Ida Hoffman is a Swedish-American writer, director, actress, and filmmaker with a background in theater. She has performed on stage in Auckland, New Zealand, and London. Her work focuses on emotionally driven stories exploring motherhood, hope, human connection, and the resilience of the human spirit. She made her filmmaking debut with the independent short film Christmas Angels. Which she wrote, co-directed, produced, and also served as one of the leads.
The film is a HollyShorts “Made in LA” finalist. A Big Apple Film Festival nominee for “Best Woman Filmmaker,” and an official selection of both the Catalina Film Festival and Tarzana Film Festival. Other accolades include an ACCT Award in New Zealand for her portrayal of Mrs. Linde in A Doll’s House at the Dolphin Theatre. Hoffman continues to develop original film projects with her husband and creative partner, Remington Hoffman. Their work is characterized by character-driven storytelling that explores resilience, hope, compassion, and the enduring strength of the human spirit.
Christmas Angels came from a desire to tell a very human story about a mother and daughter navigating a difficult period in their lives. I was less interested in defining them by their circumstances and more interested in exploring family, dignity, and the lengths we go for the people we love. Because we made the film independently, we had to be resourceful throughout the production, but that also allowed us to stay very close to the heart of the story.
Christmas Angels Interview: Ida & Remington Hoffman Reveal Their Biggest Secrets! 😱
indieactivity: Did you start writing with a cast (You or any) in mind?
Ida Hoffman (IH): I usually write with a person in mind, but not necessarily a specific actor. It is more about having someone as inspiration for the character and letting certain qualities or characteristics inform the writing.
How long did you take to complete the script?
Ida Hoffman (IH): I wrote the script in small increments while my toddler was napping. I already had most of the story in my mind, so the writing itself came fairly quickly. I honestly can not remember exactly how many days it took, but it was written in those pockets of time.
When did you form your production company – and what’s the original motivation for its formation?
Ida Hoffman (IH): During the production and post-production of Christmas Angels, my husband and I realized how well we worked together creatively and decided that filmmaking was something we wanted to dedicate ourselves to long term.
What was the first writing project that you were involved with or that was out of the gate?
Ida Hoffman (IH): Christmas Angels was the first film I wrote and co-directed. I have worked on other projects in different capacities, but this was the first time my husband and I came together creatively as a filmmaking team.
During the production of the film, what scene (that made the cut) was the hardest to shoot?
Ida Hoffman (IH): The evening scenes. We were relying on natural light, and the limitations of the camera in low-light conditions made it challenging to maintain the image quality we wanted.
What works better in your latest production that mightn’t have worked so well in the last one you did?
Ida Hoffman (IH): We recently started filming a proof of concept for a feature, and with a larger crew and budget, we were able to devote more time and resources to lighting. On Christmas Angels, we worked with a skeleton crew and relied entirely on natural light, which was challenging.
You wrote and directed the film, what measure of input did it take to do wear these two hats?
Ida Hoffman (IH): The writer side of me got attached to certain ideas that I had to let go of once we were on set. I think that is one of the hardest parts of writing and directing—you have to have a strong vision, but also be willing to adapt when circumstances change. Things rarely go exactly as planned, and I have learned that a big part of being a filmmaker is being a problem solver.
Is there anything about the independent filmmaking business you still struggle with?
Ida Hoffman (IH): It is always a hustle, and that can definitely be challenging, but I genuinely love it. There is something really rewarding about building a project from the ground up, solving problems as they come and watching it slowly come to life.
Where do you think your strengths lie as a filmmaker?
Ida Hoffman (IH): I trained as a stage actor, so I feel I have a deep understanding of the actor’s experience on set. I think that helps me create an environment where actors feel supported, understood, and free to do their best work.
Let’s talk finance. How did you finance the film?
Ida Hoffman (IH): We financed the film ourselves. We believed strongly in the story and decided to invest our own money in bringing it to life. It also meant we had complete creative freedom, which was incredibly important to us.
How much did you go over budget? How did you manage it?
Ida Hoffman (IH): We actually did not go over budget. At each stage, we looked at what we wanted to accomplish and found ways to get what we needed while staying comfortable with what we were investing. My biggest advice when budgeting is to assume the film will cost more than you think it will. Give yourself some room for the unexpected, because there will always be something you did not anticipate.
How important is marketing? Do you think a project can make any dent without it these days?
Ida Hoffman (IH): Marketing is essential. It may be possible to break through without it, but with so much content being released, a film can easily get drowned out. You can make something meaningful, but audiences still need a way to find it.
Can you tell us about your marketing activities on the project – and how it’s gone for you?
Ida Hoffman (IH): We have been doing both written and in-person interviews, as well as staying active on social media and sharing the film’s journey. It has been a great way to connect with people and keep the film in front of audiences beyond the festival screenings.
What do you hope audiences get from your film?
Ida Hoffman (IH): I hope audiences are reminded to hold onto a childlike sense of wonder. Even during difficult times, that sense of wonder can help us find beauty, hope, and a reason to keep going.
What else have you got in the works?
Ida Hoffman (IH): We are currently developing a proof of concept for a feature film, as well as a dark comedy short. Both are very different projects, but we are excited about where they’re heading.
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