Julie Pacino on Crafting Her First Feature “I Live Here Now” and Its UK Premiere at EIFF
Julie Pacino at the UK Premiere of I LIVE HERE NOW at the Edinburgh International Film Festival (photo by Cameron Allan)
At the 2025 Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF), Amanda Rogers of Cinetopia Radio sat down with Julie Pacino, director of I Live Here Now and daughter of actor Al Pacino. This is Julie’s debut feature film, starring Lucy Fry, Matt Rife, Lara Clear, and Madeline Brewer. After garnering strong buzz at the Fantasia and Locarno Film Festivals, the film had its UK premiere at EIFF in August.
I Live Here Now is a visually striking psychological horror following aspiring actress Rose, who retreats to a surreal motel to escape her past. As reality and nightmare blur, the film explores trauma, identity, and complex female relationships.
Amanda Rogers: Julie, this is your first feature, and it feels very personal. Why horror?
Julie Pacino: It’s my first feature, so I wanted to do something quite personal… Horror really lends itself to that because you can weave in deep-rooted personal things while also making it entertaining. I didn’t want to trauma dump on anyone, but I had some stuff to get off my chest… I had a lot of fun leaning on the campy horror of it all.
AR: The film’s visuals are striking. Why shoot on 35mm and 16mm film?
JP: Aaron and I have worked on shorts, and he’s also been my lighting designer on photographs shot on film… Celluloid’s grit and imperfections lend themselves to the rawness I wanted. I love how film renders shadows and bright colors. Shooting on film was a natural choice, especially building it all on a soundstage.
AR: The film centers on female characters and their relationships. What drew you to that?
JP: There’s a lot of internalized misogyny among women, often without realizing it… It’s like, ‘Where did that come from? That’s not me.’ The patriarchy taught me that. I loved working with women, so having a predominantly female cast felt natural.
AR: This was your first Midnight Madness screening. What was the experience like?
JP: I didn’t realize it was actually at midnight… The city is buzzing—it was electric. I’m hoping that energy comes through tonight. Laughing is a great way to get everyone’s guard down before I get in there and fuck with them.
AR: The film’s style draws comparisons to Lynch, Argento, and even Alice in Wonderland. How did those influences shape the film?
JP: I love movies that get under your skin and hit you on the way out of the theater… I wanted to create a dynamic space with neon colors and surreal elements to build a dreamlike, unsettling atmosphere.
AR: Thanks for your time, Julie. We loved the film and look forward to what’s next.
JP: Thank you! Can’t wait to see the next.
I Live Here Now will be released in North America by Utopia. Watch the full interview below.
