First drawn to photography
In addition to how a Cipriano film reveals its maker, she told YourArlington in a recent phone interview that photography first drew her at age 17, when she discovered “it could be a thing.” She graduated from the New England School of Photography in the Fenway (now closed) and trained at Harvard Extension School and Mass Art.
But why photos exactly? “It’s a good way to present what you are pulled to,” she said. She discovered that photography could be a natural way to tell stories.
Stories are at the heart of the Arlington film fest, which she arranged to buy last May following negotiations with April Ranck and J. Alberto Guzman, who had owned and operated the business since 2010.
Festival direction
Asked earlier via email whether she plans changes in festival direction, and what that overall direction is, she wrote: “At AIFF, we believe that narratives are the foundation of our lives. They are how we connect to each other, how we make sense of our past and how we figure out what’s possible for our futures. While continuing to nurture the wonderful documentary community AIFF has fostered, we plan to open up more opportunities for narrative filmmakers to tell their unique stories.”
She noted that AIFF “will become a platform for the growth and education of artists in the area by hosting workshops and round-table discussions on both the creative process and the pressing issues covered in the films themselves. I am also excited to find ways to financially support artists in the area. There are many important stories that are never told because the funding isn’t there. We want to change that.”
The Lexington resident founded Finding Bright Studios, in Lowell, a design business specializing in music-video sets and immersive experiences, a search for light amid dark. It has created spaces for Johnny Cupcakes, Massport, Level 99 and The Fenway. From Butter Benches to Tiny Rooms, Finding Bright aims to return playful wonder to our daily lives.
Indie disposition
Her credits clearly reflect an indie disposition: She has collaborated with GRRL HAUS, Boston Art Review and was a Boston fellow for the Mass Art Creative Business Incubator, a finalist in EforAll Merrimack Valley and was a participant in Boston’s Un-monument augmented-reality workshop.
Among several short film Jaina has directed and written several “The Impostor Syndrome,” a limited series created in collaboration with Lowell Public Media and Martian Radio Theater.
Cipriano told YourArlington Nov. 5 that release is possible early next year. “We are incorporating animation into the finished product, and it’s the first time I’ve worked with animators, and the timeline is a little longer than originally thought.
“There is an amazing team of people working on it and starring in it — including [Andover native] Liza Giangrande and Carissa Johnson, an incredible Boston singer and songwriter.”
“I am so excited to have the opportunity to connect deeper with the passionate and incredible film and art community here in Boston,” she said. “I feel a deep commitment to the artists here and am looking forward to finding new ways to support them and showcase their work.”
Watch ACMi interview:
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Oct. 21, 2024: 14th annual Arlington International Film Festival harnesses power of stories
2024 program >> || Tickets >>
Oct. 5, 2024: International film fest sold; labor of love stays local
This news feature by YourArlington founder Bob Sprague was published Saturday, Nov. 21, 2024. It was updated Nov. 5, to report a new expected release date of “The Impostor Syndrome.”
