2014 Gerson shot and released in Brazil "Vestido Pra Casar" starring Leandro Hassum. This family comedy was watched by over 1.5 million people. The film was distributed in Brazil by Imagem Filmes and was a co-production with Orion Pictures. It is scheduled to be released in America in the second semester of 2015.
PROJECTS IN DEVELOPMENT
Anjo por Encomenda – (Producer) – comedy, fiction, feature, Brazil. Starring Rodrigo Sant’anna - Director: Paulo Aragão. Distributor – California Filmes. Status – Financing.
Nada é por Acaso – (Producer) – drama, fiction, feature, Brazil. Starring Giovanna Antonelli and Domingos Montagner - Director: Jorge Fernando. Based on a book by Zibia Gasparetto. Distributor – Europa Filmes. Status – Financing.
Comando de Resgate – (Director/Producer) – action/thriller, fiction, feature, Brazil.
Status – Script in development.
The Secret of Lampião – (Director/Producer) – action/adventure, fiction, feature, Brazil.
Status – Story in development.
Carnaval Queens – (Producer) – documentary – USA/Brazil. Director: Claudia Castello. The samba schools in Brazil organize the biggest party in the world known as Brazilian Carnival. This is an overview of lives of beautiful women who work the whole year to prepare for one single day when they become the iconic figure of their community as their drums’ queen.
Status – Post-production.
