Directors Notes // The Home of Independent Filmmaking

“Pirate Filmmaking” Heads to Cannes in Karni&Saul’s Fishy Road Trip Short ‘Wild Summon’

Filmmakers Karni&Saul return to DN to discuss seamless blending live-action and CGI for their Cannes 'in Competition' love poem to nature short film.

Film Festival, Live Action

Faris Alrjoob Crafts a Beguiling Mystery of Love with Cannes-Premiering Short ‘The Red Sea Makes Me Wanna Cry’

Through enigmatic voiceover, elliptical editing and gorgeous Super 16mm frames, Faris Alrjoob reveals how he created a mysterious reverie on closure.

Film Festival, Live Action

Grief & Political Rage Converge in Musa Alderson-Clarke’s Searing Cannes Selected Thriller ‘Killing Boris Johnson’

Musa Alderson-Clarke takes DN through the challenge of baking white hot tension into the fabric of his Cannes premiering short about a young man in turmoil.

Documentary, Premiere

Robin Trouillet Crafts a Portrait of a Hard Raver Who Goes Again the Grain in ‘Turning Man – 81RPM’

Robin Trouillet reveals how he created a three-dimensional portrait of a unique individual with an uncompromising spirit for his music documentary short.

Art & Fashion, Premiere

Alexandra Bas Welcomes a More Vulnerable Masculinity in Joyous Fashion Short ‘The Distance Between Us’

Filmmaker Alexandra Bas explains her creative process operating as both director and cinematographer on her vibrant fashion short.

Animation

An Immigrant Battles Loss and Her Legal Status in Tsvetelina Zdraveva & Jerred North’s Drama ‘Yellowbird’

Co-Directors Tsvetelina Zdraveva & Jerred North break down the production roles they each occupied in order to craft their animated immigrant drama.

Film Festival, Live Action

Eivind Landsvik’s Cannes Palme d’Or Short ‘TITS’ Shares an Achingly Honest Portrayal of Teenage Insecurities

Eivind Landsvik details the key scenes from his tender Cannes selected coming of age drama short which could only be captured on 16mm film.

Live Action

Simone Smith’s Surreal Short ‘The Möbius Trip’ Explores the Inner Madness of All Chaotic Families

Simone Smith explains how she used visually outré imagery, claustrohobic frames and rear projection to find the madness of a chaotic family.

Live Action

A Father With Parkinson’s and His Son Attempt to Score Drugs in Grant Taylor’s Heartwarming Comedy Drama ‘Ecstasy’

Grant Taylor details the stages he went through to balance the comedy and drama in his short following a father and son’s search for drugs.