Conversation with Indie Filmmaker David Kabbe, “Izidor” Film

Festival season is in full swing for the entertainment industry, and independent filmmaker, producer, and director David Kabbe took the time to speak about his latest project, a mixed media short film IZIDOR.

IZIDOR — based on the life of author, speaker, and activist Izidor Ruckel — explores the true story of a child who steps foot outdoors for the first time at age eight. Set amid the backdrop of Romania — where tens of thousands of physically and mentally disabled children were held in secret government “hospitals” — the film masterfully utilizes both animation and live action to accentuate the disparity between how institutionalized children experience life compared to children in families.

The film’s mission is to raise awareness of the global human rights issues orphans inherently face and how they can find true hope and healing.

In today’s film climate, one of the biggest challenges that independent filmmakers face is the lack of willingness for big studios to take chances on new talent. IZIDOR Director David Kabbe shares, “One of the biggest is the corporatization of the creative process. The lines between independent and mainstream filmmaking have become increasingly blurred, with conglomerates exerting significant influence over the types of projects that get greenlit. This has led to a homogenization of content and a stifling of innovative, risk-taking storytelling. Corporate entities have mostly hijacked indy filmmaking by calling their films indy because of the size of the budget. It’s as if independent filmmakers have sailed into the wrong corporate port, only to find their creative freedom curtailed and their projects rebranded as mere commodities.”

This sentiment was highlighted this past week on the film industry’s biggest stage, the Oscars. Independent feature film Anora took home four Academy Awards for Best Original Screenplay, Best Editing, Best Directing, Best Actress in a Leading Role, and Best Picture. In his acceptance speech, Director Sean Baker urged, “We made this movie for $6 million shooting on location in New York City with about 40 crew members. They’re all back in New York. This is for you guys.” He said, “If you’re trying to make independent films, please keep doing it. We need more. This is proof.”

While the sentiment was widely applauded, this film is an anomaly. In fact, funding a film is often the biggest barrier to entry for independent filmmakers. The avenues typically include applying for grants, crowdfunding through fan support, finding a corporate sponsor who believes in the film’s mission, bootstrapping, or raising funds from family & friends or angel investors. There are sometimes opportunities for tax incentives, deductions, and rebates from regional or national film commissions.

“Securing funding for IZIDOR was an arduous, emotionally demanding process — akin to the desperation felt by the protagonist in The Bicycle Thief. It’s a gut-wrenching process that requires you to be able to repeatedly communicate your vision in such a clear and compelling way that people believe you, and believe in you. Despite the obstacles, our team remained driven by a deep conviction that this story needed to be told — also patience. Everything takes longer when building piecemeal as the resources come in,” shared Kabbe.

Some independent filmmakers have now looked to advances in technology, such as artificial intelligence,  to help save time and money and bring a project to fruition. While AI brings many industry fears, such as the potential loss of jobs and the pitfalls of deepfakes, it also brings real opportunity.

“AI is currently a game-changer for independent filmmakers, offering unprecedented opportunities for creativity and efficiency. From streamlining editing processes to generating innovative visual effects, budgets, and brainstorming, AI tools are democratizing access to high-quality filmmaking resources. When the dust settles, and the corporations buy up all the best AI tools and make them cost-prohibitive for independent film, then it will be a problem. But for now, it is the wild west of AI, and it is an exciting time to be a filmmaker. Innovate and grow or learn a very painful lesson from someone who did,” said Kabbe.

In a project such as IZIDOR, which combines live action with animation — often one of the most expensive forms of filmmaking — Kabbe was able to take a unique approach to the use of artificial intelligence.

“No generative AI was used in the film. We approached AI with a mix of excitement and caution, recognizing its potential to enhance our animation process. Our team, including John Kujawa, Sarah Padbury, Gabe Leonard, and me, experimented with various AI tools to find the best fit for our project. We quickly learned that AI was not a replacement for traditional techniques but rather a complementary tool to augment our workflow. By combining AI with 3D modeling, motion capture, and animation, we achieved a unique look that blended seamlessly with our live-action footage. The key was to use AI strategically, selecting the most effective tools for specific tasks and discarding those that didn’t meet our needs,” said Kabbe.

He continued, “Every project comes with its own creative, budgetary, and time constraints — you have to find what works for yours. In our case, necessity drove innovation. While working with AI had its challenges, it proved to be a rewarding experience, pushing our team’s resourcefulness and creativity. The results speak for themselves: our nearly 9-minute animated sequences, made up of over 13,000 individual frames, were completed efficiently and effectively. This experience reinforced my excitement for AI’s potential in filmmaking, and I look forward to exploring new ways to integrate it into the creative process. I encourage others to do the same.”

Looking ahead at the future of filmmaking, we asked Kabbe to share some advice with the next generation of filmmakers:

“The best advice I can give is this: choose a story you truly believe in and surround yourself with a team you trust completely — people who will fight alongside you no matter what. If you have both, your chances are even stronger. Everything else, you learn along the way… I urge you: don’t lose sight of the power of human storytelling. In an industry increasingly dominated by big tech and big industry, it’s more crucial than ever to amplify diverse voices and perspectives. Your unique experiences, backgrounds, and insights are the keys to crafting authentic, compelling stories that resonate with audiences worldwide.”

He continued, “Don’t be afraid to venture beyond your comfort zone and explore different cultures, experiences, and walks of life. As Joseph Conrad’s remarkable career demonstrates, linguistic and cultural boundaries are meant to be bridged, not barriers to creativity. So go out into the world, live, learn, and then share your stories with us. The future of filmmaking depends on it.”

Kabbe hopes that his film IZIDOR will leave audiences with a renewed sense of hope and encouragement. This film is more than just entertainment — it’s a catalyst for meaningful conversations and connections.  He envisions viewers watching it with loved ones, sparking discussions about empathy, resilience, and the human condition. By sharing this story, Kabbe aims to create a sense of community and understanding, reminding us that even in the darkest moments, hope can prevail.