Cut to the Chase: Tips for Emerging Directors *PRE-REGISTERED ONLY*
  • Mon, 22 September, 16:00 - 17:30  |  Day 3
  • PB Lounge
recommend to
  • #Director
  • #Production
This session covers strategic thinking for directors beginning their careers. Focus will be placed on the director-producer relationship, examining the balance between creative vision and financial strategy. The impact of a budget on project development is also covered, emphasizing how to make informed decisions. Projects will be addressed as steps in one's career and personal development, with consideration given to skills to be gained and future goals. The session will start with a brief presentation but will quickly evolve into an open discussion for sharing experiences, questions, and perspectives.
Moderator
Daniel MATTES (Producer, Anti-Archive)

Daniel Mattes is an American-born producer with Cambodian production company Anti-Archive. He most recently produced Becoming Human, the debut feature from Polen Ly, which premiered at the 2025 Venice Film Festival in the Biennale College Cinema section, and he produced Chheangkea’s short, Grandma Nai Who Played Favorites, which won best international short film at Sundance 2025. He co-wrote and associate produced White Building, Kavich Neang’s first narrative feature film which later won the Orizzonti award for Best Actor at the 2021 Venice Film Festival. He also produced Kavich Neang’s 2019 documentary Last Night I Saw You Smiling and co-produced Nontawat Numbenchapol’s 2023 feature, Doi Boy. He produced the short films Golden Dragon by Boren Chhith (2023), Further and Further Away by Polen Ly (2022), Sunrise in My Mind by Danech San (2020), and New Land Broken Road by Kavich Neang (2018). He has served as producing mentor for Purin Short Film Camp and Objectifs Short Film Incubator, and he is co-organizer and mentor of Karre Mouy, a new lab for Cambodian producers.