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Filminute @ Filmmaker: Rafael Morais and Vijessna Ferkic’s Still Here
Tell us who you are (where you’re from, background, previous credits as a filmmaker)
Here’s a little bit about ourselves…
Rafael Morais began acting at the age of 14. At 18 he was cast as the lead in the critically acclaimed feature film How to Draw a Perfect Circle (Official submission to the Academy Awards). Having screened at the Toronto, Palm Springs, Miami, San Sebastian and several other festivals, João Canijo’s Blood of My Blood has already earned him accolades for his portrayal of a young criminal that puts his entire family at stake. Rafael Morais had his directorial debut in 2011 with You are the Blood (official selection of IndieLisboa and NewFilm Makers Los Angeles). Rafael Morais received the “L’Oreal Best Actor Award” in 2009. In 2011 and 2012 he was nominated as Best Actor for the Portuguese Golden Globes.
Vijessna Ferkic was born near Hamburg, Germany. By the age of 10 she visited one of the first acting schools for children. Numerous film and TV leads followed, including Christian Petzold’s Beats Being Dead and the screen adaptation of Martin Walser’s novel Ohne Einander. Vijessna Ferkic was cast as Sophie in the Oscar winner The Reader and as a lead in Victor and the Secret of Crocodile Mansion, which has recently been awarded with the GIFFONI Award for Best Film.
Describe your film in 100 words or less (plot, style, influences)
Still Here is part of a larger unedited film about a young couple struggling to come to terms with their personal problems while searching for a new place, only to find out that no matter where they go their problems will always follow them. With this one minute version we actually found a simple and original way to tell just that, and still leaving it open for new and different interpretations.which has recently been awarded with the GIFFONI Award for Best Film.
What were the biggest challenges of making a one-minute film?
The challenges are the interesting part. You have 60 seconds to “grab” the audience, to make them wonder. The biggest challenge is to decide what you want to show and what you don’t want to show. Hopefully you will find this balance that will raise questions.
To rate and vote for Still Here, visit the Filminute site.
