“A Day in the Life” with: Vancouver Filmmaker Becca Kozak

When I first met Becca Kozak, we quickly bonded over our very similar tastes in music and film. She has a perpetual desire to create, whether it be through her instantly recognizable art or various film projects infused with a particular aesthetic that is all her own. Based in Vancouver, BC, she has a background in writing and is a graduate of Vancouver Film School, where she was mentored by acclaimed local filmmakers Gigi Saul Guerrero and Joel McCarthy. Quickly becoming an accomplished filmmaker in her own right, she has a multitude of short films, 2 documentaries and a full-length feature to her credit, in which she boasts a very distinctive body of work clearly influenced by horror and exploitation films but informed by her feminist ideals and love for punk rock. Her work has been screened to some acclaim at several notable festivals as well as favorably reviewed in various magazines and media platforms, and I’m always eager to see what her next creative endeavour might be as it’s sure to be something thought-provoking, clever and idiosyncratic.

-Written by Becca’s close friend

Becca Kozak
Working on a painting.
Becca Kozak
The finished painting.
Record shopping, one of my favourite pastimes. My love of music comes through in all of my films.
Meeting Nardwuar at a Vancouver record store.
Spending time in nature in Vancouver. I like this quote from Lars Von Trier’s Antichrist “Nature is Satan’s Church”
Getting interviewed for Nadine L’Esperance’s Dayglo Abortions documentary. Their songs are used extensively in my film. I’m good friends with Nadine. We are both punk rock filmmakers.
Becca Kozak
In front of the Rio Theatre, where I work for a screening of one of my short films. With the lead actress of Sugar Rot Chloe Macleod.
Becca Kozak
Taking photos in front of my Sugar Rot poster at CUFF. Which has been both the source of controversy and praise.

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Which neighbourhood are you in?

I live in East Vancouver. I work at The Rio Theatre there, which is a cultural landmark and an independent theatre.

What do you do?

I’m a concession worker/ bartender at the Rio, and I produce, edit and direct films independently through my production company Sugar Rot Productions. I also paint portraits, which show up in a lot of my films.

What are you currently working on?

Currently promoting and spreading Sugar Rot. I am currently seeking distribution.

Where can we find your work?

You can see most of my short films on YouTube, just search Becca Kozak. Wreck Room, my BDSM themed short, is too risque for YouTube, so you can find that on Vimeo. Sugar Rot is currently playing festivals exclusively. My Instagram is sugar_rot_productions for more updates.

 

About Emilea Semancik 321 Articles
Emilea Semancik was born in North Vancouver. Emilea has always always wanted to work as a freelance writer and currently writes for the Vancouver Guardian. Taking influence from journalism culture surrounding the great and late Anthony Bourdain, she is a recipe author working towards publishing her own series of books. You can find her food blog on Instagram: