Private Project

Connection Down

A positive-minded student living in countryside Friesland is randomly attacked by his social media-addicted younger sister when he attempts to take her smartphone out of her hands. To save her from turning into permanent state of psychosis, he needs to find the doctor who can help her.

  • Kilian Harkema
    Director
  • Wietse Walinga
    Producer
  • Steven Hulzinga
    Producer
  • Kilian Harkema
    Producer
  • Renée Wiersma
    Key Cast
    "Anna"
  • Stan Tjassing
    Key Cast
    "Jim"
  • Lars Zijm
    Director of Photography
  • Dylan Krombos
    Camera Operator
  • Bas Dijkstra
    Editor
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Sci-Fi, Thriller, Drama
  • Runtime:
    7 minutes 55 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    February 3, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    1,500 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Netherlands
  • Country of Filming:
    Netherlands
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    21:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Stenden
  • Premiere
    Leeuwarden
    Netherlands
    March 14, 2019
    Dutch premiere
  • Chennai International Short Film Festival
  • 11th International Inter University Short Film Festival
  • Cefalù Film Festival 2022
  • Lift-Off Filmmaker Sessions
  • First-Time Filmmaker Sessions
  • Brussels Short Film Festival Market
Director Biography - Kilian Harkema

Kilian Harkema makes his directorial debut with ‘’Connection Down’’, a film addressing the unhealthy use of social media, after having held various conversations with academic researchers and psychotherapists investigating the topic. The film is part of a broader initiative addressing the issue of digital misconduct and developing a 'healthy' relationship with social media.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

An ongoing increase of dependency on technology forces us to become aware of our online behaviour and take appropriate measures to keep ourselves sane. In the film, main characters Jim and Anna have recently seen their mother pass away, and are still very much in a phase of mourning. Anna, however, has locked herself up in her virtual world - on her smartphone - and starts losing sight of reality. However, she's not the only one. When there's a worldwide breakdown of the internet, countless people suddenly start losing their minds...