Moin Hussain

Moin Hussain's short film Real Gods Require Blood has its world premiere at Cannes Critics' Week.

After being selected by the Directors Guild of Great Britain to take part in a scheme for new talent, Moin has directed several music videos and promos. His first short Holy Thursday was by funded by Creative England and screened internationally.

His new short Real Gods Require Blood is set in 1990 Manchester. On a troubled estate, Alice is roped into babysitting for her neighbour, whose children claim to feed a nightly visitor from Hell.

What’s your connection to the British Council?
The British Council have very kindly supported me attending Cannes Film Festival, where my short film Real Gods Require Blood will premiere in Critics’ Week. (Read more about the British Council and BFI’s Short Film Travel Grant Fund here.)

What are you working on right now?
I’m currently developing a number of projects, most notably a sci-fi inspired drama set in a motorway service station.

What originally turned you onto film?
I’m not sure I really have a clear answer for that. I just always seem to remember always wanting to watch films no matter what the time or occasion, I’m still the same now.

What has been your career high so far?
Definitely finding out we’d got into Cannes, its amazing to be recognised by such a prestigious festival and to be able to reap the benefits of everything that comes with the selection.

What was your first job in the film industry?
My first proper job in the industry was as a production runner/runner driver/director and producers’ assistant on a low budget werewolf western film. We filmed it in muddy field in Kent over four weeks of night shoots. Looking back on it I realise how horrendous that must have been, but I was just really excited to be there.

What advice would you give to someone starting off in filmmaking?
I still consider myself starting out in filmmaking so feel a bit unqualified to give that sort of advice, but if I had to I’d say just keep making stuff over and over again. It’ll probably be rubbish for a long time, until one day it won’t be and by that point most of the other people trying will have given up.

If you could have directed/been involved with any film ever made, which one would it be? 
Probably Days of Heaven - just to be able to film the entire thing during the magic hour (the hour before the sunset). I think I subconsciously tried to do the same thing on my first short film, which was a challenge for a four-day shoot in overcast Lincoln.

What’s the first film you remember seeing?
I couldn’t tell you the first film I remember seeing but the first film that left a lasting impression in a cinematic sense was seeing Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings. I think I was about nine, and it blew my mind. I don’t think I’ve ever been so invested and excited whilst watching something.

What’s your favourite scene from a film?
Probably the scene in Blue Velvet when Ben sings ‘In Dreams’. I don't think I can do a very good job at explaining why, but I reckon its something to do with it being funny, sad, ominous, weird and beautiful at the very same time. I love it when films do that.

Favourite screen kiss?
The final scene in Point Break, its a not an actual kiss but it may as well be. Gets me every time!

Who are your favourite screen hero and villain?
Henry Spencer from Eraserhead and Ivan Drago from Rocky IV. They have the same haircut actually.

You can watch the trailer for Real Gods Require Blood at the Critics' Week website.