MEROPE, 8min., USA
Directed by Juan Carlos Zaldivar
The short film, Merope, follows a personification of the hidden star on a journey towards emancipation from the ties that historically have bound her and her six sisters, the Pleiades constellation, in a narrative about captivity and victimization, towards a new story where she claims visibility and a more authentic place in the universe for her and her sisters.

http://sedonaballet.org/merope-epk

Conversation with:
JC = Juan Carlos Zaldivar - Director/Producer
C = Christel Veraart - Co Producer/Narrator/Composer/Co-Founder Reflections Festival
W = Winifred Muench - Co-Producer/Co-Founder Reflections Festival

1. What motivated you to make this film?

JC: Winifred and Christel had the revolutionary idea of creating a multi-disciplinary art festival that would result in a collaboration. Merope was born from our group which included a composer, a filmmaker/animator, a collage artist, a photographer, a dancer, a poet, and a choreographer —with a wardrobe person and a camera person. Winnie and Christel acted as producers.

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

One year

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

JC: a visual poem about emancipation.

C: Cosmic meditation.

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

Shooting in the dark. We had to be creative about lighting a forest with flashlights!
Shooting on a shoe string we had to be very resourceful. Our director is famous for making things look like a million bucks with noir lighting.

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

The audience's reaction was truly exhilarating! Watching people connect so deeply with our film and hearing their insights in the feedback video was both humbling and inspiring. Hearing the audience describe the film as wonderful, meditative, peaceful, harmonious, and touching was profoundly gratifying—it affirmed that our vision resonated deeply with viewers. Their heartfelt appreciation for the music and the emotions it evoked validated the passion and dedication poured into every aspect of the project.

The soundtrack has been highly celebrated, with the composer's brilliance shining brightly. The film has been awarded the coveted "Composer of the Future" at Cannes' World Film Festival, "Best Film Soundtrack" at LA's 10th Music Film Festival, Finalist "Best Soundtrack" at New York's Oniros Film Awards Festival, and Finalist "Best Soundtrack" at New York's International Film Awards.
The film itself has earned prestigious recognition, being named "Best Dance Film" at Tblisi's Music/Dance Consonance, "Best Dance Choreography" at New York's International Film Awards, "Best Poster" at New York's Oniros Film Awards and nominated finalist for "Best Dance Film" at Cannes' World Film Festival and Nominee "Best Dance or Poetic" at Lisbion's Cinescape. These accolades celebrate the artistic vision and dedication of everyone involved, from the stunning cinematography to the way our Sedona landscapes framed the narrative in such a compelling way.

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

JC: I have known it all my life. Ever since I saw an actor who I saw died in the movies come back to life in an interview after. I live in wonder of what a film actually is. I think moving images are nothing short of magic. The defy time and space, they defy death and emulate creation.

C: I realized I wanted to make films after years of creating my own visuals to accompany my music, which you can see on my website and YouTube. My music naturally evokes imagery, and over time, I felt the urge to bring those visuals to life in a more structured narrative form. As a composer, singer, lyricist, and world traveler, my work transcends boundaries, and film became a powerful new medium for me to express that vision. The transition into filmmaking felt like a natural extension of my creative journey, allowing me to blend music, storytelling, and visual art into one cohesive experience.

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

JC: Hmm. I would have to say Vertov's and Yevisaleta Svilova's "Man with a Movie camera" . I show it to my students every year. This film, by the way, is sadly often only credited to Dziga Vertov as the director, but that film is 50% editing, the same way that Merope is 50% music.

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

- JC: I have been to more film festivals I can probably name since 1986. The landscape has changed so much! Sadly most film festivals have become businesses. The word Festival comes from the Latin word "fester" or "festus" which denotes a celebration. As a filmmaker I used to love going to film festivals and celebrating with other artists and supporters. The celebration part is now missing. Films are collaborations. The aspect of meeting other people to work with was a key aspect of film festivals when they started. That aspect is missing these days. On the other extreme, some film festivals have become markets now, but they have all sorts of red tape and exclusions that take the fun and random pairing that a celebration atmosphere often brings.

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

JC: Its convenient. Like the calendar reminders feature the most.

C: Submitting to your festival through FilmFreeway has been a smooth and efficient experience. The platform's user-friendly interface and having all the necessary information in one place make the submission process much easier. It streamlines everything, allowing filmmakers to focus more on their creative work.

10. What is your favorite meal?

JC: Any meal. Food. I love food. I'm a foodie. I am always up for something new. I love tastings and multi course meals. I love the movie Babette's Feast where a female chef who is fleeing her country during the war is sheltered in a small village, where she takes all of her money to create a poetic, last feast for the farmers that took her in, which gives them experiences they had never had had.

C: Same here, I am a foodie as well and I loved Babette's Feast.

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

JC: I am always making video objects. I am developing a feature doc to reframe the way we look at dementia, and a companion national outreach educational campaign that includes an interactive photography exhibit entitled The Gold Room to create a collection of golden portraits of people living with dementia. We need to start seeing the value of what this challenging disease is here to teach us and stop focusing on what it is "taking away from us".

C: I am continuing to work on a series of Vignettes, based on my debut book "Santa Fe & Esmeralda" of which the first one won "Best Story" at your LGBTQ+ Festival