STRANGER, 5min., USA
Directed by Julia Hayden Fung
This film shows the experience of lost relationships through the eyes of a young girl. "Stranger" is a story of love, longing, and the regret through passing of time.

https://www.instagram.com/jhf.ilms/

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

I kind of just set out to create something I would be proud of and to start building my portfolio before college. I wanted to explore a few locations and the lighting I could get at certain points of the day, so I finished a short synopsis I had been playing around with and asked a couple of my theatre friends if they wanted to see where this took us.

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

I want to say the idea took more time to think through but filming and post was about a week or so. It was just me with a camera and two of my actors, but the emotional development grows with me. I think the message wasn't formed in the couple of months the whole project was, because that's just how friendships and relationships work, which is where I got the inspiration for the title.

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

Nostalgic and sweet

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

I think like anyone who creates anything ever there's the anxiety that it wouldn't be good or we wouldn't like it, but I felt I had to at least give it a shot and have fun with it, because I love film and it's as much about the process as it is the product and what I learn from it.

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

I was so excited and so grateful to have people I don't know understand exactly where I was coming from making this film.

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

I made my first short film at a summer camp 3 years ago and since then have spent much of the pandemic watching movies that my dad introduced to me. I started to appreciate the powerful messages that existed on such a universally appreciated medium. I think I watched Fallout and The Florida Project in close succession and told my parents that's what I want to do for the rest of my life.

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

This is such a weird combo, but Love, Actually and Ratatouille are very closely tied.

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 wasn't really expecting anything so this is all a very pleasant surprise.

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

Good!

10. What is your favorite meal?

I have no idea, noodles maybe?

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

Definitely. I've written and cast my next film and will start filming next month. I hope to study film in college so hopefully these little milestones are just my steps to get there :)