"The seed of this short film was born in Lucknow.”
American actor Mark Bennington says he has visited Lucknow only twice, yet the city has shaped his path.
The Heeramandi actor said his earlier visit inspired him to make the short film Dear Tillo.
With this film, Bennington has turned writer, director and producer for the very first time.
He recently returned to the city to take part in Lucknow Film Festival Season 4.
Speaking about the film, he said: “It’s a film that actually happened because of my previous visit to Lucknow as a jury member.
“I saw so many short films, and it kind of gave me an idea of what I would do if I were to ever make a short film.
“It inspired me to make a universally themed film that is easy to watch, with which the audience could relate to, and has a little twist at the end.
“So, the seed of this short film was born in Lucknow.”
Bennington was recently seen in Vibes and Operation Safed Sagar on screen.
He said he shot Dear Tillo last year before moving on to the post-production work.
The actor revealed: “Last winter I did the whole edit and sound design, everything.
“And then this year, started submitting it to the film festivals.”
The film had its world premiere at the Chicago South Asian Film Festival.
It was later screened at the International Film Festival South Asia Toronto, as well as in Mumbai.
It also played in Pune, where Bennington won the best actor award for his performance.
He said: “After Lucknow, we are going to Jaipur, the Indian festival in Florence.
“It is slowly making its way around the globe.”
Working on his own project gave him the chance to explore something different from his usual offers.
“Nobody has ever seen me in a role like this because I play a regular guy.
“A professor from the United States who’s come to India for the first time searching for his former student.”
He added: “They meet again, and he realises that the life he had imagined for her is very different from the one she is actually leading.
“That’s where the story unfolds.
“He arrives with a certain expectation, only to discover that reality is quite different from what he had envisioned.
“That’s what makes it interesting!”
Dear Tillo was also showcased in the Beyond Borders segment of the international film section at the festival.
