CINESOURCE — “Mellars’ films present passionate musics and beatific visuals…” (“JOSHUA DYLAN MELLARS: THE MUSIC TO FILM INTERVIEW”)
HOUSTON CHRONICLE — “A sensual film, rich and colorful…” (“FILM EXPLORES THE RICH SOUND OF AN INDIAN MUSIC ICON”)
PACIFIC SUN — “If you only see one movie at this year’s Mill Valley Film Festival…watch Joshua Dylan Mellars’ new documentary…” (“SAROD WARRIOR”)
THE HUFFINGTON POST — “Thanks to the fine camera work by Joshua Dylan Mellars, PLAY LIKE A LION captures the rich colors of India as well as Ali Akbar’s rich musical coloring. Shots taken at Indian music festivals, in private gardens, and at royal receptions burst with… vivid splendor…” (“ARTISTS ON A MISSION”)
SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE — “It is the interplay between illusion and reality that makes the works of North Bay documentary filmmakers (Joshua Dylan) Mellars, Antonelli, Parinello and Abbe compelling to watch.” (“NORTH BAY FILMMAKERS TAKE VIEWERS ‘ON THE ROAD’ AT ORINDA FILM FESTIVAL”)
INDIA REVIEW — The Embassy of India (Washington D.C.) publication featuring a photo gallery of the Play Like a Lion screening presented in collaboration with the Smithsonian.
UNIVISION — “Mellars’ film documents the way that fado music captures the emotion and nostalgia of a Portuguese immigrant community in the United States. But the stories that are depicted…are much more universal…” (“HEAVEN’S MIRROR: MUSIC AND THE NOSTALGIA OF IMMIGRANTS”)
NPR affiliate KUSP — “Joshua Dylan Mellars has a thing for world travel and world music, and he combines both passions in his latest pair of films.” (Robert Pollie’s The 7th Avenue Project: Thinking Persons’ Radio: “DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER JOSHUA DYLAN MELLARS”)
CORREIO DA MANHÃ — “(Mellars) apaixonou-se pelo fado durante uma viagem que fez a Lisboa quando estudava na universidade. A ponto de rodar um documentário sobre a canção tradicional lisboeta….que (Mellars) classifica como “viagem emocional.” (“AMERICANO FILMA HISTORIAS DO FADO”)
O JORNAL – “HEAVEN’S MIRROR was filmed to the beat of one American’s passion, but it’s full of Portuguese soul and song.” (“JOSHUA DYLAN MELLARS’ ROMANTIC FADO JOURNEY”)
PORTUGUESE TIMES – “Throughout HEAVEN’S MIRROR the cinematography combines with the haunting fado music to convey a sense of the beauty of Portugal and the mystery of saudade.” (“FADO DOCUMENTARY ‘HEAVEN’S MIRROR’ PREMIERES AT PROVINCETOWN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL”)
FILMSTEW — “Mellars curated a jam session in Old Lisbon that united leading guitar performers with fado singers…sure to please any aficionado of culturally rich musical art forms…” (“FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT TURNS HIS ATTENTION TO FADO MUSIC”)
UNIVISION — “Music gives us a certain cadence and tone that drives our lives toward a destination, and tuning into this sense of direction -– discovering who we are and where we are going –- is the theme of Joshua Dylan Mellars’ music documentary PLAY LIKE A LION…” (“‘PLAY LIKE A LION’ EXPLORES THE SPIRITUAL, HISTORICAL, AND FAMILIAL HISTORY OF AN ANCIENT STYLE OF MUSIC”)
WAMU 88.5 — “Two music documentaries by one well-traveled director make their District debuts tonight and tomorrow at the U.S. Navy Memorial in Northwest Washington.” (Art Beat with Sean Rameswaram, Aug. 22)
SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE — “There’s an undeniable mystique to this music. The slippery ascending and descending lines; the ornate embellishments; the sighing microtones…” (“KHAN FAMILY AFFAIR: KEEP TRADITION ALIVE”)
PRESS DEMOCRAT — “Rohnert park filmmaker Joshua Dylan Mellars returns home this week from Europe for the debut of his film, “HEAVEN’S MIRROR: A PORTUGUESE VOYAGE,” about the distinctly Portuguese brand of music called fado.” (“ROHNERT PARK FILMMAKER RETURNS HOME WITH NEW FILM FOR FESTIVAL”)
THE CAPITAL POST and EXPRESS INDIA – “‘PLAY LIKE A LION’ is a masterpiece on celluloid!” (“AWARD WINNING DOCUMENTARY FILM ELUCIDATES LEGACY OF USTAD ALI AKBAR KHAN” and “ACTOR CHANDRACHUR SINGH MINGLES WITH WASHINGTON AREA ACTIVISTS”)
PRESS DEMOCRAT — “Joshua Dylan Mellars has traveled the world making award-winning documentaries, but he credits his North Bay childhood with inspiring his work.” (“MOVIE DIRECTOR’S JOURNEY CARRIES MESSAGE OF LONGING”)
CONTRA COSTA SUN — “Film director Joshua Dylan Mellars whose documentary “TANGO ILLUSIONS” is playing at the Orinda Film Festival teaches a class at Miramonte High School how to tango.” (“TAKES TWO TO TANGO”)
