The independent cinema landscape is always evolving. Filmmakers are getting more daring as they approach challenging themes and subjects through film. The indie film ‘Confesiones Chin Chin’ emerges as a bold and unfiltered exploration of human vulnerability, truth, and humour.

Co-writer Samuel Rotter and co-writer/director Carolina Perelman, driven by their shared passion for storytelling, seamlessly blend documentary realism with fiction to create a film that challenges societal norms while capturing raw, unfiltered confession.

In this conversation, they take us through their creative journey, the influences behind their work, and the challenges of guerrilla-style filmmaking that shaped their vision.

1. Could you please tell us a bit about yourself and your career as a filmmaker?

SAMUEL: I started as a writer, and thanks to Carolina’s influence, I ventured into theater. At the same time, my closest friends began making films, I got involved, fell in love with the medium, and pursued it passionately. In 2019, I founded Producciones NAU, presenting plays and films in the U.S., Spain, and Latin America while producing over five films.

CAROLINA: Most of the part was following my instinct, but also I started going to the theater with my parents as a teenager and soon became fascinated with film as well. I never considered this path as something I wanted to pursue in life—until I met my best friend, Samuel Rotter. I believe one of the greatest parts of being human is sharing something you’ve created.

2. Confesiones Chin Chin is described as a “docu-fiction” blending reality and fiction. Samuel, what inspired you to write a film like this?

S:  I wanted to write Confesiones Chin Chin to explore what lies behind shame, contradictions, hidden desires, and unspoken fears, all the things that society teaches us to suppress. This film is about breaking those barriers with laughter, embracing the raw, messy truth of being human.

3. Also a as a writer, would you say any of your own experiences or personal confessions contributed to shaping the film’s narrative?

S: We wanted the confessions to come from other people, especially the cast itself. As a writer and producer, my job was to bring them to life with an amazing team, weaving them together in a way that’s not just engaging but ultimately a toast to who they really are—ugly parts and all.

4. Carolina, you have mentioned that the film draws inspiration from Portrait of Jason. What elements of that documentary-style storytelling did you integrate into your film?

C: Portrait of Jason and its cinéma vérité techniques were my primary influences, particularly in how I interacted with the actors both before and during filming to capture raw, unfiltered moments. This approach is most evident in Roberto’s documentary, where you can see the director interacting with the actor.

5. Did any actors have to share personal confessions that directly influenced their characters? And how challenging was this for them?

C: Yes, some of them. I think confronting the truth is challenging for everyone. But what is the truth? I really don’t know.

CAROLINA PERELMAN
Copyright owner_ JACK ROIZENTAL

6. Jazz music plays a big role in the film’s atmosphere. What influenced this choice?

C: Shirley Clarke and the neurotic ambience she created in The Connection, as well as Julio Cortázar in his book El perseguidor, which was inspired by the life of Charlie Parker. I think jazz reflects our mind and desires during a night in Madrid.

7. You chose to approach serious themes with some humor. Why was it important for you to include those comedic elements in the writing?

S: I think the day you truly lose your sense of humor, you’re done. For me, love and friendship are built through humor, and it’s often the last and best tool we have to face life’s great challenges like trauma and grief. Without it, I think things would be very bleak.

8. If given the chance to, what would you approach differently in the making of Confesiones Chin Chin?

C: Nothing. I’ve learned a lot and would love to keep learning, but that doesn’t mean I would change something.

9. You seemed to have had a limited budget for the making of this film. How did the guerrilla-style filmmaking process influence the film’s tone and authenticity?

C: My biggest influence in this is John Cassavetes. I believe the limitations we faced pushed us to rely on real locations and spontaneous performances. Coming from theatre, where a single space must hold the audience’s attention, we wanted to take a similar approach—prioritizing the performances and making the most of our limited resources. We shot the film in five days.

10. What emotions or reflections do you hope audiences take away from watching Confesiones Chin Chin?

C: I don’t expect anything, but I’d love to create a space where dark secrets can be embraced in a more celebratory way.

11. Also, how do you see the film fitting into the larger conversation about queer storytelling in cinema?

C: Two of our biggest influences were Shirley Clarke and Rainer Werner Fassbinder, both of whom created iconic queer films. We want to honor that tradition while also giving voice to the lives and experiences of the queer collaborators who contributed to this film.

SAMUEL ROTTER BECHAR
Copyright Owner_ JACK ROIZENTAL

12. As filmmakers, what lessons did you learn from the making of this film that you would carry into your future projects?

C: Connecting with the right people is essential. No matter how much money you have for production, filmmaking is always a deeply collaborative art form. If you have a vision, there will always be people willing to create alongside you. The right team can turn challenges into opportunities.

S: Independent filmmaking takes time, patience, and the right people—it’s all about teamwork. You’ll make mistakes, sometimes you’ll fail, but it’s always worth a shot. Betting on authentic cinema matters—some of the greatest filmmakers succeeded by staying true to their vision.

13. Finally, Carolina, what would be your advice for filmmaking looking to make a film as daring and challenging as this?

C: MAKE THE FILM HAPPEN. Everything is challenging, but every challenge is worth it—especially if it’s something you’re passionate about. Trust your instincts. You might feel crazy at times, but resist, push through, and keep going!

As ‘Confesiones Chin Chin’ readies to find its audience, starting with its world premiere at the 2025 Slamdance Film Festival, Samuel and Carolina remain firm in their belief that storytelling is at its most powerful when it is authentic and unapologetic.

Their commitment to crafting meaningful narratives despite budget constraints and industry hurdles serves as an inspiration for aspiring filmmakers. With a passion for embracing life’s contradictions and a determination to push creative boundaries, they remind us that filmmaking, at its core, is about taking risks and trusting the process.

In Conversation With Reina K., brings to you the kind of scoop that gives you a real insight into the mind, drive and craft of filmmakers from across the world.