Dor Fadlon • INTERVIEWED

[decoline]Dor Fadlon:

[details]
[item title=”City”]Tel Aviv[/item]
[item title=”Country”]Israel [/item]
[item title=”Age”]28[/item]
[item title=”Profession”]Director/Scriptwriter & co founder of a start up company[/item]
[item title=”Latest”] Eva – Working Title [/item]
[/details]

[decoline]

During the Tribeca Film Festivals I had the pleasure to meet Dor, a talented filmmaker from Israel. It was particularly nice talking to him as we share a common path, being both filmmakers and entrepreneurs. Besides directing shorts Dor is the founder and CEO of a Tel Aviv based startup. I learned an interesting lesson after the screening of his short EVA – Working Title. The film is really well made, but kind of controversial. It basically shows an amazingly well acted rape scene – twice. During the Q&A a girl from the audience – obviously disturbed – asked Dor why he decided to show the scene twice. Unprepared, he answered the question in a complex manner without really answering it. I’m sure with a proper answer, he could have gained a bunch of new fans, this way he left back a number of puzzled and disappointed viewers, damaging the overall reception of the film. For sure Dor learned a deal out of it, too! The next day, he mentioned that he was practicing all night for the next Q&A. Perfect. Have a look at the polarising Dor.

Focus in filmmaking:

Having something important to convey and to care about what you do. If I don’t feel like, what I want to tell is important or interesting enough, I just wait. Probably this is not the best strategy though.

Favorite film festival:

Tribeca film festival.

Importance of film festivals:

Festivals allow a wider selections of films, and expose both mainstream audience as well as film buffs to films they wouldn’t otherwise have been exposed to. Festivals are a great opportunity to find an audience.

Advice to other filmmakers when approaching film festivals:

First of all, target high-profile festivals as first in line as they usually demand international premiere.  Secondly, have patience as a filmmaker. You never know what festival may pick your film.

Advice to other filmmakers when attending a film festival with their film:

Have a new project in mind and try to get interesting engaged people involved in it. As a filmmaker I believe film festivals exist to bring you one step closer to your next project. So, don’t be shy and use any contact information you have to set up meetings.

Very important is the Q&A. My first Q&A experience was not so good, as a member of the audience asked me to explain my artistic vision. My film shows a realistic rape scene, therefore I felt she was asking me to justify the shooting of it.  The answer I gathered, left a part of the audience dissatisfied. The problem with the Q&A is that although you personally may know your own film forwards and backwards, you could even talk about it for a long time, in the Q&A you have to sum, all that you have to say, into a few short and coherent sentences. So practice your answers, revise them or even write them down. Especially if it’s the first time you will talk about your film in front of an audience, and you know your film is on the provocative side.  Also take into consideration you won’t be able to say everything you want to say and some subjects will even not be discussed. This is the reason why I personally don’t like Q&A, because it’s impossible to sum up a years work into two minutes.

Website tip:

I didn’t initiate any PR work, but if you’re lucky enough to get into an acclaimed festival you can expect some publications on the web. Therefore, you should set up a Google alert for the film’s name.

Additionally, set up a password protected link in vimeo for your film. More and more festivals are willing to watch your film online instead of waiting for a screener. You can also send this link to members of the press to get more coverage.

Thanks Dor!

 

 

Luca Zamai

Luca Zamai is the CEO and founder of FFL. His film career began as director of photography in the field of reportages and documentaries for international TV and film productions including ARD, Arte, VOX, Channel 4, RAI, MTV and VIVA. Since 2001, he has progressively shifted to production management, seeing him directing and producing short films. Luca is seriously invested in his film community, often appearing as guest speaker for filmmaker support initiatives and advising as a panelist for film schools and festivals including HFF Potsdam, ISF Köln, Berlinale and Sehsüchte. Reach him at luca@filmfestivallife.com

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.