E7 • Living The Dream • ANJA KREIS, dir. of 'The Alienated' at the Karlovy Vary Int. Film Festival

06/25/24 • 52 min

Past Present Feature with Marcus Mizelle

On this week's episode, Marcus speaks with Russian filmmaker Anja Kreis, who shares her perspectives on Russia, the global allure of Hollywood, and the process of making her latest film 'The Alienated', which is World premiering at Karlovy Vary on July 2nd.

With its themes of mortality, dreams, and sisterhood, 'The Alienated' draws inspiration from David Lynch's 'Mulholland Drive'. She also shares her childhood fascination with Brazilian and Argentinian telenovelas, being drawn to the simple human relationships and dramatic themes portrayed in these series. They discuss the effectiveness of simple human stories, and Marcus compares her own dream as a filmmaker to Naomi Watts' character in 'Mulholland Drive'.

Anja also discusses her journey from studying German language and literature to pursuing a career in filmmaking. She talks about the challenges of getting a second education in Russia, and the differences between German and Russian film cultures, highlighting the emphasis on personal stories and authenticity. She talks about the Russian filmmakers who have inspired her the most and the frustration of receiving negative feedback from distributors. Anja expresses her desire to have her films seen by large audiences, and the importance of mental health while pursuing a career in filmmaking.
Short Ends

Russia and America share similarities, and Hollywood has a global allure.
Filmmaking can be a challenging and rewarding process, especially with limited resources.
Film festivals provide opportunities for recognition and networking.
Personal experiences and themes of mortality often influence filmmakers' work.
David Lynch's films, like 'Mulholland Drive', can inspire and influence other filmmakers. Childhood fascinations can shape our dreams and aspirations.
Simple human relationships and dramatic themes can be effective in storytelling.
The film industry can be challenging to navigate, with corruption and limited opportunities.
German filmmaking culture emphasizes personal stories and authenticity.
Distribution can be a frustrating and complex process for filmmakers.
Mental health is important in pursuing a career in filmmaking.
Sticking to one's artistic vision is crucial, even in the face of criticism.
Connecting with other filmmakers and sharing experiences can be inspiring and valuable.

What Movies Are You Watching?

Like, subscribe and follow us on our socials @pastpresentfeature

Russia and America share similarities, and Hollywood has a global allure.
Filmmaking can be a challenging and rewarding process, especially with limited resources.
Film festivals provide opportunities for recognition and networking.
Personal experiences and themes of mortality often influence filmmakers' work.
David Lynch's films, like 'Mulholland Drive', can inspire and influence other filmmakers. Childhood fascinations can shape our dreams and aspirations.
Simple human relationships and dramatic themes can be effective in storytelling.
The film industry can be challenging to navigate, with corruption and limited opportunities.
German filmmaking culture emphasizes personal stories and authenticity.
Distribution can be a frustrating and complex process for filmmakers.
Mental health is important in pursuing a career in filmmaking.
Sticking to one's artistic vision is crucial, even in the face of criticism.
Connecting with other filmmakers and sharing experiences can be inspiring and valuable.

What Movies Are You Watching?

Like, subscribe and follow us on our socials @pastpresentfeature

Previous Episode

E6 • Seek Your Truth • GEORGE SIKHARULIDZE, dir. of 'Panopticon' at the Karlovy Vary Int. Film Festival

Filmmaker George Sikharulidze joins Marcus from Tbilisi, Georgia to discuss his feature film debut 'Panopticon', which is World Premiering at the prestigious 58th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival on June 30th at The Grand Hall, and competing for the festival's top prize: the Crystal Globe.

A variety of topics include the influence of Francois Truffaut's 'The 400 Blows', the importance of honesty in filmmaking, the concept of Panopticism, and the value of making the films you regret. Other topics include the experience of watching one's own film, the challenges of making a feature film compared to shorts, the value of film labs and festivals, and the difficulties of the Georgian Film Center.
George emphasizes the importance of serving the story and removing oneself as a director.
Short Ends

The concept of panopticism and its influence on filmmaking
The impact of Truffaut's '400 Blows' on the director's own work
The value of developing a project through film school
The importance of structure and honesty in filmmaking
The excitement and anxiety of premiering a film at a festival
The experience of watching one's own film can vary, but the goal is to reach a point where the filmmaker can enjoy it without being overly concerned with others' opinions.
Making a feature film presents different challenges compared to making shorts, such as carrying the entire story in one's head and shooting out of order.
Film labs and festivals can provide valuable opportunities for filmmakers to showcase their work, meet industry professionals, and gain recognition.
A director's job is to serve the story and remove themselves from the film, allowing the story to take center stage.
The filmmaker has future projects in development and is motivated to continue making films.
Honesty with oneself is crucial in the filmmaking process, avoiding distractions and staying true to the vision.

What Movies Are You Watching?

Like, subscribe and follow us on our socials @pastpresentfeature

Next Episode

E8 • Keeping It Real • PAVEL G. VESNAKOV, dir. of 'Windless' at the Karlovy Vary Int. Film Festival

Bulgarian filmmaker Pavel Vesnakov discusses his journey in the film industry and his film 'Windless'. He talks about the importance of World Premiering at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival - a significant milestone for him. He shares his early influences, including the films 'Taste of Cherry' by Abbas Kiarostami and '3 Iron' by Kim Ki-duk, which inspired him to pursue filmmaking.
Pavel speaks on the challenges of making films in Bulgaria and the impact of working in the TV industry, the importance of realism in his films, and how his perspective has evolved over the years. We discuss the influence of the Romanian New Wave on his filmmaking style, the importance of capturing the mundane and authentic aspects of human existence, and the challenges of distributing and finding an audience for art films. We also touch on the use of specific techniques in 'Windless', such as the one-to-one aspect ratio and the incorporation of home video footage.
Vesnakov shares his thoughts on the themes of memory, time, and identity, and his desire to create movies that allow viewers to reflect on their own lives and existence. He also mentions his upcoming project, 'Deconstruction', which explores the concept of going back in time.
Short Ends

Pavel G. Vesnakov is excited about the world premiere of his film 'Windless' at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.
He discusses the challenges of making films in Bulgaria, including limited funding and a small cinema industry.
Pavel shares his early influences, including the films 'Taste of Cherry' by Abbas Kiarostami and '3 Iron' by Kim Ki-Duk, which inspired him to pursue filmmaking.
Working in the TV industry helped him overcome shyness and develop a better understanding of what he wants to achieve as a director.
He emphasizes the importance of realism in his films and the impact of capturing authentic moments on screen.
The Romanian New Wave has influenced Vesnakov's filmmaking style
Art films face challenges in distribution and finding an audience
Memory, time, and identity are recurring themes in Vesnakov's work
Creating movies that allow viewers to reflect on their own lives and existence
Vesnakov's upcoming project, 'Deconstruction', explores the concept of going back in time

What Movies Are You Watching?

Like, subscribe and follow us on our socials @pastpresentfeature

Past Present Feature with Marcus Mizelle - E7 • Living The Dream • ANJA KREIS, dir. of 'The Alienated' at the Karlovy Vary Int. Film Festival

Transcript

Marcus Mizelle (00:20)
On this week's episode, I speak with Russian filmmaker Anya Kreis, who shares her perspectives on Russia, the global allure of Hollywood,
and the process of making her latest film, The Alienated which is world premiering at Karlovy Vary on July 2nd. With its themes of mortality, dreams, sisterhood, The Alienated draws inspiration from David Lynch's Mulholland Drive.
She also shares her childhood fascination with Brazilian and Argentinian being drawn to the simpl

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