1. What is your short story about?

Inside Show Business is about what it’s like to be a tiny cog in the entertainment industry and how its fairy dust
is haphazardly sprinkled.

2. What genre(s) would you say this story is in?

It is essentially a comedy.

3. How would you describe this story in two words?

Spikey fun.

4. What movie have you seen the most in your life?

All About Eve, of course!

5. Do you remember the time in your life when you realized that you wanted to write?

I realized I wanted to write when I was about nine years old. I would write and illustrate my own fairy
tales and tuck them into library books I was returning, hoping I would get discovered.

6. Do you have an all-time favorite novel?

I can only narrow it down to three favorite novels: White Noise by Don De Lillo, Blindness by Jose Saramago and Ladies Man by Richard Price.

7. What is your favorite meal?

My favorite meal is Salmon with Risotto and sauteed spinach.

8. If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that be?

The person I would most want to have dinner with is the poet Edward Field, who is my mentor and oldest friend.

9. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

I am passionate about environmental issues and social justice.

10. Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?

Advice to writers: If you think it, don’t question it, write it down–that’s your job.

Watch the Short Story Reading:

Genre: Comedy

Performed by Allan Michael Brunet

A SPARK OF LIFE was the winner of BEST DIRECTION at the May 2021 FEMALE Film Festival.

1. What motivated you to make this film?

My friendship to the characters and because I felt very affected by the tragic accident.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this short?

It took me about three months.

3. How would you describe your short film in two words!?

Emotional and mystical.

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

I had to adjust to the health of Alex (who was still hospitalized during Covid). And since I needed to shoot on the golden hours it was a bit challenging.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

I felt thrilled and so touched.

Watch the Audience FEEDBACK Video:

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

Couple of years ago.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

The Never Ending Story

8. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway, what are you feelings of the submission platform from a filmmaker’s perspective?

It’s easy and reliable

9. What is your favorite meal?

Maureen’s meal (the character who plays her role in the film).

10. What is next for you? A new film?

When creativity surges again. I let life inspire me.

THIS FAR APART played to rave reviews at the May 2021 DANCE Film Festival.

1. What motivated you to make this film?

We were commissioned by Swedish TV to make a short dance film. My partner, T.M Rives is a brilliant filmmaker and storyteller. We never worked together. Plus a completely deserted Central Park in spring of May 2020. All stars aligned.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this short?

The idea probably percolated in my partner T.M. Rives’s mind, who shot, edited and composed the music, for a few weeks. The actual execution took 2 days- one day of shooting, one day of editing. Plus all the color, sound finicking a perfectionist endures once the edit is more or less in place.

3. How would you describe your short film in two words!?

Time capsule.

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

Not having another hand help us carry camera gear around Central Park!

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

Touched and very happy it sparked an emotional response. That’s all we really want out of art, isn’t it.

Watch the Audience FEEDBACK Video:

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

Well, it’s really T.M.Rives that is the driving force here. He’s been making films for a while, and we never made something together. It felt like the right moment- stuck at home together and itchy to create.

7. Do you have a favorite dancer?

Many. Hard to say, but if I absolutely had to: Jermaine Spivey.

8. What film have you seen the most in your life?

Groundhog Day.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway, what are your feelings of the submission platform from a filmmaker’s perspective?

I think it’s a fantastic platform. I highly recommend it.

10. What is your favorite meal?

ALL meals.

11. What is next for you? A new film?

A few new commissions I’m excited to share about when the time comes, going home to Romania to visit my family, and getting the vaccine! And yes a new film coming hopefully in the fall.

WAITING ROOM was the winner of BEST DANCE FILM at the May 2021 EXPERIMENTAL Film Festival.

What motivated you to make this film?

I wanted to create a strong, dark, eerie, enigmatic and complex atmosphere, close to the poem of Dylan Thomas “Love in the Asylum”. I also wanted this idea to inspire the creation of the music that I made especially for the film.

From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this short?

It took me about 8 months, because I had to work in several separate sessions. I did not have the 15 dancers all at the same time, even if the magic of the edition allowed me to bring them together. I did two filming sessions, first with 8 dancers then with 7 dancers, but each time in the same stage set in our dance studios L’Espace 13 in Béziers France, where I am settled. Then, working day and night for creating the music, editing the images, until the film was finished.

How would you describe your short film in two words!?

This film is a choreographic exploration of the feelings that you can travel through, while being in a waiting room (hospital, airport, …). Waiting rooms are places far from regular time and space notions, where everyone can get lost in inner thoughts. A place that opens up to inner madness, a dedicated space to explore fake solitudes. A place of silence, stillness, of imposed physical distance.

