Ori Yardeni’s feature film The Man Who Saved the Internet with a Sunflower, the true story of American entrepreneur Rob Ryan, was awarded the Competition Features Audience Award at the closing ceremony of Dances With Films 2024.
The film recounts the dramatic story of Rob Ryan, the ultimate entrepreneur, who saved the Internet from collapsing in the 1990s, transformed the lives of all of us in every field, and today is trying to save the Internet from itself.
“It’s an unbelievable story, about a formula for personal success that can be replicated by any entrepreneur, in any field. The fact that the audience chose our movie as the favorite feature film at the festival proves that when you tell a real good story without cinematic effects and tricks, on a topic that concerns each of the viewers, the audience will connect with it,” comments Yardeni. Adding “This is a film that does not come only to entertain, but to give each of the viewers a gift of life, a real and applicable tool for real and imperfect people.”
Joining Ori and Irit Yardeni at a special reception held prior to the world premiere were Rob and Terry Ryan, former Apple CFO Joseph A. Graziano and his wife Betty Graziano, E! founder Larry Namer, South Carolina Congressman JA Moore, and many others, including distributors and media.
The movie, filmed in Serbia during the pandemic, features British actor Martin Delaney (known for Zero Dark Thirty, Flags Of Our Fathers, Beowulf and Grendel, Now You See Me 2), Leo Hatton (H&M by Wes Anderson), Troy Hewitt (Rye Lane), Michael Curran-Dorsano (Django, The Last Ship), and Sophie Hopkins (known for the Doctor Who spin-off Class from BBC).
Yardeni, who co-directed and co-wrote the screenplay, is best known for his innovative work in immersive cinema, having made 700 different 3D, 4D, and 6D movies, Interactive Cinema, and Imageless Cinema. He has received numerous awards for his films and has registered 45 innovations in the field of media and technology. Yardeni has also created License to Dream, a collaboration with Ryan, aimed at providing teenagers with the tools and mindset to become successful entrepreneurs and social leaders.
Co-Director Emil Ben Shimon,is known for his work on the TV series ZIGI, HaTachana, Katmandu starring Gal Gadot, and Wild Horses for Israel’s HOT Cable Broadcasting, as well as the feature film The Women’s Balcony (shown at the Toronto Festival).
Watch the trailer here
