For the past two years, Rooftop Film’s Program Director Dan Nuxoll and I have been researching the life of an alleged con artist and now convicted criminal named Marie Castaldo. Check out our Kickstarter campaign for more about how this all started.

Hi. My name is Gillian Robespierre. I’m a writer/director attending the 2011 IFP Emerging Narrative project forum with my script Obvious Child. It’s a romantic comedy with an abortion. Yes, it’s a comedy.

Rotterdam International film festival: “I am confused why your project is part of Emerging Narrative”
Me: ” Its Interesting you chose to meet with me then”
Rotterdam: “I didnt”

Doesn’t everyone?

We’ve had some really nice interest in the project. It sounds nice now, but that might change later on when they say, “You know what? It’s not for us.” I like to keep expectations low. That way you don’t get your hopes up. And that way they can’t come crashing down.

A few things I’ve learned over the years from going into “pitch” meetings.

Just as Kanye West arrived in Austin to play ACL, I arrived in NYC to kick some serious IFP ass. Well, I hope, anyway. We’ll see how that ass kicking goes.

The week leading up to my 7am departure tomorrow morning has been nothing but insane.

WORLD’S BEST DAD tells the story of two brothers who haven’t seen each other since their father passed away reuniting to send their fathers ashes into space. Meet the filmmaker Joshua Gross and see what he has to say about family, americana and making a movie on the road.

On August 10 Rooftop is screening the stunning documentary, ‘At The Edge of Russia.’.The film follows six soldiers stationed in one of Russia’s furthest northern outposts. We spoke to director Michal Marczak about realising the film and found out what it’s like to live and work at -40 degrees.