Q&A WITH AWARD-WINNING DIRECTOR BART TIMMER

Q. How exciting was it teaming up with Warner Bros. Discovery to direct this film?
A. It was the first time I had the opportunity to collaborate with the teams at Warner Bros. Discovery and I must say it was a very collaborative process all the way. From creative to marketing teams, all the people involved were genuinely passionate about the project.

Q. How much did you enjoy directing this film?
A. This film is almost like a mini movie, with its own world, its own characters, in this small fictional village we recreated. It is the world of Marco! It's what filmmaking for me is all about: telling stories. So, of course, it was very fun to create this, working on the props, the set design, imagining the mayor, the “Nonna”, the baker...all the elements that give flesh to the story and make it both charming and engaging. This film appeals to some films we saw as children, or holiday we might have had, places we might have stop during a road trip. It was also a bit of an adventure - we had to break our shoot in the middle due to bad weather conditions and come back the week after to be able to finish our shoot. It's what makes our jobs exciting, there is always something unexpected that can happen.

 
Q. How did you try and capture the essence of the Olympic spirit within this film?
A. We tried to convey the energy and passion of a whole village behind “our hero”, Marco. This is what the Olympics are about. Whether you are sporty or not yourself, a fan or someone watching only every four years, it's the sense of community that makes the Olympic spirit so special. For a few weeks, we feel we belong to something bigger than ourselves.

Q. What do the Olympics mean to you?
A. First of all, I love skiing and going on winter holidays. So, the Olympic Winter Games are something I never miss. But more generally, the Olympics are one of the rare events - if not the only one - now where people forget their rivalry for a moment and celebrate being together and achieving together, around noble and human values. We definitely need the Olympics more than ever. 

Warner Bros. Discovery's coverage of Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 starts on Wednesday 4 February across Europe. Check local listings for scheduling.