Dalija Dozet was born in Osijek, Croatia, in 1987. She studied at FAMU in Prague, earned her MA at Academy of Dramatic Art in Zagreb (2014), and has been playing with various cinematic forms since then.
1. Introduce yourself please briefly and your project.
Dalija Dozet, feature film director from Croatia on an adventure of developing her first documentary project My Dad's Lessons.
2. What drew you to making My Dad's Lessons?
My dad Danko introduced me to the magic of film when I was a kid and I've been enthralled with it ever since. After my father's sudden death, I've watched thousands of hours of his video archive documenting daily life of a family not sensing its dissolution. Now I want to know and understand him and his experience of the world as a way of deepening my own.
3. What was the biggest challenge in making this film?
It's still in development. The challenge is how to combine lots of archive materials with new ones while still focusing on the topic of a father-daughter relationship and a family grief portrait. I guess editing will be a very complex creative adventure as well.
4. Can you compare your experience at CIRCLE with other similar platforms that you have been part of?
During my studies, I've been to Sarajevo TC and lots of international film student workshops. This was my first experience with my own project: and it was overwhelming to have an opportunity to discuss it, hear and learn from professionals and other filmmakers. I have the feeling that both me as a filmmaker and my project have matured after Circle.
5. What were the most important benefits from being part of CIRCLE project?
Discovering and meeting other filmmakers, presenting and developing my story within a friendly atmosphere with professional tutors and their feedback. Having the feeling that everybody's here to help you take your project to the next level. Connecting both on a personal and professional level. Discovering frameworks of the Industry and its opportunities.
.6. What advice do you have for other (female) directors?
Try to find who you are and what you want to tell.
7. Name your favorite woman-directed film and why.
Works of Chantal Ackerman for being brave and curious and Agnes Varda for being playful and genuine.
