Nowadays, going through your Instagram feed sometimes makes you wonder – is this video real, or is it just very convincing AI? If there is uncertainty for something as innocent as a cat reel, then how do things look like in the world of politics? Our winner this month, Lev Berger, looks at exactly that.
JL: Congratulations, Jan – what a great political thriller you’ve made! We loved Lev Berger here at TMFF, how has the reception been so far?
JF: Thank you. I am very glad you liked it. Lev Berger premiered at our National Festival of Independent Film, where it won the jury’s special mention award. So far Lev Berger has been well received at various festivals around the world. There have been a lot of interesting opinions and various interpretations. The award for Film of the Month here at TMFF is also among Lev Berger’s greatest accolades.
JL: What was the main source of inspiration when writing the script, and what would you say is the main theme of the film?
JF: The original script was written way back in 2017 after I saw a short video clip of Barack Obama saying unbelievable things. It was described that at the time he was the most recorded man in the world, and with the new technology of lip synchronization, they could create a video where he can say whatever they want. Even though this clip was meant as a joke, I began to think, “What if…” and so the very first draft of the story was written. Unfortunately, we were unable to make this film back then since it required too huge a production. In the beginning of 2024 I slightly updated the original script, and then the film was finally done. The main theme of the film revolves around the truth.
JL: It’s a very relevant case study, especially in today’s post-truth world, where authenticity of content is constantly scrutinised – was it your explicit intention to align it with where we are at the moment?
JF: Well, of course. The theme of the film is surely more relevant now than it was in 2017. We can never be too careful when examining the authenticity of any content.
JL: Generally speaking – what is the truth?
JF: What is the truth? And what we think is the truth is not always the same thing. So “What is the truth?” is the key question in Lev Berger as well as in life in general. I don’t have an answer.
JL: How concerned do you think we should be, as a society, about the nature of truth – with all that is going on with AI, deepfakes and such?
JF: We should be very concerned because things have already gone too far. In the very near future it will be impossible to distinguish authentic footage from a deepfake. We are already quite too late to reverse some things; the genie is out of the bottle.
JL: What was the biggest challenge for you whilst directing the film?
JF: There were so many of them, as I have never worked with such a huge cast and crew before. Coordinating all the schedules was very probably the biggest challenge of them all.
JL: Beyond your awards for the screenplay and direction, Miha Rodman also picked up an award for Best Actor. Have you worked with him before, and how happy are you with his performance?
JF: Yes, Miha and I collaborated on numerous short films before. I really wanted him to play Edvard in Lev Berger, so we only started the preproduction once he was confirmed to be on board. Miha is a highly professional actor, and I am very happy with his performance. He has a tremendous screen presence and is really able to deliver a wide range of emotional states, which are required for such a role. And I am also very glad for his well-deserved award.
JL: Any other projects you are currently working on?
JF: Yes. Two short film projects are in the post production stage at the moment.
JL: Thanks again for your time, Jan. You’re always welcome to send your work to us – we look forward to the next one!
JF: Thank you, it is my pleasure.
You may also like:
Leave a reply