On a drive back home in a dirty car, three young women talk about other people. Their conversation flows naturally and takes them into uncharted territory.

Interview with Writer/Director Stefanie Kolk

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

My previous films lack dialogue and are very atmosphere-driven. I usually work in a very structured way. But one day, I heard a dialogue in my head between three young women in a car. I sat down with a glass of wine and started to write it down, not realising it would become a short film. Somehow, something that happened in my friend group in the past - relating to sexual violence - made its way into the text. I was intrigued by the dialogue I wrote, and by the image of these three girls sitting in their dirty car, who had to relate to an event and to friends that are invisible in the scene. It spoke to me about how we relate to and empathise with 'the other', the person whom we can never really be. Whose pain we can never really feel.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

I think the film looks at something that's very relevant now: how we relate to something horrible happening to another person. Which goes something like: one moment you genuinely care, and the next moment you're fighting over a bag of crisps. Empathy can be a privilege because you can just choose to not think about it for a bit. I'm trying not to judge this but look at it with curiosity.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

The more specific and personal and detailed you get, the more universal a film becomes. That's what I strongly believe and I tried to live by this principle when making this film.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?

80% of the dialogue that I wrote in that first session made its way into the film. We changed one of the characters, Indy, a lot when I met the actress Olivia Lonsdale. Her input and the lightness in her performance had a lot of influence on the character. A few scenes are improvised, and the opening scene was unscripted: we just saw the location and the girls suggested doing a public peeing scene there.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

People that come up to me tell me they are moved or intrigued, and I'm really happy with the response so far. There are interesting discussions too. I remember one woman who came up to me and who was very annoyed with me. One of the three girls in the car has a very, let's call it, non-PC view on the topic. The woman asked me why I would give a character with such an opinion 'a platform'. The scene in which this happens is actually a fight between her and the main character who strongly disagrees with her, but I do let the girl speak for quite long without cutting away or overtly judging her. I am interested in her, even though I disagree with her.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

It has made me realise that people watch films for different reasons. I don't think films should only and always show the world that we desire. I like it when film confronts you with something real, shows you battles that are being fought.

So I guess that it has made me think about why I make films and ask myself why I am drawn to characters that I don't always like or agree with.

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

I hope more people will get to watch it and e-mail me what they think! You can always e-mail me with a screener request as well.

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

Film festival programmers, journalists.

What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?

I hope it allows people to have their own experience. I dislike hermetic films with a clear 'message' at the end, especially with a topic like this.

What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?

What was your experience with this film?

What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?

Stefanie recently received treatment development funding for her first feature film project Melk and is writing from home.

Interview: May 2020

We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela

Eyes on the Road

On a drive back home in a dirty car, three young women talk about other people. Their conversation flows naturally and takes them into uncharted territory.

Length: 16:00

Director: Stefanie Kolk

Producer: Miel van Welzen, Thomas den Drijver

Writer: Stefanie Kolk

About the writer, director and producer:

STEFANIE KOLK is a writer-director based in Amsterdam. She majored & worked in biophysics before film school. Her graduation short Clan premiered at the Locarno International Film Festival Pardi di Domani in 2016, with her shorts Harbour (2017) and latest Eyes on the Road (2019) following suit in the same competition. Stefanie's films have shown at festivals worldwide, in Dutch cinemas and on Dutch national television. She was a participant at Berlinale Talents 2019 and a Talent en Route at the Netherlands Film Festival 2019. Currently developing her first feature film Melk, she is currently enjoying a digital festival tour for Eyes on the Road.

MIEL VAN WELZEN is a producer, known for his short films Clan (2016), Greetings from Kropsdam (2016) and Without Sun (2016).

THOMAS DEN DRIJVER is a producer and writer, known for De Grote Zwaen (2015), J. Kessels (2015) and Anton Corbijn Inside Out (2012).

Key cast: Frieda Barnhard, Olivia Lonsdale, Sinem Kavus

Looking for: buyers

Facebook: Stefanie Kolk

Twitter: @stefaniekolk

Instagram: @stefaniekolk

Hashtags used: #eyesontheroad #stefaniekolk

Website: stefaniekolk.com

Made in association with: New Amsterdam Film Company (production company)

Funders: Filmfonds Shorts @ Netherlands Film Fund

Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Go Short International Short Film Festival Online, The Netherlands - 15 April-15 May; Vienna Shorts Online, Austria - 28 May-02 June; Concorto Film Festival, Italy, 22-29 August; Short Waves, Poland - 15-30 August; Dresden International Short Film Festival, Germany, 8-12 September.