Jeff Schmidt: This is the third time you've screened with us at Salem Film Fest, can you talk about your journey as a filmmaker from DARWIN to CHILDREN OF THE ARCTIC to SAPELO?
Nick Brandestini: First of all, thank you for having me back! DARWIN was my first feature-length film. I had a very good experience making it. Before that, I had only made a few short films. It was an honor for me to receive an invitation to screen the film at your festival back then. I could sense that the Salem Film Fest was a special one early one, it seemed really classy and exclusive.
Nick Brandestini at Salem Film Fest in 2012
After DARWIN was well received by the community itself and the general public, I felt encouraged to continue on the same path, doing portraits of communities with interesting people and stories. And visiting places that are lesser known. So that’s how CHILDREN OF THE ARCTIC and SAPELO came about, too. I like getting to know people through my filmmaking that have a different background from mine, and I prefer to do long-term projects that take about four years each to make. Taylor Segrest (writer) and Michael Brook (music) were my collaborators on all three projects, which has been a great experience too.
Nick Brandestini filming during CHILDREN OF THE ARCTIC
JS: As a Swiss filmmaker, can you talk about filming in less traveled areas of the US - how did you find these places? What is your fascination with filming in America?
NB: DARWIN takes place in the Death Valley area in California. I have always been a big fan of the desert and amazing looking landscapes in general. I was also fascinated by the people’s way of life there, living in such a remote and very hot place. With the latest film, I’ve kind of created a trilogy, featuring the desert, the Arctic, and now the South. I enjoy traveling and exploring the US. One reason must be the vastness of nature, which we don’t have so much of here in Switzerland where everything is on a way smaller scale. Still, my next project could also take place in Europe. I don’t know where or what the topic will be, though.
JS: It has been a challenging time for everyone during the pandemic, what has been your experience as a filmmaker?
NB: Luckily, I had completely finished the filming of SAPELO in Georgia before the pandemic started. If I hadn’t, there would have been a huge gap in the process and I could not have finished the film. We are still not able to travel to the US and many other places. The post-production was not affected at all. The first festival we showed SAPELO at, Visions du Réel in Switzerland, had to restructure from being held in-person to being held online just a few weeks before it started. From then on, all following festivals took place virtually as well. It was of course a disappointment not to watch the film with a live audience and not to meet other filmmakers, which is usually one of the most amazing parts of the whole process. The Zoom Q&A’s are always a little awkward for me. But I noticed that people who typically do not attend film festivals were able to easily watch the films at home, which is nice. Still, I created SAPELO with its, hopefully, cinematic images and immersive sounds and music for the big screen. But I cannot really complain as other people were much more affected by the pandemic.
CHILDREN OF THE ARCTIC at the Peabody Essex Museum
JS: We've enjoyed hosting you in Salem during past festivals and are disappointed that we can't do so again this year. Can you share some Salem Film Fest memories from over the years?
NB: I remember how magnificent the screening at the Peabody Essex Museum was. The audience seemed particularly smart and sophisticated. We had a lot of long and valuable conversations after the screening. And I liked exploring Salem with your team and the other visiting filmmakers. Eating, drinking, talking, watching movies – it was all a lot of fun! It was also really nice that a prominent voice in US television, a producer at the legendary show Frontline, came to watch my film. It is cool how your festival attracts people from the industry. Being invited to give a talk and presentation at the Phoenix School was great too. And of course, I also enjoyed the whole “witch” vibe of your town. I look forward to returning in the future, even without a film.
SAPELO streams as part of Salem Film Fest from Friday, March 19 - Sunday, March 28. Tickets to view the film can be purchased here.
