Young South Bay Film Director to Debut Work at Cinequest

A 19-year-old filmmaker and San Jose native will make her directorial debut at a Silicon Valley film festival this week.

Madison Campione’s film Remembrance is one of dozens of movies featured at the Cinequest Film and VR Festival. The film will premiere Wednesday in Redwood City.

“I’m so excited to see it on a movie theater-sized screen,” Campione said. “I’m beyond excited to see the reaction of the audience.”

Remembrance Cast u0026 Crew

The University of Southern California student co-wrote the film with her father Dr. Troy Campione, who has owned Cineteller Productions in San Jose for more than four years.

The father-daughter duo decided in summer 2016 to create a narrative about government-developed memory mining technologies. “Remembrance” is a thriller about a young woman who uses new memory technology to solve the mystery of her twin sister’s disappearance.

Mr. Campione financed the movie for an estimated $20,000.

The entire 12-minute movie was shot in Morgan Hill. Months later the film was submitted to Cinequest for entry into the festival.

Now the movie will be on the big screen just miles away from the young director’s hometown.

“I’d been to Cinequest many times and it’s in my hometown and it’s played a big role in my life in San Jose,” Campione said. “I’m overjoyed.”

The college sophomore says finding the time to direct a film while pursuing a bachelor’s degree has been tough at times.

“I’m overwhelmed but in a good way,” Campione said. “Balancing school work with my career is definitely a challenge but I feel blessed to have the opportunity to create ‘Remembrance.’”

Campione wants to keep showing her movie on the big screen. She plans to submit the movie to the Cannes Film Festival and other big movie showcases. Campione and her father are also starting to raise money to turn the movie short into a feature film.

She was named a 2017 finalist for the Horizon Award for female directors.

“Remembrance” will be screened March 8, 10 and 11 at Century 20 Theater in Redwood City. For more information visit the Cinequest website.