EDGE Interview: Argentine Filmmaker Matías De Leis Correa Discusses his Streaming, Seductive Feature 'Since The Last Time We Met'

EDGE: Was there a rehearsal process?

Matías De Leis Correa: This movie was shot in seven days...We didn't have much time for rehearsals because they were really busy with other commitments. We had three or four rehearsals only. Everything was really focused on set. So, it was lovely. I'm really happy because the movie is traveling all around the world. We've been in 14 festivals. Now it's going to have its USA and Canada release, at the end of this month, I'm going to release it in Mexico, too. I'm really happy that lots of people are getting to know their work because they are awesome.

EDGE: The intimate scenes are beautifully filmed. The major sex scene is passionate, sexy, never gratuitous.

Matías De Leis Correa: I wasn't looking for an explicit sex scene. I didn't need that. I didn't want it. I love those scenes, don't get me wrong. (laughs) But I don't think that this movie needs that because they're two nice characters getting back (with) each other, so being too explicit wasn't really good for the movie. I asked the (two) actors what they wanted to do, choreograph it? And they decided they didn't want to rehearse anything. They wanted to have this kind of first encounter, first hook up, so we only did two takes of the sex scene... And it was natural. They wanted to feel it in that moment. And only two takes were enough to get me what I needed.

EDGE: The score, by Fernando Nazar, is like this throwback to the romance movies of yesteryear. It works so well.

Matías De Leis Correa: Fernando is the sound director and composer of my three movies. We are really good friends. He reads my script. We start talking and I may tell him I love this kind of music. That's all. And he's like, give me two days. And suddenly I have these drafts of the compositions... And I listen to the songs and they're beautiful... We (wrote) the final song. I wrote the lyrics. And Fernando wrote the music. We're so in love with it. There's an English version, too, on Spotify.

EDGE: You talked about the film's extensive festival journey. Can you share your thoughts on audience reactions and what the Fest experience has been like?

Matías De Leis Correa: I was invited to Miami Outshine, that was the world premiere. Two weeks ago, we were in BFI flare, They took me to London to present it. It was amazing. Those were my only two traveling abroad experiences. ... The greatest dream is to get messages on Instagram or email in languages I don't understand, like Estonian (that) they loved my movie... I think it's really beautiful to connect with people from so many countries... And every time I go to the theater and the movie finishes, people come up and hug me and thank me because of the movie and how they related (to it). They share stories. At Outshine, I cried a lot. I was so nervous being by myself in Miami. At that first premiere, no one had ever seen it. And this man who was like 85-years old comes up to me, looks me in the eyes, starts crying and says, "First I used to be David, and then was Victor. Thank you so much." And he hugs me and starts crying. And I start crying with him. I love making movies. And if I can (touch) people's hearts like this, it's amazing.

EDGE: I want to ask about the Argentinian film industry. Do you find it difficult to get projects made? And what about queer projects in Argentina?

Matías De Leis Correa: Well, as of yesterday, we have a new president. Argentina chose him. I did not choose him... Argentina is going through a really hard time. Yesterday, the Cinema Institute was closed because the President doesn't think that making movies is profitable – it's spending money with no purpose, so he closed the Institute... Of course, independent movies are still going to the shot. But artistically and culturally speaking it's really complicated... For LGBT projects, you (have to) find the right persons to work with... We have three or four LGBT Festivals in Argentina... they are not extremely visible, but no one is against them either...We really support each other in the LGBT community and the non-LGBT community, too.

EDGE: What can you share about this third film? Is it ready to be screened?

Matías De Leis Correa: Yeah, it's waiting for its world premiere. We are waiting for festivals, so fingers crossed. We don't know when it's going to happen... And the name of the movie is "Lucia's New Boyfriend." It's about bullying. It's the most personal, intimate movie of the three I wrote and directed... It's a drama-suspense movie with lots of dialogue. It could be a theatrical play, too. And it's the end of this trilogy. As soon as it's ready, I hope you will see it in the big screen.

EDGE: Who are your filmmaker heroes?

Matías De Leis Correa: I have lots. I mentioned Bergman. Almodóvar. Yorgos Lanthimos. When I was 12 years old. I watched "The Hours," the Stephen Daldry film, and in that moment I said, I want to study filmmaking, And since then I never stopped watching movies and dreaming about movies.

"Since the Last Time We Met" is available for streaming. Follow this link for more information.