The Lies We Tell Ourselves

An unconventional director on the rise travels to Cannes, Berlin, New Caledonia, Australia, and England to create her latest art house film, overcoming many entertaining challenges to realize her vision. The feature indie project is directed by Saara Lamberg.

Finnish Australian Saara Lamberg is a director, actor, writer, and producer. They have won several awards, including Best Film and Best Director at the Influx Awards (California 2022), Best Film and Best Director at the Veracruz World Film Awards (Mexico 2022), Best Film at the IFF (Milan 2018), Best Film at the FAFF (Los Angeles 2017), the Cinema Australia Audience Award (Melbourne 2017), a Bronze prize at the Beverly Hills screenplay contest (Hollywood 2013), Best Actor at Comfy Shorts (Melbourne 2014), Best Drama at the Connect Film Festival (Melbourne 2014), and Best Actor (Lithuania 2004).

They lived in England from 2006 to 2010 and studied at the renowned Dartington College of Arts, earning a BA (HONS) degree in Theatre and Choreographic Practices in 2007. They moved to Melbourne in January 2010, received a Distinguished Talent Permanent Residency in 2012, and citizenship in 2014. Their first feature film, Innuendo, premiered theatrically in Melbourne in 2017 and was broadcast nationally on Australian free-to-air television in 2019. Their second feature film, Westermarck Effect, was completed and released in 2022 at the Cannes Cinephiles selection. Their third feature, The Lies We Tell Ourselves, was filmed at various film festivals worldwide and was entirely improvised. Lamberg has two other features in production: Conversations with Spithead and COMA. In their personal life, Lamberg has faced tragedies such as losing their mother to early-onset dementia and battling breast cancer in their thirties. They are a board member and host of Filmonik Melbourne (part of the international Kino Movement) and the Montsalvat Collective. Lamberg is recognized for their personal strength, courage, exceptional work ethic, and friendly demeanor both on and off set.

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