RUN

In an effort to combat his negative body image, anxiety, and growing sense of isolation from society, a man decides to take up running as a means of improving his mental and emotional well-being. While on his run memories of anxiety and self-loathing bubble up to the surface, threatening to drown him in a deluge of despair. He struggles to push these toxic thoughts aside, but they persist.

  • Ben Balassa
    Director
  • Ben Balassa
    Writer
  • Wiktoria Kurkiewicz
    Producer
  • Ben Balassa
    Key Cast
    "M"
    Danske Mord (2021)
  • Gemma Wilkie
    Key Cast
    "Mother"
  • Nicoline Frost
    Key Cast
    "Friend 1"
  • Mikka Chantal Deleuran
    Key Cast
    "Friend 2"
  • Gabriel Taragno
    Key Cast
    "Man"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    8 minutes 14 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 31, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    1,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Denmark
  • Country of Filming:
    Denmark
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, 35mm
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Black & White
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Ben Balassa

Ben Balassa is a Hungarian-born director and actor, currently based in Copenhagen, Denmark. Born in Budapest, Ben discovered his passion for filmmaking at a young age and has since pursued his dream with fervor.

Ben has a work resume in various mediums, including TV, film, commercials, and theater. In 2021, he played the role of Pelle Sørensen in the third season of the Danish crime drama series "Dansk Mord," produced by the Danish Broadcasting Corporation (DR). He also appeared in an episode of "Kometernes Jul" in the same year.

Ben's directorial debut is a drama short called "Run" in 2023, alongside Nicoline Frost.

Regarding training, Ben has honed his skills through various programs, including the Script Writing Course for TV or Web Series at Michigan State University in 2020 and the Improv Comedy Workshops at The Groundlings Theatre & School in 2021. He also attended the Copenhagen Film & Theatre School (KFTS) from 2018-2019 and the Improv Comedy Copenhagen (ICC) in 2017, among others.

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Director Statement

"RUN" is a short drama that explores the inner turmoil of a man named M who is haunted by his past and struggling with his present. The film takes us on a journey through M's mind as he goes for a run, trying to escape his thoughts and memories. The story is told in a nonlinear fashion through a series of flashbacks that show us different moments from M's life, highlighting the various issues that he is dealing with.

The film is an intimate character study that delves deep into M's psyche, exploring themes of regret, loneliness, and the desire for human connection. We see M as a complex and flawed individual, struggling to come to terms with his past mistakes and desperately trying to find a way to move forward out of an ever-present and anxiety-induced vicious cycle.

The use of flashbacks allows us to see the different aspects of M's personality and how they have shaped him into the person he is today. We see his interactions with his mother, his friendships, and his relationships, which all contribute to his current state of mind.

Overall, "RUN" is a deeply personal film that explores the complexities of the human psyche. It is a film that we hope will resonate with anyone who has struggled with fitting in and finding their place in life. We all struggle in one way or another. The goal of this film is to show that it is okay, to not be okay. There is no easy solution or resolution to be found. Sometimes what matters is that we get up again, and again and we keep trying no matter what. That is what makes us human and that is what matters.