Private Project

Interpreting Erik

How the loss of one family's displaced brother [in Vancouver, BC] taught them not to see homeless people as just the end result; they were once beautiful, talented, creative and loved; they were us. Human. Erik was not nothing; he was everything.

  • Donald D'Haene
    Director
  • Donald D'Haene
    Writer
  • Donald D'Haene
    Producer
  • Tyrone Traher
    Key Cast
    "Erik (young)"
  • Tyler Lionel Parr
    Key Cast
    "Erik (older)"
  • Donald D'Haene
    Key Cast
    "himself"
  • Marina D'Haene
    Key Cast
    "herself"
  • Ronny D'Haene
    Key Cast
    "himself"
  • Jeannette Bataille
    Key Cast
    "herself"
  • Daniel D'Haene
    Key Cast
    "himself"
  • Tammy Heisel
    Editor/Graphics
  • Morgan Baker
    Unit B Camera, Audio/Rehearsal Music
  • Ronny D'Haene
    Director of Photography
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    57 minutes 37 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    December 31, 2024
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada
  • Language:
    English
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • New York International Film Awards
    New York City
    United States
    Finalist
  • Paradise Film Festival
    Cologne
    Germany
    Finalist
  • Luminary Independent Film Fiesta!
    Paris
    France
    Finalist
  • The IndieFest Film Awards
    LA JOLLA, SAN DIEGO
    United States
    Official Selection
  • All That Moves International Film Festival
    SÃO PAULO
    Brazil
    Officially Selected for Festival
  • Digital Griffix Film Awards
    Montreal, Quebec
    Canada
    Nominated in Best Documentary Feature Category
  • Amsterdam New Cinema Film Festival
    Amsterdam, Holland
    Netherlands
    Best Documentary
  • Sicilian Film Awards
    Madonia
    Italy
    Honourable Mention
  • Makizhmithran International Film Festival
    South Tamil Nadu
    India
    SELECTED FOR FESTIVAL
  • Mumbai Entertainment International Film Festival
    Kalyan, Maharashtra
    India
    Best Director Documentary
  • Toronto International Filmmaker's Festival
    Toronto
    Canada
    Selected for Festival
  • The Sydney Global Cine Carnival
    Sydney
    Australia
    Selected for Festival
  • Sri Lanka International Film Festival
    Colombo
    Sri Lanka
    Best Poster Design: Tammy Heisel
  • Sri Lanka International Film Festival
    Colombo
    Sri Lanka
    Best Original Score: Tyrone Traher
  • Sri Lanka International Film Festival
    Colombo
    Sri Lanka
    Best LGBT Film
  • Cult Critic Movie Awards
    Kolkata, West Bengal
    India
    Officially Selected for Festival
  • Phuket International Film Festival
    Cherngtalay, Phuket
    Thailand
    Officially Selected for Festival
  • World Film Commission Fest
    Marsfield NSW, Sydney
    Australia
    Official Selection for Festival
  • Star Holywood Awards
    Los Angeles, California
    United States
    Finalist in Festival
  • Sri Lanka International Film Festival
    Colombo
    Sri Lanka
    Best Concept
  • Sri Lanka Internaional Film Festival
    Colombo
    Sri Lanka
    Best Theme
  • Sri Lanka International Film Festival
    Colombo
    Sri Lanka
    Best Debut Scriptwork
  • Sri Lanka International Film Festival (SLIFF)
    Colombo
    Sri Lanka
    Selected Doc to be shown in Festival
  • Dubai International Cine Carnival
    Barsha Heights Tecom, Dubai
    United Arab Emirates
    Finalist in Festival
  • The Star Hollywood Awards
    Los Angeles, California
    United States
    Outstanding Achievement Award
  • The Gangtok International Film Festival
    Vishal Gaon, Gangtok, East Sikkim District, Sikkim
    India
    Finalist
  • Cult Critic Movie Awards
    Kolkata, West Bengal
    India
    Finalist
  • Dubai International Cine Carnival
    Barsha Heights Tecom, Dubai
    United Arab Emirates
    Winner Showing in Festival
  • Venice Grand Cine Celebration (VGCC)
    Venice
    Italy
    Official Selection in Festival
  • Makizhmithran International Film Festival
    Chennai, Tamil Nadu
    India
    Official Selection
  • Indie Film & Screenplay Festival
    Paris
    France
    Semi-finalist
  • Indie Film & Screenplay Festival
    Paris
    France
    Selected for Festival
  • The Gangtok International Film Festival
    Vishal Gaon, Gangtok, East Sikkim District, Sikkim
    India
    Official Festival Selection
  • American Golden Picture International Film Festival
    Jacksonville, Florida
    United States
    Official Selection for Festival
  • Phuket International Film Festival
    Cherngtalay, Phuket
    Thailand
    Finalist
  • Thilsri International Film Festival
    Alampatu, Tamil nadu
    India
    Award Winner in Festival
  • Castle Film & Media Awards
    Bracciano
    Italy
    Award Winner
  • The Gangtok International Film Festival
    Vishal Gaon, Gangtok, East Sikkim District, Sikkim
    India
    Best Documentary
  • Nexus International Film Festival
    San Diego, California
    United States
    Official Selection
  • Berlin Motion Picture Awards
    Berlin
    Germany
    Official Selection for Festival
  • The Flight Deck Film Festival
    New York City
    United States
    Honourable Mention
  • World Film Commission Fest
    Sydney
    Australia
    Finalist in Festival
  • Into The Wild Filmfest
    Girona
    Spain
    Selected for Festival: Best Doc
  • Phuket International Film Festival
    Cherngtalay, Phuket
    Thailand
    Critic's Choice Winner
  • Druk International Film Festival
    Paro
    Bhutan
    Official Selection for Festival
  • Swedish Academy of Motion Picture Awards
    Stockholm
    Sweden
    Official Selection in Festival
  • The Great Cine Carnival Maldives (TGCCM
    Hulhumale
    Maldives
    Official Selection in Festival
  • World Film Carnival Singapore
    Singapore
    Singapore
    Official Selection for Festival
  • The Great Britain Silver Screen Awards (TGBSSA)
    London
    United Kingdom
    Finalist
  • Hong Kong International Film Carnival
    Kowloon
    Hong Kong
    Selected for Festival
  • Into The Wild
    Girona
    Spain
    Winner: Documentary
  • New Jersey Film Awards
    New Jersey
    United States
    Official Selection for Festival
  • New Jersey Film Awards
    New Jersey
    United States
    Best Feature Documentary
  • All That Moves International Film Festival
    SÃO PAULO
    Brazil
    Finalist in Festival
  • The Great Britain Silver Screen Awards (TGBSSA)
    London
    United Kingdom
    Winner Best Documentary
  • Castle Film & Media - Bracciano Film and Arts
    Bracciano, Rome
    Italy
    Best Documentary, Feature Film
  • Direct Monthly Online Film Festival (DMOFF)
    Canton, Michigan
    United States
    Official Selection in Festival
  • Touchstone Independent Film Festival
    Cocoa Beach, Florida
    United States
    Official Selection in Festival
  • Athens International Montly Art Film Festival
    Athens
    Greece
    Honorable Mention
  • Toronto International Filmakers Festival
    Toronto
    Canada
    Best Documentary
  • Venice Grand Cine Celebration
    Venice
    Italy
    Finalist in Festival
  • The Druk International Film Festival Team
    Paro
    Bhutan
    Finalist in Festival
  • Berlin Lift-Off Film Festival
    Berlin
    Germany
    Official Selection for Festival
  • Indie House
    Barcelona
    Spain
    Best Documentary
  • The Druk International Film Festival
    Paro
    Bhutan
    Critics Choice Winner & Selected for Festival
  • Swedish Academy of Motion Picture Awards
    Stockholm
    Sweden
    Finalist in Festival
  • Venice Grand Cine Celebration
    Venice
    Italy
    Winner Best Documentary
  • Venice Grand Cine Celebration
    Venice
    Italy
    Best Documentary
  • Best Hollywood Day Short Film Festival
    Hollywood, California
    United States
    Best Feature Doc
  • 𝐍𝐄𝐖 π˜πŽπ‘πŠ & π‚πˆππ„πŒπ€π“πŽπ†π‘π€ππ‡π˜ 𝐀𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐒
    New York City
    United States
    Honourable Mention: Best Feature Doc
  • Dubai International Cine Carnival
    Barsha Heights Tecom, Dubai
    United Arab Emirates
    Creative Genius Award
  • Festigious Los Angeles - Monthly Film Competition
    Los Angelos, California
    United States
    Official Select for Festival
  • Springtime International Film Festival
    Kolkata, West Bengal
    India
    Official Selection for Festival
  • The Paramount Cine Carnival
    Manhatan, New York
    United States
    Official Selection for Festival
  • Nexus International Film Festival
    Escondido, San Diego, California
    United States
    Best Documentary
  • Swedish Academy of Motion Picture Awards
    Stockholm
    Sweden
    Outstanding Achievement Award
  • The Hong Kong International Film Carnival
    Kowloon
    Hong Kong
    Outstanding Achievement Award
  • Sterling International Cine Carnival
    London
    United Kingdom
    Official Selection for Festival
  • Accolade Global Film Competition
    La Jolla, California
    United States
    Official Selection for Festival
  • Festigious Los Angeles
    Los Angeles, California
    United States
    Quarter Finalist
Director Biography - Donald D'Haene

