Dawna Lee Heising of Eye on Entertainment Interviews Filmmaker Max Bartoli of ATLANTIS DOWN

Online, September 12, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Dawna Lee Heising of Eye on Entertainment interviewed Max Bartoli, the director, writer and producer of the independent Sci-Fi feature film, Atlantis Down at the Italian Cultural Center in Los Angeles, CA. Atlantis Down stars Michael Rooker and X-Files star Dean Haglund. The cast also includes: Greg Travis, Travis Quentin Young, Kera O'Brien, Mae Flores, Darla Grese, Anthony Ware.

The film premiered at the Mann Chinese Theater in Hollywood on February 20, 2011, as part of the Los Angeles Italia Film Festival, then again on April 29 at the prestigious Apollo Theatre in London (UK) during the 2011 Sci-Fi London Film Festival. Atlantis Down will be shown at the Italian Cultural Center in Los Angeles on September 15, 2011.

Atlantis Down took just eleven months to complete. Produced using private funds, the film was shot under a strict deadline in 13 days, utilizing two cameras, eight locations and six sets. Post was done in Italy, Richmond, VA and Los Angeles, CA, with Bartoli coordinating all of the departments via Skype. Included in post-production were 225 CGI shots. To see the Eye on Entertainment interview, please visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fAJHQtvJaQ&hd=1

Through his company MaXaM Productions Ltd, Bartoli also directed, produced and edited the eight-episode television series "Atlantis Rising: the making of Atlantis Down", which has been aired by Cox 11 in Virginia, USA. Atlantis Down was picked up for distribution by Entertainment 7 just one month after its Hollywood premiere. Entertainment 7 brought it to the Cannes Film Market and is now negotiating the rights in five countries, with sales in many more territories on the horizon. Here is a link to footage from Atlantis Down: http://vimeo.com/20692217.

Bartoli was born in Italy, where he earned a degree in Media Law. He has worked in advertising in Italy, England and the United States, where he and his family now live. He is the author of two books published in 1989 and 1991 that won him the title of "Youngest European Fiction Writer" in 1989. Bartoli is also a fourth degree black belt and the CEO and founder of MaXam Productions. In 2006, Bartoli produced and directed his first short film, "Ignotus", which has won 25 awards at International Film Festivals in 18 months. Bartoli's film "Ignotus" is the only short film to have been watched and also praised by Pope Benedectus XVI, the former Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi and the current Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. "Ignotus" was also the only official Italian short film during the 2007 European Short Film Festival held in Washington D.C. at the Goethe-Institute.

Bartoli is currently casting his next feature, Code Name Oracle. This $12 million treasure-hunt/adventure film will be shot in Italy, Bulgaria and Morocco. Bartoli has been granted special permission to include never before seen underground locations in Rome. For more information about Max Bartoli, his body of work, and Atlantis Down, please visit: www.maxamproductions.com and www.atlantisdown.com