Robert Ciesla

Footsteps DVCAM, 2'45'', 2009 Finland

Tell me something about you and artistic background.
I'm originally a multi-disciplinary artist, but as of late I've concluded that cinema (the documentary film in particular) is of most interest to me. However, I'm still working on my gritty English fiction every now and then.

Tell me about this film, initial idea and work process.
Footsteps was more or less shot in one session spanning from about 10 pm to 5 am. I intended to portray a sense of longing: someone is out there looking for someone. Or perhaps someone lost themselves during the sunrise. In any case, in the final scene the protagonist is released of his burden. For this film I went for the black-and-white aesthetic, which I find gives an emotional "oomph".

Are you working on new projects at the moment?
I'm working on a new documentary dealing with people with disabilities. It should surface this spring. I will also be promoting my latest documentary, House of Brahma which tells the tale of a Buddhist telemarketer who wants to leave all earthly matters behind.

Do you have specific influences in your film/video making?
Every pure thing in this galaxy is an influence to me, whether it's a prize-winning film everyone raves about or a good orange. An artist's reason d'etre is simply to amplify the harmony around him / her or at least have people question their more or less jaded believes. I don't tend to idolize specific people or movements within the film community.

Why is it important for you to show your film/video in a festival?
For the filmmaker, a festival is the final topping in their work. It is an event of transferring the whole work process to other minds, for whatever it's worth. So, I think festival screenings are definitely one part in the movie making process and as such I see them as welcome occurrences.

What role do you think Oslo Screen Festival should have to promote your work?
Feel free to promote my work to your heart's content!