In the film biz, dreams often do come true. When writer-director Hugh Schulze and producer Stacey Evenson first began working on Shulze’s short film in 2007, their avowed goal was to see the film at the Cannes film festival one day.
That day arrive at this year’s Cannes festival in which their “Arc of a Bird” was screened in the Short Film Corner.
Shulze and Evenson spent last week at the festival. “It was thrilling and overwhelming, so much to see and do, network, and still stay on schedule,” Evenson said upon her return after a week in France Tuesday.
Besides the satisfying sense of achieving a goal, Evenson said their visit had many other agendas. “Hugh has a feature script to sell and we’re going to make another short.”
When the filmmakers won the IFP finishing grant in 2007, which Evenson helped Schulze prepare, one of their main goals was to see the film at Cannes.
The 11-minute “Arc of a Bird” is about the disappearance of an artist under strange circumstances after one of his paintings is connected to a series of miracles. A documentary film crew pieces together the details with interviews and archival footage.
They shot for a week last May and finished in the fall.
“Arc of a Bird” was entered through Without A Box in Cannes’ Short Film Corner “We were surprised and thrilled when we heard it had been accepted and it’s had a good reception,” Evenson said.
The Short Film Corner is a number of computer cubicles that allows viewers to check out the database of 1,200 films that can be viewed at any time.
“Arc of a Bird” has screened in 10 festivals in the past six months and won four awards so far.
The filmmakers are waiting to hear about acceptance in this fall’s big Toronto and Tribeca festivals.
Schulze, of C Change Inc. an advertising agency, and Evenson have worked together on many of Schulze’s corporate productions.
Stacey Evenson can be reached at 312/485-4191.
