Mariposa, 5min,. USA
Directed by Brook Vitovsky
Mariposa's world begins to unravel around her when she finds a mysterious butterfly.

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?
Growing up, I, Brook Vitovsky, watched my great-grandmother struggle with dementia. From the time I was a toddler until I was thirteen, I saw how the disease slowly affected her mind and spirit. Witnessing that experience firsthand made me realize how deeply dementia impacts not only those who live with it but also their families. My motivation for making this film comes from a desire to honor that experience — to reach people’s hearts and create a sense of shared understanding and connection.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you
to make this film?
My team and I worked on this film for over a year.

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

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
The biggest challenge we faced was definitely the layout. Matching the perspective from the storyboards to the 3D model in Maya proved difficult, especially when it came to controlling the camera.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking
about your film in the feedback video?
We were very touched by the feedback and grateful to see that our film was interpreted the way we intended. It was rewarding to hear that the themes and emotions we worked hard to convey resonated with the audience. Watching people connect with the story and notice the details we put thought into made the whole process feel worthwhile. It also gave us valuable insight into how our creative choices came across to viewers, which will help us grow in future projects.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
Many of us discovered our passion for filmmaking when we were kids—whether it was making little movies with friends or watching short films created by students from other schools. Seeing how stories could come to life on screen inspired us, and we dreamed of one day making a film of our own. Getting the chance to finally do that has been an exciting and fulfilling experience.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?
Some different films that we have seen the most in our lives are La La Land, Jennifer’s Body, The Lion King, and The Land Before Time.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other
festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?
Scheduling a day where all the film winners can join a call to discuss our projects and connect with one another would be a great addition. It would offer an opportunity to exchange experiences and insights through direct interaction beyond the group chat you’ve already established. The interview questions, podcast, and winner group chat are already fantastic ways to support and strengthen our growth as filmmakers, and adding more opportunities for direct interaction would make the experience even more meaningful.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your
experiences been working on the festival platform site?
Submitting our film to the festival via FilmFreeway was nice and smooth.

10. What is your favorite meal?
Some of our favorite meals are pasta, caviar on crackers, pizza, and chili.

11. What is next for you? A new film?
What’s next for us varies from person to person. Some of us are currently working on a new film that’s in the process of being funded, while others are focusing on developing their portfolios and pursuing their individual career paths.