Private Project

My Father Used to Say

Haunted by guilt and grief, OWI must embark on a journey into the remote Paraguayan Chaco to fulfill his father's last wish.

  • Oswald Gschliesser
    Director
    He Must Die
  • Oswald Gschliesser
    Writer
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Mi Padre Solia Decir
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    14 minutes 58 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    December 10, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    2,800 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Paraguay
  • Country of Filming:
    Paraguay
  • Language:
    Spanish
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.39:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Oswald Gschliesser

Oswald Gschliesser is a Paraguayan filmmaker from Concepción, a small city in the north. The son of foreign parents, he grew up between cultures and fell for movies early—especially drama and sci-fi. In 2011 he moved to Los Angeles to study film, then returned to Paraguay, where he’s worked across the audiovisual field as a director, cinematographer, editor, and producer.

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Director Statement

This film comes from a real personal transition. After my father passed, I found a letter stating his wish to donate his few belongings. I chose to film the move from promise to action.

The voice-over weaves in phrases my father “used to say,” and a worn wristwatch serves as a humble compass.
It’s a restrained piece, made with a tiny crew and meaningful silences. I hope it nudges viewers to face what remains unfinished in their own lives—and to follow through, even when the map changes.