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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.

  • Catherine Kasima Kanda
    Director
  • Catherine Kasima Kanda
    Writer
  • Catherine Kasima Kanda
    Producer
  • Justyna Ducka
    Key Cast
    "Młoda Milena / Young Milena"
  • Katarzyna Bargiełowska
    Key Cast
    "Babcia Milena / Grandmother Milena"
  • Emilia Czech
    Key Cast
    "Mała Milena / Little Milena"
  • Ewa Szykulska
    Key Cast
    "Pustelnica (głos) / The Crone (voice)"
  • Natasza Leśniak
    Key Cast
    "Maria / Milena's Mother"
  • Jacek Ryś
    Key Cast
    "Jakub"
  • Anna Łada
    Key Cast
    "Hanna"
  • Anna Jarosik
    Key Cast
    "Królowa Rusałek / Queen of the nymphs"
  • Michał Dolny
    Director of photography
  • Martyna Maryniak
    Set design and costumes
  • Anna Stępień
    Set design and costumes
  • Asia Marzena Kijak
    Make up artists
  • Paulina Nowakowska
    Make up artists
  • Justyna Jary
    Music
  • Tomasz Waldowski
    Music
  • Arkadiusz Wojdyga
    Editors
  • Catherine Kasima Kanda
    Editors
  • Paweł Uszyński
    Sound Design
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Pustelnica
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    drama, fantasy, folktale
  • Runtime:
    40 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    September 20, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    100,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Poland
  • Country of Filming:
    Poland
  • Language:
    Polish
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, Red Gemini
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2,39:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • El Gouna Film Festival
    Hurghada
    Egypt
    October 25, 2024
    World Premiere
    Official Selection out of competition
  • Avignon International Film Festival
    Avignon
    France
    Best Fantasy Short Film / Best Director Short Film
  • Paradise Film Festival
    Cologne
    Germany
    Best Fantasy
  • Aussie Gold Film Festival
    Melbourne
    Australia
    Best Sci-fi / Fantasy Short
  • Oniros Film Awards
    New York
    United States
    Best Fantasy
  • WRPN Women's International Film Festival

    United States
    Outstanding Excellence - Loose Shorts
  • New York International Film Awards
    New York
    United States
    Best Fantasy
  • Indie Short Fest
    Los 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 Awards
    Los Angeles
    United States
    Best Short of the Season (Special Jury Award) / Best Fantasy Short
  • Onyko Films Awards
    Odessa
    Ukraine
    Official Selection, in progress
  • Cannes Indie International Film Festival
    Cannes
    France
    Best Fantasy
  • Zepstone International Film & Music Festival
    Salt 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 Awards
    Reims
    France
    Best Fantasy
  • Alternative Film Festival
    Toronto
    Canada
    Best Sci-Fi / Fantasy / Supernatural (award winner) Best Actress (nomination) / Best Writer (nomination)
  • Miami International Science Fiction Film Festival
    Miami
    United States
    Official Selection
  • Global Film Festival Awards
    Los Angeles
    United States
    Best Fantasy Short
  • Kalakari Film Fest
    Dewas
    India
    Official Selection
  • Veneto International FIlm Festival
    Veneto
    Italy
    Best Fantasy / Best Producer / Best Director / Best Cinematography / Best Costume Design / Best Makeup and Hairstyling
  • Rome International Movie Awards
    Rome
    Italy
    Best Fantasy Short
  • Ice CineFest
    Cincinnati
    United States
    Best Short Film - Fantasy
  • Reale Film Festival
    Milano
    Italy
    Best European Film
  • Cooper Awards

    Ukraine
    Official Selection, in progress
  • Athens International Monthly Art Film Festival
    Athens
    Greece
    Best Directing
  • Castle Film & Media Awards
    Rome
    Italy
    Best Artist Short Film
  • Anatolia International Film Festival
    Istanbul
    Best Fantasy / Best Female Director / Best Twisted Final / Best Cinematic Experimentation
  • Liverpool Indie Awards
    Liverpool
    United Kingdom
    Best Sci-Fi Film (nomination), in progress
  • Sofia World Film Festival
    Sofia
    Bulgaria
    Best Fantasy
  • Golden Bridge Istanbul Short Film Festival
    Istanbul
    Best Leading Actress / Best Female Director
  • Rome Indie FIlm Festival
    Rome
    Italy
    Best Cinematography / Best Sound Design
  • Anatolian Film Awards

    Best Fantasy Feature Film
  • PopCon International Film Festival
    Indianapolis
    United States
    June 27, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Los Angeles Movie & Music Video Awards
    Los Angeles
    United States
    Best Fantasy / Best Cinematography / Best Costume Design
  • Ravenheart International Film Festival
    Oslo
    Norway
    June 13, 2025
    Scandinavian Premiere
    Best Cinematography
  • Simbiotic Film Festival
    Kiev
    Ukraine
    Official Selection
  • Your Way International Film Festival
    Valetta
    Malta
    Official Selection
  • The Fantasy Film Festival
    Paris
    France
    Official Selection
  • Roma Short Film Festival
    Rome
    Italy
    Official Selection
  • Cambridge Short Film Festival
    Cambridge
    United Kingdom
    Best Fantasy
  • Milan Independent Awards
    Milan
    Italy
    Best Fantasy Film
  • Tokyo International Short Film Festival
    Tokyo
    Japan
    Official Selection
  • Independent Shorts Awards Annual
    Los 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 annual
    Utah
    United States
    Best Sound Design / Best Cinematography (nom.)
  • Independent -Star FilmFest
    Freising
    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 Festival
    Rhode Island
    United States
    October 1, 2025
    Best Fantasy Feature
  • The Art of Movie Making Festival
    New York
    United States
    Best Costume Design (nom.) / Best Sound Special FX (nom.) / Best Fantasy Prop (nom.) / Best Makeup (nom.) / Best Gore / Horror Makeup (nom.)
Director Biography - Catherine Kasima Kanda

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.

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