On Time

The inception of the short film “On Time” was not a mere whim for Lilly Rikhter. A few months before filming began, she found herself in a compelling situation — tasked with transporting valuable cargo urgently from point A to point B, nearly missing a critical plane. This personal encounter became the catalyst for the film’s conceptualization.

Motivated by the intriguing “what if” scenario of missing the plane and the chain of events that might follow, Lilly, alongside her husband Christophe Mazzola, decided to transform this real-life incident into a cinematic narrative — told solely from the perspective of those directly involved.

Scott Fins, a talented French stand-up artist and comedian, joined the team as the screenwriter. Over the span of a month, the script underwent meticulous development, laying the foundation for the preparations and filming that followed.

A central figure in the project was the inimitable Ivan Drudi. Beyond directing, he played a pivotal part in location scouting, production preparation and post-production. Shot in a mere seven days with a budget of less than five thousand euros in October 2023, the film involved around ten locations and only three actors — two of whom portrayed the deceased. With a crew of just two to four people per day, it showcased the efficiency of a small team.

This is more than just a short film; it is a testament to a creative process that puts art before financial gain. “On Time” is a challenge to the conventional, costly film industry — proof that a team of three with a modest budget can compete with far larger productions.