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At Sea

A poetic and existential journey of survival... at sea.

A small film about something big. The kind of big you only feel once you’re far from land, alone with your thoughts.

At Sea is a visceral and poetic short film that blends docu-style realism with narrative fiction. It drifts between memory and moment, truth and fiction. Told through the fragmented voice of an unreliable narrator, it follows a group of sailors navigating the vast, unpredictable waters of Greece.

There are chapters, moods that shift like wind, sights that feel real, and others that just 'feel'. Maybe it all happened. Or maybe it only did at sea.

Shot on the go—with salt on the lens and wind in the mic—it’s a collage of light, sound, instinct, and sea spray.

“AN ORDINARY STORY TOLD IN AN EXTRAORDINARY WAY.”
– HORYZONTY FILM FESTIVAL

“At sea proposes a sensory and immersive experience. Its unreliable narrator and non-linear story give the film a unique and appealing format engaging the viewer directly in the story's game.”
- Hollywood Shortsfest

AN UNRELIABLE NARRATOR. HOWLING WIND. SWAYING SEA. BURNING SAND. AND THE CALM AFTER THE STORM. A FAST-PACED HOMAGE TO THE SEA AND THE HUMAN SPIRIT.

  • Martin Marko
    Writer / Director / Cinematographer / Editor
  • Maria Havlickova
    Key Cast
    "Diver"
  • Matus Marko
    Key Cast
    "Sailor #1"
  • Ivan Marko
    Key Cast
    "Contemplator"
  • Maria Kubova
    Key Cast
    "Sailor #2"
  • Lenka Gmitrova
    Key Cast
    "Eyes"
  • Tony Harris
    Key Cast
    "Narrator"
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Experimental, Short
  • Genres:
    adventure, drama, poetry, comedy, family
  • Runtime:
    8 minutes 34 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 27, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    1,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada, Croatia, Czechia, Greece
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.39:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography

Born in a small city in the heart of Europe, in a country called Slovakia, Martin began making short films with friends at the age of 11, showcasing his passion and talent for storytelling from a young age.

In his 20s, his pursuits led him to attend a film school in London, UK, where he finally got a sense of the big world of filmmaking. After his studies, equipped with a film school portfolio, he relocated to Prague, Czech Republic, where he worked on short films, commercials, and brand videos, mostly in production and post-production. He has edited, color graded, and animated TVCs, as well as shot and directed music videos and short films. At the age of 30, he decided to move from doing-it-all to purely directing.

Now based in Toronto, Canada, at the age of 34, Martin has established himself as a commercial and short film director with a portfolio that includes brands like Ford, RMHC, Sleep Country, HP, and more. His creative journey is marked by continuous growth and innovation. In his free time, Martin enjoys developing passion projects and experimenting with storytelling techniques, including his latest project, At Sea.

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Director Statement

I made At Sea because I had to. It started as notes on a phone, images I kept returning to: the particular way light breaks on water at midday, the sound of rope against the hull, the feeling of being very small in a very large place. I did not set out to make a documentary or a narrative. I just wanted to capture something true about what it feels like to be out there.

The unreliable narrator was not a structural choice, it was the only honest way to tell it. Memory does not work in a straight line. The sea does not either.

I shot the film over years, across different journeys, mostly at sea in Greece, with fragments from earlier travels. I used whatever I had: a Blackmagic Pocket, a 7D, a GoPro strapped to the bow, an iPhone in a waterproof case. The imperfection was the point. I wanted the image to feel earned, not polished. Salt on the lens. Wind in the mic.

The footage came together like memory does, not as a clean narrative, but as something felt. A voyage, the sea, the human need to keep moving, even without knowing where it leads.

Post-production was done in After Effects, with Procreate used to build out certain moments, like the stretched corridor effect. It gave what I captured a slightly off edge and helped connect fragments that did not naturally belong together. It also gave me space to be playful. There are moments where the film bends to the narrator, where cause and effect feel questionable. When the girl drops her phone into the sea, it almost feels like the narrator takes it from her hand and throws it, just to match the rhythm of what is being said, just because it fits.

The film asks you to meet it halfway. I think the sea asks the same thing.