Arsmedia

Genre: Feature fiction film
Duration: 100 min
Year: 2021
Screenplay:  Rahela Jagrič Pirc & Darja Medić
Director:  Rahela Jagrič Pirc
Cast:  Kolja Chilima Budišin, Ivo Barišič, Manca Dorrer, Irena Mihelič, Alenka Kraigher, Aljaž Jovanovič, Aliash Tepina, Matic Jamar, Neja Čušin, Jakob Cilenšek, Liam Cimperman
Links: www.film-center.si
Pictures, videos: ftp://ftp.arsmedia.si, (username: arsmedia-press, password: Arsmedia). For FTP access please use clients such as Filezilla, CyberDuck…

LOGLINE

An abandoned star observatory unites a blind astronomer and a teenager Tobi.

SYNOPSIS

The Space Among Us is coming of age drama, set in a rural, picturesque town Kostanjevica na Krki. The story revolves around 14 year old Canadian Tobi, who comes to Slovenia on summer holidays with his mother Kristina, who is about to have an important art exhibition in her hometown. Tobi is not excited to spend a summer away from his father and his friends. The situation gets even worse when a local gang starts to bully him because of his skin color. The only positive thing around is a free spirited girl named Tjaša, who leads Tobi to an unusual encounter with retired, blind astronomer Herman. While waiting for his father to join them in Slovenia, Tobi starts spending time with Herman, who teaches him about the laws of Space, which can be applied to our everyday life here on Earth. The star observatory also represents a shelter for Tobi, where he runs to in order to escape the news about his parents’ marriage problems. As it turns out, even Kristina’s art exhibition was pre-planned and visiting her hometown was just an excuse to escape her current life in Canada. The roller coaster of intense emotions and dynamic events lead Tobi and Kristina to confront their fears and to discover what the Universe holds for them.

Director’s statement

“The Space Among Us is a coming-of-age film that introduces us to the mysterious world of space exploration, in which the protagonist realises that certain laws of the universe can also apply to our everyday lives and interpersonal relations. This realisation helps him to win over a girl, reunite his parents, and defeat a gang of village brats. I see the universe as a universal subject that has driven people towards exploration ever since the dawn of humanity, which is why I hope that everyone will be able to discover a piece of themselves in the film.”

Producer’s statement

“The story about growing up – which depicts the relations between teenagers, reaches into the depths of family and human relations. For me, to deliver a coming-of-age film that is very relevant to the society and children, represents a challenge and obligation, as culture is supposed to influence as well as benefit the society.”

GALLERY

Photo: Frančišek Ksaver Šinkar

MOMENTS FROM THE PREMIERE 9. 4. 2022 9. 4. 2022 (Cankarjev dom)

Photo: Katja Goljat

CREW

Screenplay:  Rahela Jagrič Pirc & Darja Medić
Director:  Rahela Jagrič Pirc
Director of Photography:  Darko Herič
Editor: Mateja Rackov
Sound Recordists:  Primož Debeljak & Jaka Batič
Composer: Janez Dovč
Sound Designer:  Boštjan Kačičnik
Production Designer:  Miha Ferkov
Costume Designer:  Nadja Bedjanič
Make-up Artist:  Anita Ferčak
Production Manager: Amela Ikovic
Producer:  Boštjan Ikovic

