SPARKS IN TIME – WORLDWIDE COMPUTER ADVENTURE

LOGLINE

The dizzying rise and fall of the Slovenian information technology giant Iskra Delta, which at the height of the Cold War finds itself behind the scenes of political intrigue and secret service battles.

Iskre v času / Sparks In Time – (Trailer) from Senca Studio on Vimeo.

SYNOPSIS

Janez Škrubej founds a company with a group of electrical engineering classmates. He founded it in the basement, the year is 1976. The company Iskra Delta (hereafter ID) quickly established itself, especially on the eastern market. Iskra Delta is quickly becoming self-sufficient, they manufacture and upgrade computers themselves, they only use American chips, which cannot go to the Eastern market due to the embargo at the time. Delta is the only one that can send them to the East, via China, India and the Northwest, with an American “end use” certificate. When ID technology becomes too independent and high-quality, and at the moment when ID not only competes but in some areas even surpasses American manufacturers, the CIA becomes interested in it, with the aim that the technology would not fall into the hands of the enemy. On the other hand, the KGB sees Iskra Delta as the last chance to make up for the technological lag.

Iskra Delta is also sidelined by the local authorities, mainly due to short-sightedness, bribery and “Slovene” envy.

To top it off, the disintegration of Yugoslavia is beginning.

A conversation with director Juri Gruden and main protagonist Janez Škrube after the premiere screening in Kinodvor, 21/02/2022:

A conversation with the director Juri Grudn and the film’s protagonists Ludvik Toplak and Boris Nemec after the premiere screening at the Slovenian Film Festival in Portorož, 14 October 2021:

CREATIVE CREW

Director: JURIJ GRUDEN
Screenplay: JURIJ GRUDEN, MILOŠ KALUSEK
Based on the book “Cold War for Information Technology” by Janez Škrube
Producer: IDA WEISS
Co-producer: TANJA GRUDEN
Editor: MILOŠ KALUSEK
Director of photography: RADOVAN ČOK
Sound design: JULIJ ZORNIK
Sound recorder: VJEKOSLAV MIKEZ

CAST

JANEZ ŠKRUBEJ, INŽENIRJI ISKRE DELTE, KEN OLSON, TITO, NIXON, …

PRODUCTION

SHADOW STUDIO

Co-producers:
RTV SLOVENIA
AVI FILM

Financial support:
Slovenian Film Center, Film studio Viba film

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

The 1980s, which began with the death of Josip Broz Tito and ended with the breakup of Yugoslavia, and in Europe with the end of bipolarity, the collapse of socialism and European unification, are one of the most exciting periods of modern European history. They are a time when the old has not yet died, and the new has not yet been formed, and one of the most successful economic ventures was created during this period. The enthusiasm that drove post hippy gigs at the time inspired me to create this incredible story.

REVIEWS

“Jurij Gruden /… dynamically intertwines exciting anecdotes (really worthy of a fictional action thriller) and testimonies of important men in the company, developers, programmers, production, marketing and storage managers. With a witty and skilful editing approach, their inspiring story is additionally ‘animated’ with pop culture references, suggestive archive footage, precious home videos and inserts from the treasury of Yugoslav advertising campaigns. In this way, he creates a dynamic, attractively expressed, but also moving homage to Slovenian entrepreneurship, innovation and ambition, he also offers a reflection on the fatal errors of a certain system (which are not only a matter of previous times, but rather a typically Slovenian characteristic) and pioneering ideas that have become collateral damage to the world political games during the Cold War. The film, based on the book by Janez Škrube, general manager of Iskra Delta, The Cold War and the Battle for Information Technology, does not point the finger at the culprit for the company’s collapse. Perhaps the most eloquent answer was given by Škrubej after the film premiere: ‘They were ready to kill a whole cow for a piece of meat.’” – Tina Lešničar, Delo

SCREENINGS

The film is on the regular program of Kinodvor, Ljubljana

PROJECTIONS ACROSS SLOVENIA:

10.4.2022 – Cinema Radovljica
12.4.2022 – Kosovelov dom, Sežana
14.4.2022 – Kosovelov dom, Sežana

PRETEKLE PROJEKCIJE:

21.2.2022 ob 17.30 – Kinodvor, Ljubljana – the screening is followed by a conversation with the director Juri Gruden and the main protagonist Janez Škrube. The conversation will be moderated by Lenart Kučič. Buy tickets: https://kinodvor.kupikarto.si/dogodek.php?&dogId=1188&lang=SI
10.2.2022 ob 20.00 – Cinema Odeon, Izola – the screening is followed by a discussion with the director
10.03.2022 – Cinema Domžale(the screening is followed by a conversation with Juri Gruden and Janez Škrubej)
11.-13.3.2022 – Cinema Ptuj
17.3.2022 – Cinema Krško
17.3.2022 – Lecture hall of the Faculty of Computer Science and Informatics (projection for students, employees, retired colleagues and alumni)
29.3.2022 – Cultural Center Gorica (Italija)
31.03.2022 – Cinema Trbovlje
31.03.2022 – Cinema Domžale

AWARDS

Special mention of the jury – 24th Festival of Slovenian Film, 2021

FESTIVALS

24th Slovenian Film Festival, October 12 – 17, 2021 – Special Jury Mention
8th Balkan Panorama Film Festival, 21 – 27 Maj, 2022
History Film Festival, Rijeka, Hrvaška, 13. – 17. September, 2022
DokuDoc, Maribor, Slovenija, 15. – 18. September, 2022

TECHNICAL DATA

Documentary/Keywords: Information Technology, Computers, History, Yugoslavia, USA, Soviet Union, China, India

Length: 82 min.
Language: Slovenian, English, Chinese, Russian, German
Format: DCP, color, 25fps
Ratio: 1:1.85
Sound: 5.1
Year of production: 2021
Country of production: Slovenia