What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

As I said previously, the hardest thing was to bring together 15 people on screen, who technically have never really met all together, and this, without losing the global spirit of the moments I wanted to propose after.

What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

First, this Festival is almost the only one to take time and film the feedback of the audience, and this is just excellent and so precious for film makers ! Then, the first time I watched the audience feedback video, I was really touched by the excellent and very positive reviews on my work in general and on this film in particular. As the reviews progressed, I realized that all the people speaking in this video really felt, lived and touched closely all the emotions that I wanted to bring with the film. It was a magical moment, kind of like they were reading my own storyboard and writing ideas !

Watch the Audience FEEDBACK Video:

When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

Since my childhood ,I have always filmed. First for fun, after for my professional career. In the 90’s, when I begun to tour with my professional dance company, I understood that filming for the archives was not enough for me. I really had this desire to write Dance + Image crossed together. In 1997, I was one of the first choreographer to put Dance on the worldwide-web with our project “mini@tures”, a video dance long-term creative path exclusively conceived for the Internet, and at this time, without Adsl or high speed connections, connected people were amazed to see good quality video on their computer and dance films where you could really see each detail correctly. This Internet project had a great success, putting light on my dance company and opening big tours in more than 40 countries, with the double pleasure to dance on little screens and at the same time, on the best stages of capital cities in the world.

Do you have a favorite dancer?

I really do love Akram Khan, the Batsheva Dance Company, and so many others. And everyday, owing to social networks, I am surprised to discover excellent dancers, talented choreographers, showing that dance, beyond being in a truly universal language, is really present in all the countries of our planet. And filming dance allows to show it without borders.

What film have you seen the most in your life?

Oh, probably a lot of Alfred Hitchcock’s, David Lynch, John Cassavetes, …

You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway, what are you feelings of the submission platform from a film maker’s perspective?

This platform is really excellent, technically speaking, but above all to present, promote and broadcast films. It really helped me to reach Festivals that can be interested in my artistic proposals, and the results for me are clear: in the past two years , I had more than 150 official selections in 27 countries, and received 25 prizes including 11 Awards.

What is your favourite meal?

I love Asian food, French cuisine (of course, as a French citizen), and basically I remain very open to all the culinary specialities of each country in which I travel.

What is next for you? A new film?

I’m just finishing editing several short dance films that will be released in the next months (Garden Party, Invaders, Julia, Elements, Happy Birthday, …)

KAERU was the winner of BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY at the May 2021 BLACK & WHITE Film Festival.

1. What motivated you to make this film?

Instinct. Simply.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this short?

About 2 weeks.

3. How would you describe your short film in two words!?

Darkness VS Light

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

The shaky that is present all along the movie. Without it, it just didn’t work.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

I cried a little bit, honestly. It’s so touching.

Watch the Audience FEEDBACK Video:

6. How did you come up with the idea for this short film?

The text that I wrote and that tunnel a friend showed me. Instantly it was like « I have to make something with those two things ». And after that everything just fell together. With that mask that I saw like 3 years ago. The performer Elizabeth with whom I already was working on other project.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

Stalker by Tarkovsky

8. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway, what are you feelings of the submission platform from a filmmaker’s perspective?

Chaotic. But once you get through your first 2-3 films on this platform you can see which festivals make sense and which don’t.

9. What is your favorite meal?

Quarted Pounder with cheese haha Sorry for this one.

10. What is next for you? A new film?

I always work on 4-5 projects at the same time. Right now I just finished a 16 min mockumentary and I’m about to finish a 10 minutes short with contemporary puppets 🙂

MICKEY HARDAWAY was the winner of BEST DIRECTION at the May 2021 BLACK & WHITE Film Festival.

1. What motivated you to make this film?

* I wanted to make a story about dreamers, artist that love there passion and craft and have something more to bring to this world. But I also wanted to make a story about the harsh realities of being a artist in this world and folks including love ones who don’t believe in your worth, in your vision and preach the tradition 9-5 methods of life. As someone who has and continue to deal with the realization of folks constantly crapping on your dreams I wanted to get this story off my chest as a healing tool and a study not just for the artist but the folks who cause the mental and physical fatigue.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this short?

* Oh My God, it took 16 years to make this lol. I wrote it my freshman year of Film School and I kept it after a Film Professor told me he love it. I never felt I was ready to make so after a number of successful shorts and when Covid hit in 2020 and my Investors back out on me for the Feature Version my Producer Partner Armando Townsend put our money together and we made the proof of concept short to raise funding on our own. So far the film has far exceeded expectations.

