Valeria Bertuccelli is an Argentine actress who has spent the last 20 years acting for television and film. Her past credits include films that have screened at film festivals all over the world, including “Silvia Prieto,” “Los Guantes Mágicos,” “Luna de Avellaneda,” and “XXY.” “The Queen of Fear” marks her screenwriting and directorial debut.
“The Queen of Fear” will premiere at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival on January 21.
W&H: Describe the film for us in your own words.
VB: Robertina, a prestigious actress, is a couple of days away from the premiere of her long awaited one-woman play, but still she has no clue about what will she do on stage. She lives terrified in her own house, always distracted by thousands of domestic anecdotes, next to her entourage of employees who seem to be an unconquerable audience.
Suddenly she hears a friend urgently needs her from the other side of the world, so Robertina leaves without telling anyone. And in a very subtle way this trip changes her forever.
W&H: What drew you to this story?
VB: Honestly it was inevitable for me to write and shoot this story.
W&H: What do you want people to think about when they are leaving the theater?
VB: Fear, loneliness, and the funny and absurd thoughts that take over in those states. There is no courage without fear.
W&H: What was the biggest challenge in making the film?
VB:The multiple roles: working as lead actor and director of a film I also wrote.
W&H: How did you get your film funded? Share some insights into how you got the film made.
VB: The film financing was a very delicate task. My main producers Santiago Gallelli, Benjamín Doménech, and Matías Roveda did a very job addressing and discussing the film feasibility and strong points. Eventually they crafted the most suitable strategy: a mix of soft-funding and private money.
We then worked together very hard to secure the resources needed for the film to look and sound the way we wanted, including a production alliance with our mutual friends at Patagonik Film Group.
Funding also came from my producers at Rei Cine and myself.
W&H: That does it mean for you to have your film play at Sundance?
VB: It’s just great! I’ve always associated Sundance with the kind of daring films I like the most.
W&H: What’s the best and worst advice you’ve received?
VB: The worst advice: The screenplay is a work of art itself.
The best advice: Relax and let yourself go. All the pieces will fall into place in the set.
W&H: What advice do you have for other female directors?
VB: The most obvious and needed: trust yourself!
W&H: Name your favorite woman-directed film and why.
VB: “Toni Erdmann,” directed by Maren Ade. For its exquisite nuances, humor, and haunting melancholy.
W&H: Hollywood is in the midst of undergoing a major transformation. Many women and some men in the industry are speaking publicly about their experiences being assaulted and harassed. What do you think of the recently announced anti-sexual harassment Commission made up of industry leaders? Do you believe that it will help make systemic change? What do you think needs to be done to address this issue?
VB: It is of great importance. We must make sure that everything that has happened actually has an impact and contributes to real change. We’ve arrived at a turning point, where it’s hopefully harder to take advantage of someone in a vulnerable position and get away with, and it’s a bit easier for the abused person to find support, understanding, and encouragement to speak.
It is exciting and inspiring to experience this paradigm shift.
