DIRECTOR STATEMENT
In Crescendo, I delve into the echoes of my upbringing within a strong-willed Asian family where excellence/success was not just a pursuit but an underlying expectation. Growing up playing classical music brought upon expectations of perfectionism, and this expectation has carried onto my creative journey. This film reflects the high stakes of my artistic journey through the lens of Seraphina, who battles her rigorous family legacy’s ideals of perfection. While my journey has shaped me into the driven creative I am today, it has also taught me the haunting solitude that the pursuit can impose. Taking inspiration from 70s Giallo horror films (Suspiria and Deep Red), female-centric psychological thrillers (Black Swan & Stoker), Japanese horror Mangas (Tomie) and classical music from the romance period, Crescendo aims to reflect my most profound struggles and realisations around the quest of perfection. However, it hopes to highlight the intricate balance between ambition and self-compassion, showcasing a narrative of breaking free from the shackles of family legacies to find one’s authentic voice.

DIRECTOR BIO
Faith Cruz is an emerging, award-winning Filipina filmmaker based in Tāmaki Makaurau, recognized for her work in sound and production coordination. Her passion lies in visual storytelling, particularly in horror. After earning a BA in Screen Production and Media, Film & Television from the University of Auckland, she pursued an MA in Screen Production (Drama Directing) and will graduate with First Class Honours in Autumn 2025.

Her recent credits include production coordinating the NZFC-funded Fresh Shorts film Bye Mum and assisting on Vivie, which screened at SXSW Sydney and Show Me Shorts. She is currently production coordinator on Arrival, another NZFC-funded project. Her master’s short film, Crescendo, has screened at festivals in New Zealand, Melbourne, Stockholm and more cities around the world. She was also nominated at NZ Web Fest 2024 for Best Director and Best NZ Student Short Film, and at the New Zealand Youth Film Festival for Best Editing. Faith is currently developing Genesis, a coming-of-age body horror exploring the cutthroat nature of competitiveness among girls.