The Crone
Milena runs away from the nightmare of her family home to a nearby forest. On her way, she meets the Crone - an old woman living alone in the darkness of the forest, about whom disturbing stories have been circulating among people for years. The hermit does not let Milena go and follows her every step. The girl doesn't understand what this old woman wants from her and tries to find out why she lives in the forest and what she has done to make people afraid of her. She discovers the dark secret of the Crone only as a mature woman, when she returns to the past. Then comes the moment of transformation - Milena has the most difficult task to perform - facing her greatest fears and finally coming to terms with the past. The folk tale is set in the world of ancient Slavic beliefs.
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Catherine Kasima KandaDirector
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Catherine Kasima KandaWriter
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Catherine Kasima KandaProducer
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Justyna DuckaKey Cast"Młoda Milena / Young Milena"
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Katarzyna BargiełowskaKey Cast"Babcia Milena / Grandmother Milena"
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Emilia CzechKey Cast"Mała Milena / Little Milena"
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Ewa SzykulskaKey Cast"Pustelnica (głos) / The Crone (voice)"
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Natasza LeśniakKey Cast"Maria / Milena's Mother"
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Jacek RyśKey Cast"Jakub"
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Anna ŁadaKey Cast"Hanna"
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Anna JarosikKey Cast"Królowa Rusałek / Queen of the nymphs"
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Michał DolnyDirector of photography
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Martyna MaryniakSet design and costumes
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Anna StępieńSet design and costumes
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Asia Marzena KijakMake up artists
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Paulina NowakowskaMake up artists
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Justyna JaryMusic
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Tomasz WaldowskiMusic
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Arkadiusz WojdygaEditors
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Catherine Kasima KandaEditors
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Paweł UszyńskiSound Design
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Project Title (Original Language):Pustelnica
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Project Type:Short
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Genres:drama, fantasy, folktale
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Runtime:40 minutes
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Completion Date:September 20, 2024
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Production Budget:100,000 USD
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Country of Origin:Poland
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Country of Filming:Poland
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Language:Polish
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Shooting Format:Digital, Red Gemini
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Aspect Ratio:2,39:1
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:Yes
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Student Project:No
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Digital Cinema Package:Unavailable
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El Gouna Film FestivalHurghada
Egypt
October 25, 2024
World Premiere
Official Selection out of competition -
Avignon International Film FestivalAvignon
France
Best Fantasy Short Film / Best Director Short Film -
Paradise Film FestivalCologne
Germany
Best Fantasy -
Aussie Gold Film FestivalMelbourne
Australia
Best Sci-fi / Fantasy Short -
Oniros Film AwardsNew York
United States
Best Fantasy -
WRPN Women's International Film Festival
United States
Outstanding Excellence - Loose Shorts -
New York International Film AwardsNew York
United States
Best Fantasy -
Indie Short FestLos Angeles
United States
Best Short of the Season (Special Jury Award) / Best Fantasy / Best Female Director / Best Cinematography / Best Production Design / Best Editing / Best Original Score / Best Sound Mixing / Best Original Screenplay (nomination) -
Independent Short AwardsLos Angeles
United States
Best Short of the Season (Special Jury Award) / Best Fantasy Short -
Onyko Films AwardsOdessa
Ukraine
Official Selection, in progress -
Cannes Indie International Film FestivalCannes
France
Best Fantasy -
Zepstone International Film & Music FestivalSalt Lake City
United States
Quarterly winners: Best International Short Film / Best Cinematography / Best Sound Design / Best Costume Design / Best Production Design / Best Director / Best Fantasy / Best Editing (runner up) -
Red Movie AwardsReims
France
Best Fantasy -
Alternative Film FestivalToronto
Canada
Best Sci-Fi / Fantasy / Supernatural (award winner) Best Actress (nomination) / Best Writer (nomination) -
Miami International Science Fiction Film FestivalMiami
United States
Official Selection -
Global Film Festival AwardsLos Angeles
United States
Best Fantasy Short -
Kalakari Film FestDewas
India
Official Selection -
Veneto International FIlm FestivalVeneto
Italy
Best Fantasy / Best Producer / Best Director / Best Cinematography / Best Costume Design / Best Makeup and Hairstyling -
Rome International Movie AwardsRome
Italy
Best Fantasy Short -
Ice CineFestCincinnati
United States
Best Short Film - Fantasy -
Reale Film FestivalMilano
Italy
Best European Film -
Cooper Awards
Ukraine
Official Selection, in progress -
Athens International Monthly Art Film FestivalAthens
Greece
Best Directing -
Castle Film & Media AwardsRome
Italy
Best Artist Short Film -
Anatolia International Film FestivalIstanbul
Best Fantasy / Best Female Director / Best Twisted Final / Best Cinematic Experimentation -
Liverpool Indie AwardsLiverpool
United Kingdom
Best Sci-Fi Film (nomination), in progress -
Sofia World Film FestivalSofia
Bulgaria
Best Fantasy -
Golden Bridge Istanbul Short Film FestivalIstanbul
Best Leading Actress / Best Female Director -
Rome Indie FIlm FestivalRome
Italy
Best Cinematography / Best Sound Design -
Anatolian Film Awards
Best Fantasy Feature Film -
PopCon International Film FestivalIndianapolis
United States
June 27, 2025
Official Selection -
Los Angeles Movie & Music Video AwardsLos Angeles
United States
Best Fantasy / Best Cinematography / Best Costume Design -
Ravenheart International Film FestivalOslo
Norway
June 13, 2025
Scandinavian Premiere
Best Cinematography -
Simbiotic Film FestivalKiev
Ukraine
Official Selection -
Your Way International Film FestivalValetta
Malta
Official Selection -
The Fantasy Film FestivalParis
France
Official Selection -
Roma Short Film FestivalRome
Italy
Official Selection -
Cambridge Short Film FestivalCambridge
United Kingdom
Best Fantasy -
Milan Independent AwardsMilan
Italy
Best Fantasy Film -
Tokyo International Short Film FestivalTokyo
Japan
Official Selection -
Independent Shorts Awards AnnualLos Angeles
September 7, 2025
Best Fantasy / Best Cinematography / Best Original Score (nom.) / Best Editing (nom.) / Best Ensemble Cast (nom.) / Best Female Director (nom.) -
Zepstone International Film & Music Awards annualUtah
United States
Best Sound Design / Best Cinematography (nom.) -
Independent -Star FilmFestFreising
Germany
October 18, 2025
Best Sci-Fi / Fantasy Short / Best Actress (Justyna Ducka) -
Flickers' Vortex Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Horror Film Festival by Rhode Island International Film FestivalRhode Island
United States
October 1, 2025
Best Fantasy Feature -
The Art of Movie Making FestivalNew York
United States
Best Costume Design (nom.) / Best Sound Special FX (nom.) / Best Fantasy Prop (nom.) / Best Makeup (nom.) / Best Gore / Horror Makeup (nom.)
Catherine Kasima Kanda – a Warsaw School of Economics alumnus with an International Business degree, a graduate of the Directing program at the Warsaw Film School and Screenwriting program at the Historical Film Academy.
Author of the short movies, commercials and experimental forms. A passionate student of womens' history, Slavic culture, as well as myths and legends of the Peoples of the Earth.