EXILE, EXPERIMENT & EPIPHANY
From Russian Opposition to Occult Horror: A Filmmaker's Exile Story
Vitaly Flipgraf’s journey sounds more like a movie than real life! Forced into exile after working as a documentary film editor for the Russian liberal opposition, he lands in LA, but not before shooting his short film, Dry Stone, in Istanbul.
In this intense conversation, host Lisa Giles sits down with director Vitaly Flipgraf to discuss his powerful new short film, Dry Stone. But before diving into his experimental, silent, occult horror film, Vitaly opens up about his compelling personal history.
Vitaly shares the dangerous realities of his previous job, producing investigative documentaries exposing state corruption, which ultimately led to him fleeing his home country (where he faces imprisonment if he returns). He reflects on his time working alongside prominent opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
Vitaly explains why he chose to make his second short film a silent, visually-driven horror. He details the creative challenges and influences—from using bold, silent-film-inspired color palettes and diverse aspect ratios to the powerful original score composed by Amanda Mused, which includes evocative sounds like Scottish bagpipes.
The director discusses the layers of meaning in the evocative title, Dry Stone, and the challenges of shooting in a new country like Turkey. He also reveals why he chose to play the physically demanding lead role himself, making the film deeply personal and a permanent capture of that transient time in his life. Plus, find out the fascinating inspiration behind the film's unique, tarot-card-style poster art!
Join us for a look into a filmmaker's life shaped by political upheaval and a deep commitment to visual storytelling.
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