Watch: award-winning film created by LIPA students and grads

A film created by students and graduates from across LIPA has picked up an award at an international film festival. 

Rusalia was written, directed and produced by third-year Acting (Screen & Digital) student Horia Bazavan. It was named Best Arthouse Film at the Absurd Film Festival - Milan. 

It’s a collaboration with Filmmaking graduates and Music, Sound Technology and Theatre & Performance Design students. 

We caught up with Horia to discuss the film. 

Describe the film – what can viewers expect?

Rusalia is based on Romanian folklore, with a twist. It’s experimental, primal, raw, and animalistic. 

The film itself is an experience. It’s short and intense, and so far, hearing people’s reactions has been very exciting. I think viewers should watch it and reflect on the feelings or emotions they experience while the story unfolds. It’s certainly different for everyone, but I’d advise turning the music up and fully embracing the rawness of the performances. 

This film is a real collaboration with different disciplines – how important to your training is getting the opportunity to work with students from different courses? 

It’s an incredible environment to create art and be surrounded by artists from different fields. The project wouldn’t be what it is without the entire crew — from music and sound to costume and makeup — everyone worked incredibly hard, and that really shows. I’ve met so many talented individuals through this process, people I know I’ll be working with for a long time moving forward. 

How important is it to you to develop your own independent work? 

It’s crucial. I’m very passionate about what I do, and often, as an actor, you don’t have the freedom to create the art you truly want to make. Because of that, I had to step outside the box and create my own work, and I’m very grateful that it’s now being recognised on an international level. We shot it in October, released it in November, and by December we had our first nominations, followed by our first win at the start of the year. It’s honestly amazing how it all had this domino effect. You physicalise an idea, bring people on board, and suddenly you’re winning awards and certificates for something that started as your own vision. 

What's next for the film? 

We’re expecting a lot more attention around the film; it’s been submitted worldwide and, just a month after its release, it’s already being awarded and talked about. Although it’s a short film, it’s part of something bigger and much more ambitious that we’re hoping to develop by the end of this year, depending on the recognition it receives over the coming months. 

Credits:

Crew

Directed, written and produced: Horia Bazavan - Acting (Screen & Digital)

Creative director and choreographer: Noor Liu de Biolley – Acting (Screen & Digital)

Camera operator: Jake Beau Fell – Filmmaking & Creative Technologies graduate

Hair and makeup/costume department: Lucy O'Connor – Theatre & Performance Design

Music producer and composer: Zong Xu Steinhoff - Music (Popular, Contemporary & Commercial)

Assistant producer: Ben Brown – Filmmaking & Creative Technologies graduate and MA Music Industry Management student

Lighting: Lucie de Lint – Filmmaking & Creative Technologies graduate

Sound technician: Isla Fleming – Sound Technology

Vocals: Bianca Pana

Electric guitar: Corn Harrison - Music (Popular, Contemporary & Commercial)

Music mixing engineer: Louis Roberts – Sound Technology

Cast

Rusalia: Noor Liu De Biolley

Adam: Horia Bazavan