Eirik Tveiten is no stranger to the short film format, having directed 14 shorts in his career so far. His most recent, NIGHT RIDE, follows protagonist Ebba on an unexpected journey, and garnered him an Oscar nod. We caught up with the director, whose work appears on T-Port through our new partner Premium Films, to find out more.
Tell us about yourself
I worked as an actor before debuting as a stage writer with THE CACTUS in 1997. In 2010 I wrote and directed the acclaimed short film FRIENDLY PEOPLE. Since then, I have written and directed 14 short films. My work includes different genres and stretches from high realism to stylised comedy. My latest film NIGHT RIDE won best Short Film at the Tribeca Film Festival 2022 and has been well received at festivals worldwide. NIGHT RIDE has a total of 10 wins thus far including an Oscar nomination. I am currently in pre-production with my next short film, CAMPING IN PARADISE and in development with a feature film project.
While working on the film, where did you draw your inspiration from?
NIGHT RIDE is a film about prejudice and harassment – and about finding courage to stand up for yourself and others. My inspiration usually comes from personal experiences and from observing society.
How did you first start working on NIGHT RIDE? What was the process like and what first sparked the idea?
I aimed to create a story about social issues and about harassment towards minorities. The subplot about the tram ride is framed around an actual event that a friend of mine experienced.
Tell us a bit about your film and the filmmaking process – what were your main insights?
Plan well, listen and be aware and flexible.
What were the biggest challenges you encountered during making your film?
In this particular film it was a challenge to find the right location for the film, and to plan the shooting schedule on the tram, as a lot of scenes were shot during regular traffic on the tracks – and needed careful consideration.
What did you find (or still find) as especially lacking in the process of distributing and promoting your film? What was especially challenging?
There are so many wonderful short films out there and finding a venue/festival that is right for your film is a challenge.
What do feel young film talents lack the most today, after graduating from film school? Where are the gaps in the film industry?
Personally I am drawn to ingenuity in form and content. I wouldn’t necessarily say there is a lack of this, but it is something I would like to encourage others to search for in their work.
What are your plans and dreams for the future?
I’m looking at creating stories for a longer format.
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