Les Femmes Underground International Film Festival 2017 - Iris
Emanuelle is training on her stationary bike but she can't get her mind off the image of Laura. The more she pedals, the more her memories turn to desire.
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Gabrielle Demers
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I wanted to explore an ambiguous sentiment that can be felt as a pre-teen and particularly from a feminine standpoint. When we notice other girls of the same age who, contrary to us, already look like women with assertiveness in their femininity. It’s intimidating and after looking at them for a while we can ask ourselves if we obsess over them because we wish to look like them or because we are sexually attracted to them. Iris was born from that ambiguous sentiment.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
The main actress Marie Babbini is incredible. She was only 13 years old when we shot the movie and the looks that she gives us are so genuine that we are reminded of the intensity we feel in high school. Also the pictures by my director of photography Chloé Lampron-Gingras are magnificent.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The linearity of Iris has changed a lot during editing. The film was written to have very impressionist moments. But during the viewing of the footage with my editor Charlie Boisvert, we realized the best way to go about telling the story was to make it a more experimental film on masturbation. Since the subject of masturbation could work with the idea of memory… Those images that get stuck in our minds.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
I was pleasantly surprised by the positive comments that we received. I was scared that the movie would only reach a female public, but that was absolutely not the case. Overall, I think the film is very polarized.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
First I would like to thank We are moving stories for their interest for the film. Secondly, I’m simply looking for a chance that more people see the film.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
I would love to attract the attention of festival programmers.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I like to believe that many young girls will identify with my film’s main character and that they would feel less alone in the discovery of femininity.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
It would be amazing that the film can serve as a “door opener” for mothers to discuss sexuality with their daughters.
Would you like to add anything else?
The sound design and soundtrack were very important steps in the film conception.
We started with the sound of the stationary bicycle to elaborate all the other aspects of sound design. Actually, the cyclical and metallic aspect of the bicycle is brought up every time we think about the main character which accentuates the link with the subject of memory. For the musical aspect, we used a handpan because it’s at the same time metallic and soft sounding which merges perfectly with the ambiance of the film.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I am currently working on a short-film that is set in the 70s in which we follow an all female team of filmmakers. We are looking to start in mid-October.
Interview: August 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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Iris
Emanuelle is training on her stationary bike but she can't get her mind off the image of Laura. The more she pedals, the more her memories turn to desire.
Length: 9min52
Director: Gabrielle Demers
Producer: Isabelle Kalar
Writer: Gabrielle Demers
About the writer, director and producer:
Gabrielle is a Montreal filmmaker and she also works in a vinyl store.
Key cast: Marie Babbini, Daphné Germain
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): Film Festival directors
Social media handles:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paupieremauvefilm/
Other: https://vimeo.com/gabrielledemers
Made in association with: UQÀM
Where can I see it in the next month?
September 02, Digital Gym Cinema, San Diego
Les Femmes Underground International Film Festival 2017