WITH/IN, 8min., USA
Directed by John Dixon
The inner world flows and changes like an oceanic expanse compressed into a series of moments that fracture even as they form. One woman finds herself unfolding into fleeting interactions that careen beyond her imagination; a thousand images of self and other caught in drops and waves and reflected light.

https://www.instagram.com/john.dixon.dance/

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?
I shot this film in the early summer of 2021. This was coming out of the first major wave of the pandemic and I was thinking a lot about how people were so isolated in many ways and how our deeper connections became even more important and vital and almost dreamlike in a way. How I could be so deeply immersed in my own isolated world and feel the value and presence of people that I love in such a potent way.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
I had issues in the shoot so I didn't end up with all of the footage I needed to make the full film I had planned. In the end, it took me almost 18 months to work out a new structure for the film.

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

Fractured expanse.

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
I built the small pool seen in the film and did the lighting and cinematography so the shoot was very hectic and I lost some footage as a result.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
I was absolutely thrilled to hear their responses to the film. It was incredibly rewarding to hear their observations and insights - regardless of the tone of their feedback overall. Making works like this is really satisfying on its own but hearing feedback from audience members really brought it full circle for me. Thank you!

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
I was in highschool when I made my first films in a class. This was back in the days of 8mm film - no video yet. I've made a few things over the years as parts of stage performance works or for local screenings but this is the first film I've put out into the world on its own.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?
I have no idea. Probably the old film "Harvey" with Jimmy Stewart - not particularly innovative visually but a fabulous character study.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?
You have the most thorough and integrated feedback system of any festival I've looked at by far. And I absolutely love how inclusive your festival is. I wish there were more festivals like yours to give film artists and interested audience members more opportunities on an international basis. Hmm - there's a suggestion. Perhaps reach out to film festivals internationally to see if you can create partnerships to offer screenings in more countries around the world.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?
Fabulous. Very clear and easy to use and it's so incredible to be able to access so many festivals directly.

10. What is your favorite meal?
All of them.

11. What is next for you? A new film?
I'm choreographing a new work for a local concert and hope to reset some of that material for a new film - shoot this fall and edit in the spring. I'm also working on a series of short films for solo dancers that will go straight to social media. I think screendance is an amazing way to see more deeply into the inner world of dancers in their most expressive capacity. I'm hoping to support more dancers by putting out these short films on social media over time.