Clashing Peaks and Family Ties w/ Jan-Willem van Ewijk

Listen to our podcast conversation with Jan-Willem van Ewijk, director of Alpha. from the Giornate degli Autori competition of the 2024 Venice Film Festival.

TFV’s Matt Micucci shares a conversation with director Jan-Willem van Ewijk, the creative mind behind Alpha., a film making waves at the 2024 Venice Film Festival’s Giornate degli Autori competition.

Alpha. is no ordinary adventure film. It’s an existential journey set against the breathtaking and unforgiving beauty of the Alps. The story follows a snowboard instructor whose life takes a turn when his father shows up there. As they venture into the snowy mountains together, unresolved tensions and clashing personalities come to a head, leading to a collision with both the overwhelming nature around them and each other.

In this episode, we explore the inspiration behind this icy tale, written by van Ewijk himself, and how casting a real-life father and son added layers of authenticity and raw emotion to the film. We’ll also delve into van Ewijk’s unique journey from aeronautics to filmmaking, and why he’s drawn to shooting in some of the most exotic, and challenging, locations on Earth.

Showcast is a series of candid podcast conversations from film festivals and film markets, presented by The Film Verdict and hosted by Matt Micucci.

Featured image: BALDR

  • Poster of the 2024 Venice Film Festival.
    Image: Venice Film Festival

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