Mafia documentary maker shares expertise with students
Monday 27 February 2017
The director of a hard-hitting documentary delving into the world of the Sicilian mafia shared his film-making experience with University of Salford students.
Emmy Award nominated director Paul Sapin held a masterclass with students and showed them clips from his latest film A Very Sicilian Justice, due to be premiered at the Manchester International Film Festival on Sunday March 3.
The Al Jazeera produced film, narrated by Dame Helen Mirren, follows Sicilian judge Antonino Di Matteo, the chief prosecutor in the Mafia court case described as Italy’s ‘Trial of the Century’.
Those accused were embroiled in the ‘season of terror’ that rocked Italy from 1991 to 1994, and because of his involvement the judge has become one of the country’s most heavily protected men, with more than 20 bodyguards ensuring his safety around the clock.
Paul told students at the University’s MediaCityUK campus: “There were numerous obstacles to overcome. For a start they wouldn’t allow cameras in the courtroom so we had to come at it from a different angle. You have to ask yourself, how do I tell this story? It’s something you’ll be faced with as film-makers – the challenges can be a torture, torment and a pleasure.”
As well as hearing about the risks that come from filming a documentary about one of the world’s most feared crime organisations, students from programmes such as BA TV and Radio, Film Production and MA Media Production were able to gain valuable insights into the process of having a film commissioned.
Paul, who has also directed documentaries including Rageh In Iran and An Islamic History of Europe, had this advice for students: “Right now there’s a fabulous revival of real-life drama happening. Just think about Trump and Brexit and all those sort of things – there are some big stories to be told.”
Lyndon Saunders, Lecturer in BA TV & Radio and MA Media Production at the University of Salford, said: “Securing a masterclass with a film maker of Paul's calibre is a real coup and demonstrates the close links we have with key figures in the industry.
“The session was a fantastic insight in to the science and the art of making a brave film that required both crew and participants to see beyond the personal risks involved in telling the story. That's what documentary is all about - real life deserves telling, even when dangerous. Paul sharing that with us first hand was a genuine treat.”
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