AWAITING WONDER, 12min., Cyprus
Directed by Eleana Theophilou
A poetic exploration of a love story, of a widower that is going through the lonely journey of coming to terms with the sudden loss of his wife.

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

The core of the inspiration for the film lays in a time when my husband was rushed to the hospital after an accident.

The phone call from the hospital, the drive to the hospital and the few hours that I had to wait to find out whether he was going to survive the injuries created temporarily a very subjective sense of time and was saturated with emotions of love, memories, things unsaid, fear of loss and thoughts of loneliness. During the pandemic, a couple of years after the incident, these emotions resurfaced together with the need to make the film. The emotion of loneliness was a worldwide spread, loneliness related to loss or fear of loss of loved ones was spreading as much as the viral outbreak. In addition, I have been exploring the emotion of loneliness though my creative writing for some time before I commenced the film and I wanted to see them through the perspective of a filmmaking process.

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

A couple of years

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

Intriguing and contemplative.

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

There were a couple of mountains that I felt that I had to overcome and thankfully were surpassed. I went through pregnancy and labour during the production and post-production stage which was during the pandemic.

Consequently, you can imagine I was not always able to go to shooting locations and being worried about having a crew with me I found myself being a person of do it all behind and in front of the camera and had to find the balance between constantly babysitting and making the film. Thankfully my husband was very supportive through this process. In addition, when the film was reaching completion of the postproduction stage I was rushed to the hospital and at that point I thought I would never complete it but I managed to return home and I edited the film with final small touches and with a new perspective.

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

Immersed in beautiful feelings. It was nice to hear the different aspects and concepts people connected with the film which reflected my research and process into making the film but also gave me moments of a different perspective.

The feedback was also food for thought for further development as a filmmaker and further motivation for future filmmaking adventures.

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

I was in my first year as a student in the fine arts which was in my late 30s, during which time I wanted to explore video making because I felt I wanted the images to move and tell stories. I undertook an experimental filmmaking course as a taster and that was it, I fell in love with it, the film medium strongly felt as an expression tool and I eventually transferred my studies to concentrate on filmmaking.

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

In general, I love watching black and white films. I would say Meshes of the Afternoon (1943) by Maya Deren and Alexander Hammid, I probably watched it a few times over.

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 think the festival covered my needs as a filmmaker; the feedback on my film, a platform of promotion and a place to initiate communication with other filmmakers and receiving the above benefits without having to leave your working space and its commitments is important.

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

I am very pleased with the platform because there is enough information and it is organised enough to make the process easy and smooth.

10. What is your favorite meal?

I don’t know if it is the meal or what surrounds the meal but I do like a barbeque with meat and vegetables, people and laugher with it.

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

I am currently working on a family documentary and I am at a very early pre-production stage. I started with an exploration of the bond between my father and I but I slowly see it moving into other family members. Off course creative writing including poetry is part of the process of making this film.