SECRET IDENTITY, 35min,. UK
Directed by Gurjoeth Singh Bassra
A closeted gay actor who's known for playing a superhero character on an 80s TV show must confront his dual identity.

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Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

I was inspired by the story of Kevin Conroy, who remained in the closet for most of his life, and found it very interesting the way he played a superhero character who had a secret identity of his own, and suddenly it clicked, a light bulb turned on and I could feel a story coming to me. It also helped that I was really bored over my summer break so I essentially locked myself in a room, threw away the key, and started writing the first draft of the script.

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

Around August 2023 was when I started writing the script, then around October/November we had the cast and crew, we started shooting in late February and concluded principal photography in June, and now the film is being screened at places from last month onwards.

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

Melodramatic soap-opera.

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

Locations, actors availability, the budget. Basically everything. When one of our actors couldn't come back we had a recast, but then I immediately regret it because it just wasn't the same, so I fired the recast and brought the original actor back and we managed to make it work when we reshot the sequence, and now in the final film you probably can't tell that there are reshoots spliced in with the rest of the footage. It is seamless.

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

It all made sense to me, the sound issues were also apparent to me, but to be entirely honest I kind of just got tired of trying to make the film exactly perfect and figured it was better to release it now or otherwise it will just never get released, and the time I spend trying to make this slightly better could be time I spend on the next project. Overall, I'm happy with how the film turned out.

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

It just kind of organically happened when I kept watching more and more movies, then I had what felt like a near-death experience, and my biggest regret was never getting to make any films, so once I woke up I soon decided to finally go out and direct my first short film, which was Late Again. To me, I've always been obsessive when it comes to making films as I can't imagine doing anything else.

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

Spider-Man 2 maybe.

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 don't really have any complaints

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

It was good, simple and easy to understand.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Pizza.

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

Right now I am directing an indie short film which stars Yasemin Sehri, Gwithian Evans and Bhasker Patel, titled 'Perfect Girl'. I wrote the script for this as well and I am very excited to start shooting in April! Also, I am producing a period piece set in 1929 titled 'Talkies', which will shoot in March, so I will be very busy in the coming year!