MISSING YOU, 6min., USA
Directed by Anika Jensen
A teenage girl visits a beach where she often went to as a child and reminisces about how things aren't the way they used to be.

https://filmfreeway.com/anirozai

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

This might come as a surprise, but the song featured in my film is what came first. I've struggled with relatively severe mental health issues this past year and a half and so I wrote a song expressing how I felt about missing the simplicity and innocent joy of childhood. Many people who are in pain use art as a way to express themselves. Honestly, I wasn't sure whether I would even share the song due to its personal nature. However, in a film class I took over the summer, I was trying to come up with ideas and remembered this song. Even though it's difficult to be so vulnerable, I knew I could make an impactful story with it. I'm glad I made that decision. Opening up to others always makes me feel less alone and (hopefully) my film will make others who are struggling feel less alone as well.

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

The song took me about a month to compose and record (with the help of my guitar playing dad), but the film itself took about six weeks from start to finish.

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

Growing up.

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

Budget. As a newly graduated high school student, I don't have lots of loose money to spend on indie film projects. Most of the cast and crew ended up being classmates and friends.

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

Honestly, it made me a little emotional! Sharing my message about mental health was the point of making and trying to get this film out there, and the audience members really understood it. I'm very happy about that.

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

I've always wanted to break into the film industry one way or another. I am also an actress and have been doing that for longer, and so for a while I assumed that was how I'd make my break. However, as I got older, I kept on waiting for projects to act in about things I really cared about, like being LGBTQ+ and mental health issues. One day, I thought to myself, "Why do I keep on waiting for other people? If I want to be a part of projects having to do with things I really care about, why don't I just make my own?"

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

I grew up on Studio Ghibli films, and I still love them to this day. It's hard to say which one I've seen the most because I've seen them all so many times, but I'd probably say Howl's Moving Castle (my favorite movie of all time!), Princess Mononoke, or Castle in the Sky.

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'm already very grateful for the opportunity to be interviewed and to receive audience feedback! Thank you for making this possible and for supporting young creators such as myself! I always love having the opportunity to connect with the other filmmakers, however, and some festivals are exclusively online where it's a little more difficult.

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

Great! I highly recommend it to new filmmakers like myself.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Donuts for breakfast!

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

Honestly, I'm not quite sure! Film is definitely a path I can see myself continuing to pursue, but I'm planning on going to college next year and I would like to experiment with other areas of study as well. At some point, though, I'd love to make a documentary around mental health. As you can probably tell, I'm a big advocate, and I would like to continue using my art and creativity for this purpose.