HALLOWEEN, 15min., France
Directed by Sacha Lafitte, Aurélien Cambriel
A psychiatrist starts a new job at a hospital. She leaves her daughter with a babysitter for Halloween night. But Michael Myers is lurking nearby.

Get to know the filmmaker Sacha Lafitte:

What motivated you to make this film?

The idea was to pay a strong tribute to John Carpenter’s fantastic slasher
Halloween. As a Cinema teacher, I proposed a course focused on making a
fanfilm. Students had to analyse the first eight movies and make the film and
get inspired by the characters, the atmosphere. Then they wrote a story around a baby-sitter and a young girl. We had to reverse the plot of the original film and turn the baby-sitter into a serial killer.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

It took almost 1 year to finalise the film.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Smart and respectful from the original movie.

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

The sound design. We we supposed to work with a sound engineer to supervize students. But unfortunately it wasn’t possible. I had to work alone on all the sound design, as students had no longer time to work on it. The other issue was to deal with the shot list, the lack of time obliged us to cut down the number of plans shot.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking
about your film in the feedback video?

We were intimidated and really happy that people enjoyed watching our film !

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

Since childhood. On photos, i always put my fingers as a lense to watched througt it as if it was a camera ! Unconsciouslly I was addicted !

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

Jaws from Steven Spielberg (1975)

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

I’d like to talk with professionals, and get the opportunity to pitch a screenplay
to producers.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

I was a very good experience, though there was some kind of confusion about the dates and results. But everything went very well.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Sushis !

11. What is next for you? A new film?

I’m directing a pilot of a series I plan to pitch to producers, untitled « Morituri

It’s the story of an art student investigating a serial killer who recreates famous paintings by old masters. Then, another short film with students set around the World War I. Eventually, in June 2027, a symphonic orchestra will be performing two pieces of on opera I’m writing on Dracula. I can’t wait !