Vito A. Rowlands, a 1986-born luminary, hailing from the culturally rich city of Antwerp, has etched a remarkable reputation for himself as a versatile filmmaker and erudite scholar.
Vito, a renowned filmmaker, has garnered substantial acclaim for his outstanding work, with a notable achievement being a finalist at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival Development Track for his feature script "Elvis, We Like Your Music".
His impressive repertoire of award-winning short films has been showcased at numerous prestigious international film festivals, including the Ann Arbor Film Festival, a renowned event that celebrates innovative and thought-provoking cinema.
Additionally, Vito's work has been featured at the Alchemy Film and Moving Image Festival, a festival that focuses on showcasing innovative and experimental films, as well as Vienna Shorts, a popular festival that highlights the best in short filmmaking.
His films have also been showcased at Aesthetica, a festival that celebrates the art of filmmaking, the Cadence Video Poetry Festival, an event that focuses on the intersection of poetry and film, Raindance, a leading festival for independent filmmakers, the Brooklyn Film Festival, a festival that celebrates the best in independent filmmaking, HollyShorts, a popular festival that highlights the best in short filmmaking, Dresdner Schmalfilmtage, a festival that focuses on showcasing innovative and experimental films, Mostra Internazionale del Cinema di Genova, a festival that celebrates the best in international filmmaking, and Nitehawk Shorts, a festival that showcases the best in short filmmaking.
Vito's professional pursuits extend far beyond the realm of filmmaking, as he has also embarked on a distinguished academic career. His teaching endeavors have taken him to various esteemed institutions, including the academic hubs of Amsterdam, Brussels, and Copenhagen, as well as the prestigious Columbia University. Presently, he occupies the esteemed position of Assistant Professor of Experimental Film and Media at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, where he shares his expertise and knowledge with students. Furthermore, he also serves as a 16mm film instructor at the renowned Mono No Aware in Brooklyn, a testament to his dedication to nurturing the next generation of filmmakers and media artists.
Vito has made substantial and noteworthy contributions to the academic discipline of film studies through his written work, leaving a lasting impact on the field.
He is a co-author of the esteemed publication "Screening Statues: Sculpture and Cinema", a groundbreaking work that explores the intersection of sculpture and cinema.
Furthermore, he is the sole author of the critically acclaimed book "Velvet Curtains and Gilded Frames: The Art of Early European Cinema", a comprehensive and meticulously researched examination of the artistic aspects of early European cinema.
Vito is poised to mark a significant milestone in his career as a filmmaker, with the impending release of his inaugural feature-length cinematic endeavour, "Ovid, New York", a visually striking 35mm anthology film inspired by the timeless works of Ovid's Metamorphoses, slated to hit the big screen in 2024.
In addition to this exciting project, Vito is concurrently immersed in the pre-production phase of his second feature film, a haunting and intriguing silent thriller set against the backdrop of the nineteenth century, which promises to delve into the mystical realm of spiritualism, further solidifying his reputation as a bold and innovative storyteller.