LGBTQ, son of Belgian immigrants, Canadian born, Actor, Singer, Director, Playwright, Producer, TV presenter, Blogger for Huffington Post, Publisher, Editor, Talk Show Host, Author of two memoirs - Father's Touch and Amazon's No One Wants To Read That You're Happy; doc filmmaker, cat lover, Canadian, I was on The OPRAH Winfrey Show in 2010.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Interpreting Erik challenged every skill I’ve acquired and some I needed to develop.
I’ve made a career out of telling my story. And I’ve been an interviewer all of my life. Combining these two facts to tell, convey the story of the most important person in my life, my brother, with emotion yet distance, with sympathy but objectivity, artfully yet neutrally is one of toughest challenges I’ve ever taken on.
Consider the patience required to direct one’s surving siblings. I suggest it’s a tougher assignment than directing one’s partner in life.
And how does one direct a professional actor to portray one’s late brother removing every artifice of β€œacting” to create a down-to-earth human being whose main goal in life was existing yet another hour, let alone a day?
I took all my skills of grand standing, over-the-top, carnival barking and brought it all down to a whisper, a quiet, impactful, retelling of a life foreign to my experience and yet, as if my twin in life. Whereas I lived, survived, thrived, consciously within, my twin in blood and spirt, my brother lived without, as many as hours as possible unconscious, to avoid living, feeling, remembering.
A hellish trip to give my brother peace. To artfully capture, if but for a few moments, some of which he lived, him not knowing that another human soul would know his name, remember him, or share in interpreting his experience.