(EXCLUSIVE) Interview with Susanna Donau – Winner The Dark Side of the Cinema Film Fest 2024, Amsterdam, Netherlands

2024 July 6

(EXCLUSIVE) Interview with Susanna Donau – Winner The Dark Side of the Cinema Film Fest 2024, Amsterdam, Netherlands

-What has been the greatest difficulty you faced in producing your project?

For me, it is always a great effort to start the work and then to finish the project. It feels like a ollercoaster, with huge self doubts at the lowest points and a euphoric feeling at the top points. Getting through the rollercoaster, adjusting my ideas so that they become realistic is a big struggle.

-Do you think the film industry today has been damaged by political correctness?

I don’t think so. On the opposite I think political correctness was much needed. I’m happy that there are more female directors and more diverse movie subjects now thanks to political correctness – I.e. films about feminism, lgbtq+, people with handicaps, but also films about grief.

-What was the greatest source of inspiration for creating your project?

My own grief for my husband. He died when I was 38, and through my grief for him I learned to appreciate life a lot more. Today I’m very aware that life can end on any day, so that it feels very precious. That makes me live a lot more conscious and grateful.

-If you could ask a question to a great director from the past, who would you like to talk to and what would you ask them?

I’d like to talk to Alfred Hitchcock and ask him whether he had self doubts as well. And if he had a trick to get through them.

-What do you think of the Wild Filmmaker platform?

I think this platform stands out and I’m proud to be one of your winners.