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: Petrichor
Runtime: 10 min
Country: USA
Director: Ava Ismaiylova
Placement: Award of Merit
Competition: December, 2018
Synopsis: Faith and Nathan are a couple living a pleasant life together. At first glance, their relationship is charming and ordinary, but beneath the surface lies a much more sinister facet to their bond. When Nathan reveals details about his disturbing childhood, and Faith is visited by an unpleasant guest who puts her in a life-changing dilemma, the two of them will have their loyalty tested. Their affection towards one another takes a perverse spin as they both make drastic decisions to deal with issues that threaten their happy lives.
OR: What was the inspiration for your film?
AI: My Mother used to read a lot for me when I was little. One of the stories I loved and still keep in my heart till nowadays is the “The Gift of the Magy” by O. Henry.
I didn’t realize that “Petrichor” was inspired by it until I showed the script to my mentor, Jennifer Penton.
OR: When did you conceive the idea for your film and how long did it take before it was realized?
AI: It all happened very naturally and quick. I could not wait, script was done in 3 weeks, another 3 weeks I spent on pre-production, the shoot itself was 2,5 days…However the post took me a while as I was looking for the team that would understand me and the story.
OR: What was the most challenging aspect of working in a short film format?
AI: The most challenging aspect was to tell the story in under 15 mins.
OR: What was the most challenging aspect of your production?
AI: It was the first time I worked with SAG but they were very helpful, so the experience was challenging, as it was new for me, but pleasant.
Casting was the other challenging part, we had 6 full days to find the actress for the role of “Faith”, and when I already lost the faith…I saw Allie Leonard.
OR: Do you have any advice for first-time filmmakers?
AI: Don’t think about trends, be honest with yourself and with the viewer, tell the story that matters to you.