3. How would you describe your short film in two words!?

* Completely Honest

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

* COVID-19!!!!!! Lol. It’s not a laughing matter in anyway shape or form but it was difficult as hell. Having to create are own safety protocols since the CDC or SAG-AFTRA didn’t release any during our shoot but I made safety the top priority at all times. Plus dealing with the Black Lives Matters protest taking place all over Los Angeles because of the tragic death of George Floyd so it was a lot. I also had to replace my original lead actor for Mickey because of Covid concerns but I found a great replacement in Rashad Hunter. Who gave a unbelievable performance and he did it with barley 2 weeks before shooting.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

* I cried tears of joy watching the feedback. It absolutely blew my mind listening to the wonderful reviewers talk about how much they enjoyed my work I would’ve never imagine anything like that happening in a million years. Such beautiful insights and points of views of how they saw Mickey Hardaway was just so overwhelmingly terrific.

6. How did you come up with the idea for this short film?

* I was in class one day my Junior Year of High School and one of my teachers told me I was a really great writer even tho I was getting a D in her class lol. She told me I should consider doing screenwriting and I was already interested in Filmmaking but mostly as a Director so when she spark that writing aspect I took to it and never let it go. It’s my entire favorite part of Cinema, because you literally have nothing without the story.

Watch the Audience FEEDBACK Video:

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

* Who Framed Roger Rabbit lol. It’s the film that made me want to become a filmmaker and till this day I’m still blown away by the live action/animation mashup built into a wonderful old school Film Noir. It’s just a great film.

8. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway, what are you feelings of the submission platform from a filmmaker’s perspective?

* It’s okay, well put together and organize properly. Very simple and easy instructions on creating your projects as well as submitting to festivals.

9. What is your favorite meal?

* Oven Baked Macaroni & Cheese, especially when my mamma make it lol best in the world I don’t care what anyone says or think about it…

10. What is next for you? A new film?

* My Next Film will be the Feature Version of Mickey Hardaway. If everything goes according to plan and so far it is I plan to shoot it in early 2022. So wish me luck!

FAREWELL was the winner of BEST SHORT FILM at the May 2021 LGBTQ+ FEEDBACK Film Festival.

1. What motivated you to make this film?

I had this idea over ten years ago, so I have carried it with me for a long time. I felt that I rarely see films about older women and their love life, and almost never stories about older ladies with agency. I am myself a lesbian and I long and hunger for stories with lesbian women in focus, without the problems and drama focusing on the lesbianism itself, or frustrated, unreciprocated love and short term, destructive romances. I believe there is a shortage of stories reaching beyond these areas.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this short?

So I had the idea over ten years ago, and actually started to study animation to be able to pursue the making of there film. When I realized that I didn’t have the required skills or time to do it myself I wanted patiently until I met Louisa who felt like the right person for the job. We started the collaboration in 2017, I made a storyboard and a mood board for the animation style, color scheme and character design and she developed that into what we see as the final product. Due to other jobs and financial reasons we had to work on the film slowly but steady over the years. The music was a big part of the project from the start and the talented Ida composed it especially for the film, with the voice of herself and her grandmother. Finally Sandra made a sharp and beautiful sound scape that takes the story to another level. So we were a small team of just four women, but it was all that was needed – along with the financial support from both Swedish Television, Film Institute, Arts Council and local film funds.

3. How would you describe your short film in two words!?

letting go

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

The fact that we had other projects, jobs and life that came in between – but it was also a benefit as we could develop the idea and let it grow gradually. During the last six months of the projects Louisa started a master in animation and she was able to use her new skills in the work.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

Very proud, grateful and impressed that these people saw all the details that we have worked so hard with. Great feedback.

Watch the Audience FEEDBACK Video:

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

When I was 14 and bought my own film camera.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

It must be either Grease that I saw every day when I was 12 years old, or Hedwig and the angry inch that I’ve seen hundreds of times in my early adulthood.

8. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway, what are you feelings of the submission platform from a filmmaker’s perspective?

It’s great. Easy to use and manage.

9. What is your favorite meal?

anything with potato!

10. What is next for you? A new film?

I’m actually doing my first semester on the psychology program, so in five years time I’ll hopefully be a psychologist.

BEING SASCHA was the winner of BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY at the May 2021 LGBTQ+ Film Festival.

1. What motivated you to make this film?

I’m interested in projects that challenge my way of thinking. I want to personally evolve with every project I’m doing. And I think Sascha and Saschas Story let me no other chance than doing that.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this short?

