I found Viktor wandering the streets of Budapest and asked him if he wanted to be in a movie. He was up for it. I initially had a Crime & Punishment- like story in mind, but as Viktor and I became friends, I realized he was far more interesting than my script. I built the story around him and used an improvisational acting method to let Viktor thrive in the scenes. And he did. It was the first project in which we - later founders of Boddah (Marcell, Gábor, and me) - all worked together. This film changed my life.
Here I Am
Viktor can't sleep, so he roams the city. He meets various friends as well as strangers. Challenging the conventional way people live their lives, he's looking for something different. Something we all might be seeking.
"Here I Am" (Itt vagyok) was Bálint’s third-year school film in 2010. Shot in black&white the film is 37 minutes long. It won Best Short Film at the Hungarian Film Week, premiered at Cannes – Cinéfondation, and was nominated by the European Film Academy for Best Short Film.
Werk
Written & Directed Bálint Szimler Director of Photography Marcell Rév Producer Gábor Osváth, Bosnyák Miklós (SZFE) Production Manager András Pires Muhi, Ágota B. Benedek Assistant Director Zoli Gyovai Editor Róbert Gradvolt, Wanda Kiss Sound Engineer Bence Bükki Cast Viktor Vida, Szilvi Murányi, Juli Villányi, Gáspár Bonta, Hans Van Villet, Mariann Szalay, Tamás Lengyel, Kata Wéber, Zsolt Máthé, Dalma Berger, Dániel Eke, Gergő Pálos, Péter Miklós, Gábor Papp, Andor Tóth
Afterlife
‘Here I Am’ won Best Short Film at the Hungarian Film Week.
It was in competition in the Cinefondation at the Cannes Film Festival.
The film was nominated for Best Short Film by the European Film Academy.
‘Here I Am’ won the main prize for a Short Film at the Lisbon & Estoril Film Festival.
‘Here I Am’ was awarded the Best Short Film prize by the Hungarian Film Critics.
