'The Pass' is a queer, coming-of-age thriller exploring themes of loneliness, sexual identity, vulnerability and toxic masculinity with an angle towards healing and self-acceptance. It all begins with misread signals on holiday when one man meets another and things take a turn.
Rainbow Shorts features nine films in 2023, a few of which – including 'The Pass' – are celebrating their Australian premiere at Flickerfest.
Pepi Ginsberg, based in Brooklyn, New York, began her career in the creative industry releasing music, and 'The Pass' is her thesis short from NYU's Graduate Film Program.
Here, Writer/Director Pepi chats about 'The Pass' and its involvement in Flickerfest's queer film showcase.
What inspired you to write a story such as this one?
To be fully honest, I think the stories that I am most connected to are the ones that come in a sort of fever dream. There were concrete inspirations for this film. I was thinking about someone close to being in this sort of situation. And the situation itself – being stuck in the water while being hit on – was something my DP (Director Of Photography) Melanie Akoka experienced. But the actual heart of the material, creating this sort of dragon-slayer allegory, revealed itself to me after I wrote the film.
Before film, you were a professional recording artist. What made you decide to try your hand in the world of film?
I have always loved cinema, have always gone to the movies. I grew up watching films, rented a zillion movies first from the video store, then from Netflix (DVDs!) and now of course I view things both in theatres and at home (hopefully, but not always, on my projector!). I had a tragedy in my life and really lost my ability to perform live. But it was a confluence of things in my music career that led me on the path to actually making films. I wanted to tell bigger stories, I wanted to work in a visual medium and I wanted to be behind the camera. I didn’t know filmmakers growing up and so it never occurred to me that this was something I could do, as much as I loved the form. But working in music, watching how people made music videos for my bands – I started to put the pieces together. Thank god I did. It felt like I had been walking in shoes that didn’t fit for an entire career and then finally finding a glass slipper. I feel grateful for all of the difficult, and wonderful, things that led me to filmmaking.
It was part of the official selection at Cannes! What does it mean to you for this film in particular to be recognised in this way?
It was really an incredible feeling, I didn't realise it would be so meaningful to me but it gave me a sense that there was an audience out there for my work. It also helped give our film a long and fruitful life after the festival and I am forever grateful for the experience of being able to share 'The Pass' with so many people, and to learn so much along the way, especially as I prepare to make my first feature.
What’s the main message you want audiences to take from this film?
To find the grace of self-acceptance and self-love. This was so hard for me to do. And still I struggle, of course. But I think there is a time in our lives when we are faced with the question of who we are and what we deserve. Sometimes it is by coming into contact with people with toxic and abusive attitudes, as in the case with the film. With the film I am looking at that moment when we ask ourselves if we want to align with this darkness or fight against it and demand something better for ourselves. I think 'The Pass' is a very hopeful film, because our hero makes the brave decision to go towards connection and love.
’The Pass’ is screening as part of Flickerfest in 2023. What are you looking forward to about having your film screened here?
Oh I will love to show the film in Australia to a totally new audience! I went to Australia so many years ago and it warms me to know my film will be playing there at such a wonderful and inclusive festival.
It’s among films in the Rainbow Shorts programme. Why do you think it’s so important to have programmes like these as part of major film festivals?
Growing our empathy by watching films and living in stories told from different perspectives is how we as an audience can grow and change together. I am honoured to be part of any festival and programming that gives voice to characters who challenge norms, who embrace love and who fight for representation of their true and authentic selves.
Flickerfest's Rainbow Shorts offering screens on 27 January at Bondi Pavilion. 'The Pass' features in the programme.
