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	Mississauga filmmaker Pasquale Marco Veltri attracts international attention with his latest short Measuring Tape Girl recently screened at the CANNES FILM FESTIVAL
	Pasquale Marco Veltri’s a very happy guy these days. After returning from the world-renowned Cannes Film Festival, the Mississauga-based filmmaker is proud to boast that his latest short, Measuring Tape Girl was selected to be shown in the festival’s Marché du Film this past May.  Now that’s something to be happy about! Not only did Veltri make a cinematic statement at the event, he made a fashion statement as well. He broke out of his “shy guy” persona to rock the red carpet donning a visual metaphor for his film. Veltri’s background in marketing kicked into play as he schmoozed the film circuit in a one-of-a-kind sports jacket made exclusively out of measuring tape. And why not go all out for the event? To be included in the Cannes Film Festival program is an amazing accomplishment for Veltri, who has long paid his dues in the film world. GoodLife Magazine had the opportunity to catch up with the busy artist over a few lattés at a cosy French café. Veltri confessed that he is proud to be a Mississauga-based artist, and went on to state, “without local support, I would have never been able to market anything internationally. There has always been a strong network of support in Mississauga. I stand on the shoulders of everyone who has ever helped me.” A graduate of Sheridan College Advanced Technical Institute, Veltri’s films have been screened nationally and internationally in Canada, Britain, Italy, and Egypt. Past films include The Politics of Fear, A Day in the Life and Into the Light. Today he is an active member of the artist community and a talented contributor to the independent cinema. In 2009 he was nominated for a MARTY award, and his work was screened locally at the burgeoning Mississauga Independent Film Festival. Perhaps being selected for The Cannes Film Festival is the career breakthrough Veltri has long awaited. And that brings us back to our big question...HOW WAS CANNES? What was it like? Veltri, a truly humble individual, expressed that he was in “disbelief” and that his participation in the festival was “surreal”. The Cannes Film Festival, also known as the Holy Grail for filmmakers, is truly the epicentre of hype and publicity for the film world. To any filmmaker, emerging or established, to have your work selected for screening is major accomplishment. Known in French as le Festival de Cannes, the event was founded in 1946, and today is one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious cinematic events. The private festival is held annually in May at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, in the resort town of Cannes, in the south of France (and if you haven’t had the pleasure of travelling there dear reader, believe us when we tell you it’s f-ha-bulous!). This year for the 63rd edition, American film director Tim Burton acted as the President of the Jury. So what was it that made Veltri’s film stand out to be chosen for the festival? Selected by film expert Danny Lennon of the National Film Board of Canada, Measuring Tape Girl makes a bold statement in regards to the emotional mindset of today’s average 20 to 30 somethings. Starring Canadian actress Jessica Embro, the film turns the lens on society’s rampant struggle with self-doubt. Not a popular topic among male filmmakers, Measuring Tape Girl is an examination of self-image and indecisiveness. A young woman approaching her thirties turns to online video blogging as a means of communicating her doubts and fears. She creates an alter ego named “Measuring Tape Girl”, which she uses as a self-defence mechanism to measure herself against others. Measuring Tape Girl transfers all of her hopes, dreams and mental anguish from her internal world to an online forum where they can take on a life of their own. So what was the creative inspiration for Veltri? Was it life imitating art or art imitating life? Veltri confessed, “we’ve all had moments of self doubt. No matter how old you are, male or female, it’s certain that you’ve experienced times when you felt insecure, indecisive and lost”. He went on to explain, “it’s just something that we’re not comfortable talking about. We all measure ourselves in this society. No matter who we are, we never think that we are good enough. My film explores these universal issues, and I think that’s why it’s getting a strong response… If you can make something that has meaning to it, you reach out and people reach back.” Byron A. Martin, who served as the producer for Measuring Tape Girl, believes Veltri is a leading filmmaker of his generation and an artist to watch. Over a phone interview, he describes working with him as a “great experience”. He explains, “Marco’s a dynamic writer and director, someone who’s making a solid contribution to the contemporary film landscape. Measuring Tape Girl is cognisant of women’s issues, and that is unique. The film touches upon ways that social networking is changing how we communicate and that in itself is deserving of attention.” So with all of Veltri’s new found recognition and media exposure, what’s his next move? He divulged there are discussions of turning Measuring Tape Girl into a fully-fledged feature film. He also hints at turning the film into a play. But first and foremost, his goal is to keep creating films. He stated, “when you’re an artist, you’re always wondering if you should keep going. It doesn’t sound like a big deal, but truly it is. If I can continue to create films and keep at my craft, then I’m happy.” And happiness is truly what it’s all about. As we ended our interview, Veltri expressed that the underlying message in Measuring Tape Girl is about self-acceptance. “By accepting yourself who you really are, you find your happiness.”  For more information on Pasquale Marco Veltri, please visit www.pmveltri.com. GL