A BEAUTIFUL LIFE, 15min,. USA
Directed by Zsolt Kormendy
Two detectives investigate a mysterious kidnapping in Vác, Hungary. One of them is relentlessly being pursued by a malevolent dark figure that will stop at nothing to undermine the case and his life.

https://zsoltkormendy.com/films-and-projects
https://facebook.com/zsoltkormendy
https://www.instagram.com/a_beautiful_life_film

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

My friend Norbert, who played Tomi in the film, and I wanted to film an action scene over the holidays. After riffing ideas off one another, we started talking about why these two characters were fighting. This steam rolled and before we knew it we had 20 pages of script, a cinematographer, team, and supporting cast along for the ride!

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

Well, actually, I was living in NYC, and I the concept of the story began in early December 2022, while brainstorming with Norbert via video chats. I went to visit my family in Hungary for the holidays, and we had very limited time, so we shot and filmed it within 3 days. I had started writing the script 5 days before the shoot on a train ride (that's like my secret place to write... long train rides in the countryside of Eastern Europe), and finalized the script only the night before shooting. We had to get it done by the 9th of January, because I was flying back to NYC on the 11th.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Mental Demons

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

As this was my first production, the biggest obstacle was battling my own self doubts that the cast and crew would be willing to put up with me and my ideas, especially as a first time director. There were language barrier issues and personality differences, too. But amazingly, everyone got to include their own ideas, and this turned out to be the most rewarding aspect of the shoot: that no one wanted to leave on the last day, because we all had so much fun making the film! I kinda got choked up seeing everyone so happy and proud, it was really special for me.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

I felt seen, because this story is very personal and comes from my own internal struggles with mental health, self doubts, and inner critic battles. Hearing the reviews from people I don't know, is incredibly heart warming.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

I actually never thought I'd make a film. I knew I wanted to act and be a part of films, but you know as an actor, there seems to be a lot of waiting around to hear back from productions if we got a role or not. And the constant searching for roles that I would like to play. Eventually, I realized there was a piece of me who was yearning to tell a story that I knew about and thought would be important to share that only I could tell.

So though, I have played on ideas as a kid, writing stories for school assignments, journaling, and whatever. I'd say clear day that I decided I wanted to make my own film was when I finished my Meisner Technique training at Maggie Flanigan Studio. I suddenly felt like I had all the skills to do just that, and that would be the next logical step. So I did! And with the help of Norbert and Mark, the cinematographer/editor, and the rest of the team we did!!

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

I got sick for a week, where I couldn't really get out of bed. So, I watched the only film I had on my hard drive, because I was in a place without internet. I watched Wes Anderson's Grand Budapest Hotel maybe 7-10 times. I paused the movie in almost every scene to read the fine print on every document and absorbed every detail. It's amazing how specific his films are. Everything on the screen is serving a purpose, nothing is extra or superfluous. I like that.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

I think you're doing a great job offering what you are offering! Maybe cash awards or like sponsored gift cards to support our future projects.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

Great.

10. What is your favorite meal?

It's a classic Hungarian dish, Marha Pörkölt nokedlivel, or in English its kind of like Beef Stew with dumplings, but it's made with paprika... a lot of it'

11. What is next for you? A new film?

I have three ideas competing in my mind. I'm working on adapting a fantasy book I grew up reading. That's a looooonnngg term project. The next one I'd like to make, as a working title its called Unconditional Love, and will build off the themes of A Beautiful Life. I'll be utilizing Norbert in the Lead role again, and making it into a full feature film. The third is a dystopian episodic 7 min series of action and mystery.