MERCY OF OTHERS, 105min., Australia
Directed by Damien Giglietta
In the haunting shadow of a recent tragedy, "Mercy of Others" unfolds as a close-knit group of six friends reunite to mourn the loss of a friend. This gathering, meant for solace and reminiscence, swiftly uncovers buried tensions and unresolved conflicts within their circle, revealing a complex web of emotions and relationships.

https://www.sixplacedpictures.com/mercy-of-others
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Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?
Stepping into my 2nd feature film project I wanted a film that will impact those who watch it. In our own world we are the heroes of our own story, but unbeknownst to us, we are villains in the eyes of others. Our actions, small and big impact the people around us, whether we intend to or not we can end up doing a lot of damage.

Mercy of Others is a story that has been brewing for some time. It took on many shapes and forms but in 2022, I decided to pull no punches. The film tackles a lot of uncomfortable and intense subject matter. We leave no stone unturned to drive home the point that every action causes an unintentional reaction.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
There was an older version of this script that was more of a cat and mouse thriller. It was shelved for several years until early 2022. I did a reimagining/rework of the original concept to make it more slower, darker and tragic. From that moment I did the rewrite in about 4 weeks. Pre production was about 3.5 weeks, 17 nights to shoot and 1.5 years in post.

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

Intense Consequences

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

Being under resourced, lack of time, the long night shoots and the long haul of post production. There are many stories to tell in the making of, but we'll go with those few.

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

Thrilled. Great to hear from them, amazing feedback and great to know we are hitting the right notes we aimed for.

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

When I was early teens, watching films from Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez, made me want to get into filmmaking.

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

The original Halloween, Desperado

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 audience feedback is the biggest one. Festivals can be quite known to filmmakers and folks in the arts, but a challenge for all filmmakers is to have a direct response from everyday audiences. It can be hard for a filmmaker to find their audience this helps.

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

Yeah great so far, nice and easy.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Pasta!

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

Writing my next project to hopefully head into production in 2025.