Atlantis, 2003 by Michal Blaško selected for Future Frames

Michal Blaško and his student film Atlantis, 2003 has been picked to Future Frames, an initiative presenting outstanding young directors at Karlovy Vary IFF (June 30 – July 8, 2017). Ten promising filmmakers were chosen by the Programme Department of the Festival from nominations made by member organizations of European Film Promotion. Michal Balško and Atlantis, 2003 were nominated by Slovak Film Institute in collaboration with FTF VSMU.

Atlantis, 2003 by Michal Blaško thus continues its successful festival journey after the world-premiere at Cinéfondation. Atlantis, 2003 is set in 2003, four years before Slovakia entered the Schengen Area. Martin and Denisija, a young couple from Ukraine, are trying to get illegaly to Germany through Slovakia, like many others before them. The border between Slovakia and Ukraine is to become one of the most secured borders in Europe a couple years later, but in 2003 it is still open for smugglers and for people hoping to find a new life in Western Europe. Martin and Denisija both dream about getting to Germany, a place they've never been to, both ready to sacrifice everything they have to reach this destination.

Michal Blaško (1989, Bratislava) studies film and television directing at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava (FTF VŠMU). His second year film Fear (2015), was premiered at the 63rd San Sebastián International Film Festival and won several prizes including Best Short Film Award at the 21st International Film Festival in Vilnius. He is a writer and co-director (with Marta Prokopová) of a short animated film Wild Beasts, which was presented at the Short Film Project Lab during the 67th Berlin International Film Festival. Atlantis, 2003 is his bachelor project produced by Slovak FTF VŠMU in cooperation with Czech FAMU and was supported by Slovak Audiovisual Fund, Tatra Banka Foundation and Bratislava Self-Governing Region. 

Future Frames (July 2 – 5, 2017) is a platform which highlights new groundbreaking European cinema and the promising young directing talent behind it. The selection of ten outstanding film students and graduates from schools throughout Europe brings the next generation of European filmmakers to the attention of the industry and press during 3 days of events and screenings.
The programme was established in 2015 by European Film Promotion and Karlovy Vary IFF to replace “Variety Critics’ Choice: Europe Now!” with its spotlight on first- and second-time directors, moving the focus to the youngest filmmaking generation..

The first edition of Future Frames introduced Slovak student Martina Bucehlová (FTF VŠMU) and her film Green Line.

European Film Promotion Press Release: http://www.efp-online.com/en/project_talent_promotion/future_frames.php

Related AIC articles:
Atlantis, 2003 at Cinéfondation 2017
Freen Line at Future Frames 2015

More information:
www.efp-online.com
http://www.kviff.com/

published: 09.05.2017
updated: 14.05.2017