Experiencing Interruptions?

#45

In a dystopian world where soldiers are stripped of their identities and known only by their numbers, #45 marches in perfect harmony with an endless column of comrades, all obedient to the cold orders of a faceless general. As the path becomes confusing and the purpose increasingly unclear, #45 begins to feel that they are marching not towards victory, but towards oblivion... a journey of no return. Torn between obedience and conscience, he must decide whether to break the silence or disappear into it, but does he have a choice?

  • Nikola Krulj
    Director
    Fly High Mono
  • Nikola Krulj
    Writer
    Fly High Mono
  • Nikola Krulj
    Producer
    Fly High Mono
  • Nikola Krulj
    Animators
    Fly High Mono
  • Nikola Krulj
    Editors
    Fly High Mono
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Short
  • Genres:
    Animation, Experimental, Short
  • Runtime:
    4 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    June 6, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    0 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Country of Filming:
    Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, 2D Animation
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Akademija Umjetnosti Banjaluka
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Academy of Art Banjaluka
    Banjaluka
    Bosnia and Herzegovina
    July 15, 2025
    Bosnia and Herzegovina
    Official Selection
  • Films That Move
    Kingston
    Jamaica
    December 7, 2025
    Jamaica
    Honorable Mention Award
Director Biography - Nikola Krulj

Nikola Krulj is a filmmaker and visual artist from Bosnia and Herzegovina. A student at the Academy of Arts in Banja Luka, Krulj writes, directs, and edits his own films, often taking on multiple creative roles. His short film The Hammer (2023) earned the Public Choice Award at the Lift-Off First Time Filmmaker Festival in London and was a finalist at the SWIFF New York. In 2024, his experimental short Fly High Mono received the Best Student Film Award at the Future of Film Awards in Ohrid and screened at several international festivals including Balkan CineFest (Tirana), Urbanite Film Festival (New York), and Lastavica (Prague). Krulj's work is known for its experimental style and exploration of perception, memory, and identity. Alongside filmmaking, he is active in graphic design and painting, with a growing international presence through exhibitions and online creative platforms.

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Director Statement

#45 is a short animated film, presented in a children's style, because children often play soldiers without knowing the weight of the game. The film explores the meaninglessness of war and the loss of identity. Soldiers have no names, only numbers, and blindly obey the orders of a faceless general. When many lose their lives, their names end up on common monuments, where each individual story is erased in the mass. The film does not ask a question, but rather pays attention to mutual grief.