This project was created during the 2024 International Filmmaking Academy in its first year under the guidance of honorary president Ruben Ostlünd.The program takes place during Il Cinema Ritrovato, an annual pilgrimage for many filmmakers during which recently restored classics are premiered.

Seven selected directors, among others, were offered the opportunity to create a film in Bologna, Italy whilst undertaking daily masterclasses with auteur Andrey Zvyagintsev director of films Elena (2011), Leviathan (2014), Loveless (2017).

Tasked, with very limited means, to write, scout, cast, shoot and edit a film all basically within 7 days - this was a true test of experimentation, process and character.

Andrey was an assured teacher - distilled in his ethos of not only what it means to be a director, but how is it one can be taught by another to engage with the role. Is it possible? Or must it come from within.

This was my first time directing entirely in a foreign language that I do not speak. This provided interesting new perspectives and thoughts on the ways we physically communicate with one another.

Words and their natural tendency to distort truth were no longer at the forefront. 

So I played with body language to cut through the miscommunication of words. 
To cut through emotional distortion and reveal the meaning and power that can be offered and shared through silence.