THE FLOOD, 1min., France
Directed by David Tessier
A political debate, broadcast live on a 24-hour news channel. As the speakers are arguing about social issues, water invades the set and floods the whole room. Nobody seems to notice ...

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CqDHfO7O_AH/

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?



The inaction of politicians regarding climate change, but also its great visual idea and the challenge of directing it.



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



A very long time! I first received the script in 2017, 2 months before Macron's first election. At the time, it was written for France Nature Environnement and they had 40K to produce it. We had to abandon the project because it was not enough, even with the whole team working for free. But I always kept the idea in mind and recontacted the agency five years later, a few months before Macron's second election. It took six more months to raise the money to do it.



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



Funny but scary. Sorry that's three words! 



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



It was to find a way to produce the film with our budget, which was around 100K. We finally found a public swimming pool that had a diving pit with a motorized platform that goes up and down into the water. The swimming pool management and staff were very concerned about climate issues so they willingly welcomed us for a week during the school holidays. We built our set on the platform, then we gradually submerged the set, cameras, lights and the actors into the water during the course of the shooting. This was the only way to shoot the film within our budget, and it also gave us a solution to not waste any water.



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



I was very happy to watch these feedbacks! I thank everyone who took the time to share their feelings about it, it is great to hear that our film can touch people all around the world, because for the moment it has only been seen in France.



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



Late! I was a singer in a band and went to a cinema school to learn about sound and mixing. But the first year was global, we learned about directing, editing, producing etc... I discovered directing with a great teacher and decided to become a director.



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



Umm... Let's say Paul Thomas Anderson's Magnolia.



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



Help this film to be shared abroad would be great ! Also give me advices to festivals I should submit it



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


It was and it is still great. It helped me to find environmental festivals and easily submit the film to them.



10. What is your favorite meal?



This is a surprising question! I probably should answer a salad or a soup with no meat in it? But to be honest, I love confit de canard with salardaise potatoes!



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



I have two feature projets : a documentary about an 80 year old ex-godfather from the French Connection, and a feature adapted from a play called « Désaxé » by Hakim Djaziri, which is an autobiographical story of his radicalization and how he was able to escape from it thanks to his love of theatre.