Cannes Short Film Corner - Wait for me
Wait for me is a short stop-motion animation film about a young Mexican teenager who tells her dad she’s pregnant. The story centers around the conversation that followed and touches on themes of unconditional love and abortion. This film is told as a personal memoir for other young women who are facing hostility when it comes to reproductive rights.
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Andrea Villanueva
Watch Wait for Me on Sisterhood Media
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
This film is in part a shout out to other Mexican young women who are facing hostility when it comes to reproductive rights. The short film is a stop-motion memoir about my own experience in hopes of reaching girls like me.
I made it because I recognize that I’ve had the privilege to grow up and grow out of the trauma and harsh reality that was my childhood and teenhood.
Growing up there were no expectations for me, I was just another slutty, fat latina girl growing up in the ghetto.
Since then I’ve found success both in my activism and craft as a filmmaker. I have developed an appetite for life, for my future and belief that things will get better for my community and for the women in my life.
I wish I had known of a successful young latina who had gone through similar occurrences.
Although this story is costly in the sense of how vulnerable it is for me, I can afford to share and it’s how I can try and support other women.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
As an audience member you should watch this film because it’s championing a voice that is underrepresented in mainstream platforms. It offers a positive and optimistic ending to an otherwise taboo, and heavy subject matter which will likely promote interesting and important discussions on this issue. It has the power to raise awareness and create public solidarity with young latina and marginalized women.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Despite it being a mostly personal film, it also touches on universal themes of father and daughter relationships, unconditional love and also maternal love.
My father put aside culture and creed to help me in the wake of my unwanted pregnancy. His love for me is unique, but It is also universal.
Additionally my own feelings about parenthood and that unwanted pregnancy are equally charged and difficult and filled with love. Which is something that many women can relate to.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The initial script included more details of the pregnancy. It included that I was 15 with and had a very abusive and sexually abusive older partner.
However after some reflection I reckoned that generally audiences and the public are most sympathetic to assault related circumstances. I didn't think that detail should be the centre of the film because as a writer and producer I was personally least concerned with whether people would approve of the circumstance or not. This would have been a distracting and unnecessary detail and would derail the core of my message. So I left the details leading up to the discovery a mystery and simply emphasized that I was very young and very vulnerable in many ways. This ended up having the most impact and made the story stronger.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
I have received supportive and celebratory feedback on the actual film which is very fortunate.
However I am curious to see what other non-ally audiences have to say about it, and how they would react to the delivery of the story. Some people also advise that I carefully plan how to I pitch, share and speak about my project. They are worried I may end up in situations where I need to better protect myself, and so I’ve taken this into heavy consideration.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
It has changed my perception of how I see this particular project. Although personal projects are often vulnerable, I have challenged my role as a director and have separated myself emotionally.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I want to amplify this project as much as possible. I would be so excited to be featured on theWe are moving stories website. Its body of work is quite impressive.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
To share my films message I will need distributors. The intent of this film was to share my story with other young women. Most disclosures on abortion come after many years, and since my story is based on a personal story and I am still young, the story offers a voice of support, love and understanding that young women and girls could benefit from hearing. A Distributor would help the film reach the right market, and it would help create more accessibility for this project.
I am also open to full rights buyers for “Wait for me”.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I want it to get broadcast widely, yet hosted responsibly.
I know that the subject matter is incredibly charged, so it will be received in both a negative and positive light.
I would like to have my community champion this film, I would like wide and diverse recognition of this project because that in itself would be communicating support and solidarity with its message. The impact of this film will be dependent on whether it has the opportunity to reach audiences.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
In the wake of the Trump presidency and reproductive rights being jeopardized, are we supporting latina women?
Would you like to add anything else?
I would like to thank “Moving Voices”, it is an honour to be celebrated in the same forum as all of these film makers. Thank you for believing in my message and for investing in young, latina and marginalized women.
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I am working on completing a feature length called Pedro. It’s inspired by Billy Elliot and the Mexican novel “Pedro Paramo.” It centres on a 9 year old gay Mexican boy living in community housing in Toronto who seeks revenge on his estranged father. The story is an Epic Drama with Dark Comedic touches. I am currently completing the first script of this feature length project.
Interview: May 2017
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. 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
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“Wait for me”
Wait for me is a short stop-motion animation film about a young Mexican teenager who tells her dad she’s pregnant. The story centers around the conversation that followed and touches on themes of unconditional love and abortion. This film is told as a personal memoir for other young women who are facing hostility when it comes to reproductive rights.
Length:
1:47 MIN
Director:
Andrea Villanueva
Producer:
Andrea Villanueva
Writer:
Andrea Villanueva
BIO Director, Writer, and Producer :
Andy Villanueva was born in Mexico, in 1996. When she was 6 years old she moved to Toronto, Canada, where she lives and studies.
She is a director and screenwriter, and an activist. In Miss Villanueva Films, Andy has directed several short films and documentaries, and has participated in diverse cinematographic projects. In 2017, Andy received the Horizon Award, at Sundance Festival, and is going to participate in the Short Film Corner at Cannes 2017. In 2016, her short film She’s Bad was semifinalist at the Horizon Award.
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): I am looking for ; Producers, Buyers, Distributors, Film Festival directors and Journalists.
Social media handles:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndreaVillanuevaGuadalupe
Twitter: https://twitter.com/VillanuevaFilms
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sinceratristeza/
Other:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-villanueva-6b773013a/
Funders:
Post Horizon Award: Adrienne Shelly Foundation, Horizon Award,
Made in association with:
Self-produced short film.
Where can I see it in the next month?
Please come May 26 at 830 PM at Olympia Theatre. It will showcase at the Short Film Corner during the Cannes Film Festival 2017.