Our stunning 11 1/2″ 24K custom gold statuette is manufactured by R.S. Owens, the same company that manufactures the Oscar. The winner of our Best Short Film category will receive this award at no cost to them, while winners in other categories will be given the option to acquire it. Additional awards and prizes may be Read More ...
Title: Longing
Runtime: 11 min
Country: USA
Director: Christian Mushenko
Placement: Award of Excellence
Competition: June, 2017
Synopsis: A disconnected, wealthy businessman has everything in life, except the one thing that matters most. Finding a letter from his dead father, he reads of his fathers regrets, and hopes for his son’s life. Through the letter, and a series of coincidences, a shared moment with a stranger reveals an unexpected connection that illuminates each of their emptiness.
OR: What was the inspiration for your film?
CM: Connections, shared experiences, opening our hearts to something other than ourself. This is a topic that I’m constantly drawn to. When I started planning to do a short film, it was natural for me to want to explore this concept.
OR: When did you conceive the idea for your film and how long did it take before it was realized?
CM: This film was made as my thesis film as part of the Masters of Directing at the School of Visual Arts in NYC. Planning started fall 2016 and the film was completed ready for the SVA grad screening in June
OR: What was the most challenging aspect of working in a short film format?
CM: For me getting the story nailed down was the most challenging part of the process. But I was working with a writer friend Marque Kabbaz so it was an enjoyable journey. But it was a journey. Having the constraint of the timing (under 12 minutes) meant character development was critical, so decisions were made to cater for that.
OR: What was the most challenging aspect of your production?
CM: We had a great crew, good locations, and amazing actors, so it was a pleasurable process. Being my first film, I found the most challenging part was making sure nuance of the storyline was expressed adequately. I wanted the concept of connection to be clear. I wanted the film to have more depth than an enjoyable way to pass 10 minutes.
OR: Do you have any advice for first-time filmmakers?
CM: Know what you want to say, and let that guide every decision. And have fun!
