CANNES SHORT FILM CORNER - Adorn
Running time: 10:47
Selected for Cannes Short Film Corner
Logline:
A young woman confronts her emotionally unavailable boyfriend after being stood up on their anniversary date. As the reality of their loveless relationship destroys her fantasy of how things could be, she is forced to either sacrifice her desires or be alone.
Directors: Mouna Traoré and Elizabeth Melanson
Producers: Mouna Traoré, Elizabeth Melanson, Thyrone Tommy
Writer: Mouna Traoré
DP: Ali Khurshid
Cast: Tenika Davis, Jon Cor
About the director and producer:
Mouna Traoré is an emerging actor, producer and writer born and raised in downtown Toronto. After attending the prestigious Etobicoke School for the Arts as a drama major, Mouna completed her Bachelor of Arts and Science degree at The University of Toronto. Mouna recently joined CBC’s acclaimed series Murdoch Mysteries, as the newest cast member, Rebecca James. Mouna has written and produced two short narrative films through her company The Mini Films along with co-founder Elizabeth Melanson.
Elizabeth Melanson was born and raised in Oakville, Ontario, and first explored her passion for drama at the Etobicoke School of the Arts. Elizabeth then attended the renowned School of Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California where she completed her BA in Cinema Television Critical Studies with a minor in Dramatic Arts. Upon returning to Toronto in 2013, Elizabeth co-founded The Mini Films, an independent film production company. Their first short dramatic narrative, All of Me, was selected by CBC’s shorts television program Canadian Reflections.
The Mini Films is based out of Toronto, Canada. Both Mouna and Elizabeth are eager to continue their creative endeavors on a broader, more global scale.
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists):
We are currently looking for international film festival premieres and distribution opportunities on multiple platforms, including digital releases and television broadcasts.
Congratulations! Why did you make a film called Adorn?
We made this film because we wanted to explore the theme of dysfunction in relationships, and the allure of fantasy in the face of reality.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
You should watch this film because at its core, it deals with something we can all understand: falling out of love and finding the courage to end a relationship.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Adorn depicts universal themes of love, dependence, and emotional abandonment, experiences that most people in relationships encounter at one time or another. We wanted to tackle the feeling of being an accessory, being with someone without romance or meaning, which is a theme that has no cultural boundaries.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
The film began as a short story titled "The Necklace". Its raw and candid portrayal of the character Akua's journey was so visual, we knew it would easily translate to film.
The script went through a few rewrites until it was finalized for production. But once we brought on our actors and our director of photography, the script continued to adapt based on creative collaborations.
Originally the film transitioned between black & white and color. But in creative meetings with our DP Ali Khurshid, he brought a refreshing visual perspective that we hadn't anticipated. His use of an ARRI Alexa and his beautiful steadicam work changed our original concept of how we wanted to use color in the final cut.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
We have so much support from friends, family, peers and new colleagues. The film is still awaiting an official premiere status, but we are confident it will be received well among international audiences.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
What most surprised us about the feedback is how many men have related to the story. We've had several men express how much the film has affected them and how much they related to the female protagonist's story.
Our film also includes a lot of symbolic costume and artistic design. To hear that viewers have picked up on those visual cues that enhance the story has been very affirming.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
We hope to inspire, and be inspired by like-minded creative individuals who have a passion for storytelling. We would also like to generate interest from international festivals and buyers, and connect with programmers and other industry professionals who may be interested in this story, as well as The Mini Films future projects.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We would love for both Canadian and international distributors interested in the project to contact us about possibilities once the film has made its rounds in various festivals.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
We want audiences to come out of this film thinking more deeply about their partners and relationships. We want viewers to question the nature of their relationships and think critically about the dynamics of power and love. Ask: Am I engaged? Should I follow my intuition? Why is this okay with me?
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
When did you realize you weren't in love anymore? And what did you do?
Would you like to add anything else?
To learn more about The Mini Films, please visit www.theminifilms.com
Contact us via email
Mouna – mouna@theminifilms.com
Elizabeth – elizabeth@theminifilms.com
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Well our company The Mini Films is currently developing a comedic web-series titled "The Breakup Artists" and we hope to start production next year. The series is about two girls who offer professional break up services for those seeking a hassle free way to end their relationships.
The comedy-drama The Break Up Artists follows Femi, a hard edged, street smart diva, and Spencer, a neurotic new-age suburban hippie, as they run a professional break up service. Femi and Spencer find creative, direct and sometimes disturbing solutions to delicate break ups, all while balancing their own dysfunctional lives.