One and a half year.

3. How would you describe your short film in two words!?

Being Sascha.

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

The super limited timeframe in which we had to realize the project.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

I felt joy and gratitude. To see that the film we put so much work and love in finally is moving people… I mean, that’s is just everything.

Watch the Audience FEEDBACK Video:

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

One of the standout moments was when I first saw Shortbus by John Cameron Mitchell. I instantly knew: If I’ll ever be able to create a work that moves someone in a way this film had moved me, my time would have been well spent.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

Shortbus. This film still touches me on so many different levels. Second most: Magnolia by Paul Thomas Anderson. A masterpiece of a film.

8. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway, what are you feelings of the submission platform from a filmmaker’s perspective?

Gladly I have a producer who handles this part.

9. What is your favorite meal?

Potatoes and cheese in every combination.

10. What is next for you? A new film?

I am currently thinking and writing – a novel, a screenplay, a film maybe. Or to put it short: I have no clue yet.

A PART was the winner of BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY at the May 2021 DANCE Film Festival .

1. What motivated you to make this film?

When the corona virus had its first break out, society went crazy. People started to fight over toilet paper and canned foods in grocery stores like it was the end of the world. We got overflowed with scary news every day and instead of trying to make the best of the situation we started to prepare for the apocalypse. In this pandemic-hysteria we forgot about our children’s feelings and thoughts. How did they react to all the horrible news and everything that was drastically take away from them? According to the Swedish organisation BRIS (translated ‘Children’s rights in society’) mentall illness had increased with 60% among children and teenagers in Sweden since the pandemic broke out. As a mother, dance teacher and a choreographer I felt the urge to take action and make a piece about this. Since we didn’t have any arena to preform in I choosed to make a dancefilm with four young dancers (age 14-18) telling their story throughout the art of dance and cinematography.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this short?

It was a fast process. The idea came to me in July and we filmed it in September. We had a 3 rehearsal days and one day of filming. The film premiered on the 18th of October.

3. How would you describe your short film in two words!?

Fever Dream

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

The pandemic it self was a big obstacles, what if anyone got sick during the process or the filming?
Fortunately no-one got sick and we were really careful during the whole process of making the film. Everyone was corona-tested before the shooting of the film. We rehersed a lot of the choreography over zoom.

Other than that we had one even greater obstacle than the pandemic and that was to attach the plastic to the boxes without going insane. We pre-builded the construction for the boxes at home so we could easily transport them to the set location. It was a pretty windy day and our stapler didn’t work!

So my husband, who created the boxes, did a marvellous job to get the plastic to stick to the boxes!

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

I cried tears of happiness! I had to pause the video to go outside and breath in the moonlight for a bit before I could watch the rest of the feedback video. I have a hard time coping with positive feedback I guess.. (dancer problems). It was lovely and it means a lot to me as a “rookie” in this industry.

Watch the Audience FEEDBACK Video:

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

I have been hired as a choreographer and a dancer for many music videos and commercial films. I have always had a facination for film making and storytelling.

I’m related to one of Sweden’s first big screen and script writers, Henning Olsen, who created films in the early 1930. He created films with the biggest Swedish actresses at that time. He was supposed to create a film with Ingrid Bergman but according to some sources the film team just partied during the shooting of the film never so the film never got released! Hahah!

So filmmaking runs in the family!

I’m also a good friend with Waldemar BergendaI who has produced almost all of the Astrid Lindgren movies (Pippi Longstocking, Ronja, Emil in Lönneberga to name a few) he lives in my village and before the pandemic I regularly used to visit him for a ‘Fika’ to talk about films and filmmaking. He is a big inspiration for me with almost 70 years in the film industry. I guess I started to realise that I wanted to create films because of him.

7. Do you have a favorite dancer?

I have 4, Linn, Hilda, Elin and Kajsa!

My DXE Dance Orchestra-dancers!

They are my absolute favourite dancers! They started out as my students a couple of years ago and now they have grown in to brilliant talent your dancers! They inspire me so much and I love how they move, both individually but also as a group.

8. What film have you seen the most in your life?

Probably Ronja Rövardotter or Singing in the Rain. My absolute favourites!

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway, what are you feelings of the submission platform from a filmmaker’s perspective?

As a total rookie for this platform and this industry I would love to have some more guidance on how to present your film and what is expected from me as a filmmaker. I’m totally new to this and this culture! I would love to get some help and instructions on how to promote and ‘sell’ my films. Now I just learn as I go and hope for the best. But it’s also a perfect way for me to present my film and its a great platform to apply for festivals! I really like it and think it’s a perfect way to get in touch with festivals and get to know more about filmfestivals around the globe!

