¡Quédate en casa!, 33min., Mexico
Directed by Dominique Caron
As the world battles with an evolving global pandemic, a bohemian paradise coastal town is put into lockdown. Alvaro, a local resident panicked by the virus threat, volunteers as a vigilante to fend off any possible transgressions to the lockdown regulations. However, his fragile authority is challenged when a group of free spirited party-goers refuse to abide.

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

Self producing a film is always a challenge, especially with no money. One of the greatest challenges is to find dedicated collaborateur that will be willing to work on your project. I was in a small Mexican town when the first covid 19 lockdown happened. I immediately thought it was an amazing opportunity to make a film because everything was closed and all the people had a lot of time available. It was therefore easier to produce a film with almost no budget in a collaborative way.

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

It took me about two years. I wrote it in 2 weeks (which is a very short time for 35 pages of script). We shot it in one month. Then I had to take a year break to make some money because I went totally broke. The post-production took me a long time, because I was doing it only when I had some freetime ...

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

Cinema Guerilla.

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

I think that doing much of the post-production alone and isolated was difficult.

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

I felt that the film was well understood, maybe even slightly too obvious! One of the themes of the film is the polarization that resulted from the pandemic. I wanted to portrait both sides, but without really taking sides. So far it is really interesting to see how differently the public react depending on their stance on the pandemic and the safety measures that were taken.

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

I always loved film and since childhood I have been interested in doing some. I started with home movies, then skateboarding movies, documentaries, and finally fiction!

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

Maybe the first Predator. WHen I was a child, my brother had a taped version of the film and I had a friend obsessed with it. So everytime he would visit me he would ask me to play it.

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

It would have been nice to be able to go to an actual screening, and even answer questions from the public directly.

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

Yes. So so, a lot of fake festivals ...

10. What is your favorite meal?

Salor Machu (A delicious cambodian soup)

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

Yes! I already have one short film written. I am just waiting to save a little money to be able to produce it!