Diego H. Gonzalez, LISFF Best British Student Short Screenplay‘A Kiskadee Tale’

Diego H. Gonzalez, LISFF Best British Student Short Screenplay‘A Kiskadee Tale’

Can you please tell us about you and your daily life?

I am an aspiring writer/director, I’m often writing and developing my own projects as well as working as a producer on external productions. I’m particularly passionate about character-led stories that unfold naturally and keep audiences engaged.

In terms of my daily life, it varies a lot. It depends on what projects I may be working on and whether I am writing, directing or producing them. But I am constantly writing ideas down for future projects and the two things that I try to do daily are watching a film and spend an hour or so reading a book before going to bed.

When and how did you get into writing/filmmaking?

My love for films and filmmaking journey started at a young age. As a kid I often shot films myself with my brother, cousins and friends acting in them, but I always stayed behind the camera and thought of myself as a writer/director. So, the passion for telling stories through a lens has always been there.

How often do you write/create/develop ideas? Do you have a writing/creative routine? And what inspires you to write?

I try to keep my ideas as far away from a routine as possible. Meaning that I invest my time and energy into an idea when I truly feel like it as opposed to forcing myself to it daily. I truly believe that good work comes from passion, and in my experience, it must come naturally as opposed to by force.

I tend to write notes about an idea for a long period of time, almost like if it was marinating in my head, before I embark on a writing journey with it and see where it takes me.

How does it feel to have your work recognised?

It’s a huge honour to have one’s work recognised. Particularly when you have crafted a project with passion, having someone recognising or telling you they liked your work is a truly special feeling.

How did you develop the idea for your LISFF/LISP-selected work? Is there a story behind your story? And, how long have you been working on it?

A Kiskadee Tale came from a true story that happened to my mum when she was a teenager, which I grew up listening to. Then, at the start of 2025 I needed a simple but engaging story to turn into a script for my second-year university project, and that’s when I went back to her story. However, the story’s fantasy element came from a limitation; We couldn’t animate a real-looking bird, so I decided to turn it into a fantasy in order to have a paper bird that would be easier to animate for the finished film.

Can you please give us a few tips about scriptwriting?

Always stay true to the story you want to tell. It’s definitely important to look at and understand the industry, but don’t let its rules and expectations change the story you want to tell. Honest and passion-filled stories is what shapes our value as writers.

Lastly, do you recommend the writers&filmmakers submit to LISP/LISFF?

Definitely. What surprised me the most about LISP/LISFF is how they truly appreciate writers and their work. Regardless of whether they are winners, finalists or officially selected, LISP/LISFF shows genuine appreciation for those who craft passionate stories.