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programme 8 - DANUBE MERMAID

21. sep. 17.00 - vienna
27. sep. 17.00 - budapest



NIGHT OF PASSAGE
Reza Rasouli



Austria, 2025
19'59"
Student



Close to the Austrian border, three friends from Tehran are dropped off by their smuggler. They must spend the night in the Slovakian forest, until the next truck picks them up. Despite the difficult journey, the prospect of a new future keeps them moving forward. During the night, the group faces a dilemma that leads them to a point of no return.


Reza Rasouli, born in Mashhad, Iran, is a director and screenwriter whose lifelong passion for theater and cinema began with his first film projects as a child. He has lived and worked in Austria since 2019. Reza holds a bachelor's degree in directing and is currently studying for a master's degree at the Vienna Film Academy. His short films have been screened at numerous international film festivals, including Clermont-Ferrand, Palm Springs and Short Shorts. His graduation film “Night of Passage” won the audience award at the Max Ophüls Film Festival, among others.






SEA SALT
Leila Basma



Czech Republic, Lebanon, 2023
19'00"
Student



On this hot summer day, 17-year-old Nayla is faced with the same dilemma every Lebanese youngster is faced with today – to leave or to stay. Two men in her life have set ideas about it, but both might wake up to a surprise.


Leila Basma is a Lebanese filmmaker and photographer currently based between Beirut and Prague. She holds a BA in Audiovisual Arts from IESAV at the Saint-Joseph University in Beirut, and an MFA in Film Directing at FAMU in Prague. Through her work, she tries to explore the themes of society, youth, womanhood, and identity. Her second-year short documentary The Adam Basma Project was short-listed for the 48th annual Student Academy Awards (the Student Oscars) after touring various international documentary film festivals. Her photography work, was exhibited in various galleries in Beirut and Prague.






HYBRIS
Péter Dóczé



Hungary, 2025
19'56"
Student



Zoé, a hungarian tourist gets on a cable car in Sarajevo with two local men. The ride to the city takes 11 minutes. They start talking.


Péter Dóczé, born in Komárno, Slovakia, is a hungarian director, writer. He studied film at Eötvös Loránd University - ELTE, and the Univerity of Theatre and Film Arts - SZFE. His previous short film, "Not Safe for Watching" won the Cinenewwave Award at the Miskolc Cinefest. Hybris is his graduation film from SZFE.






Blue Danube Film Festival