Anete Melece was born in Latvia in 1983. She studied visual communication at the Art Academy of Latvia (BA) and animation at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (MA). She is an illustrator and animator currently based in Zurich, Switzerland. (Press materials)
The 7-minute short “The Kiosk” will make its US debut at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 17.
Please give us your description of the film playing.
“The Kiosk” is an animated story about being stuck in the comfort zone of routine. It is about the search for happiness and how fate often strikes when least expected.
What drew you to this story?
Inspiration came from my own situation while I was working in an office. I enjoyed the safety provided by a regular income, while the growing dissatisfaction within myself was discharged by regular complaining. So I created a character: a kiosk lady who is literally stuck at her workplace simply because her sweet tooth and monotonous life have made her bigger than the exit.
What was the biggest challenge?
I started to work on the film while doing my Master’s degree, but I graduated only with a storyboard. Somehow I had to find a way to finish the film. It was not easy to find a producer (in Switzerland there are very few producers working in animation) and to survive while we collected all the necessary financial support.
This film was the first time that I was working with a professional team, which was great, but also quite a challenging experience. I learned to direct while making this film.
What advice do you have for other female directors?
I can give one piece of advice to all those young potential directors who are still sitting in their “kiosks” and dreaming about scenarios that could happen: Do it!
About being a female director, I am working in the field of independent animation and there are many films made by my female colleagues. I can only wish the same picture for Hollywood.
What’s the biggest misconception about you and your work?
A misconception that irks me is that many people still think that animation is one genre, as if all animated works are the same and that the only target audience are kids.
Name your favorite women directed film and why.
The animated short “Oh, Willy!” by Emma De Swaef. It has a surprising and deeply moving narrative, slightly dark humor, and incredibly beautiful images made of soft wool. It’s about the relationship between the big and the small in every sense.
