Frameline 42 - Fig Tree
A woman confronted with the absence of her lover is haunted by memories of passion, tenderness and pain that pierce the margins of her reality.
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Ana Quintanilla
Watch Fig Tree here:
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Thank you for the congratulations! My background is in Fine Arts, and a few years ago I started to explore film and photography as a way to better express certain ideas that came to me that I felt painting and drawing couldn’t communicate. A lot of what I make comes from personal experiences. I had been mourning a relationship, which was sort of the seed of the film and it grew into the story it is now. I made it because I felt the need to express this experience I had through the lens of cinema. It just felt like I needed to make it for myself, if nothing else.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
The film is short and sweet. It only runs for about 5 minutes. It has no dialogue and has an air of magical realism to it. I think it's a unique expression of a story open to the interpretation of the audience. You get to decide what it’s about.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Many of us have mourned relationships. I personally have, and this film is about that process of morning, and it’s haunting. It pierces the margin of reality. Perhaps not everyone has experienced the end of relationship but many of us have experienced loss, and I think we can all relate to that and feel it in this film.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
Originally it was about a character that was torn between 2 lovers eventually ending up alone. I shot a test scene and something didn’t feel right with the dialogue and the characters. So I got rid of the dialogue and most of the male characters. It naturally fell into the story that it is now.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
I have not received very much feedback other than personal feedback from the crew I worked with. They all seem to have felt that it hit some chords with them.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
It’s surprised a little bit from what I’ve received so far but I can’t say I’ve had enough feedback yet.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I would really like to expand to a wider audience for the voice of the film to be heard. Particularly the audience of www.wearemovingstories.com. The film is short, and it needs a community like We Are Moving Stories to share it. Having it on the website will allow access to people that may not otherwise be able to reach it at a festival or outside of my own community. www.wearemovingstories.com has helped share the voices of marginalized people and subjects, it's something that is so needed when oftentimes ignored by the mainstream media. I appreciate a platform that helps lift the voices of others be heard, including my own voice.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
In all honesty, all of the above. “Fig Tree” was made by a very tiny crew with no funding at all. Anyone that can come on board will be of such huge help.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
If it strikes a chord, I’ll be happy. I want to be able to connect with those who can say “Yes, I know that feeling.”
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I’m in the process of writing a new short, longer than “Fig Tree” and with dialogue this time. I can’t really say what it’s about just yet but similar themes and some dashes of magic.
Interview: June 2018
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
Fig Tree
A woman confronted with the absence of her lover is haunted by memories of passion, tenderness and pain that pierce the margins of her reality.
Length: 4min 47 sec
Director: Ana Quintanilla
Producer: Ana Quintanilla
Writer: Ana Quintanilla
About the writer, director and producer:
ANA QUINTANILLA was born and raised in South Florida, often traveling as a child to their family home in Nicaragua. They received a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts from California College of the Arts. In addition to film, they work in performance art, drawing and photography. Their work has been included on the cover of Nicaraguan Poetry Magazine, “Flores de la Trinchera- Muestra de la Nueva Narrativa Nicaragüense,” published by Fondo Editorial Soma. Ana has also been featured in art shows around the world, including Nicaragua, Spain, Turkey, Mexico and the US. Ana’s self published photo book Bathe was on the 2014 short list for Art Books Wanted. They’re film “Fig Tree” was officially selected for Frameline Film Festival and Outfest. Ana lives and works in Berkeley, CA.
Key cast: Ana Quintanilla and Sara Zadeh
Looking for: producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists
Instagram: ainxt
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?
Frameline Film Festival June 21st and Outfest July 20th and 22nd