BLAIRSVILLE, 13min., USA
Directed by Daniel Smith

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

Blairsville was born out of a deep connection to the landscape I encountered while travelling with my husband, a dancer and choreographer, to attend my best friend's wedding in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The natural beauty—the mist over the mountains, the flowing streams, and the timeless feel of the small, weathered communities—connected deeply with us. Coming from a small rural community, I was particularly interested in the interplay between the environment and local communities, which felt both beautiful and melancholic. I wanted to capture that emotion and reflect on how these surroundings shape and influence the lives of people in the region.

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

The decision to create Blairsville happened spontaneously while we were on the trip to watch my friend marry. While driving down a sparse road, I asked my husband if he would like to stop off on the side of the road and film something. We spent about an hour recording footage there. The next day, following the wedding, we decided to pick out a few more locations and filmed for another hour or two. After the trip, I spent about a week editing, working on the animation sequences, and coordinating the music.

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

Bare, genuine.

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

I didn't have any of my professional equipment with me on the trip, and there was no crew. All the footage was taken with a single iPhone with no gimbals or other devices. So, it was a challenge to create variety in the shots when it comes to scale, vantage points, and camera motion.

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

It was incredibly rewarding to hear how viewers connected with Blairsville. More than anything, I wanted to offer a taste of the beauty of small places, of small communities. Some of the viewers remarked on the emotion of the imagery, the choreography, the rural communities, and the mountains. Hearing the audience responses confirmed that the feelings I experienced while filming had translated to some in the audience, which was very gratifying.

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

Even as a small child, a fancied myself a storyteller. Throughout most of my life, that desire to share stories has been expressed through music—I'm primarily a pianist and composer. In the last five or ten years, though, I've become more and more interested in presenting stories visually, through film.

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

It's probably a tie between American Beauty and The Hours. Both films carry a gravitas that I find extremely moving, and I hold a very high regard for the music in both films.

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 your festival is doing an outstanding job. I would just like to encourage more film festivals to include screendances as a category. I think this genre of filmmaking can be incredibly powerful and would love to see it provided a bit more spotlight at festivals the world over.

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

FilmFreeway has been an invaluable tool. It simplifies the submission process and allows for easy tracking of deadlines and acceptances. The platform's accessibility makes it easy to research festivals and find ones that align with my film's themes. Overall, I've had a very positive experience.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Gnocchi. When made well, they're like delectable clouds.

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

Currently, my husband and I are in the midst of creating a YouTube series called The Doomitra Show (available at www.youtube.com/@doomitrasinistera). It features a comedy/gothic/horror drag character named Doomitra Sinistera. The plot centers around Doomitra, Vixen of Fright, Princess of Darkness, and longtime mooch of the royal family in her homeland, who has been shipped to Small Town Suburbia, USA by her parents to become an American icon.