Hezurbeltzak, a common grave

Directed By Izibene Oñederra

Shane: Tell us about your film?

Izibene: “Hezurbeltzak, a common grave” is an animation short film. The film is not politically correct in several ways: The animation consists of wild drawings made with Chinese ink. And movement is far to illustrate real life. Also It has not got a common narrative line. It becomes a crave story, emphasized with the soundtrack.

S: How did you come up with the idea for the film?

I: The idea become from some drawings I made in a foreign country, the first time I was spending so long time alone. The experience was being intense in one sense but also hostile in other sense, It was an initiation travel that changed a lot of believes I used to feel were really mine. It became a lot of obsessive drawings.  The animation appeared later. “Hezurbeltzak” the title of the film is a Basque word; it does not appear in any dictionary because anybody is proud of using this kind of terms, but it is usual in everyday life. It is used to describe socially invisible groups. It is literal translation would be “Black bones”.

S: Was this a school project?

I: Actually, the first support became from the Fine Arts school of Bilbao and specifically from the animator and the teacher Begoña Vicario, who has believed in my work and she put a lot of energy on it. Afterwards, the project was being grown out of the academic space.

S: How did you find your cast? 

I: Actually, I have not got any problem with the actors but I have been really successful with the musician, Xabier Erkizia, because ever since He saw the really bad editing animation, in that moment, He understood  and loved it very much. But also, there are not many professionals in the animation industry in the Basque Country (Spain) and everybody knows each other.

S: How long did the film take?  (From conception to final edit)

I: We spent a lot of time finishing the project, though; I could not work on it like in a full time work.

S: What was the most difficult part of the shoot for you?

I: I spent a lot of time drawing until another professional took part in the animation and sometimes it was hard to believe in the project, because I was spending long periods of time in my loneliness.

S: What are you most looking forward to at the festival?

I: I am looking forward in all the screenings that different people’s feelings will change and will challenge their emotions, Also, their points of view about the animation films. Also that people would like to see the short another time.

S: What films or filmmakers inspire you?

I: A lot of animation filmmakers who makes really different animation inspire me. The classic shorts and also the contemporary made of different sorts of techniques, But also my short become from the admiration I have got to drawers, comic authors, experimental directors and I could not forget the big writers like Beckett, Camus, Munroe, Carver…

S: What made you decide to become a filmmaker?

I: Maybe, It is too much to call me a filmmaker. I have been obsessive making “Hezurbeltzak” and It could be the only way to finish the project, because apart of the emotional support, I have spent a lot of time without financing, and also I think, nowadays this is the way to make experimental films. 

S: What is next for you?

I: I have got some ideas rolling in my mind, while I am drawing as always and animating some scenes to discover another kind of movements. Also, I have got an intense workshop with Abi Feijó and Regina Pessoa that should make me build my ideas.

S: What is next for the film?

I: The film is been selected in a lot of festivals all around the world and some very important people from the independent animation have said excellent words abut the film, also, We have received some awards as in the Stuttgart festival. We are really glad.

S: If asked to give one piece of advice to a new filmmaker making their first short film… What would it be?

I: It is difficult to give advises to other people one also myself need some of good given ones. But my experience has taught me that everything is possible if we have enough patient, courage and wishes.