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Butterfly

In the bilingual dance film, Butterfly, the protagonist Sandra Amrita works for an admin job at a bar in Portugal. The monotony of her job weighs heavily on her spirit, leaving her yearning for something more. But when the clock strikes five, her world transforms. Sandra trades her office chair for a pair of dancing shoes, rushing to her haven—a bachata dance school where her passion ignites. As Sandra becomes immersed in the rhythm of the music and the intimacy of the dance, she begins to uncover truths about herself, her desires, and the courage it takes to chase them. But when her controlling boss discovers her passion, lines blur between encouragement and manipulation, forcing Sandra to confront the delicate balance between survival and self-expression. Will she be able to live her passion?

This short is part of a trilogy that includes films O Derradeiro Passo, released as the 48 Hour festival film at Cinema São Jorge, and Windows, recipient of 2024 International Star Film Festival Awards (ISFFA).

  • Krystof Keshav
    Director
  • Krystof Keshav
    Writer
  • Marko Mitic
    Writer
  • Krystof Keshav
    Producer
  • Samita Nandy
    Key Cast
  • Celia Ramos
    Key Cast
  • Raphael Bueno
    Key Cast
  • David Gill
    Key Cast
  • Alfredo Paixao
    Key Cast
  • Krystof Keshav
    Key Cast
  • Samita Nandy
    Executive Producer
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Dance Film, Screendance
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes 59 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 5, 2025
  • Country of Origin:
    Portugal
  • Country of Filming:
    Portugal
  • Language:
    English, Portuguese
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Krystof Keshav

Krystof Keshav is an independent filmmaker based in Lisbon, Portugal. As an amateur actor, he found himself working as a figurante in films and adverts across Europe, or acting in short independent films, where he did not have a real say in the synopsis or the final script. When he approached Directors with his own synopsis or script, he found it extremely difficult to have his short film produced. So, falling back on previous courses in photography, film studies, and 16mm Film-making, he boot-strapped and became an independent Director. His filmography includes festival film Derradeiro O Passo, screened at Cinema Sao George, among many others.

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Director Statement

Following O Derradeiro Passo and Windows, Butterfly (2025) is filmed in the same style with the same equipment as the previous two short films in this loosely connected trilogy. It’s an uplifting prequel starring well-known international actors from the Lisbon independent film community. Being a bilingual short film also emphasises the fact that dance has no geographical boundaries and is open to all nationalities. Direction was facilitated by the fact that several of these actors have collaborated on different projects before and therefore have experience of working together.

Continuity is a big theme in Butterfly, not just in the development of the storyline and the progression of the main character in the trilogy, but also in the equipment (namely the camera, two lenses and two microphones (on-camera and lav mics)) and the filming stye. The Director remained the same for the trilogy and therefore the Cinematography is similar all across the films; but it is in the edit where the new Theatre-Cinema blend sets this movie apart. By showcasing the films in acts, rather than a continuous movie, the viewer has the chance to experience an innovative format to end this trilogy. The visual imagery, the dialogue, the music and the voiceover complete the transmission of the message of this film.

Dance Factory Studios is a well-designed and popular studio in Lisbon: this location was chosen to bring continuity to the Trilogy, having also been host to O Derradeiro Passo. This multi-room studio has excellent lighting and for this reason, there was no need for additional lighting. The outside scenes were shot in natural daylight.

Filming within a certain time frame and a busy location can bring small challenges, however, there were little issues with sound, cinematography, lighting or direction. The actor’s wardrobe was procured to reflect a decidedly down to earth Lisbon-feel. With dance being a central theme in this film, the selection of music was of utmost importance; providing a sound platform not only for the bachata choreography to blossom, but also to contribute to the positive feeling this movie was designed to invoke.