Gözde + Russel Zehnder

Gözde + Russel Zehnder / Take Me Home

Director duo - Gözde H. Zehnder ve Russel has been shooting shorts together since 1997. Since 2000 they have been producing documentary and idents for TV, Art and Fashion under freestate productions - a stable space for the exchange of ideas, images and projects.

Gözde H. Zehnder – Short Filmmaker & Photographer.Born in Istanbul. Graduated in media studies and photography from Edith Cowan University, Perth. In 1998, her graduate short film ‘the living wall’ won 2 awards for best experimental film and best editing in 12th WA Screen Awards in Perth. She moved to Singapore in 1999. Gözde did a video installation, entitled, ‚Daydream‘ for Project Innocence in Substation, a collaboration of 3 young artists at 2 different places. She also regularly exhibits her photographs with Lomographic Society, taking her camera out on the streets.
Her short film ‘Happy Birthday Sharon’ won the Audience Voice Award at 2nd Singapore Shorts Film Festival and Best Director Award given by the jury at the 2nd AFM/International Independent Film Festival in Istanbul. Since 1997, Gözde is directing experimental short films that screens in film festivals worldwide. Currently, she is developing new projects for ‘freestate productions’ as well as working as a director in various assignments.

Russel Zehnder – Photographer & Short Filmmaker. Born in Singapore. Graduated in media studies and photography from Edith Cowan University, Perth. Showcased his first slide installation ‘Memories, Dreams, Reflections’ (2002), a collaboration of 3 young artists at The Substation. He participated in an exhibition ‘while you sleep’(2002), with other artists, documenting the night of Singapore with a Lomo camera. Held his solo B&W exhibition ‘Lost for Words’ (2003), documenting his travels in Turkey. He contributed a sound and photo installation ‘family’ (2003) a collaboration among artists at The Substation.

He is also actively involved in short films and has been doing so since 1996. His most prominent work ‘Happy Birthday Sharon’ (2002) won the Best Short Film Award given by the jury at the 2nd AFM/International Independent Film Festival in Istanbul (2003) and the Audience Voice Award at the 2nd Singapore Short Film Festival (2002). He has also participated in the 14th International Electronic Art Festival, Videobrasil in Sao Paulo (2003) as part of a panorama of short films from Singapore. Russel works in the media industry as a cameraman and director.

Director’s Statement:
This short is generally about people dealing with their personal selves. These characters are struggling with loneliness, loss of love, fear, pressure, lack of control, pain and death…situations and circumstances that all people experience. It’s a short film that explores the idea of three lives connected only by time, place and memory.