About this series: One year ago, we sent six filmmakers to the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah to premiere their short films and ignite conversation around global health issues they’re deeply passionate about. Since then, their films have been shared in social media and viewed online over 300,000,000 times!
As we kick off the 2016 Sundance Film Festival this week, we caught up with Willem Van Den Heever to take a look back at his experience directing "Dropping In" -- and what Sundance has meant to him since the festival. After you read the article, click the image below to see "Dropping In" in full glory!
Tongal: Looking back on your experience, what did the Sundance + Gates Short Film Challenge mean to you? What were some of your favorite moments and memories from your premiere, as well as from the Sundance Film Festival?
Willem: The Sundance short film challenge and being selected as one of the five winners was probably one of the most important moments, not just of my filmmaking career, but of my life. One of the most primary building blocks in my foundation. I don't think I will ever fully understand the significant difference it made and the opportunities it created. The whole process, from writing the story all the way through sitting in the cinema for the premier at Sundance, taught me so much. The Short Film Challenge also made it possible for me to go on afterwards and complete my latest, and in my opinion most mature film to date, Daniel Munro. Daniel Munro will have its festival run in 2016 with release at the end of the year. I also consider Daniel Munro my last short/mid-length film and will hopefully start working on my first feature in the near future.
Tongal: How has winning the Sundance Short Film Challenge impacted your life in the past year, both professionally and personally?
Willem: Some of my favorite moments at the premier and festival include, meeting some very valuable contacts, watching the film in a fully packed cinema, receiving a letter of appreciation from legendary skateboarder and filmmaker Stacy Peralta and meeting two of my favorite filmmakers, Jared Hess and Edgar Wright. I also felt very honored to have witnessed the premier of "Me and Earl and the Dying Girl."
Personally, it also helped make it possible for me to move to the USA in mid-January this year, where I will go on a self discovering and writing hike though the country to proceed my filmmaking career in the States afterwards.
Tongal: How has your film been received in the past year? Are there any news or updates as they relate to your film or your upcoming projects?
Willem: “Dropping In” had a few other screenings after Sundance as well, but mostly attracted a lot of views and attention on the internet from all over the world. I also believed it inspired a lot of people, not just through the story, but showing that no matter who you are, your age or your origin, you can dream as big as Sundance, and if you put you mind and heart to it, anything is possible.
Tongal: What are some of your creative goals for 2016? Any new skills, teams or projects you've developed and are excited about?
Willem: I am very excited about the future of my latest mid-length film, Daniel Munro, seeing that it was my biggest project to date. Hopefully, I get to attend some international film festivals with it that will create possible opportunities for my first feature length film in the near future. I would also like to travel as much as possible, see as much as possible and write as much as possible. I will document my travels and adventures with a 35mm film camera and post updates on my website: www.willemfilms.com
