September 30, 2024

Claudia Engl: Filmmaking is a journey fueled by passion and story

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What are the most formidable challenges inherent to the profession of filmmaking?

I think that the biggest challenge is unfortunately always the necessary budget. Without money, it is very difficult to make good movies out of good stories.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Could you elaborate on the wellspring of your creative inspiration for this particular short film?

The short film ILSE tells the story of my grandmother, Ilse Engl, whose entire life was marked by many difficult strokes of fate. Despite these experiences, she kept going and never let them get her down until her death in 2015. Impressed by her life and her strength as a woman, I conducted several interviews with her during my studies at film school. It was important to me that her story should not be forgotten. The stories and details from these interviews later became the basis for the script of ILSE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hide and Seek | Poster
Karolina Belka

Could you elucidate on the central thematic underpinning of your film?

As well as wanting to tell my grandmother’s story, it was important to me to show how close joy and sorrow can be to each other in life. The movie should remind us how important friendship and family are and how women experienced World War II. ILSE is the heroic journey of a strong woman and a story about the survival instinct of our grandmothers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How do you navigate the task of strategizing cost-effective promotional efforts when operating within a constrained budget?

Fortunately, we had and still have an experienced film production company at our side for ILSE, POISON GmbH from Berlin, who took on this task for us. In principle, however, many advertising measures were planned via social media.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In today's dynamic marketplace, how pivotal do you consider the role of film distribution?

I think that film distribution still plays a very important role. Of course the market is changing, but the task of film distribution will be to adapt to these changes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For individuals contemplating the path of self-distribution, what counsel or insights can you offer?

Unfortunately, I have no experience with self-distribution, so I can’t give any counsel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In your estimation, what level of significance do short films hold for aspiring filmmakers seeking to embark on a career in directing?

I think that short films are always the start of such a career. Lady Gaga’s very first concert wasn’t the Super Bowl in front of millions of people. She very probably gained her first experience with being a professional singer with “small” performances. And in my opinion, it’s the same with filmmaking. Start with short films, gain experience and then you’ll be ready to work your way up to feature films.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reflecting on your professional journey thus far, could you share an instance of the most formidable challenge you encountered and how you surmounted it?

The short film ILSE was the biggest challenge for me so far. This movie changed me and my life. Why? This film is my short film directorial debut and it also tells the story of my own grandmother. I had enormous fears of failure. How I overcame them? I had a fantastic team at my side who, at the right moments, supported me incredibly in my work. It is also important to deal intensively with such fears and yourself afterwards.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What, in your view, are the critical factors that contribute to the creation of a cinematic masterpiece?

An emotional story, a vision, good dialogs, great cast and crew, great locations and – quite unromantically – with the right amount of pocket money ;-).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you could revisit the inception of your career, are there any aspects or decisions you would choose to alter in hindsight?

If I could meet my former self, I would give her a big hug and say the following: Believe me, your life doesn’t depend on this. Just have fun.

KAAFFILM is an international network of distribution, production, and promotion of short films. #Kaaffilm

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