Slovak film competing at Cinéfondation
Atlantis, 2003 student film by Michal Blaško will represent Slovak cinema at the jubilee 70th edition of Cannes IFF (May 17 – 28, 2017). This short film tells the story of a young couple - Martin and Denisija - from Ukraine, who are trying to get illegally to Germany, and will be introduced within Cinéfondation, one of the most prestigious competitions for short films.
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´s Bachelor film was produced by Slovak FTF VŠMU in cooperation with Czech FAMU. However, the idea of the project was born even before entering the Academy, when reading an interview with a young Ukrainian girl, who illigally fled to Slovakia with her boyfriend. He betrayed her and thus she was forced to prostitution. „I was fascinated by the fact that she fully trusted the man. Together they experineced the dangerous transfer and also the time before, and he easily betrayed and brutally abandoned her. I was interested in the dilemma the man had to solve, his hesitation, remorses and I was also fascinated by the character of the girl and her feelings in the moment of betrayal,” explains Michal Blaško, currently student of Film and television directing at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava (FTF VŠMU).
The film was supported by Slovak Audiovisual Fund, Tatra Banka Foundation and Bratislava Self-Governing Region.
Already Blaško´s second year film at VŠMU 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.
Cinéfondation section focuses on film schools and emerging talents and is part of the Official Selection. A special Cinéfondation and Shorts Jury awards prizes to the best three films at the official ceremony. This year, the Cinéfondation and Short Films Jury is presided by Cristian Mungiu. Atlantis, 2003 is the fifth Slovak participant of Cinéfondation: following Keď nie, tak nie by Vladimir Král, Thanks, fine by Matyás Prikler, Cagey Tigers by Aramisova and Pandas by Matúš Vizár.
Festival de Cannes Press Release: http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/actualites/articles/the-short-films-selections-at-the-70th-festival-de-cannes
published: 12.04.2017
updated: 14.05.2017