Zara Zerny
Director & Co-writer
Denmark / Canada
Zara Zerny (1985) graduated from the independent film school, Super16, in 2016 as a director. During her time at Super16, she has directed three films that all mix documentary and fiction. Her character driven style along with her long tableaux’s that forces the viewer to observe the world, she wants to depict, is a big interest that Zara wants to further develop. Zara also has a bachelor in Graphic Design from Gerrit Rietveld Academy.
Zara’s films have been shown at various of festivals such as Nordic Panorama, Slamdance FF, IndieCork FF (Award – Best Short Film), Moscow IFF, Drama FF (Award – special mention, Best Documentary), Rotterdam FF. In 2017 she developed her first fiction feature at Jump In, Poitiers Film Festival and her first documentary feature is selected for Twelve for the Future 2018/2019.
Project
Silver Island
A teenage love story about two people finding each other at a nursery home in the last stage of their life. Alice suffers from dementia and mistakes Frank for her deceased husband Ejnar. Frank has lived a lonely life without ever experiencing great love. At first Frank rejects Alice due to her state of mind, but eventually he’s intrigued by sweet Alice and for the first time he can be something for someone. Slowly he starts to develop feelings for her and Alice can relive her first and only love Ejnar through Frank. Even though Frank understands the situation he hopes Alice loves both of them. But her dementia worsens and to Frank’s big grief she suddenly can’t remember him, so he begins to live in his memories to feel alive. A slow, beautiful and life reassuring story about the power of memories and how it’s never too late to feel loved.
