New Documentary to Explore Classical Music World from Female Perspective

An acclaimed American filmmaker David Donnelly announces his next feature-length documentary Forte, slated for international release in January 2019. The film explores the notion of success through the lens of three female musicians. Using classical music as a powerful example, Forte reveals realities of societal expectations women face today as private and professional individuals.

Forte's trailer has been viewed over 130,000 times on social media within days of its release. Conceived in February 2017 and filmed in Argentina, France, Germany, Norway, Portugal, Russia, United Kingdom and the United States, Forte is in the final stages of production, with cinematography by Dan Marque (Maestro) and editing by Soojin Chung (Little Pink House, Escape From Tomorrow, Sundance Festival 2013, American Editors' Association Award 2008) and Dan Marque. Germany's Ghde Foundation, which focuses on fostering young talent and arts education, provided development funding. The Sorel Organization, creating opportunities and expanding boundaries for women in music, is also among the key supporters of Forte.

Forte is the first documentary within this genre featuring an entirely female ensemble cast. Tatiana Berman is a cultural entrepreneur and mother of three, balances her family responsibilities with an effort to re-establish her career. Lucia Caruso is an Argentinian composer who gets a career-defining opportunity to score a feature film, discovering whether she can meet her own artistic expectations under pressure. Eldbjrg Hemsing is a young Norwegian soloist who champions a rare, self-discovered composition and risks a promising career to bring it to life. These intriguing, inspiring stories are put into context through commentary by some of the top classical music personalities, including artists, talent managers, producers and philanthropists such as Paavo Jrvi, Long Yu, and JoAnn Falletta.

Anastasia Boudanoque, who produced Forte together with Donnelly, expects the film to engage a wide audience. "Today, it is virtually impossible to skim through your social media feed without being bombarded by compelling images of success. But what does "success" actually mean for each and every one of us? This question is especially challenging for women, who are often held to complex and often conflicting standards. The women in this film have the courage to define success for themselves, and I hope their stories will inspire the audience to do the same."

One of Forte's unique and experimental features is the fact that one of its characters, Lucia Caruso, composes the soundtrack for this film, including the scenes that involve herself. "Her creative journey of writing the score becomes part of the story. I have never seen anything like this in a documentary," says director David Donnelly.

Currently, a Kickstarter campaign is underway to raise funds to prepare the film for global distribution. Rewards in exchange for contributions include tickets to the world premiere in New York, private screenings, copies of the original score, and autographed posters. Educational screenings can be donated to a school of donors' choice.

Donnelly's debut documentary Maestro, offering a behind-the-scenes look into the life and career of Paavo Jrvi, one of the most celebrated conductors of our times, was released worldwide in 2014, translated into 8 languages and distributed in 14 countries.

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