Jan Fabris on Crafting “Voyeuress” – A Director’s Insight

What inspired the story of Voyeuress?

Jan Fabris: – The story of Voyeuress was inspired by an Olga Tokarczuk’s quote, which appears in the opening credits: “The man you see, doesn’t exist, because you see him, but because he is watching you.”

How did you approach creating a film that resonates so strongly with the LGBTQ community?

Jan Fabris: – I think the process of making this film was not really something special because of its LGBTQ theme. The making of any short film requires a certain amount of preparation and rehearsals. In this case, we discussed a lot about Lana’s infatuation with another girl. And then every other aspect of filmmaking (cinematography, production and costume design etc.) needed to support this main storyline.

What challenges did you face while producing the film?

Jan Fabris: – Since we were limited to four shooting days to produce this film, the biggest challenge was adjusting the schedule according to constantly changing weather conditions. Otherwise, the production of this film was very smooth.

How does it feel to win multiple awards, including Best LGBTQ Film, Best Actress and Best Cinematography?

Jan Fabris: – It feels fabulous. Thank you very much for this recognition. It really means a lot to us.

How did you collaborate with cinematographer Tristan Dragan to achieve the film’s visual style?

Jan Fabris: – Tristan and I are always the closest collaborators when making films. For Voyeuress the two of us wanted to establish a bit more classical softer film look with the use of vintage photography lenses. Besides, we always discuss all the shots, compositions, framings and color palettes in advance, so that they can serve our film the most. Since Tristan really is an exceptional cinematographer, I like the final result a lot.

What was it like working with Maša Grošelj, and how did her performance shape the film?

Jan Fabris: – Maša is a very kind and talented actress, so working with her was easy. During rehearsals she provided additional ideas regarding Lana’s complex personality. When shooting, Maša was able to genuinely express different emotional states throughout Lana’s character arc. Because of her tremendous screen presence we were able to include several longer takes in the final edit and therefore significantly enhance the cinematic rhythm of the film.

What message do you hope Voyeuress sends to its audience?

Jan Fabris: – Many people have already seen the film and I was really impressed by their several well-founded interpretations. The cinematic experience is the most important thing to me.

How do you approach portraying LGBTQ characters and themes with authenticity?

Jan Fabris: – The main focus was to show and present universal love themes, which the audience could easily identify with. But since in our case both characters are female, we decided to portray this in an even more tender and feminine way.

What’s next for you in your filmmaking career?

Jan Fabris: – Currently, our new short film “Lev Berger” is in the final stage of post production and it should be released early on in 2025. I am also writing two new short film screenplays.

How has Voyeuress impacted you personally as a filmmaker?

Jan Fabris: – Since the script needed 18 months to be finished from the original idea, in the end I am very glad the film is out now and is also so well accepted by the audience. It gives me a lot of motivation for possible new film projects in the future.