Founded in 2001 by filmmaker Agata De Santis, REDHEAD PRODUCTIONS is a Montreal-based production company dedicated to making independent films that inspire, educate, and entertain.

written, directed & produced by Agata De Santis

© 2010 Redhead Productions / documentary / 52:00min
Distributed by Filmoption International

What happens when you realize that your family is part of a global superstition that is neither spoken about openly nor even referred to by name? Filmmaker Agata De Santis sets out on a quest to uncover the world of MAL'OCCHIO - the evil eye - where one can become physically ill by another's envious glances, where the only remedy is a phone call to the old woman down the street, and prevention involves wearing strange-looking amulets. Agata travels to Italy, New York, and to her mother's kitchen in Montreal to decide once and for all if the evil eye is real. Can science prove or disprove the superstition? Is the belief still practiced by the new generation? How does one go about curing mal'occhio? Or better yet, preventing it?
Join our official Facebook Page to stay informed on all our latest news and events! And don't be shy... We want to hear from you. Where do you keep your mal'occhio amulet? Have you ever been hit with the evil eye? Who do you call when you are in need of a cure?
If you have any questions regarding MAL'OCCHIO community screenings and / or DVDs, please contact us by email.
Our first ever contest! Redhead Productions is holding a contest to find the best mal’occhio story. Over the years we’ve met folks with amazing stories about their experiences with mal’occhio. So now we want to hear from you… On the 13th day of every month in 2012 we’ll award a DVD copy of MAL'OCCHIO for the most original, intriguing story we receive. For contest details please click here.

THE CREW
Writer/Director/Producer: AGATA DE SANTIS
Editor: ALFONSO PECCIA
Camera: ELIAS C. VAROUTSOS & AGATA DE SANTIS
Original Music: PETER DE SANTIS & MANNY AGOSTINO

THE PARTICIPANTS
(in order of appearance)
Franca Gasparrini, Lucia Della Ripa, Assunta De Santis, Licia Canton, Steven J. Belluscio, Nancy A. Caronia, James Pasto, Ernest Rossi, Raffaele Ferrara, Paolo Bisogno, Eduardo Apellano, Elena Mastrangelo, Stuart A. Vyse, Sam Migliore, Laurence J. Kirmayer, Nadia Verrucci, Sabrina D’Alelio, Cristina Bortolotti, Maria Sangineto, Grace Fahrun, Lina Simone, Peter De Santis, Audrey Moores, Moshe Daniel Block

TELEVISION BROADCASTS
August 2011 CBC Television / "CBC Montreal Presents"

COMMUNITY SCREENINGS
May 2011 Scarborough Italian Association (Scarborough, ON, Canada)
May 2011 Basilicata Cultural Society of Canada (Woodbridge, ON, Canada)
May 2011 Association of Italian Canadian Writers "Arte Montreal" (Montreal, QC, Canada)
October 2011 Boston Public Library North End Branch (Boston, MA, USA)
October 2011 Italia Unita (Boston, MA, USA)
November 2011 Casa D'Italia / Co.As.It. (Sydney, Australia)
November 2011 Museo Italiano (Melbourne, Australia)
February 2012 National Congress of Italian Canadians / Dante Alighieri Society (Ottawa)
* LOTS MORE COMING...

FESTIVAL SCREENINGS
2011 Semaine Italienne de Montreal - Casa D'Italia (Montreal, Canada)
2011 Female Eye Film Festival (Toronto, Canada)
2011 Rendez-vous du cinéma québécois (Montreal, Canada)
2010 Semaine Italienne de Montreal - Leonardo da Vinci Center (Montreal, Canada)
2010 Real to Reel Film Festival (Cleveland County, NC, USA)
2010 Jersey Shore Film Festival (Jersey Shore, NJ, USA)

AWARDS
2010 Best Foreign Feature Documentary (Jersey Shore Film Festival)