1.Tell us about your movie, where did the idea of this movie come from?
The idea of the movie came up 2015, as a lot of people were deported to Albania and Kosovo. I wanted to show the struggle between duty and humanity, and the social trauma for all who are involved.
2.Tell us about yourself, your education, your experience. We would like to know you better.
I studied in the Masterclass “directing” on the Filmakademie Wien in the class of Prof. Michael Haneke. I was his one and only student who made his Master in directing 2018.
- Has this film been previously appeared in any other festivals? If so, which festivals?
- Go Short – International Short Film Fesitval Nijmegen, April 2022 (Niederlande) • 50th Huesca International Film Festival, Juni 2022 (Spanien) • BARCIFF – Barcelona Indie Filmmakers Festival, Juli 2022 (Spanien) • Filmfestival Kitzbühel, August 2022 (Österreich) • Alpinale Kurzfilmfestival, August 2022 (Österreich) • Shortynale, August 2022 (Österreich) • Bengaluru International Short Film Festival, August 2022 (Indien) • Tirana International Film Festival, September 2022 (Albanien) • Montreal Black Film Festival, September 2022 (Kanada) • Tehran International Short Film Festival, September 2022 (Iran) • DC Shorts Film Festival, September 2022 (USA) • Cannes Indie Short Award, Oktober 2022 (Frankreich) • Aesthetica Short Film Festival, November 2022 (UK) • Leeds International Film Festival, November 2022 (UK) • Glimpses of Europe – Short Film Festival, November 2022 (Litauen) • Oaxaca Film Festival, Dezember 2022 (Mexiko) Awards: • „Francisco García de Paso‘ Human Values Mention“ (50th Huesca International Film Festival, Juni 2022, Spanien) • „Best Director“ (BARCIFF – Barcelona Indie Filmmakers Festival, Juli 2022, Spanien) • „Österreichischer Nachwuchspreis“ (Filmfestival Kitzbühel, August 2022, Österreich) • „Best Reflecting Albania Award“ (Tirana International Film Festival, September 2022, Albanien)
- How have you discovered members of your team and how do you keep the relationship with them strong?
With the most people I worked before on the film school like my D.O.P. Marie- Thérèse Zumtobel. Or editor Alexander Rauscher. I had good experiences with them. I always work with nonprofessionals as actors. I like the way they act more, because it comes from themselves.
- How do you usually get funding for your films?
From the government, film school and sponsoring from film companies.
- How did you hear about Tehran Short Film Festival? How familiar are you with Iranian cinema?
Abbas Kiarostami is very popular in Vienna and he also gave a masterclass at the Filmakademie Wien. I watch a lot of movies from him and met him. So I checked out Iranian film festivals and Teheran Film Festival is the hugest and most famous I think.
