Elizabeth Mitrofanova director and writer

Elizabeth Mitrofanova is a director and writer from Russia, a recent film was dedicated to the metaphor of war, which was included in the festival selection of Lift-Off August Trendsetters, and then in the festival selection of Lift-Off September Trendsetters and was presented on the IMDb platform. Before that, there were projects of documentary films and video art, among other things, she is engaged in theater.

Elizabeth Mitrofanova director of "Game of war"

1 Could you share a story that everyone should know about you getting into
producing, or acting and writing?

I've never had a lot of movie-related romanticism. Directing as such came to me as an optimal necessity and an optimal development option. All along there was a certain kaleidoscope of occupations that accompanied me. At some point, I was at a crossroads between visual and narrative pursuits. I wrote plays and did visual arts, but these things did not seem to be something finally realized and finished in their form. That's why cinema came as the most logical and, as a result, impressive compilation. And so I first decided to make an experimental film based on the text of my play, then I learned ropes at festival projects, and then I came to producing my film, performing the functions of "mad-octopus-sole-management".

2 Can you provide some insights into your current production project, (movies that
you have directed)
Insights that come from previous projects and are relevant in the current one are in the zone of open discourse. This topic finds interesting coincidences and manifests itself in life, you think about this thread and then a person independent of the topic will start talking about it. Is every cinema based on a national school or is there something universal? Is it a cardinal dilemma where you take a polar position or is it a spectrum where you choose your degree on this scale? In the movie "Game of War" I chose the position of the spectrum. I wanted to make as much as possible a universal surrealistic timeless story, with its universality it can be shifted to other circumstances, but it is impossible and unnecessary to achieve complete unification. I wanted specificity and part of the identity to be present, but not limited to it. This is a tricky balance position. There are ongoing discussions in this spectrum, and someone makes the choice of exaggerating national identity or in the other direction. I want the story to be both honest in its identity and universal-international and therefore close.

3 Could you talk about any ongoing project or a movie?
At the moment I am in the pre-production stage of a feature film with the working title "Reasons" based on material from my published play of the same name from the cycle. This is a story about the chain of causes leading each hero to his choice. I guess it will be interesting to follow. It will be a big project. This is an ambiguous drama in the genre sense. We will visit both the depths of darkness and the peaks of light. I hope this doesn't sound too vulgar and pathetic to you. Although it is. Here you can not do without irony, just as it will not do in this film.

4 Can you share your most enjoyable project and a memorable story related to it?
When you work on a project about a war in a country where this is a criminal prosecution, then all your enjoyable and memorable stories take on the coloring of black humor. Sorry about that.
We filmed "Game of war" in crazy mode. Everything was on edge because you don't really hope to be able to do it tomorrow. 
We were filming in a residential area where we needed to lay out a doll of a dead child in the background. It was interesting to observe the reaction of the citizens. Can you guess what it was? But there was also a more creepy story. (Don't read it to the impressionable!) The story is connected with the main actress of the film, with whom I happened to do voice acting. For convenience, she invited me to her. At the casting, I chose her for the madness in her eyes and in her type. But madness, as it turned out, is not only in the eyes. When I arrived at her place, I saw a dying dog in the center of the room she invited me to. The dog lay on a shoe mat, was paralyzed and its limbs were covered in black scabs. We started recording and the dog periodically raised only its head and hit it on the floor with force, which was heard on the recording, which is why we did a lot of takes. I held back and tried to hide my tears from her and we continued recording. She said that there was a real dead cat on her balcony. I got out, but there was one question left, why she called me to her place. This is a terrible story, but supportive and solidary people are no less memorable.

5 Who or what serves as your inspiration in the entertainment industry?
Inspiring, I would say large groups and their specific motivation and abilities. Inspired by indie filmmakers, because they are damned punchy, sacrificial and adventurous, small/author/arthouse production companies, because they can find funding and monetize low-demand content and somehow stay afloat and big film companies that can create successful audience projects that hold attention, involve and touch. In fact, just the intention of people charges me.

6 Can you share a story about your recent work or what you have planned for the
future?
As I said before, I'm currently working on a feature film project called "Reason" at the pre-production stage. It's a gravel project now. I'm looking for funding options. I'm squeezing out the packaged treatment of the project. According to the plan, it may turn out to make an interesting system of crowdinvesting with a graduated division of plans and benefits. A curious cinematic language will be embodied. Also now work-in-progress is on a cross-cultural collaboration project. This is a project of piecewise episodic interaction, where the filmmakers of the countries compile their episodes within a single narrative. Although this is a large and ambitious project, the main focus of attention in the near future will be on "Reasons".

7 Which individuals in the entertainment industry have you had the opportunity to
collaborate with?
While I live and work outside of West Hollywood, there were no loud case of acquaintances. But there have been many collaborations with people in the industry who just do their job with love and dedication, with an entrepreneurial spirit and zeal. People stay in the shadows and keep doing their thing.

 If there was one question I should have asked, what would it be? And how would
you answer it?
"What is cinema for you?" It seems to me, albeit a simple, but essential question for any director. I guess this is the ultimate way of experiencing and perceiving.