Beyond the Screen with YUNUS ROY IMER

You finished filming «A HAPPY FAMILY» this year. How happy were you on set?

We really were a very happy family! Jan-Eric Mack as well as one of the screenwriter and lead actress Anna Schinz are both long-time friends of mine. Working with the whole team was truly wonderful, even though the story deals with dramatic and socio-politically relevant issues. We worked with a well-managed though not lavish budget, and fortunately the high professional standard of every single person involved carried us through.

For me, Jan’s approach exemplifies collaborative, sustainable filmmaking. This way of working creates an atmosphere that benefits every aspect of filmmaking and life. What’s more, Anna Schinz gave an incredible performance. The film is now almost finished, and I’m genuinely proud of it and can hardly wait for it to be released.

You spent a long time filming «THE BLIND FERRYMAN» in Iraq. Is water your favourite element?

I love water! THE BLIND FERRYMAN (AL BASEER) tells a fairy-tale story set in the so-called cradle of humanity, Mesopotamia in southern Iraq, a truly fascinating region that is made up largely of water. Unfortunately, the unique nature and the people who live there are existentially threatened and affected by water scarcity due to human impacts further upstream and globally.

THE OUTRUN also takes place by the water, where we filmed with the selkies, also known as wild seals. Fascinating creatures, curious and shy at the same time, but we were able to befriend them from a respectful distance and the water, of course, made the whole experience even more special.

What fascinates you about your job?

Most of all, it’s the different places and people I’ve been able to encounter because of it. And the collaboration on such a project, the energy and focus that comes together with all the people and their arts, crafts and skills. And then the stories, the rhythm and the way they are created. Plus, the friendships that arise from it, even if it’s sometimes only for the duration of the film work.

How much do your films influence you? Are there scenes that you dream about again and again?

Life with the film influences me the most. While working on a film, the experience of creating it, i.e. the film itself in its expression, can only be experienced to a limited extent, as I am often very busy with implementing the vision, as well as the shooting conditions. But when the film is finished, when I can watch it in its final form with all its aspects, then the film influences me as a film, and I can finally immerse myself in this dream on the screen.

What does it normally take for you to say yes to a project?

The most important aspects for me are a story worth telling and working with good people. Of course, conditions such as location, duration and payment are also important factors. My financial situation can also be a deciding factor, although in that I tend to be more risk averse. This is often a good tactic to remain available for interesting projects.

What projects are you currently working on?

At the moment, I’m grading A HAPPY FAMILY and A STATE OF US, an indie low-budget feature film debut shot in northern England. And THE BLIND FERRYMAN will also be completed very soon! Otherwise, there are a few projects in the pipeline, but none of them are actually ready to be announced just yet.

Together with author Rebecca Martin (who is also my wife) and producer Leslie-Alina Schäfer, we are currently working on a new online format, nopressure99bookclub, in which celebrities talk to authors about one of their books. I really enjoy this because it overlaps with my actual profession in some ways, and it’s also a completely new experience.

How do your everyday surroundings inspire you?

I live in Berlin and have also been living in London for a year. One of the reasons we moved there was to be able to work more internationally. In London, I love the “let’s get this done” mentality, the optimism, the many meetings, the fast pace. But I also love walking in large beautiful parks or in the city, its cultural offerings, the many friendly people and the countless cosy pubs!

What was your most physically demanding job?

The documentary film SPACE DOGS (2019): running after a group of street dogs with a camera in Moscow in winter, spring and summer, day and night, and in all kinds of weather! And on OHNE DIESE WELT, which we shot in a Mennonite colony in northern Argentina, I got sunstroke at 45 degrees in the shade!