But when the spotlights turn on again, the show must go on.
The pic debuted in competition at Locarno, where Vlagopoulou took the Pardo Award for Best Performance.
Next week, Exarchou returns home, with the film making its Greek debut at theThessaloniki International Film Festival.
Sofia ExarchouNaharro Gimenez/Getty Images.
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DEADLINE:Sofia, youve been on the road with Animal all year.
How are you feeling?
Then Haifa, and now its actually starting to become too much.
Im going Spain, Viennale, Thessaloniki, Mannheim, Brussels.
Itll keep going until the summer, and its nice.
Its a good feeling to see your film is traveling and people are enjoying it.
DEADLINE:Have you noticed a change in attitudes toward you and your work followingthe win at Locarno?
EXARCHOU:I did also pick up awards withPark, my first feature.
It won Best New Director at San Sebastian.
Perhaps its because of Locarno.
Weve also had very good reviews.
Its already been covered nicely in Greece, even though we havent screened it here yet.
People from the industry are happy for me, and it has changed how they perceive my work.
But lets wait until after Thessaloniki and the distribution in Greece.
DEADLINE:How are you feeling about bringing the film home?
EXARCHOU:Im excited.
Firstly, most of the cast and crew are coming from Athens to watch the film together.
Were going to be a big gang of more than 40 people.
Im excited to be in my country, although its sometimes stressful.
Its a totally different feeling.
Youre not among foreigners.
Youre among people who you have worked with and family friends, and you want them to like it.
It also feels like the end of the films journey, you know.
Ive done this film.
And now its screened in my country.
DEADLINE:What would be a success in Greece for you with Animal?
EXARCHOU:Well, we worry about the films distribution.
Its tough here for Greek films to do well in the cinemas.
But that would be something that I would like to happen.
I would enjoy people in my country going to the cinemas to watch the film.
Of course, I enjoy going to festivals, but its different.
Communicating with audiences in Greece would be a success for me.
DEADLINE:Can you tell me a little about the genesis behind the films story?
EXARCHOU:I started writing the script because I wanted to make a movie about work and working systems.
This led me to the idea of performers working in a hotel during the summer.
What has it been like working in these conditions?
EXARCHOU:It has been difficult.
We had an economic crisis, and many things changed in the industry.
I started working before the crisis.
It was much easier to make films and to work in films with good salaries.
With the crisis, it was almost impossible to have a job.
On the other hand, we built a small community because of all the struggle.
Everybody was helping each other.
You have this anger and stress, which is a big motivation for an artist.
DEADLINE:Whats next for you?
EXARCHOU:I still have some work onAnimal.
We took it to Locarno very quickly, so a lot of promotion hasnt been done.
Were now working on a trailer and a poster.
I have an idea for a new project, but I need to relax first.
I feel quite drained after all these years of work, especially the last two.
