Faceless creatures stalk a young man through Brooklyn on a dark summer night.

Interview with Writer/Director/Producer/Actor Daphne Zelle

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

I've always loved dark fairy tales, cult horror, and Guillermo del Toro films. I was watching the Studio Ghibli film Pom Poko, which has a brief depiction of the Japanese mythological shape-shifting creatures known as noppera-bō, and I started thinking about how terrifying that would be if it happened in real life. I was jonesing to create a work of my own, and this felt right.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

At four minutes and change, it's a very digestible bite if you're in the mood for a little thrill!

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

I wanted to express the struggles of identity and anxiety enveloped inside a fairy tale-esque horror. I imagine Jules, our protagonist, as someone who wears and sheds personality traits depending on the crowd he's with without having a clear idea of who he really is - someone who has the blessing and curse of melting seamlessly into the background without leaving a trace. My early twenties were plagued with constant social anxiety and the fear of being the one who was not in on the joke, and I wanted to play with that within a horror-thriller landscape.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

People have found it quite scary so far, which is a reassuringly positive sign for a horror.

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

It's an incredible feeling to be able to share this film with a wider audience. I'm so proud of the work my team accomplished on this project, and I'd love to channel the momentum into my next film: Heirloom.

What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?

My dream would be for Your Face to be included in a horror anthology, i.e. on Shudder or as part of a Halloween streamer special!

What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?

Have you ever pretended to be somebody you're not? What effect did that have on you?

What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?

I'm currently developing my next film Heirloom, a horror-thriller about a young mixed Asian antiques dealer who may have inherited a terrifying family trait. Yaron, who plays Jules, recently wrapped a supporting role in an indie feature film written and directed by Noah Schamus and Dan, our producer, is currently on the festival circuit with his latest short entitled To Be Honest.

Interview: April 2023

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

Your Face

Faceless creatures stalk a young man through Brooklyn on a dark summer night.

Length: 4:11

Director: Daphne Zelle

Producer: Daniel Kirby

Writer: Daphne Zelle

About the writer, director and producer:

An ex-professional ballet dancer, DAPHNE ZELLE attended NYU’s Gallatin program, where she graduated with a BA in drama and creative writing. She wrote and directed Your Face (Cinequest, NFMLA), which is her debut short film. Her second film, Heirloom, is currently in development. Actor credits: Inventing Anna (Netflix), Modern Love (Amazon Prime), Younger (TV Land), Blue Bloods (CBS), Law & Order: Organized Crimes (NBC), And Just Like That (HBO Max), Power Book II: Ghost (Starz) and New Amsterdam (NBC).

DANIEL KIRBY is a producer and award-winning writer whose films have been screened at dozens of festivals around the world. His most recent project, the multi-award-winning short film To Be Honest, is currently on the festival circuit. His work has been part of the official selection at the Tacoma Film Festival, Orlando Film Festival, New York Shorts Independent Film Festival, and many others.

Key cast: Yaron (Jules)

Looking for: sales agents, distributors, journalists and film festival directors

Instagram: @daphnezelle

Hashtags used: #yourfacethefilm

Website: www.yourfacethefilm.com

Other: IMDb

Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?

NFMLA/ Los Angeles, CA - May 13th, 2023
Cinequest/ Silicon Valley, CA - August 16th - 31st, 2023