Take 5 with ... "Camino, The Journey to Santiago"

Alicia Wszelaki

As we gear up for the 10th anniversary Oxford Film Festival, we wanted to introduce you to the filmmakers and their films you will experience on Feb. 21-24, 2013. Meet Alicia Wszelaki and Matt Nothelfer, directors of "Camino, The Journey to Santiago"

#1: In 140 characters or less, describe your movie and why someone should see it.
The Camino is always unique; yet also never changing. Curious to experience some of this ancient journey? "Camino" offers that revelation. 

#2: Biggest lesson learned in getting the film made? Best part in getting the film made?

Matt Nothelfer

Hiking and filming everyday for 800km offered a curious wisdom.

The film and pilgrimage began with a somewhat narrow narrative idea.

However, by the journey's completion that idea had settled quite elsewhere; in a much more impressionistic place.

This surprise was not only a huge lesson learned in regards to film making, but also the most rewarding part of the entire process.

#3: Tell us about you. What is your movie making background?
Creating commercial multi-media has been a decades long career.

However, more and more, the temptation of film directing has become irresistible. Storytelling is now the ultimate goal. Allowing all else to fall into that line is a huge reward.

Other shorts and features have been a part of the past, but the future hopefully allows even more inventive film making opportunities. 

#4: What's your dream distribution plan for the film?
For a short 15 minute film like this, the ideal route seems to be self-distribution online; offered for those curious about the subject and directly interested in the pilgrimage.

Of course, a few other film festivals along the way will be nice as well!

#5: What does the future hold in store for your film and for you?
The main goal of the film is to try and make it readily available to anyone and everyone that is interested in the Camino.

The Camino pilgrimage, any pilgrimage, is often a revealing journey --and such a path is always encouraged.

And if this film helps convince people to try it themselves, or helps a former pilgrim positively recall their previous journey, then it will have been successful.

As for the future, completing and releasing a feature length documentary that's already "in the can" is on the 2013 agenda!