5 Questions With “A Day in February” Director, Klaas Diersmann!

A Day in February, by Director Klaas Diersmann, focuses on a Ukranian mother working in Poland, while waiting anxiously for a calling confirming her family’s status on crossing the border during war. As the film covers the pains of family separation and refugees during the Russian-Ukraine War, it is surely a must-see. We are so grateful to have Klaas Diersmann on our “5 Questions With” series, sharing more about the film.

To look out for more interviews like this, be sure to check out our BitPix.

What inspired you to start making films? 

I’ve always loved film. I remember watching Kubrick’s Space Odyssey as a teenager and being absolutely fascinated. I loved the way it transported you to somewhere completely different. I was amazed by the possibilities of cinema and went as often as I could. As a filmmaker, I’ve always been inspired by how film can change perspectives, start conversations and challenge norms. 

Were there any challenges in making this project? 

When the war on Ukraine began, I felt so emotionally charged to do something. But telling a story about such a sensitive subject that is still ongoing is difficult, and we faced challenges to get the film off the ground. Once the writer, Alex Bahiyyih Wain, and I developed the concept (inspired by real stories of Ukrainians) I knew I had to tell this story, which meant self-producing, self-financing on a very low budget, and finding amazingly talented people who helped make it happen, like Hannah Marie Williams our casting agent, who introduced us to our lead actress Daria Panchenko.

When we got to production, it was an incredible challenge to film such an emotional drama in one day across two locations in the middle of a summer heatwave in a UK working factory posing as Poland in winter. I couldn’t have done it without the amazing and dedicated crew and cast that really believed in the project and put all their energy into it. The staff in the factory were also so supportive of the project, many of them being Polish and Ukrainian who really related through personal experiences to the story. 

Is there any type of message or emotion that you hope the viewer takes away from watching this film? 

There were obviously so many emotions surrounding this issue at the time we were making the film, and we knew we had to capture this moment very empathetically and authentically. When I watched our lead actress Daria’s self-tape she already had captured these emotions so naturally, being Ukrainian herself, she enabled us to capture a message of solidarity, despair and hope. Capturing the emotion and tension within every frame, we were lucky to have Aaron Adrian Rogers as our Director of Photography (House of Dragon) who brought a wonderfully immersive quality to the intimate handheld camera.

The film shows the consequences and trauma of war without showing physical violence. By focusing on the moment in time when the main character, Galyna’s whole life changes with one phone call, we can emotionally relate to the gravity of the situation she and millions of people face in Europe and around the world. As a parent myself, when I heard about the real stories of separated families, I wanted to enable viewers to connect on a personal level with the lives often hidden behind the headlines and statistics. 

A key message for viewers is to realise that the Ukraine war and many other wars are still ongoing, there are a lot of families still separated and in need of help. 

How does it feel to be able to screen the film at HollyShorts? 

It feels amazing for the film to be shown in Hollywood at such a prestigious festival. The cast, crew and I are so happy to share our film with your audience – thank you for the opportunity.

What’s on the horizon for you? 

I’m developing a high-end TV series which is a near future coming-of-age drama, alongside a couple of feature films scripts, and a short comedy. With a young family, I’m also hoping there’s some down time on the horizon!

Thank you so much, Klaas, for sharing your responses! Moreover, be sure to check out A Day in February at the upcoming HollyShorts 2023 Film Festival on August 17th at 12pm for “International.” Click here to get tickets for the 19th Annual HollyShorts Film Festival, running from August 10th – August 19th at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres.