Juliana Mazia & Eugenia Molina: Childhood Inspirations in Film

What are the most formidable challenges inherent to the profession of filmmaking?

We definitely agree that the most complex part of making a film is to make an idea concrete in images and sound. In our particular case it was also a beautiful challenge to unite our sensibilities and to be able to clearly transmit our vision to the rest of the team.

Could you elaborate on the wellspring of your creative inspiration for this particular short film?

Certainly our childhoods, with a focus on the fact that we are girls. From our experience as adults we have a notion of the tragic realities that women have to face in our daily lives. We did the exercise of thinking how it would be to go through this reality from the innocence of our childhood and we thought the story from there.

Could you elucidate on the central thematic underpinning of your film?

Our film is a coming of age. With the excuse of the myth of the Cachiru, this group of children goes out to play while a tragedy unfolds around them. Without quite understanding what is going on, they are gradually unveiled that something very tragic is happening around them.

How do you navigate the task of strategizing cost-effective promotional efforts when operating within a constrained budget?

In our particular case we financed our film through a subsidy from INCAA in a program called “Historias Breves” (Short Stories) and other state funds that supported our project. Today these resources are in danger in our country, but it was essential to have them in order to make our short film. Knowing that we had a limited budget, the challenge was to strategically decide where to use the available resources to tell our story in the best possible way.

In today's dynamic marketplace, how pivotal do you consider the role of film distribution?

It is essential. In the first place to outline a strategy where each film finds the space that fits the theme it wants to address. The intention of every filmmaker is that his or her film is seen by as many people as possible, and in order to make this happen, the distribution strategy is crucial.

For individuals contemplating the path of self-distribution, what counsel or insights can you offer?

Social media. Today, creating a strategy from social networks is something accessible and can greatly enhance a project.

In your estimation, what level of significance do short films hold for aspiring filmmakers seeking to embark on a career in directing?

We would not say that the short film format is easier to direct, perhaps it is more accessible to get funds to materialize the project.

Reflecting on your professional journey thus far, could you share an instance of the most formidable challenge you encountered and how you surmounted it?

The truth is that filming in Argentina is very difficult. To have been able to overcome all the difficulties we faced since we decided to shoot this script (pandemic, complexities of Argentina, etc.) and to be participating in this festival is for us one of the biggest challenges and we are very proud to have made it through.

What, in your view, are the critical factors that contribute to the creation of a cinematic masterpiece?

It is essential to have a great team willing to work together and with the commitment to bring an idea to life. The sense of community and the desire to realize a vision were for us fundamental pillars without which “Cachirú” would not be what it is.

If you could revisit the inception of your career, are there any aspects or decisions you would choose to alter in hindsight?

We believe that each path in art is very personal, and it is not possible to accelerate the rhythm of subjectivities. It is a constant exercise to which we continue to devote ourselves, we still see our trajectory as a course in trance and we go through it as the living experience that it is.