ZOI
A living memoir of vulnerability, confidence, and self-acceptance.
An adventure of self-discovery unfolds as a young traveler navigates solitude, transformation, and fleeting connections in the coastal town of Amantea, Italy.
In this deeply personal and cinematic living memoir, three perspectives intertwine—the traveler, the artist, and the unseen observer. A young woman arrives in Amantea, Italy, caught between self-perception and external gaze. As she moves through sunlit streets and intimate interiors, she is both subject and spectator—examining herself, being interpreted through the artist’s vision, and existing under the quiet gaze of an anonymous viewer. Without a script or pretense, ZOI captures the tension between self-awareness and surrender, the imperfection of fleeting moments, and the quiet beauty of transformation.
About the Director - ZOEY KRIEGMONT
Zoey Kriegmont is a filmmaker, actor, and artist whose work explores intimacy, identity, and the interplay between observation and experience. Raised in Juneau, Alaska, she moved to Monterey, California, at 18 to attend CSU Monterey Bay, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.S. in Mathematics. While in school, she immersed herself in the arts, working as a figure model for renowned sculptor Richard MacDonald and performing lead roles in experimental theater productions.
After relocating to Los Angeles, Kriegmont trained in Lee Strasberg method and commercial acting while continuing to model for award-winning contemporary artists. She worked across various mediums—appearing in music videos, commercials, and independent films—before being selected for the La Guarimba Film Residency in Amantea, Italy. There, she wrote, directed, and starred in ZOI, a visually poetic living memoir shot entirely on iPhone 13 Pro over ten days. She later curated a photography exhibition inspired by the film, expanding its themes of self-exploration and perception.
Kriegmont’s cinematic style blends observational realism with a painterly sensibility. ZOI draws inspiration from The Artist and the Model (2012) and Portrait of a Lady on Fire, as well as her own experience as a figure model—where she often found herself caught between self-perception and artistic interpretation. The quiet tension between subject and observer, performer and creator, is central to her work. She is also influenced by the evocative imagery and dreamlike introspection of Federico Fellini, embracing cinema as a space where reality and artifice blur.
Recently, she spent four months working and traveling across Europe, further enriching her perspective on storytelling and visual language. Now based in Los Angeles, she continues to explore the intersection of film, photography, and performance, drawn to narratives that blur the line between fiction and lived experience.
Bob Burrage, Painter
“Sehnsucht, malinconico, desiderio."
Mark Zegans, Poet
“Watching [ZOI] I felt transported to another era, and to a time when things were gentler, more human, more personal and intimate...a lovely lyricism."
Olivia Wong, Producer
"Slice of life.”
PRESS
Tokyo Short Film Festival
"Kriegmont’s debut film is an evocative and deeply personal work, showcasing her ability to turn intimate moments into striking visual storytelling. ZOI is not just a film—it’s an experience."
To read the full interview, please click here
Roma Cinephilia Magazine
"A visually poetic meditation on identity and self-exploration, ZOI captures the delicate tension between subject and observer, blending dreamlike imagery with raw emotional honesty."
To read the full review, please click here
Director's Statement
ZOI began as a deeply personal exploration of self-perception, intimacy, and artistic interpretation. Shot over ten days in Italy, it became more than just a short film—it was a living memoir, a cinematic diary of observation and experience. What started as a single moment in time has since evolved into something much larger.
This is only the beginning. There is so much more to ZOI's world—unseen footage, untold storylines, and a character who still has more to say. I envision this expanding into a feature film, further unraveling the quiet tensions between muse and artist, subject and observer. The journey continues, and I’m excited to see where it leads.
1 (907) 500-2536 | zoey.kriegmont.pro@gmail.com