Raindance Film Festival / Lady Filmmakers Festival 2019 – Tell Him
Why can't Maxime, 9 years old, visit his mother at the hospital? Why can't his father tell him?
Interview with Writer/Director Virginia Bach
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
In my short film, Tell Him, I wanted to talk about the lie. The lie we decide to tell, to protect someone we love and how much it weighs on us. Until ultimately truth comes out.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
The film is a poignant journey that immerses us in a tender and tense turning point between father and son. The actors are magnificent.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
When I wrote this short, my mother was very sick and I knew that she was going to pass away in a few months. This moment was inevitable but still, it was terrifying me. Philippe and Maxime’s characters were born of the mix of fear and courage that I’ve felt during those months, sometimes as Philippe, neither able to speak, nor to act; but also as Maxime, pushed by a life force stronger than anything.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The film evolved during the casting. When I chose my actors and discovered that each one had his own story of mourning to tell. They were highly connected to me on the set and I was able to use their own emotion to find the truth in every scene.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Tell Him received very good feedback. The audience is mostly overwhelmed by the emotion and the performance of the actors. The film has been multi-awarded in festivals and broadcasted on French television. Grand prize winner of Stage 32 short film contest 2019.
Best Drama and Best Director at Top shorts Festival 2019Best Short film 2018 at the Calcutta International Film Festival.
Best Cinematography at The Women Indie Film Festival of Los Angeles. 2018
Best Drama Queen Palm Festival 2019
Best Child Actor, Actors Awards 2018
Best Drama Hollywood International Moving Pictures Film Festival 2018
Best Picture, Best Child Actor, I See You Awards Film Festival. 2018.
In September, the film will be screened in two major festivals: Raindance Film Festival in London.
Lady Filmmakers Film Festival in Beverly Hills.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Mostly, feedback gave me confidence and strength to continue writing strong and authentic stories.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I am looking for more exposure of my work. I would like to put Tell Him on VOD Platforms.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Buyers for VOD platforms.
Producers for future projects.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
How to announce death to a child?
What are the consequences of holding a secret in one's life? Why can't we tell the truth?
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I am in the writing process of a feature film, a coming of age story of a 17 years old girl.
I am also writing a 26 minutes short film for a french web channel.
Interview: September 2019
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
Tell Him
Why can't Maxime, 9 years old, visit his mother at the hospital? Why can't his father tell him?
Length: 14:39
Director: Virginia Bach
Producer: Julien Russo
Writer: Virginia Bach
About the writer, director and producer:
VIRGINIA BACH is a Paris based director and screenwriter. She has written and directed three short films and two music videos:
Tell Him, short film, drama, 15 mns -Best Drama and Best Director at Top shorts Festival 2018; Best Short film 2018 at the Calcutta International Film Festival; Best Cinematography at The Women Indie Film Festival of Los Angeles.
Run Away (Fuir) short film, drama, 20mns - In competition at Clermont Ferrand Internationa Festival, The Newport Beach Film Fest 2013 and The Unspoken Human Rights Film Fest of Utica.
The Oath (Le Serment) short film, drama, 11 mn - Screened at the French Film Festival of Richmond and Colcoa Los Angeles 2006.
Fhin-Around Away, music video - On YouTube - In official Selection at the Bokeh International Fashion Film Festival 2018
Paris Est A Nous, music video, Producer: Mirtha Jennings - Best Cinematography Award at La Jolla International Fashion Film Festival 2015.
Key cast: Gaspard Pasquet (the boy), Gregory Questel (the father)
Looking for: producers, distributors, buyers
Instagram: @virginia.bach
Hashtags used: #Tellhim
Other: Vimeo
Made in association with: France 3 Television. Occitanie Region
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Lady FilmMakers Festival. Beverly Hills. September 25th- 29th; Raindance Film Festival, London. Stage32 screening, September 29th