10. What is your favorite meal?

It would be my mother’s food! I love her cooking! Specially traditional Husmanskost. Im also a big fan of Mediterranean food!

11. Next for you? A new film?

I have already created a new film that premiered on the 15th of April.

A bigger film project called ‘Brita- The Wrestler.

A dancefilm about a historical woman called Dal-Brita who lived 150 yeas ago in my hometown Sandviken. She was one of the first female workers at the world renowned steel industry ‘Sandvik AB’.
According to her legend she was the only female among 300 men to dig the foundation for the steel factury. She was extremely strong and worked harder than most of her male coworkers. If anyone tried to mock her for being a female she would lift them over her head and slam them in to ground and she was known to be great at wrestling.
She was also the first midwife in my hometown and kept a small restaurant. A very creative and strong woman who was ahead of her time. A female who didn’t hesitate to make her voice heard in a world where she didn’t even had the right to vote.
I have always been fascinated by the stories about Dal Brita and on her 200 birthday I really wanted to make something special so I decided to create another dancefilm with 9 dancers from the age of 14 -70. My dancers from DXE Dance Orchestra are dancing in this film together with some of Swedens most renowned dancers. ‘BRITA- the wrestler’ premiered on her 200 birthday (15/4) and we received brilliant feedback and a lot of love for this film. Now I’m working on promoting this film and finding a way of making a live production for 2022.

The choreography is based on Swedish folk dance, contemporary dance an wrestling.
A film about female strength, choreographed upon the sentens “we wrestle because we want to not because we have to”

MY YANG GANG DIARY was the winner of BEST POLITICAL DOC at the May 2021 DOCUMENTARY Feedback Film Festival

1. What motivated you to make this film?

I followed Andrew Yang’s presidential campaign and the people who supported Yang, known as Yang Gang for about one year. I recorded many events; in sunshine, rain, snow, and over the summer and winter. I was very touched by the spirit and dedication of the Yang Gang, and I wanted to share that with the world. My motivation for making the film was to showcase Yang Gang and to spread the word about the Humanity First Movement.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this feature film?

At the beginning, I covered the events like a video jurnalist. After reading Andrew Yang’s book “The War on Normal People”, I became a member of the Yang Gang. The filming took place over 13 months and the post production took another 7 months. All together this film took about 20 months to complete.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

May I use three words? They are Passion, Inspiration and Dedication.

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

Each stage of the making of this film had different obstacles. The most difficult challenge for me was deciding how to tell the story. I shot about 200 hours of footage and conducted over 50 interviews in 12 cities. I wish I could focus more on 4 or 5 characters, but I met so many Yang Gang during the movement that character development was a challenge. The reason I named the film “My Yang Gang Diary” was because I wanted to bring the audience along to experience what our journey was like.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

I really appreciate the audience feedback video. Thank you for producing it. The audience’s comments are sincere, articulated and compassionate. It was heartwarming for me. I am thankful that our film reached more people who wanted to know Andrew Yang better.

Watch the Audience FEEDBACK Video:

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

I love capturing events with video camera. I remember buying my first video camera after winning a music competition in late 80’s. Since 2009, I made more than 600 videos and posted them on my YouTube channel – Juhl Media. However, a video is not a film. For me, a film includes good storytelling, excellent audio/lighting, fine editing and great soundtracks.

After many years of video with no directions, I enrolled in a Digital Video Production course at New York University in 2008. I learned how to write, shoot, adjust sound, edit, lighting and the whole shpiel. Since then I have made many short films and 3 feature length documantaries.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

I like all genres of films, but my favorite is documentaries.

8. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway, what are you feelings of the submission platform from a filmmaker’s perspective?

FilmFreeWay, an application/website, provies great resauces for filmmakers to apply for film festivals, as well as for film festivals to pubicize their programs. The plateform is very easy to navigat.

9. What is your favorite meal?

My favorite meal is fish filet in spicy marinade cabbages with bamboo shoots, mushrooms and mung bean noodles.

10. What is next for you? A new film?

Two projects in mind, one, is to make a film about Andrew Yang’s Race for NYC Mayor 2021. Two, is to create a music themed film.

My background is classical music. As a violist, I have played with many professional symphony orchestras and chamber groups. I also backed up for Rod Stewart, Dionne Warwick and Perry Como. I would like to make a documentary that focuses on classical music, especially for the viola.