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At Sea

A poetic and existential journey of survival... at sea.

A small film about something big. The kind of big you only feel once you’re far from land, alone with your thoughts.

At Sea is a visceral and poetic short film that blends docu-style realism with narrative fiction. It drifts between memory and moment, truth and fiction. Told through the fragmented voice of an unreliable narrator, it follows a group of sailors navigating the vast, unpredictable waters of Greece.

There are chapters, moods that shift like wind, sights that feel real, and others that just 'feel'. Maybe it all happened. Or maybe it only did at sea.

Shot on the go—with salt on the lens and wind in the mic—it’s a collage of light, sound, instinct, and sea spray.

“AN ORDINARY STORY TOLD IN AN EXTRAORDINARY WAY.”
– HORYZONTY FILM FESTIVAL

“At sea proposes a sensory and immersive experience. Its unreliable narrator and non-linear story give the film a unique and appealing format engaging the viewer directly in the story's game.”
- Hollywood Shortsfest

AN UNRELIABLE NARRATOR. HOWLING WIND. SWAYING SEA. BURNING SAND. AND THE CALM AFTER THE STORM. A FAST-PACED HOMAGE TO THE SEA AND THE HUMAN SPIRIT.

  • Martin Marko
    Writer / Director / Cinematographer / Editor
  • Maria Havlickova
    Key Cast
    "Diver"
  • Matus Marko
    Key Cast
    "Sailor #1"
  • Ivan Marko
    Key Cast
    "Contemplator"
  • Maria Kubova
    Key Cast
    "Sailor #2"
  • Lenka Gmitrova
    Key Cast
    "Eyes"
  • Tony Harris
    Key Cast
    "Narrator"
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Experimental, Short
  • Genres:
    adventure, drama, poetry, comedy, family
  • Runtime:
    8 minutes 34 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 27, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    1,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Greece
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.39:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography

Born in a small city in the heart of Europe, in a country called Slovakia, Martin began making short films with friends at the age of 11, showcasing his passion and talent for storytelling from a young age.

In his 20s, his pursuits led him to attend a film school in London, UK, where he finally got a sense of the big world of filmmaking. After his studies, equipped with a film school portfolio, he relocated to Prague, Czech Republic, where he worked on short films, commercials, and brand videos, mostly in production and post-production. He has edited, color graded, and animated TVCs, as well as shot and directed music videos and short films. At the age of 30, he decided to move from doing-it-all to purely directing.

Now based in Toronto, Canada, at the age of 34, Martin has established himself as a commercial and short film director with a portfolio that includes brands like Ford, RMHC, Sleep Country, HP, and more. His creative journey is marked by continuous growth and innovation. In his free time, Martin enjoys developing passion projects and experimenting with storytelling techniques, including his latest project, At Sea.

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Director Statement

It is a deeply personal passion project that I’ve been working on for years. The film is anchored by stunning visuals shot primarily with the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K during a 2019 voyage in Greece, seamlessly blended with select footage from earlier travels in Greece and Croatia between 2011 and 2018. This combination creates a rich and immersive experience that brings the spirit of the sea to life. Some shots are shot on the good old legacy Canon 7D, GoPro 4, and some newer shots are shot on iPhone 15 Pro.

With this work, I wanted to express my love for the sea, adventure, and the subtle nuances that are part of both and part of life. I wanted to show these beautiful candid moments I captured on my voyage and tell an original story. It also features the biggest storm I’ve ever personally experienced at sea, and I wanted to do the footage justice in portraying that. The same goes for the ants that caught my attention, much like the plastic bag in American Beauty, haha.

The footage is meticulously arranged to tell a story of the voyage, the human spirit, and the sea, with the ultimate goal of engaging and entertaining the audience. This film is a statement piece for me as a director and an opportunity to experiment with different storytelling techniques within one stylized narrative. One thing I can promise: you won’t even have time to blink! And it is true because my father jokingly told me it was so fast he was afraid to blink, worried he’d miss something.

As for the film’s origins, they are as varied as the journey itself. Shot in Greece, edited in Prague, and finished in Toronto, I consider “At Sea” a Canadian-Slovak-Czech film, reflecting the global nature of the project and my own journey as a director.