DOBRINA, 5min., Germany
Directed by Hannes Rall
Lotte Reiniger meets Sergio Leone in this animated short, where desire burns as bright as the desert sun.

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

I always wanted to make a film that combines my love of the films of Sergio Leone, Lotte Reiniger (famous German silhouette animation pioneer) and the artworks of Pablo Picasso particular his bullfight drawings and prints. The film obviously also pays homage to the opera Carmen, so I hope it all comes together in a rather unique mix.

But of course there was also the fabulous song by Michael Roedinger and his band that inspired the story and the visuals in the first place.

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

Round about two years because I always had to find time to animate on the film, together with my German colleague Ralf Bohde.

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

Flaming shadows.

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

Clearly finding the time to do it.

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

I was so happy to find that the comments exactly mirrored what I had intended to communicate with the film.

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

Actually a very long time ago, now it's coming to 40 years when my initial love for comics turned into an infatuation with a fascinating medium of animation.

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

Probably a lot of animation films among them all the Disney classics, but naturally also a lot of avantgarde and independent animation. As you can tell from my film very easily also do love westerns be it the very classic ones like "The Searchers" or Sergio Leone's fabulous "Spaghwtti"-Westerns like "Once upon a Time in the West."

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 audience feedback you're doing and sharing with the film makers is a wonderful idea and should be more common with festivals - as it will allow the many of us who cannot personally attend all the festivals to still get an idea of the impression the film left with the spectators.

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

Film freeway is great because it is really easy to handle and very intuitive and user friendly.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Oh no there are so many to choose from - but possibly the Italian dish Osso Bucco.

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

Yes indeed there are actually several in the works. Ironically a very long "short film" (29 minutes) that "mashes up" free famous Shakespeare please in slightly humorous fashion and a very short one that will be a kind of sequel to my very successful short

"Shakespeare for all Ages."