What is the biggest danger Europe faces: the crisis on its borders or its own paranoia and fear? Screenings are followed by Q&A with the producer and scriptwriter Bostjan Virc. Dutch Premiere

Synopsis

Our protagonist drives to work, she passes the refugee tent city in the park. She means them no harm; they mean her no harm. So why, when their paths intersect, do things go catastrophically wrong? With Slovenia as its backdrop, ‘A new home’ gives a critical look on European anxiety over the refugee crises. Using some classic cinematic references, this short horror film is a psychological exploration of the social consequences of unfounded paranoia. A third short fiction by Ziga Virc, a former student Academy Award nominee, awarded with Special Mention at LET’S CEE Film Festival in Vienna and premiered at the prestigious Toronto IFF.

Director’s statement

When the wave of refugees reached Hungary, it was only a matter of time before these people would spill over into Slovenia. I knew – as a director and as a person – that I had to react to these tragic events. I was dumbfounded and I didn’t know how to document their journey. We put up the camera and waited for seven hours. After that, everything happened on its own. We got about four hours of film in the can. I felt that was enough.

Festivals & Awards (selection)

Toronto IFF 2016 – World Premiere | 24fps International Short FF, USA 2016 – Best Editing | LET’S CEE FF, Vienna 2017 – Honourable Mention | Wandering Reel Traveling FF 2017 – Curator’s Choice Award | FICU Lanterna, Mexico 2017 – Best Fiction Short | Third Culture FF, Hong Kong 2017 – Best Action Sequence | Taos Shortz FF, USA 2017 – Honourable Mention | Alicante IFF, Spain 2017 – Best Short Film | Rolda Web Fest, Columbia 2017 – Best Short Film, Best Short Film Director, Best Short Film Actress | Cinecran – Rencontres du Cinema Europeen de Vannes, France 2017 – Prix Jeune