Siska Lappi-Takala

Director of

Gaza - life under the pressure of genocide and ecocide

A complete interview with Siska

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the director Siska for taking the time to answer our questions.

Whole team of Liverpool Indie Awards is wishing you the very best in all your future projects. We hope to see more of your exceptional work in the years to come. Thank you once again!

Can you tell us about your submitted project and what inspired you to create it?

This experimental indie short film ‘Gaza under the pressure of genocide and ecocide’ is the filmmaker’s autoethnography understanding of the justification of existence. This “never-ending” story represents many other similar, little-known, injustices in our common world.

What was your creative vision for this project, and how did you work to bring that vision to life?

First there was history and a story, which I realized as a contemporary art work. Then the idea unfolded as a dance of a tired elderly person, eventually shaping into an experimental short film.

How did you collaborate with the rest of your team, such as producers, writers, and cinematographers, to ensure the project's success?

This project was an unplanned process that I implemented from my own starting points, first and foremost for myself. ‘My team’ was the environment I had experienced and known over the decades.

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced during the production, and how did you overcome them?

The overall picture of our increasingly authoritarian world is also clearly visible in the situation in Gaza. I have taken this change into account by highlighting the artwork in color and by adding arresting words to the dance.

Can you discuss any specific moments or scenes in the project that you are particularly proud of, and why?

The short film itself, based on contemporary art, has preserved its message over time as the colors used change and the dance slows down.

Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently, and what lessons did you learn from this experience?

At first I made the film just for myself. Today I understand that it has succeeded in challenging individual thinking in different corners of the world regardless of the spectator’s background. Gaza reminds us of Darfur, Myanmar …you carry on.

Can you describe a project that you are particularly proud of and why it stands out to you?

The film ‘ Putin – a dictator, who dreams of tsarism’ was my very first experimental indie short film. It is still this day where art looks beyond science to the day after tomorrow.

What advice would you give to aspiring directors looking to break into the industry?

I am not in position to advise aspiring directors.

How did you approach working with actors to bring out the performances you wanted for the project?

“In my team, we are here at this moment. Forget the glory and Hollywood.”

How did you approach sound design and music for the project, and what was your collaboration like with your composer or sound designer?

I work on a story and based on it, I create a work of art or works that I give to the composer to internalize. After this, we create a presentation together, for which we look for suitable music or the composer writes the music.

How did you handle feedback or criticism from your team or audience, and what changes did you make as a result?

Criticism is welcome. Very often it’s annoying when the story is rushed and attention is paid to technical details that are not my focus at all.