CAST

RAHELA JAGRIČ PIRC

Rahela Jagrič Pirc completed BA (Hons) from Film and Video Production in 2008 (Wolverhampton-UK). Her graduation film “My Two Best Friends” won Best Drama Award as well Best Student Production award at prestigious Royal Television Society Student Awards. Rahela’s restless spirit and tendency for challenges was clearly reflected in her Master’s film at Bournemouth University in 2009, where she directed short stereoscopic (s3D) film “Coming Home”. Film is known as the first s3D film made by Slovenian filmmaker, for which she also received a title of the Honorary Citizen by her home municipality Krško (Slovenia) for pioneer achievements in stereoscopic filmmaking. The passion for stereoscopic filmmaking led her to numerous work experiences in London, New York, Kyoto, Berlin, Auckland, Toronto. Rahela attended Berlinale Talent Campus in 2010, in 2011 was selected to Kyoto Filmmakers Lab in Japan and in the same year she also received a fellowship from reputable German Filmmaking programme Nipkow. In 2013 she attended IUGTE – filmmakers lab in Russian Theater in Lithuania and in September 2014 was invited by the European Film Academy to attend filmmaker’s programme Sunday in a Country in Luxembourg. Rahela was selected to the artist residency on The Ingmar Bergman Estate on Fårö Island in Sweden in 2014. In 2019 Rahela was selected to attend Reykjavik Talent Lab in Iceland and in 2020 was selected to UGC Writer’s Campus under Series Mania Festival.  In 2019 and 2020 Rahela directed TV Drama Bridges of Us and also in 2020, Rahela shot her debut directing/co-writing film The Space Among us, which is currently before distribution.

SHORT FILMOGRAPHY AND AWARDS

– 2021 The Space Among Us (writer/director), feature Fiction film, Arsmedia production
– 2019-2020 Bridges Of Us (director), TV Drama, Perfo Production
– 2019 Aesop (writer/director), short fiction film (in development)
– 2019 On the Edge of Arctic Circle (writer/director/DOP), mid-length documentary film (post-production),
– 2018 Intertwining threads of Modern Artists (writer/director), mid-length documentary film, Arsmedia production
– 2015 Demetrius and Marina (writer/director/DOP), short stop-motion film,  Iugte Filmmakers Lab
– 2013 Sweet Heart Eater (director), short fiction film, Fos Production
– 2009 Coming Home (director), short fiction s3D (stereoscopic) film, Bournemouth Univerza
– 2009 Buy Bye Baby (director, writer), short fiction film, 2009, Bournemouth Univerza
– 2008 The Mudlark (director), short fiction film, 2008, Bournemouth Univerza
– 2008 A Chance Meeting (director), short fiction film, 2008, Bournemouth Univerza
– 2009 My Two Best Friends (director), short fiction film, Wolverhampton Univerza,
– 2005  100 Years of Slovenian Film(writer/director), short documentary film,
– 2004 My Secret (writer/director), short fiction film,

CO-PRODUCERS

RTV Slovenia
MB grip
NuFrame
Zvokarna
Mir Media Group, SRB

TEHNICAL SERVICES

Viba Film Studio

SUPORTED BY

Film Center Serbia & Ministry of Culture of Serbia

CO-FUNDING

Slovenian Film Centre

DISTRIBUTION

Con film

SALES AGENT

Coccinelle Film Placement (Italy)

SPONSORS

Nomago

Mercator

TEHNICAL DATA

Format: DCP; 1:1,85; 24/fps, color

Sound: 5.1

FESTIVALS AND AWARDS

• SICFF – 10th Seoul Int’l Children’s Film Festival, junij 2022, Kolja Chilima Budišin, The Best Actor;
• Moondance IFF 2022, January 2022, ZDA – Best Feature film;
• 50. Film Festival SOFEST, Sopot, Julij 2022, Srbija;
• London Director Awards22, August 2022 London, Velika Britanija;
• 28. Sarajevo Film Festival, August 2022, Sarajevo, Bosna in Hercegovina;
• Cinedu – IFF for Children and Youth, September 2022, Nove Mesto nad Vahom, Slovaška;
• Alexandria film fest for Medieteranean films, October 2022, Aleksandrija, Egipt;
• GIFFONI Makedonija – October 2022, Skopje, Severna Makedonja;
• 27. Internationales Filmfestival SCHLINGEL, October 2022, Chemnitz, Nemčija;
• 25. FSF Portorož, October 2022, Portorož; Alenka Kraigher, award “Vesna” for best supporting actress
• 20. Zagreb film festival, October 2022, Zagreb, Croatia;
• 27. Edition of Freeze Frame, March 2023, The Youth Jury Award, Canada;