Leonor Telles is a young Portuguese filmmaker who won the award for best short film at the Berlin Film Festival with the film "Batraquian's Ballad " An object of cinema that seeks to reflect and at the same time is a testimony about how the society looks at the Roman community.
When you wrote "Ballad of frogs" was already an initial idea of the script enter the shops and break the frogs?
Leonor Telles: Yes, it started with that idea and then everything else was built around the frogs.
After the screening of people approach you on this issue, the lack of knowledge about the symbology of frogs?
LT: Yes.
That they did not know?
LT: Yes, that made no idea.
And do you think that some of the frogs were there, but not with such intention?
LT: Yes, I think that frogs are not there with this intention, but many others are. The idea of the film is trying to figure out if the frogs were in there with that intention or not, that's what we tried to do and the frogs were from had this purpose.
And how did find out that the frogs that were in these stores had this in mind?
LT: That's part of the film process.
As well?
LT: It is part of my way to make the film and all the preparation.
You did the short film with a special camera, why?
LT: The super 8 was the appropriate format to tell this story, not only have that grainy and colorful, a crude and silly point, had to do also with the theme of the film because it is a silly situation. The film also turns out to be a short story and is related to an imaginary with this kind of old and colorful images that refer us to other time than now.
Having won the prize in Berlin and when deparaste you with your family and friends, among girls, your friends in the community, they looked at you differently?
LT: I have no friends in the Roma community.
But one of your parents is gipsy?
LT: Yes, my father is, not my mother, but it only maintains a relationship with the immediate family, so our relations although nearby were not many.
And what did the said?
LT: I think they were pleased.
Yes and gipsy girls in general have a tendency to leave school early. You, transcend all that.
LT: Yes, but I am gypsy half, so you cannot take me as an example so comprehensive, I think.
Now, you have an award, does it weighs on you very much for your next project? In terms of expectations?
LT: No, I think the awards are good and has a positive aspect that is help in terms of getting financing in an easier way, but we have to relativize and not let the pressure affect us for the next work.
And what is your perspective on the Portuguese cinema? Someone who is coming to the middle.
LT: How so?
It is a difficult way to get support for someone as young as you?
LT: It's hard, but the movie are very difficult for young people to start. If people work and try to create their own opportunities little by little the doors will be open and there are new prospects for younger people. People have to work, continue to fight and if you have few means try to compensate in other ways, but you have to make films and take things forward.
And as a spectator how do you see the Portuguese cinema?
LT: I think sometimes the filmmakers are good and are not known because of the prejudice against the Portuguese cinema, because it is boring and dull and so no one has an interest, but these people have to be more flexible, open more and are more predisposed to see new things. Maybe so they would like more what the Portuguese do, because there are very good cinema that is made and then they not have places to be seen.
Do you have a reference filmmaker?
LT: I like Miguel Gomes .
And your generation looks to the national cinema as something less boring and that you can see?
LT: I think my generation depends, on the people working in cinema of my age look at it with different eyes, will see the film and try to understand. We also have a training that makes us see the film as it is something to think about and not just as entertainment. My friends do not have this perspective, for them, cinema is something to entertain, do not see it as an art form to think and reflect things.
In your next project you will continue to use the super eight camera?
LT: No.
You'll use another format?
LT: Yes.
And you will continue to make the circuit of festivals because it is the only way to be recognized?
LT: I do not know if things can be put that way. People when they compete for festivals out there is good for some recognition and if there is success on the international festival circuit, will certainly open the doors to their debut film commercially.
Are you going to continue in the short format?
LT: I think so.
But, you have the idea of making a feature film in the future?
LT: No, my goal is to do one project at a time, working on the things little by little and the best way.
And always in this kind of documentary record?
LT: Yes, I think What I have to show more is this documentary part, but at the same time mixing some other records, if we look at "Batraquian's Ballad" is not exactly easy to characterize the film.
