Mahboobeh Kalaee on alchemy and animation

Can you tell us about your career journey so far? What made you decide to go into directing?

My high school education was in the field of graphics, but I was very interested in literature too. As an undergraduate, I studied industrial design, where I created projects that could convey lived experiences and the truth of people's lives. 

Soon after, I realised that cinema and filmmaking, especially experimental films, was exactly what I was looking for. Like a potion, it contains all my interests, and I experience the most beautiful moments when I am working with film, because it confronts me with my own truth.

How has your style evolved since the start of your journey?

The process of creating a film is full of evolution, like a living thing growing every moment. I found growth through making films based on my own life and experiences. Every experience has brought a new challenge, and with it an evolution.

Ff artists know themselves well, and just be themselves, they will have their own unique way of looking and naturally a style will evolve.

My first experience in filmmaking was a three-minute plan-sequence film. I was afraid to move the camera, so despite this limitation, I tried to design my story according to this space. It was very successful so when I wanted to turn another personal experience into a film, I felt it was time to overcome my fear and move the camera! I tried my best to use the feature of the moving camera in the service of different aspects of the film. So much so, that the moving camera became the main feature of the film!

What has your experience of entering the industry been like? What were the challenges?

Overall it’s been positive. There have been a few challenges of course. For me, being a director requires patience, learning how to collaborate with different craftspeople and when it comes to making personal films, things like distribution have been a learning curve.

The circle of inspiring elements is not limited for me, and is as wide as life. Life is full of inspiration.

Do you think it’s important to have a specific style and voice to make it as an animation director?

Naturally, every artist has a different lived experience and people just understand the world differently . I think if artists know themselves well and just be themselves, they will have their own unique way of looking and naturally a style will evolve.

Who are your inspirations?

First and foremost, all the hard-working people in the world inspire me! Also, watching the works of my favourite filmmakers, like Paul Driessen, Daisy Jacobs, and others, inspires me to keep going. 

Water is an inspiring element for me! I believe that this element has features perfect for animation as it is constantly transforming. 

I think it’s good to have a flexible style that can adapt.

Objects and their relationship with space, visual studies of the world during a trip or on a normal day is also something that excites me to create. The circle of inspiring elements is not limited for me, and is as wide as life. Life is full of inspiration.