Exploring bold new works from filmmakers around the world, the 54th New Directors/New Films, our annual festival co-presented with The Museum of Modern Art, is officially underway through April 13. As the festival continues, get to know the filmmakers who speak to the present and anticipate the future of cinema.

Fabian Stumm discusses his childhood cinema favorites and the directors who influenced him and his film Sad Jokes below. See the film April 11 at FLC or April 12 at MoMA, with the director in person for a Q&A at both screenings.

Was there a film or director you were inspired by or continue to be inspired by?

Since my early childhood, cinema has been my biggest passion. Films like The Wizard of Oz, The Hunchback of Notre Dame with Charles Laughton, King Kong, or the Jack Arnold movies opened up a new world for me. I became an actor and have worked in cinema and the theater for many years before I felt the need to tell stories of my own. During Covid I focused on writing and directed two short films before embarking on my feature debut, Bones and Names. Today, acting, writing, and directing are all equally important to me as they are a fusion of everything I love about cinema.

Was there a film or director you were inspired by or continue to be inspired by?

Many! Robert Altman, Chantal Akerman, Maurice Pialat, Helmut Käutner, or André Téchiné are all very important to me. But when I see the films of Claude Sautet it does something special to me. The colors, the music, the dialogue, the faces and places—it always feels like coming home.

In your own words, tell us about your film. What should audiences know?

Sad Jokes is a very personal film. Although it’s not autobiographical per se, I wanted to incorporate real life as much as possible and be sincere while always giving myself permission to lie and transform reality into fiction. It’s a film about persevering. About ways to care for the people you love, even when you’re apart. And about the ability to forgive. About how life can be cruel, funny, hopeful, and sometimes everything at the same time.

What does it mean to you to show your film at New Directors/New Films?

It feels like a full circle moment. I moved to New York when I was 20 to study acting and have spent countless evenings in the cinemas of Lincoln Center and MoMA discovering films from all over the world. Those were formative years that changed everything for me. So to be back there presenting my own film is truly meaningful to me.

What was the biggest lesson you learned during the making of your film?

Directing the film while also playing the lead character felt daunting at first. So I decided to put all my focus on the other cast members. In each scene, I tried to be as present for them as I could, to really listen to them and give them what they needed in every specific moment. It was a huge lesson for me. By making it all about the others, my own acting evolved and changed the character I play in ways I couldn’t have predicted. It was a beautiful thing to realize.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Don’t ride the highs, don’t ride the lows.

What’s a film you saw recently that you enjoyed?

I recently watched Dodsworth for the first time. I love William Wyler but somehow had never seen it. I was stunned by its modernness, the complexity of the characters, and the cinematography. It’s a gorgeous film. I was also very impressed with Borgo by Stéphane Demoustier in which Hafsia Herzi gives a performance that knocked me out with its quiet intensity and concentration. She’s a brilliant actress.

Sad Jokes

Fabian Stumm’s Sad Jokes screens on April 11 & April 12. New Directors/New Films takes place April 2-April 13. Explore the lineup and get tickets.