Father to Son
SHORT FICTION | 2024 | 19min
Father to Son is a 19-minute short fiction film, independently financed and filmed in Hungary. The film premiered at the 20th Cinefest International Film Festival in Miskolc.
Synopsis
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.
Filmmakers
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
Awards & Nominations
🌿 Cinefest Miskolc International Film Festival, 2024 — Official Selection (film premiere)
🌿 Amsterdam Movie Fest, February 2025 | 🏆 Best Short Narrative
🌿 London Frames International Film Festival, 2025 | 🏆 Grand Prix Short Film 🏆 Best Director Short Film 🏆 Best Cinematography
🌿 Stockholm Short Festival, February 2025 | 🏆 Best Actor in Short: Kálmán Németh 🏆 Best Producers
🌿 Hollywood Shortsfest, 2025 | 🏆 Honorable Mention
🌿 Chicago Indie Film Awards, 2025 — Official Selection
🌿 Southern Cone International Film Festival, 2025 — Official Selection
🌿 Bratislava International Film Awards, 2025 — Official Selection
🌿 Montevideo World Film Festival, 2025 — Official Selection
🌿 Concepcion Independent Film Awards, 2025 — Official Selection
🌿 New York Film & Cinematography Awards, August 2025 — Official Selection
🌿 New York Movie Awards, August 2025 | 🏆 Gold Award: Screenplay 🏆 Gold Award: Actor (Kálmán Németh) 🏆 Silver Award: Director 🏆 Silver Award: Cinematography 🏆 Silver Award: Original Score 🏆 Silver Award: Editing 🏆 Silver Award: Sound Design
🌿 International Gold Awards, September 2025 | 🏆 Gold Award: Short Film
🌿 Milan Gold Awards, September 2025 | 🏆 Gold Award: Short Film
🌿 Hungarian National Independent Film Festival, 2025 — Official Selection
🌿 European Shorts Awards, 2025 — Official Selection
The Cast
Kálmán Németh
Best Actor Award-Winning Performer
Kálmán Németh began acting in his senior years and quickly gained recognition. He played the lead in the Hungarian short film Hetvenes. Beyond acting, he is an accomplished dancer.
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.
Hella Tolnai
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 popular Hungarian series such as Mellékhatás, Apatigris, and A Tanár.
Miklós Béres
Freelance Actor and Acting Coach
Miklós Béres is a freelance Hungarian actor who frequently takes supporting roles in international productions filmed in Hungary, including Baptiste, Halo, and The Day of the Jackal.
In addition to his screen work, Miklós runs acting workshops. He also provided acting coaching for Kálmán Németh in preparation for his role in Father to Son.
Attila Balogh
First Film Role
Attila Balogh makes his acting debut in Father to Son, bringing fresh talent and energy to the cast.
Sándor Qpa Bencze
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.
Orsolya Heletya
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.
Making of the film
Inspiration
Father to Son was shot near Lake Balaton, Hungary, a region rich in history and cinematic beauty.
The story was partially 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.
Writing and Screenplay Development
The screenplay was written by director George Perrin, and developed in collaboration with Julia Perrin, Margaret Glover and Zsanett Kertész.
Casting and Production Design
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 and Post-Production
Filming took place in the summer of 2022, overseen by production manager Edit Trunko. The film was directed by George 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 Perrin completed the original score himself.
Festival Premiere and Awards
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.
