About
ILION FILM COMPANY is an independent film company, which produces quality films that strive to educate, inspire, and make a difference.
Filmmaker Michael Patrei is the Director of ILION FILM COMPANY.
Michael has directed several short documentary films for Cinelan’s 3-Minute Stories series including Haunted Beardslee Castle, Super Fertile Derby Girl, and DEMON Biker Chihuahua, which have appeared on Hulu.
Michael’s documentary film, BALLOU is a 90 minute feature length documentary about the struggles and triumphs of an inner city high school marching band from Washington, DC. The documentary features interviews with Colin Powell, Jesse Jackson, Congressman John Lewis, Denyce Graves, Marion Barry, and Chuck Brown.
BALLOU has received national attention with:
* Its television premiere on the BET network
* Screened at the White House for First Lady Laura Bush
* Featured stories on Good Morning America, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and ABC World News
* Screened at more than 15 national and international film festivals including the NYC Urban World Film Festival, Philadelphia First Glance Film Festival, and the LISTAPAD Film Festival in Minsk, Belarus
* “lively and affecting documentary” - Ann Hornaday, Washington Post
Michael is the Director of the UNSPOKEN Human Rights Film Festival and is one of the founding members of this event, which takes place in Utica, NY each fall. In his free time, Michael can be found performing with his Tom Waits tribute band, The Swordfish Trombones.