Tell us about yourself. How did you become an artist?
I started taking drama classes when I was about 11 years old because I was very shy as a kid. I quickly loved being on stage and started acting professionally at the age of 16. My directing journey only started a decade later.
What was your first job in the art field
My first job was a main role in a play starring Belgian celebrities Jérôme de Warzée and Kody.
What makes you want to tell stories? In other words, what are the themes/issues you want to incorporate into your work?
The world we live in, including my own experience, is what makes me want to tell stories. I mainly focus on women issues and human rights, but there are so many other issues I would love to incorporate into my work too.
Please tell us about your vision and your method of approaching a new project?
My goal is to raise awareness through my films therefore I have only made movies based on real events and testimonies. I believe that the short form is a powerful way to spread a message and open a debate or a conversation. There are so many social issues around the world and I truly believe that filmmaking can make a difference.
Who are your filmmaking influencers? What are the films that were influential for yo
Ava DuVernay and my mentor Deborah Kampmeier are my two filmmaking influencers. "When they see us" is definitely one of my favorite limited tv-series and I love the film "Tape". Both raise awareness on social issues and are based on true stories so it is definitely my type of filmmaking.
How do you think the industry is changing? How has COVID affected independent filmmaking/creation?
I think the industry is trying to give more platforms to indie filmmakers and I feel it is becoming more accessible for everyone although I am not saying it is easy to get your film out there though. I think covid forced us to be even more creative in a way. More festivals switched online and new ones were launched so there are many more out there. I feel like we all kind of needed to reinvent ourselves and find new ways to make and promote our projects.
What advice would you give to aspiring artists? What are some of the things they must follow/avoid?
I would definitely say that there are no rules. I know that might sound crazy to hear for some people, but based on my personal experience I can totally assure you that there is none and I would recommend not to listen too much to others. If you have a story to tell I would say go for it and make it happen. Don't worry too much about spending excessive amounts for your projects...Most importantly, try to surround yourself with people you can trust and who believe in your story. Believe in yourself and avoid any kind of negative energy. It's really important to create a safe and peaceful environment for your team and yourself.
Do you think films/stories can bring about a change in the world?
Yes. I think we can definitely try to make a change in the world through films and that is why I believe that raising awareness on social issues is important.
What do you think people like to watch these days? Has the pandemic changed people's taste?
I have a feeling that people like watching more documentaries and foreign films. I feel like people are a bit more open to changing their usual tastes these days. I would say that people watch more different genres than they used to, but that’s just my personal feeling. Perhaps the pandemic did change people’s taste.
Please tell us about your upcoming projects.
I am writing my next film at the moment which focuses on another social issue, but I won’t say too much as it’s still early stage. Hopefully, I can tell you a bit more soon!