Indigo, a short film by Stoke Newington based production company Quince Films, has won a special mention award at the Berlin Film Festival. We spoke to the producer, Jules Mascharenhas.Â
Q. Can you tell me a bit more about the film?Â
A. It’s a magical-realism piece – about a boy who has healing powers and the drama is whether he should use them to help others or not. The message we’re really putting forward is if you have got some amazing ability, that’s all well and good but the world’s quite a dark place. You have to be careful with your powers.Â
Q. You shot some of it in Hackney? Where and why?Â
A. The most gorgeous scenes are in Walthamstow and Hackney Marshes. It’s just so beautiful there – long reeds, stunning skies, leaves in rivers.Â
Q. How did it feel to get the special mention at the Berlinale?Â
A. We’re seriously stoked. We knew we’d made a good film, but there was really strong competition. There were many over 48 films in the category, and it was just us and one other that received a mention. Now we’re back in Hackney we’re just so excited, and looking to work with the Council and local companies on future projects.Â
Q. What’s your advice to young film-makers?Â
A. Just do it and stick at it. Don’t give up – you can’t run away from who you are. And it’s so important for young film-makers to make contacts and keep them up. And to remember – you may be an artist but you have got to find something that people want to watch. You have to find that balance.Â
Q. Favourite London film?Â
A. Young Soul Rebels (Isaac Julien, 1991) is a fantastic film. It perfectly captures the spirit of London at a specific moment – in this case the Queen’s silver jubilee in the 1970s. And it’s shot in Clissold Park in Hackney.Â
Q. Describe your perfect day in the borough.Â
It would definitely involve Turkish food, pubs in Stoke Newington – one of few places you can still talk to strangers and just have inane conversations – and then some live jazz in the evening, perhaps at Pangea Project in Stamford Hill or the Vortex Jazz Club in Dalston.Â
Q. If you could change one thing about Hackney, what would it be?Â
A. I’d probably stop the city encroachment. It’s changing the place a lot and driving property prices up.Â
Q. And finally, how would you describe Hackney in five words?Â
A. Real. Heartwarming. Happening. Diverse. Vital.
