The inception of the short film “On Time” was not a mere whim for Lilly Rikhter. A few months before the commencement of filming, 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 subsequent chain of events, Lilly, alongside her husband Christophe Mazzola, decided to transform this real-life incident into a compelling cinematic narrative. They envisioned a story solely from the perspective of those directly involved in the events.

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 subsequent preparations and filming.

A central figure in the project was the inimitable Ivan Drudi. Beyond his role as a director, he played a pivotal part in location scouting, production preparations, and post-production tasks. The film, shot in a mere seven days with a budget of less than 5 thousand euros in October 2023, involved around 10 locations and only three actors, two of whom portrayed the deceased characters. The film crew, consisting of 2 to 4 individuals per filming day, showcased the efficiency of a small team.

This is more than just a short film; it stands as a testament to the creative process involving talented individuals who prioritize art before financial gain. “On Time” represents a challenge to the conventional and costly film industry, showcasing that a team of three people with a modest budget can compete with larger productions.