GOING GAGA: Tomer Heymann talks about his acclaimed dance documentary

GOING GAGA: Israeli director Tomer Heymann on his acclaimed dance doco ‘Mr Gaga’

When Tomer Heymann first arrived in Melbourne 14 years ago, he was a nervous, naive film festival virgin.

His little film It Kinda Scares Me was a frank, tell-all account of his coming out as a gay man in Israel.

Despite his low expectations, the film took out the 2002 Festival’s award for best documentary and forged a special bond between Heymann and the city, which he knew nothing about before being invited.

Heymann returned to town with Mr Gaga, his acclaimed dance documentary about choreographer Ohad Naharin. Heymann makes no pretense about being objective: it was made out of sheer adoration after a dance performance staged by Naharin changed his life.

In the air: Members of Ohad Naharin’s dance troupe take flight.

Looking slightly dishevelled after a long flight, Heymann literally came straight from the plane to the studio for this revealing chat about his film and his life.

With his younger brother Barak, he runs the prolific, multi-award winning  Heymann Brothers Films, Israel’s leading producer of documentary films.

Mr Gaga screens 8pm Friday 24 June at the Como as part of the HotDocs Documentary Festival. It receives a general release on 30 June.

Heymann is a passionate and energetic gent, as you’ll see. Please enjoy.

 

Click here for the interview with Tomer Heymann

 

Click play for a trailer of Mr Gaga