New York International Independent Film and Video Festival

"NYIFF TO HONOR MULTI-AWARD WINNING DOCUMENTARY ABOUT MAESTRO COMPOSER BLAS ATEHORTÚA AT THE 64TH ANNUAL CANNES FILM FESTIVAL"

"A captivating look at one of the finest modernist composers in the world." 

Nicole Holland (Independent Film Quarterly)

The New York International Film Festival (NYIFF) will honor multi award-winning documentary film about Colombian classical composer Blas Atehortúa. Filmmakers involved with BLAS: The Man and his Legend have been invited to a special celebration hosted by NYIFF founder/executive producer Stuart Alson during Cannes. The festivities begin at 7pm on Sunday May 15th at the Penthouse Terrance on the Croisette overlooking the Mediterranean and will include members of the press, buyers, distributors and A-list personalities as well as fellow NYIFF honorees from all over the globe.

Co-directed by Galina Likosova and Hernán Humberto Restrepo who work as researchers for the INTERDÍS group, BLAS has proved popular with critics and audiences around the world. Awards include: Best International Documentary at the NYIFF, Best film at the Fine Arts Disciplines en XXIV Black International Cinema, Berlin, Germany, a Bronze Palm Award at the Mexico International Film Festival and a National Journalism Award Simón Bolívar, Colombia, 2010.

Commissioned by the National University of Colombia, the filmmakers traveled to Caracas, Venezuela to interview Blas, who is dying from kidney failure. In spite of his illness, Blas is still composing and talks candidly about his personal life, his music, his foes and the challenges he has endured as a world-famous composer, conductor and music educator.

In statement explaining the catalyst for the doc Likosova said,  "In 2007, we were told that BLAS EMILIO ATEHORTÚA was dying. We went to Venezuela, where he was living and we spent 4 entire days with him. His testimonies at that time seemed like his last confession: he talked about all the things that hurt his feelings and about people who tormented him. We decided that he deserved to tell his own story, even though it is imaginary. We wanted to present a vision of a composer's life and music. BLAS himself has generated a kind of legend around his life which has captured and interested the imagination of followers worldwide."

NYIFF's Stuart Alson commented, "I was very touched by Blas. The production was professional and content was so real and engaging. I was very impressed with the way the filmmakers delved into Blas's life and further substantiated Blas's status as a truly gifted and original composer with a unique person." Alson further stated, "I am certain sure it will be picked up by distributors in several territories worldwide."

To keep up with all activities at the NYIFF, please visit www.nyfilmvideo.com. For more information or to request a screener copy of "BLAS: The Man and his Legend," please contact Galina Likosova via email at glikosov@unal.edu.co, http://www.interdis.unalmed.edu.co/.