SHORT TALK WITH MARK BRENAN

(documentary jury member) 

BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM Category

22nd IN THE PALACE International Short Film Festival 2025

Evgenia Evtimova: Did you notice any recurring themes or global concerns among the documentaries this year? 

Mark Brenan: There were a number of short films looking how climate change was impacting different industries and ways of life, and of tales that looked at modernity versus tradition. It was very interesting to see how such macro issues could create so many unique, smaller stories all stemming from the same place. 

Evgenia Evtimova: In short-form documentaries, time is compressed, yet the emotional impact often isn't. How do you judge whether a film has earned that emotional response or simply rushed into it?

Mark Brenan: Simply put, if the audience feels it, you've earned it. A film can be two minutes or twenty, the length doesn't matter as much as the delivery of the story. One documentary this year had me feeling emotional in the first five minutes, while another took me by surprise and made me feel a lot towards the end. 

Evgenia Evtimova: Was there a film where the filmmaker took a formal or narrative risk that didn’t entirely work, but you admired it anyway? What made it worth the risk?

Mark Brenan: I wouldn't say there was a film in which the narrative delivery didn't work, but there were certainly some that tried to do things in a different way. What made Bloodline and Workers Wings evocative for me was how visual the storytelling was, rather than simply informing the audience of what was happening. It was still clear, but also invited the audience to create their own feelings towards it. 

Evgenia Evtimova: Which documentary made you feel like you were learning something new, without realizing it right away?

Mark Brenan: The winning film, A Jar In Time, I found fascinating in this regard. It showed me a way of life I would never have seen otherwise. It was a truly immersive experience to dive into the world of this couple who live a life so alien to my own, they almost existed in a whole other time and place. It made me think about the world I live in and how much of modern-day life has actually benefitted society. There was a simplicity to their life that fascinated me and that has stayed with me since. 

Evgenia Evtimova: Having seen such a range of documentary voices this year, what’s something you wish more young filmmakers understood before they hit record?

Mark Brenan: One thing I see in short documentaries at time is what feels like a “promo” rather than an exploration. When a film is about someone's craft or company, it's very difficult for me to not see that film is a pitch tool rather than a documentary. Sometimes, in these situations, I think the film should be about the people behind the story, behind the craft, behind the company. I want all filmmakers to latch onto what makes a topic interesting for them, and make me see that through their eyes. Why do you want to tell this story? Show me.

Interviewer: Evgenia Evtimova

Editor: Martin Kudlac