“Since I was a child I was always fascinated by different ways of storytelling…”
Name
Daphna Awadish
Profession
Film maker, illustrator and animator
Website
Who are you? What do you do?
I am Daphna, an Israeli filmmaker and Illustrator. I aspire to integrate a unique and personal perspective in a sensitive an intimate manner.
Where are you from?
I am from Israel, currently living in The Netherlands.
Your style in 3 words?
Sensitive, Intimate, humoristic
Your weakness? Your strength?
My working technique almost always involves hand work with various mediums including watercolor, markers, pens, oil pastels, and ink. I love the feeling of real paint texture, I don’t like to draw digitally so I guess this is my weakness. Nonetheless, when I do work digitally I try to emphasize the analogical feel.
What makes you different?
Human intimacy and emotion are features that I incorporate in a very personal way throughout my work.
When did you decide to become a filmmaker and illustrator?
Since I was a child I was always fascinated by different ways of storytelling: documentary films, animation, graphic novels and books. I was constantly attracted to these authentic stories and was also interested in methods of converting these stories into emotional films and books.
What do you find most fascinating about your work?
I work very instinctively, sometimes only understanding my decisions retrospectively. I find it very interesting and even mysterious. I love the feeling of pure color on paper, I’d even say it’s an addiction. One of my favorite things to do is to sit at a cafe and draw passing characters in the street, easily filling my sketchbook with observations funny human gestures.
A few words about your favourite creation?
My first film, Journey Birds, is about personal stories that fuse together man and bird in a cinematic commentary on immigration. Journey Birds was screened in festivals all over the world and won prizes, causing me to meet wonderful people and gaining lots of motivation to make more documentary animations.
Someone else’s work that inspired or inspires you…
Tomi Ungerer, Georgia O’keefe, Julia Pott, Yosi Abulafia, Amanda forbis,Wendy Tilby and my mom Riva Pinsky Awadish
A new project coming up or an idea you want to work on?
I moved to the Netherlands three months ago and started to work on a new documentary animation. It will deal with the topics of love and loneliness. Meanwhile, I am still working as a freelance illustrator, and currently starting to illustrate a new children’s book.
Finish the sentence More important than my career is…“
To learn how to ride bicycle.
2018: Where are we going?
New film, new book and great adventures.
When the going gets tough…
Have a good cup of coffee
Your city’s favourite spots?
I am still very new in the Netherlands but I really like Café Voltaire, Buurt and Café Herman in Den Bosch.
Do you have a vision?
To tell stories that will touch people deeply.
Tell us about your future plans…
To reach out to new places and people with my films and illustrations.
Last but not least: what is your favourite Song?
It changes with the season and mood. Right now I am listening to:
# George Harrison My Sweet Lord
Café Voltaire, Buurt, Café Herman, Follow Daphna on Instagram
