When a boy discovers human remains in the garden of their family's summer cottage, his grandfather is forced to confront and reveal a hidden past.
A 19-minute short fiction film independently financed and filmed in Hungary. The film premiered in 2024 at the 20th Cinefest International Film Festival in Miskolc.
Director, Cinematographer, Editor: George C. Perrin
Story: George C. Perrin, Julia K. Perrin
Screenplay: George C. Perrin, Zsanett Kertész, Margaret Glover, András Imrényi
Production Manager: Edit Trunkó
Art Director: Julia K. Perrin
Sound Design: Zoltán Vadon
Special FX Supervisor: Norbert Orosz
Cast: Attila Balogh, Hella Tolnai, Kálmán Németh, Miklós Béres, Sándor Qpa Bencze, Orsolya Heletya
Best Actor Award-Winning Performer
Kálmán Németh began acting in his senior years. He played the lead in the Hungarian short film Hetvenes.
In Father to Son, Kálmán's role as the Grandfather earned him the Best Actor Award at the Stockholm Short Festival and a Gold Award at the New York Movie Awards.
Actress at Csokonai National Theatre
Hella Tolnai is a stage and screen actress based in Debrecen, Hungary, and a company member of the Csokonai National Theatre.
Her stage credits include Makbett, A Test Történetei, and Finálé. On television, she has appeared in Mellékhatás, Apatigris, and A Tanár.
Freelance Actor and Acting Coach
Miklós Béres is a freelance actor who frequently takes supporting roles in international productions, including Baptiste, Halo, and The Day of the Jackal.
In addition to his screen work, Miklós runs acting workshops. He provided acting coaching for Kálmán Németh in preparation for his role in Father to Son.
First Film Role
Attila Balogh makes his acting debut in Father to Son, bringing fresh talent and energy to the cast.
Independent Theatre and Screen Actor
Sándor Qpa Bencze is a member of Pintér Béla Társulat, one of Hungary's most prominent independent theatre groups. He regularly performs in their plays and also appears in Hungarian TV series and short films.
Transylvanian Theatre and Short Film Actress
Orsolya Heletya is a freelance actress with a strong presence in Transylvanian theatre productions. She has also acted in several Hungarian short films, expanding her repertoire across stage and screen.
Father to Son was shot near Lake Balaton, Hungary, a region rich in history and cinematic beauty. The story was inspired by the filming location itself — a family cottage built in 1937.
During World War II, the cottage served as a vantage point, first for German troops and later for Soviet forces, overlooking the nearby town. To this day, it also serves as a summer cottage for several generations, who have fond memories of the place. The combination of these two elements is what formed the basis of the story.
The screenplay was written by director George C. Perrin, and developed in collaboration with Julia Perrin, Margaret Glover and Zsanett Kertész.
Casting was managed by Erika Vincze through Open Casting, with casting associates Laurent Winkler and Faye Bradbrook contributing to the final selection of actors.
A digital scale model of the set was created by the director for storyboarding and pre-visualisation, ensuring precision in the filmmaking process. Art director Julia Perrin developed creating the world of the film, including costume design and set design. Set designer Anikó Nagy-Györgyi constructed the set of the fallen tree.
Filming took place in the summer of 2022, overseen by production manager Edit Trunko. The film was directed by George C. Perrin, who also served as cinematographer, shaping the movie's distinct visual identity.
Special effects supervisor Norbert Orosz contributed to the film's atmosphere, advising on technical details and coordinating the sequences involving gunfire, explosions, and pyrotechnics.
Post-production stretched into 2024 due to challenges with sound design and music composition. Eventually, veteran sound designer Zoltán Vadon joined the project, and George C. Perrin completed the original score himself.
Father to Son premiered in September 2024 at the 20th Cinefest International Film Festival in Miskolc, Hungary. Following the premiere, we launched a successful Indiegogo campaign, raising €1600 to cover international festival submission fees. Since then, Father to Son has been screened at festivals worldwide, earning multiple awards and recognition for its storytelling and craft.
