SETTING BOUNDARIES, 5min., Poland
Directed by Iza Pajak
A woman tries to set boundaries while struggling to fight for her needs.

Get to know writer/producer/star Diana Matlak:

1. What motivated you to make this film?
I have been struggling with setting boundaries my entire life.
I was a people pleaser and still to this day I find it not easy to set boundaries.
The subject of this film is very personal to me. I also think that the ability to set boundaries is an issue for a lot of people nowadays. A lot of us wanna meet other people's expectations and seek approval of other people, often forgetting about ourselves and our needs. That's why I really wanted to make this film, to talk about setting boundaries and show that we all have a voice.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
I wrote the script in December of 2021. We shot it in Poland in 2022 and the post production was completed by November of 2024.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?
That is a very tough question. But I would say my film is empowering and artistic.

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
The biggest obstacle was actually the post production process. I had a lot of ideas. I was debating if I should put music on or not. I also had a lot of ideas with showing voices in the characters head. So I guess the hardest thing was to decide how I wanted to tell a story and to make a final decision. I am very grateful for all the people who were involved with the project. I could have not done it without them.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
I was very curious and excited to watch the audience talking about my film. The fact that people appreciated it made me very emotional.
The feedback video is such a great idea to learn about people's reactions and thoughts after the movie.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
When I started studying acting in Los Angeles I got cast in a lot of student films and short films and have been fascinated by the entire process of filmmaking. I acted in a feature film that I also produced and co-wrote a screenplay to and I had a lot of fun doing that. After that experience I knew that I would love to make more movies.
In the case of this film it was very spontaneous. I had Covid in December of 2021, and had to isolate myself for 10 days at home. It was very tough for me to stay in one room the entire time. So when the isolation was over I really felt the need and desire to do something creative and to write.
This is when the idea for the film came to me.
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7. What film have you seen the most in your life?
"Bird on a wire" directed by John Badham - with Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russel
I have seen this movie many times. It's one of my favourite 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 really like all the elements of this festival. It's a great way to promote movies. I would love to know the dates sooner of online screenings of our films.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?
I love FilmFreeway, because this platform is very easy to use and it gives a great opportunity to submit projects to festivals. At the same time it informs very well about different festivals.

10. What is your favorite meal?
I don't think I have a favorite meal. I love food in general and I love to eat. It all depends on my mood and where I am.
I definitely love Italian pizza, tacos in LA, and real Polish pierogies.

11. What is next for you? A new film?
Currently I am focusing on promoting my short film "Setting Boundaries" and finding a distributor.