A Fistful of Karma

Project status:
Completed

Ever wondered how it might feel to drop out for a week in nature, detox, do some yoga and get spiritual? After all you deserve it… Welcome to Il Santuario – Our motto is “It’s not what you want, it’s what your soul needs.”

An outrageous roller-coaster of a comedy mockumentary in the tradition of What we do in the Shadows and Best in Show. Il Santuario is a retreat centre nestled in the Tuscan hills. Run and staffed by a group of misfits and burned out 90’s ravers, it hosts groups seeking spiritual growth, weight-loss, detox and escape from everyday reality. Its six hundred year old walls bear witness to the entire emotional spectrum from desire to raging insanity that comes with the territory of spiritual seeking. Val and Xena, the owners, and their motley crew face, possibly, the most nightmarish week of their lives when they come up against a self-styled guru, an out of control group, war with the local village, experimental hallucinogens and naturally, a visiting psychopath.

Production

The film was shot in Tuscany and Umbria at the yoga retreat centre, where the events portrayed in the story actually happened. Featuring a very diverse international cast and crew, which included established actors, yogis, visual artists, motorcycle riders and wrenchers and a house band, all of whom ate, slept and worked together and drank quite a lot of wine.

Ever wondered how it might feel to drop out for a week in nature, detox, do some yoga and get spiritual? After all you deserve it… Welcome to Il Santuario – Our motto is “It’s not what you want, it’s what your soul needs.”

An outrageous roller-coaster of a comedy mockumentary in the tradition of What we do in the Shadows and Best in Show. Il Santuario is a retreat centre nestled in the Tuscan hills. Run and staffed by a group of misfits and burned out 90’s ravers, it hosts groups seeking spiritual growth, weight-loss, detox and escape from everyday reality. Its six hundred year old walls bear witness to the entire emotional spectrum from desire to raging insanity that comes with the territory of spiritual seeking. Val and Xena, the owners, and their motley crew face, possibly, the most nightmarish week of their lives when they come up against a self-styled guru, an out of control group, war with the local village, experimental hallucinogens and naturally, a visiting psychopath.

Production

The film was shot in Tuscany and Umbria at the yoga retreat centre, where the events portrayed in the story actually happened. Featuring a very diverse international cast and crew, which included established actors, yogis, visual artists, motorcycle riders and wrenchers and a house band, all of whom ate, slept and worked together and drank quite a lot of wine.

2022
Amsterdam Lift-Off Film Festival
Winner
Audience Choice
2022
The IndieFEST Film Awards
Winner
Award of Merit Special Mention
2022
Swedish International Film Festival
Winner
Best Comedy
2022
Eastern Europe International Movie Awards
Winner
Best Comedy Feature Film
2022
The IndieFEST Film Awards
Winner
Best Ensemble Cast
2022
4th Dimension Independent Film Festival
Winner
Best Narrative Feature Film
2022
Indie Motion Club
Winner
Best Screenplay Feature
2022
Goldstar Movie Awards
Winner
Best Comedy Feature
2022
Anatolia International Film Festival
Finalist
Finalist
2022
Indie Motion Club
Nominated
Nominated for Best Director
2022
Rome Prisma Film Awards
Nominated
Nominated for Best Feature
2022
Iconic Images Film Festival
Official Selection
Official Selection
2022
Melbourne Lift-Off Film Festival
Official Selection
Official Selection
2022
Sydney Lift-Off Film Festival
Official Selection
Official Selection
2022
Symbiotic Film Festival
Official Selection
Official Selection
2022
Snow Leopard International Film Festival
Official Selection
Official Selection
image gallery