E48 • Adapting Literature, and Grief, to Film • DYLAN SOUTHERN, dir. of ‘The Thing With Feathers’ starring Benedict Cumberbatch at Berlinale + Sundance
Past Present Feature with Marcus Mizelle
Dylan Southern talks about his film “The Thing with Feathers,” based on Max Porter's book and starring Benedict Cumberbatch, which delves into themes of loss and family relationships after a mother’s passing. The film made its debut at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, followed by Berlinale. He also references previous films that inspired him, including Steven Spielberg’s “E.T.”
Dylan shares his experience of transforming the book into a film, highlighting the need to grasp the emotional heart of the narrative. He discusses the complexities of portraying grief, noting that it is often non-linear and can be both cyclical and unpredictable.
He elaborates on the fusion of horror and dark humor to illustrate grief and reflects on how personal experiences shape storytelling, stressing the importance of emotional authenticity in film.
Introducing the Past Present Feature Film Festival, a new showcase celebrating cinematic storytelling across time. From bold proof of concept shorts to stand out new films lighting up the circuit, to overlooked features that deserve another look.
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The Past Present Feature Film Festival - Nov. 20-22, 2026 in Hollywood, CA - Submit at filmfreeway.com/PastPresentFeature
