THE STORY
Fortune Cookie is the tale of a cookie on a journey to find happiness, even if it means breaking itself into pieces. This story, which I wrote and directed while working as an animator, has resonated with audiences around the world. The film was honored with the Short Tiger Award in 2020 and has since been featured at renowned festivals and cinemas, including the Festival de Cannes in France, the Festival de Cine Alemán in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the German Currents Film Festival in Los Angeles, USA.
Getting Into Animation
The film was developed within a condensed timeframe of two months, from the first idea to completion. Operating within a tight deadline, we leveraged the first version of Blender's Eevee render engine to optimize rendering efficiency. Through this project, my first venture into animation filmmaking, I gained valuable insights into crafting narratives within concise formats and making the most of the limited resources available.
Navigating Challenges: Directing Fortune Cookie
Fortune Cookie was my first project at Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, an ambitious environment for filmmaking. This project marked a significant personal growth journey for me, as I stepped into the role of director due to my vision for the screenplay. Leading a team of five, I quickly learned the importance of establishing effective communication channels and fostering trust among team members. I was so focused on perfecting the project that I almost compromised our team culture. Fortunately, by reconnecting everyone around our shared goals, we were able to deliver the film on time and look back with pride at our journey.
If I were to start this project again, I would recognize that my responsibility as a team leader includes fostering both healthy team dynamics and creative excellence. I would establish more effective communication routines to ensure a positive work environment.
Credits
Director: Nina Weilbächer, Producer: Adrian Steuer, Cinematography: Hendrik Ströhle, Technical Lead: Tom Tolle, Composer: Julian Ferreira da Silva, Animation Lead: Harald Dieterichs
© Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg 2019
© Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg 2019
