John V. Soto
He won Best Director for his film "The Reckoning" at the 2014 British Independent Film Festival where the film had its UK premiere at Leicester Square on 9 May 2014. He has written and directed the feature films Crush (2009), starring Christopher Egan, Needle (2010), starring Travis Fimmel and Ben Mendelsohn and The Reckoning (2014),[1] starring Jonathan LaPaglia and Luke Hemsworth,[2] which was released in Australia on 5 September 2014 after premiering at CinefestOZ on 29 August. The Reckoning had its Australian TV Premiere on 7 December 2015 on Channel ONE (Network TEN). Soto is the co-founder of Filmscope Entertainment, with Deidre Kitcher.
John V. Soto is an Australian film director.
Soto has recently completed his latest feature film, a Sci-Fi Thriller titled The Gateway starring Jacqueline McKenzie (The 4400, Deep Blue Sea). The film has been selected for the 2nd largest film festival in Utah USA, FilmQuest 2017 which is a celebration of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror films. In addition The Gateway has been selected for the Austin Revolution Festival 2017 where it has been nominated for Best Film, Best Director, Best Cinematography and Best Screenplay. Previously Soto won Best Director at The British Independent Film Festival 2014 for his feature film The Reckoning, a thriller starring Luke Hemsworth. The film was also selected for the official line-up at Cannes Cinephiles Des Antipodes where it screened theatrically in May 2015. Soto also won the Special Jury Prize for Needle (which stars Travis Fimmel and Ben Mendelsohn) at the Melbourne Underground Film Festival 2011. Needle was also selected for the US horror film festival SCREAMFEST, where it was nominated for Best Cinematography and Best Film.
Career[3]
Filmscope Entertainment is an Australian-based production company that makes commercial genre films. Their feature film The Reckoning (2014) a $2.35 million crime thriller starring Jonathon LaPaglia and Luke Hemsworth was completed in January 2014.
In 2010, Soto wrote and directed Needle,[4] a Supernatural Thriller starring Ben Mendolsohn, Trilby Glover and Michael Dorman, which met great success internationally with sales agent Lightning Entertainment selling the film into over 82 countries. "Needle" was released on 62 screens in Turkey where it landed at No. 4 at the box office on 29 July 2011 and ran for 13 weeks. The film was acquired by Sony for Australia and had a limited theatrical release on 8 screens before its home entertainment release. Needle won numerous awards at various film festivals including Best Cinematography and Best Special Effects at the British Horror Film Festival, and Best Makeup Special Effects at Screamfest and a slew of awards at the Melbourne Underground Film Festival where Soto won the Special Jury Prize.
Soto's 2009 film Crush, which he wrote and co-directed, was sold in 54 countries. Soto helped edit the trailer which has over 5 million views on YouTube.
Soto has written the script of Prey (2009) [5] and in 2007 Soto directed a short film called Repulsion.[3]
Filmography
Title | Year | Role | Format | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|
The Gateway | 2017 | director | Feature | Released |
The Reckoning | 2014 | writer, director | Feature | Released |
Needle | 2010 | writer, director | Feature | Released |
Crush | 2009 | writer, director | Feature | Released |
Repulsion | 2007 | director | Short Film | Completed |
Awards and nominations
Film | Year | Festival | Award Nomination | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2011 | Melbourne Underground Film Festival (2011) | Special Jury Prize (Needle, John V. Soto) | WON | |
2014 | The British Independent Film Festival (2014) | Best Director (The Reckoning, John V.Soto) | WON | |
References
- Slade, Kale. ""The Reckoning" – An Interview with John V. Soto about his Latest Film | Movie Vine".
- http://www.perthnow.com.au/jonathan-lapaglia-luke-hemsworth-to-star-in-wa-film-the-reckoning/story-fnhocr83-1226606966454
- "Filmscope Entertainment, John V. Soto".
- "Screamfest '10: Killer Film talks with Needle director John V. Soto".
- Geoff Lealand; Goldsmith, Ben (2010). Directory of World Cinema: Australia and New Zealand (IB - Directory of World Cinema). Intellect Ltd. pp. 198. ISBN 1-84150-373-8.