HollyShorts 2024 Day 8 Highlights + 5 Questions With Jean de Meuron!

We’re onto Day 8 of the festival, and it’s been quite the showing thus far! With another five blocks of screenings, some of the biggest names and most impactful films are still to come, with blocks of International films, Latinx projects, more Documentaries, the VFX block, and another screening of Dramas to fill the screens today. As always, those looking to grab tickets for the last few days of the festival in Los Angeles can find tickets here, and those looking to find the films online can always find them and so many more on BitPix! Be sure to stick around for an interview with Edge of Space writer/director Jean de Meuron as well!

INTERNATIONAL II

Palestine Islands – A complicated but powerful film about a group of Palestinian refugees that reside in the Batala camp, this film stars Sama Idressi as Maha, one of the camps last children, whose elderly grandfather (Mohammed Idressi) falls ill, leaving Maha with a plan to make him happy by getting him to believe that the barricade to his homeland has been lifted, and that he can see the seas of Palestine one more time. Her motives, while pure, only highlight the complex history of Palestine and their overseers in Israel, those who block them from their homeland in these instances. Shining a light on this, and how long this conflict has been happening in this way helps to show how it can affect even the smallest populations in this region. Writer and director team Nour Ben Salem and Julien Menanteau do an excellent job of bringing this to light in a very personal way.

LATINX

Iron Lung – Writer Vee Saieh and director Andrew Reid tell the story of two sisters, one a Polio survivor in the titular Iron Lung, who have to deal with a crisis as a storm knocks out their power, forcing them to find a new way for the ill to breathe. Veronica Falcon plays Luisa, who does everything she can to save her sister Norma (Tania Mejia) in this film that deals with a very personal medical crisis in a way that not many think about any longer.

DOCUMENTARY II

Ukrainians In Exile – Janek Ambros tells the story of Anya, a Ukrianian living in the country during the beginning stages of the invasion by Russia. In it, Anya contemplates her fate, and the fate of the other Ukrainians who have been forced to flee, and how they will be treated in other nations as they seek refuge. It’s a sobering look at the human cause of this conflict, zooming in on it in such a way that really helps emphasize not just the loss of life, but the loss of home and identity during this war.

VFX

Edge Of Space – Chad Michael Collins and Kimberly Alexander star in this gorgeous Jean de Meuron film that is set at the height of the space race in 1961. After a rocket explosion that kills his Tom Mitchel (Kevin LaRosa II), Captain Glen Ford is selected to attempt a dangerous and unprecedented sub-orbital flight that is as dangerous as it is revolutionizing. Alexander plays his wife Chloe, who despite knowing the potential catastrophe awaiting her husband, shows her support for his mission. It’s a technically marvelous film, with stellar acting and a part of the history of space travel that is far less talked about than events such as the Moon landing.

DRAMA II

The Dog – Danielle Baynes writes and directs a powerful and emotionally painful film that shows just how hard life can be for anyone and everyone, at any time. Wrapping a film about mental illness and suicidal ideation around the idea of pets in pain being euthanized, it stars Kate Walsh as Claudia, a vet struggling with her life as a veterinarian and as a person, showing the pain she’s in, the pain she helps people attempt to heal from, and her inability to do so herself in one of the hardest and most satisfying gut-punches of the festival thus far.

That’ll see us at the end of Day 8! It’s been an incredible festival thus far, and with one full day to go, along with our closing ceremonies the night after, we’ve nearly put this year’s HollyShorts Film Festival in the books! But don’t fret, we’ve still got more to come in the next few days. And to top off today, we have an interview with Edge Of Space writer/director Jean de Meuron!

What inspired you to start making films?
I have always been fascinated and extremely passionate about visual storytelling. Growing up, I would watch epic and cinematic blockbusters, especially films by Steven Spielberg, who inspired me to pursue a career in entertainment, as I aspired to share my own narratives by making movies.

What were the challenges in making this project?
EDGE OF SPACE is very ambitious in scale and scope. Cinematically speaking, my cinematographer and I meticulously prepared for our production, carefully storyboarding, planning and blocking every scene of the entire film. Our filmmaking approach was inspired by Terrence Malick (DAYS OF HEAVEN, THE THIN RED LINE), as we filmed mostly with available light during magic hour. So prep was crucial for us to frame our shots in terms of capturing the natural lighting set up at the perfect time to best tell the story, including lens flares where suitable. This is why we did our location scouts during sunset and sunrise to study the sun’s exact position. During principal photography, we simultaneously shot with two ARRI ALEXA Mini cameras – one mounted onto a Scorpio crane, the other on a Steadicam or Dolly. I like elegant camera movements, particularly how Spielberg, who is a master at blocking with his kinetic grace, stages his elaborate mise-en-scène oners. Michael Bay also has very dynamic shots, where interesting angles, compositions and constant motion creates a certain energy. In preparation, I rewatched their films and observed how the camera moves. From the very beginning, we wanted to shoot on Anamorphic lenses and consequent widescreen aspect ratio of 2.39:1, as I love that cinematic look. Additionally, the film consists of multiple complex visual effects aerial sequences (including in space), which required a very precise approach, lots of determination, clear vision and patience. Here, I studied original NASA archival footage from the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs. My ambition was to create feature film level quality, executed in a short format, which certainly was a bold challenge and massive undertaking.

Is there any type of message or emotion that you hope the viewer takes away from watching this film?
To provide some context, EDGE OF SPACE is set in 1961 during the height of the space race between the US and Soviet Union. The story depicts the struggles and conflicts of those who took “a clearly leading role in space achievement, which in many ways,” as President John F. Kennedy famously noted, “may hold the key to our future on earth.” As NASA embarks on the Artemis program, aiming to land a new generation of astronauts on the Moon, it is fascinating to trace the origins of the space exploration era, paying homage to the pioneers who risked it all. This is a timely story about human perseverance, scientific innovation and overcoming the impossible against all odds. Subtextually speaking, the film deals with the notion of the impact those who inspire us have, as we aspire to leave our own legacy. Inspired by actual historical events, I hope to convey an authentic portrayal of the heroic and brave exploits of test pilots turned astronauts. I wanted to honor and highlight those who reached for the stars, inspiring us in the process, while preserving a piece of history. In short, I hope viewers feel inspired when watching the film.

How does it feel to be able to screen the film at HollyShorts?
It is humbling and a huge privilege to screen as an Official Selection at the OSCAR® and BAFTA Qualifying HollyShorts. As a Member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Short Film Branch), I have always enjoyed the strong lineup and quality of the submitted films for Academy Award consideration, which come from the prestigious HollyShorts Film Festival.

What’s on the horizon for you?
As far as the immediate future is concerned, I currently work in Switzerland at the Zurich Film Festival, which, like HollyShorts, celebrates its 20th anniversary this fall. It is my cinematic dream to continue telling stories and making movies that are intended to be experienced/seen on the big screen in a theatrical environment.