The last day of filming of the full-length feature film Kapa is taking place today in the premises of Viba Filma in Ljubljana. The film, directed by Slobodan Maksimović, is the first Slovenian Christmas film aimed at children and their (grand)parents.
Kapa tells the story of a nine-year-old boy Erik, who has to live in a youth home because of his problematic parents, and seven-year-old Lučka, who comes from a well-to-do family. Since it is Christmas, both children are hoping that their most hidden wishes will come true. Erik would like to spend Christmas Eve with his parents, and Lučka would like a younger sister and a dog. Through a series of circumstances, they meet and together experience a real Christmas adventure, which in one night brings the fulfillment of their wishes, but not quite in the way they expected.
The main roles are played by the young Gaj Črnič and Kaja Podreberšek, who are joined by Ajda Smrekar, Mojca Fatur, Frano Mašković and René Štúr. The film also stars Klemen Slakonja, Zala Đurić Ribič, Mila Maksimović, Tilen Kolbe, Emil Kulović, Jernej Kuntner, Klemen Klemen, Jaka Fon, Lotos Vincenc Šparovec, Nina Valič, Primož Pirnat and many others.
“Working with Kaja and Gaj was a unique experience for me. At the beginning of filming, I saw them as talented children, but in the end, they are exceptional actors and great friends for me. I enjoyed their honesty, incredible play and endurance every day. Filming for several months is a big deal even for experienced actors,” director Slobodan Maksimović said about working with the main actors.
An empty and Christmas-decorated Ljubljana provided the film with its wonderful backdrop, and the team also spent part of the filming in Zagreb.
“We filmed during the pandemic. Fortunately, we were able to work without interruption, because no one from the crew got sick during all the months of filming. Corona time also had good qualities. Christmas Ljubljana was reserved for us. The streets were empty and quiet, and the decorated city was like the most beautiful film studio,” the director recalls of the filming.
The script for the film was written by Saša Eržen, the director of photography is Sven Pepeonik, and the producer is Ida Weiss from the Senca Studio production company. Editor Jurij Moškon, composer Michal Novinski, set designer Mateja Medvedič, costume designer Carmen di Pinto, mask designer Eva Uršič, sound recordist Arnaud Mellet and film directors Matija Kozamernik, Stefan Milović and Tibor Keser are also involved in the film.
The co-producers of the film are Wady Films from Luxembourg, Objectif from Slovakia and Studio Dim from Croatia, and in addition to the Slovenian Film Center and RTV Slovenia, the film was also financially supported by the Luxembourg Film Fund, the Croatian Audiovisual Center, the Slovak Audiovisual Fund, Croatian public television HRT, Slovak public television RTVS, the European fund Eurimages, the European program Creative Europe – Media program, the Ministry of Public Administration and the regional fund Re-Act. Technical support was provided by the film studio Viba film.
“The co-production of four countries also meant an international composition of the team – both in the author’s, acting and technical sector of the team. The organization of such a large and colorful team was a special challenge in the time of the corona, but everything ended well, also because we strictly followed the measures to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus on the set and regularly tested ourselves. I think that after the recording, we are all richer for a new extraordinary experience, knowledge, business partnerships and friendships. At the same time, such cooperation is once again proof of the high level of knowledge and skills of Slovenian filmmakers,” says producer Ida Weiss about the challenges on the set.
The premiere and distribution of the film is scheduled for November 2021.