Today we’d like to introduce you to Stefania Vasconcellos.
Hi Stefania, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in Brazil and since I was a kid, my life was always surrounded by good stories and the imaginary world. And the possibility to create a visual story and combine all different kinds of art was fascinating to me. But I think it was when I saw “The Clockwork Orange” for the first time that my life was changed forever, and I think unconsciously at that moment I knew that I wanted to be a director.
I was stunned in front of the TV thinking “is it possible to make a movie like that?” But it was after I graduated in theater and had worked as an actress and dancer in Brazil that I fell in love with the art of filmmaking and moved to Rio de Janeiro, where I graduated in film directing while working professionally in different capacities (production, costume designer, art director, first AD, and editor), I directed a few short films, and my short film “No Caminho Dos Pés” (The Way) was shown at more than 30 festivals around the world and was the singular Brazilian short film entry in the Stockholm Film Festival in 2014. After that, I moved to LA and in 2016, I co-directed a film project under Executive Producer James Franco. Recently, I made my first feature film “The French Teacher” that world premiered and won the “Artistic Direction Award” at the Edera Film Festival, Treviso, Italy. The film was also selected by several festivals around the world and was part of the FIPRESCI Prize selection at Flying Broom Film Festival in Turkey.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I think it’s never easy, specially when you move to another country to follow your dreams. Also, it’s never easy to make a movie, right? And The French Teacher was really intense. We made it with a tiny budget, shot it in twelve days, we had a lot of different locations, my best-talented friends came from Brazil to make this movie with me. My apartment was full of women, we basically lived together for a month. But, It was really special in so many ways as well, and since it’s my first feature film, I think I had learned a lot and I’m happy and proud to share the film with the audience. Each film is a different challenge and I think this is what makes me love to making movies.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a Brazilian filmmaker, a dreamer who is passionate about stories and the art of telling it visually. I’m really proud of my journey and everything that I’ve been learning, also to have made my first feature film The French Teacher that is now available on Amazon Prime, and you guys can check it out.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love the diversity of LA, I love walking in the streets and see people from all over the world. I also love the history of the city, all the great things that happened here, not just in the film industry, but also in the music history. Like walking on the Sunset strip and knowing that great bands started there, or that Jim Morrison lived in a house close to my place, it’s fascinating. But, of course there is the other side of the coin of LA LA LAND, and it’s not so bright. So, you need to keep focused, because the city can consume you.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Andrea Cebukin/ Bia Mauro/ Stefania Vasconcellos/ Miguel Muller
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