THE NEW BEGINNING, 2min,. France
Directed by Alexandre Diennet
In a world in decline, Gareth questions his own survival. Along the way, he meets Jim, perhaps the last ray of hope capable of persuading him to remain among the living.

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

The origin of the short film is the Nikon Film Festival in France, which is a very popular short-film competition. This year, the theme was fire, and I wanted to put a special meaning on fire, what it represents in our evolution.

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

The script was completed in October 2023, the shooting was at the beginning of December, and post-production was finished at the beginning of January 2024.

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

I'd say inclusive and hopeful

4. Quel a été le plus grand obstacle auquel vous avez été confronté lors de la réalisation de ce film ?

Without a doubt the shooting conditions! We had rain, snow, icy ground, cold, and a flooded location. But despite all that, the team spirit made the day memorable, and the athmospere rendering gave the image that gloomy atmosphere.

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

I was able to show the video to some friends, as we were celebrating my birthday that day, and we loved comparing the type of reaction to that in France. In France, we love genre cinema, but we prefer to focus on social or family dramas. It's mainly for this reason that we sent the film to the U.S., where genre art is much more widely recognized.

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

I've been interested in the world of cinema for a very long time, but it was during my teenage years that I experimented with fiction. And little by little, I forged my way into it.

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

I think it's Star Wars Episode 4. As a kid, I already loved science fiction, and even B-movies from the '50s, because the low-budget designs of these films fascinated me. And I think Star Wars 4 fascinated me because of its design, but also because of its rendering, which I think is the basis of a good adventure film.

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

For the time being, I don't see any drawbacks, as there are already some great elements in place.

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

very good, and good communication afterwards

10. What is your favorite meal?

Very difficult to choose, as I love to eat. But in honor of my region, Alsace, I'm going to say cordon bleu with munster.

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

This year, I'm going to stop making short films for competitions, because you're limited by time and it's very frustrating. So my next project will be a short film where I don't have a time limit, and still in a fantasy type, otherwise it won't be as much fun!