Interview with Cleola Eayrs

Permanent Jury Member of the Luminous Frames Film Festival

Introduction

What inspires a juror to look beyond technical perfection and search for the light within every film?

In this exclusive interview, actress and permanent Luminous Frames jury member Cleola Eayrs shares her perspective on fearless storytelling, authentic performances, the evolution of short cinema, and the responsibility of judging films with fairness and an open mind. She also reflects on memorable films, offers advice to emerging filmmakers, and discusses why protecting unique artistic voices has never been more important.

Editorial Note

A successful film festival requires an outstanding jury capable of recognizing originality beyond convention. Due to her acting background, Cleola Eayrs pays particular attention to the emotional authenticity of each story and performance. As Festival Director, I have always admired her ability to find a ray of light in every film and to encourage thoughtful discussions among the jury, even when opinions differ.

“It’s easy to get lost in the crowd and forget how important our individual voices are.”

Has there been a film or filmmaker in past editions of the festival whose work, or a particular sequence, stood out to you?

Three films and documentaries have stayed with me over the years. The first is A Letter to My Mother by Amina Maher - beautiful and unsettling at the same time; it left me covered in goosebumps. The second is Hunger Ward by Skye Fitzgerald. This documentary left me broken, and in order to pick up the pieces, I had to research what was happening in Yemen and find out what I could do to help. That is how I knew the documentary was successful: it had sparked that reaction in me. The third is the animation Audition in Hell by George Port and Mark Blum. I really enjoyed this production, perhaps because I am an actress, but I found the concept very interesting and still talk about it to this day.

At the end of each edition, contestants and many festival followers eagerly await the jury’s results. After the winners are announced, some are pleasantly surprised while others are disappointed. How do you evaluate the judging process at the Luminous Frames Festival? Is there an unbiased and open environment in which you can judge independently? What do you do when your opinion is completely different from that of the rest of the jury?

This is an interesting question and one I have thought about before. Most of the judges have distinctly different tastes in film, which is great because that reflects the reality of the industry: some people love your film, and others simply do not. We also come from different professional backgrounds within the film industry and from different countries, which makes for an interesting list of finalists. I judge films when I am completely alone at home, so there are no distractions and I can simply enjoy and assess each film fairly. I also think my background as a lecturer has given me the skills to judge films fairly on their own merits.

I always voice my opinion when I do not necessarily agree with the choices. This allows a discussion to take place among the judges, and after a while we come to an agreement, which usually encourages us to look again at other possible productions.

What is your opinion of independent filmmaking today? Which countries and filmmaking styles do you consider to be leading in this field?

I believe we are making the necessary strides in this creative sector, but I also believe a great deal is still falling under the radar because of the lack of economic and social support in various countries. Choosing is a little difficult for me because I do not feel I have watched enough to decide, but from what I have seen so far, I would choose Germany and Japan. The work from those countries always stands out to me.

Luminous Frames, does this name evoke something in your mind?

Bringing to light... that’s what always comes to mind when I think of Luminous Frames.

How do you evaluate the policies of Luminous Frames in the world of short film festivals?

Luminous Frames allows a variety of short films to be submitted, whether conventional or unconventional. This is exceptional because it does not put filmmakers in boxes, but allows for creative freedom and acknowledgment.

How would you rate the diversity of films and filmmakers taking part in the festival during the past few years?

It has been beautiful to watch this grow. At the beginning, we could see where the films predominantly originated from, but as the years have gone by, we are now seeing more films from different countries, cultures, and languages - similar stories, but seen from different perspectives because of our differences as people.

As you might know, each edition of the festival was held in a new country for more than a year. What do you think this prominence will offer the films and filmmakers?

I believe this has been a great initiative, not only for our festival but also for the films and filmmakers taking part. It allows films to reach a larger audience in a country different from where they originated. Speaking from experience, it has always been difficult to get your work to reach an audience outside your borders, and the festival has removed those borders for filmmakers.

Considering your experience judging several editions of the festival, how would you describe the general atmosphere of short films in today’s world?

What I want to applaud in the short films I have judged over the last couple of years is the ability and bravery to push boundaries. The desire to express yourself and inform others has been palpable in the work of the filmmakers taking part in the festival.

What advice do you have for younger filmmakers and newcomers, as well as professional filmmakers working in short film?

For younger filmmakers, I would say: just do it. Pick up that camera, start writing, stop talking yourself out of it, and take that chance. For professional filmmakers, remember why you started this journey in the first place and what you were trying to say with your work. It’s easy to get lost in the crowd and forget how important our individual voices are.