How did you feel when you won your award at the Festival de Cannes?
It was one of the best nights of my life because it was my first time at the Festival de Cannes, and of course, my first time attending the Closing Ceremony. I was extremely nervous, but luckily, it didn’t last long since our category was the first to be announced, and they called me up to the stage very quickly. I was over the moon, and my entire team was thrilled. We had an amazing party afterwards. In the following months, I won many major awards: the European Film Award, the César, and we were nominated for an Oscar. But I believe this award will always be the most precious to me.
What has this award changed in your life?
This award initially propelled our film to over a hundred film festivals and led to many other awards. Over the past six months, I made numerous valuable contacts, secured the contract for my first feature film, and opened doors to an international career. This award has truly made a significant impact on my career.
What are your best Cannes memories?
My best memories of Cannes are the screenings. Cannes is not only about glamour, obviously, but it is also a great festival with a wonderful audience, who really love the films and react very loudly to evrything that is happing. To watch any film at the Festival de Cannes is a really exciting experience.
What message would you like your film to send to the new generation of filmmakers?
I don’t like talking about messages because films are about creating an experience for the audience, not delivering a message. In my film, I wanted to immerse the audience in a situation that is horrifying yet universally relatable: witnessing violence that isn’t directed at you, but at someone else, and having to decide what to do. Whatever you choose, it will change your life forever. In this film, we were really constrained by many factors—location, time—and we tried to make the most of these limitations. Creatively, it was an incredibly exciting process for me.
Do you have any projects in progress?
Yes! My team and I have just completed the first draft of my debut feature film, and now I’m working on the second draft. This wouldn’t have been possible without the award I received at Cannes. I also had the premiere of my new short documentary last night, which was showcased at the opening of the Zagreb Doc Film Festival.
