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NFT-Funded ‘CALLADITA’ to Premiere at Tallinn Film Festival

BY Keisha Oleaga

October 06, 2023

The world of cinema has always been a space for innovation and creativity, but few have tangibly seen the collision of NFTs with the realm of feature-length films. Miguel Faus, writer, and director, has embraced this intersection as CALLADITA is set for its World Premiere at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, recognized as one of the 12 A-Class Film Festivals globally. 

A film funded entirely through NFTs, CALLADITA or “The Quiet Maid”, delves deep into the life of a young Latin-American maid working tirelessly for a wealthy family during their summer vacation. The narrative intricately intertwines class disparities and societal injustice themes, offering an authentic representation of these subjects without resorting to clichés. It’s when she befriends a fellow maid from a neighboring house that the possibility of her own summer joy becomes tangible.

Ahead of their debut at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, Faus also released the official movie trailer.

Faus’s feature film, CALLADITA, draws inspiration from his 2020 short film of the same name, which garnered acclaim at various festivals and was eventually acquired by HBO Max. Seeking a novel approach to finance the feature-length adaptation, Faus initiated an NFT sale in March 2022, showcasing stills from the original short film. This creative funding method proved successful. By September, filming commenced in the scenic Costa Brava, Spain, spanning five weeks. The production boasts a stellar Spanish cast, including notable names like Ariadna Gil, Luis Bermejo, Pol Hermoso, and features Paula Grimaldo in a leading role.

Comprising of stills from the original short film, this digital fundraiser was designed to finance the full-length movie. With a final collection of over €750K from the sale, Faus’s vision became a reality thanks to more than 600 collectors.

“I decided to fund this film in such a pioneering and decentralized way after the project was rejected by the centralized powers that be.”

Miguel Faus

The NFT community’s enthusiasm for CALLADITA wasn’t restricted to individual investors. High-profile names in the NFT space, including gmoney, Farokh, Snowfro, Justin Aversano, Cozomo de Medici, Nouns DAO, and many others, also lent their support. In total, an impressive number of more than 280 Punk holders contributed, marking a significant achievement in NFT-backed endeavors.

Reflecting on the project’s inception and journey, Faus told nft now, “I decided to fund this film in such a pioneering and decentralized way after the project was rejected by the centralized powers that be. In web3, I found a passionate community… who supported this project with their eth by buying our NFTs, making the film possible. Now, with the award by Steven Soderbergh, the selection at Tallinn Film Festival… I think we’ve finally proven those powers that be wrong.”

In January 2023, Calladita was honored with a “Finishing Funds Award” of $100k at the Sundance Film Festival, presented by renowned director Steven Soderbergh. Soderbergh’s influence on the project extended to post-production advice, and he now also has a “Presented By” credit in the film.

CALLADITA’s crowning moment approaches as it gets set for its World Premiere at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. This event is a triumph for Faus and his team and a significant milestone for the Web3 community, as Calladita will be the first NFT-funded feature film to screen publicly.

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