From LAFilm.com:
Recent LA Film School graduate, Chris Bessounian has made a quick transition from film student to award-winning film director, as his latest release, The Kolaborator, is earning accolades at film festivals across the world.
The short film, which is based upon The Balkins Conflict in the former Yugoslavia, centers on a young man who goes from athlete to solider virtually overnight. The cultural war he is caught in between, forces him to fight and commit atrocities against civilians and those he once considered allies.
Chris directed and co-wrote The Kolaborator soon after he graduated last year. Since its completion, the film has been featured at over 12 film festivals world-wide, winning three awards, including Best Screenplay at the Angelus Student Film Festival.
“It’s a great feeling when something that you believe in and put a year of your life into gets recognized,” Chris said. “It is also interesting to see the different ways the film is interpreted at each festival.”
Of Armenian decent, Chris grew up hearing stories of the 1915 slaughter of Armenians in Turkey. Wondering what could drive friends, neighbors and even relatives to start killing each other, he began to compile true stories for his film.
Chris hoped to expose just how easily life can transition from a state of hope and prosperity to one of deep despair through this project.
“The objective of the film is to incite conversation and debate about war and terror in the name of patriotism,” he added. “I chose this film not only because the story was important to me, but also because I believe films that deal with humanity need to be made.”
After the challenging task of finding actors who spoke Serbian, and portraying a scene that resembled Bosinia, Chris and his crew shot the 35mm film. “I shot on 35mm because I believe as a director you are taken a lot more seriously with that type of experience under your belt.”
While the film has found early success, Chris hopes it is just the beginning for his future as a filmmaker, as he is currently in post-production on a feature called Detached. He is also working on three projects, including a film about the daily struggle of untouchable women in rural India.
“I believe that as filmmakers we can change the world, but we have to want to change the world,” Chris said of his choice of films to make. “We have a responsibility to give a voice to the voiceless.”
To learn more about The Kolaborator, please click here
No comments:
Post a Comment