2024 "FOCUS ON YOUTH":
WHERE IS SHE NOW?
Revisiting Award-Winning Filmmaker:
Ava Bounds
Ava Behind her Camera
Photo Courtesy: Ava Bounds
Photo Courtesy: Ava Bounds
Ava Bounds is a U.K.-based teenage writer/director who won the 2021 IMDb New Filmmaker Award for her film Beth. She creates tasteful, absurdist dramas that explore the depths of humanity through its eccentricities. Many of her films have been selected for international film festivals, where she has won many awards, including BAFTA and Academy Award qualifying. Ava continues to deliver award-winning cinema as she hatches fresh story ideas about ordinary odd bods who journey from illusion to reality.
Ava was first introduced to Sanctuary readers in 2021, when she discussed her short film PLAYERS, as a featured emerging artist. One of her more recent films, Anna McGee's Wild Ride, caught Myrna Haskell's attention at the PKX Festival, which showcases the extraordinary artistic talents of young people aged 14 to 19 from across the globe (held at Trolley Barn Gallery and hosted by The Art Effect, Poughkeepsie, New York). We wanted to give our Sanctuary community a look at what Ava has been up to, since her first feature drew a lot interest and buzz. |
Proud Sponsor of 2024 FOCUS ON YOUTH:
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"I’m passionate about making films that are notoriously weird and have surprising twists at the end of them." ~ Ava Bounds (2021 Focus on Youth) |
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What's New with Ava Bounds?
What's been happening in your life since you were featured in Sanctuary three years ago?
To be honest, the past three years have been a hectic but wonderful rollercoaster. From bouncing around different film festivals, to even starting to write my first feature film! Since my feature, I have directed three more short films of varying topics, including the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous and flying skeletons out of cars. I’m trying to fully immerse myself into the youth film scene in Northern England and help to cultivate a network of passionate, like-minded individuals.
What has been your biggest success up to this point?
My biggest success has probably been winning the IMDb New Filmmaker Award in 2021 for my film Beth — two of my other films have been nominated for it as well! I was the youngest ever recipient of the award, and for this, I am eternally grateful.
What have you learned about your craft in the last three years?
I have learned that it’s important to take care of yourself. This is not a technical skill and not exactly mind-blowing, I know. But I have found that sometimes we get wrapped up in the adrenaline rush of filmmaking; we think we have to churn out film after film but sometimes we need to know when to stop and take care of ourselves — to say no, to step back for a while. It’s a very important skill in this industry.
To be honest, the past three years have been a hectic but wonderful rollercoaster. From bouncing around different film festivals, to even starting to write my first feature film! Since my feature, I have directed three more short films of varying topics, including the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous and flying skeletons out of cars. I’m trying to fully immerse myself into the youth film scene in Northern England and help to cultivate a network of passionate, like-minded individuals.
What has been your biggest success up to this point?
My biggest success has probably been winning the IMDb New Filmmaker Award in 2021 for my film Beth — two of my other films have been nominated for it as well! I was the youngest ever recipient of the award, and for this, I am eternally grateful.
What have you learned about your craft in the last three years?
I have learned that it’s important to take care of yourself. This is not a technical skill and not exactly mind-blowing, I know. But I have found that sometimes we get wrapped up in the adrenaline rush of filmmaking; we think we have to churn out film after film but sometimes we need to know when to stop and take care of ourselves — to say no, to step back for a while. It’s a very important skill in this industry.
How has your work changed over the last three years?
For the longest time, I made Lynchian period dramas about mostly true stories. However, my more recent work has made a massive jump to absurdist comedy. I now like to combine wacky, playful (sometimes dark) situations with deeper universal themes through comedy (well, I’m trying to anyway!). I think this transition came about because I’m starting to view the world around me with a very different lens — a more vibrant, absurd one. In 2012, you said: "My absolute dream job would be an auteur – both writing and directing films." Are you still focused on a career in writing/directing films? Over the past few months, I’ve been trying to figure that out myself. I love both writing and directing, but, ultimately, I prefer to write. And recently, I have been deep-diving into screenwriting books and courses as I embark on writing my debut feature film — it’s going to take a while! When did you first get interested in dark comedy as a genre? In all honesty, I have no idea. It is just always a genre that came out through my films, my paintings, my poetry, music and more. |
Ava on Set
Photo Courtesy: Ava Bounds |
I grew up watching The Twilight Zone, so this could have had an effect on me. But I think it’s innately in me to view the world this way because everywhere you look, you will find something funny (even in the darkest things). Laugh at it all!
On Anna McGee's Wild Ride: This short film packs in a lifetime (literally) in just over a minute and a half. Besides the idea of "life flashes before our eyes," what else do you hope the viewers take away?
As I am maturing into an adult, leaving home and starting my own big adventures, I am starting to spend less time with my family. It made me reflect on how grateful I was for the many years I spent with my brother, mum and dad on crazy journeys and wholesome Christmases. I hope the viewers take away the message to stay present and treasure these times with their loved ones because it will flash before their eyes, and once they’re gone, they’re gone.
The sound editing in this one pulls the viewer right in. Does sound provide an important roadmap for the viewer to understand theme?
The sound editing for this one was key to the overall tone of the film. It added to the sensory bombardment of ‘life’ in general. At the end of the film, the word ‘Anna,’ spoken by her father, is the sound we are left with; this highlights what should be important to Anna in such an overwhelming life.
On Anna McGee's Wild Ride: This short film packs in a lifetime (literally) in just over a minute and a half. Besides the idea of "life flashes before our eyes," what else do you hope the viewers take away?
As I am maturing into an adult, leaving home and starting my own big adventures, I am starting to spend less time with my family. It made me reflect on how grateful I was for the many years I spent with my brother, mum and dad on crazy journeys and wholesome Christmases. I hope the viewers take away the message to stay present and treasure these times with their loved ones because it will flash before their eyes, and once they’re gone, they’re gone.
The sound editing in this one pulls the viewer right in. Does sound provide an important roadmap for the viewer to understand theme?
The sound editing for this one was key to the overall tone of the film. It added to the sensory bombardment of ‘life’ in general. At the end of the film, the word ‘Anna,’ spoken by her father, is the sound we are left with; this highlights what should be important to Anna in such an overwhelming life.
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