It’s time again for DANCES WITH FILMS film festival now in its 26th year, and as usual, BEHIND THE LENS is celebrating some of the wonderful films and filmmakers you’ll see and meet at this year’s fest. To get into the spirit of things, this week we are joined by D.MITRY GELFAND talking about his poignant and powerful short HEDGEHOG, while GRAHAM STREETER discusses his latest feature UNFIX.
First up is writer/director D.MITRY GELFAND who is no stranger to me thanks to his feature directorial a few years ago, the beautiful and tender film “My True Fairytale”. Dmitry now joins us discussing his latest narrative short, HEDGEHOG, a look at the war in Ukraine through the innocent eyes of a 6-year-old girl and what happens when she finds an injured Russian soldier in her grandmother’s barn. An emotionally powerful short that speaks volumes in its mere 17 minutes, Dmitry gives us a unique perspective based on his own life experience as an immigrant from the USSR when he was only 15 years old. There is a purity and honesty to HEDGEHOG that speaks to the heart and to humanity, all exquisitely brought together through cinematography and production design, impeccable sound design, a unique score, and an unbelievable performance by Emma Pearson as 6-year-old Nina. We talk about it all.
HEDGEHOG screens at DWF on Monday, June 26, 2023 at 4:45pm PT.
Then, writer/director/editor GRAHAM STREETER discusses his emotionally charged narrative feature entry at DWF entitled UNFIX which speaks to the sensitive themes surrounding Conversion Therapy and the lasting effects it can have on an individual and their journey to self-discovery. Going beyond the issue of Conversion Therapy, Graham also explores the harmful nature of secrets and delivers characters who each have something to hide that is of such magnitude as to eat away at each individual while threatening to explode into a dangerous situation. Set during the Covid lockdown, Graham uses the close quarters of four people living together, two of whom are complete strangers to 17-year couple Ari and Ava, to metaphorically intensify and showcase the unfolding drama. Covering it all, including Graham’s many hats of writer, director, editor, sound editor/mixer, and cinematographer and how he used that to his advantage in bringing UNFIX to life, this is an interview you don’t want to miss.
UNFIX screens at DWF on Friday, June 20, 2023 at 7:15pm PT.
Both HEDGEHOG and UNFIX are absolute “Must See Festival Films” at DWF next week! DANCES WITH FILMS runs from June 22 through July 2 at the TCL Chinese Theatres in Hollywood. Both films will have post-screening Q&As with the filmmakers.
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