AM GRAT
ON THE EDGE
On a mountain hike together, Felix (17) realizes that his older brother Paul (24) is already severely limited by the chronic disease multiple sclerosis. The arduous ascent brings back memories of his childhood and at the same time his worries about an uncertain future grow.
Possibly the last hike up his favorite mountain, 24-year-old Paul is undertaking it together with his brother Felix, who is seven years younger. Six months ago, Paul was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. The deterioration in his health occurs in unpredictable spurts. During the strenuous climb, Paul becomes visibly weaker, a test of responsibility for Felix too. With all his determination, Paul forces himself to the summit. At the hut: the exhaustion, the brief recovery, the confrontation with a body that no longer seems to belong to him.
Am Grat lives from the nuanced, authentic acting of its two leading actors and from the precise images that director Matteo Sanders finds for the power relationship between man and nature. High on a summit, for example, the face in the thunderstorm is palpable: the humility and gratitude that one has come this far at all.
(Catalog text, Diagonale'22)
DETAILS
German Title: Am Grat
English Title: On The Edge
Country: Austria
Year: 2022
Length: 19'
Filmakademie Wien, Universität für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Wien
Prizes & Acknowledgements
1. Grand Prix Student Award “Almost Famous” at Drama International Short Film Festival, 2022, Greece.
2. "Best Actors Noah Resch and Tobias Resch" at Festival Of Nations, 2022, Austria.
3. "Audience Award Best Film " at Kurzfilmzuckerl 2022, Austria.
4. "Special Mention Cinematography" at Mountainfilm Graz 2022, Austria.
5. Student Academy Award 2023 Semifinalist
6. Vimeo Staff Pick Premiere, 5th of April, 2023
Festivals
1. Diagonale - Festival des Österreichischen Films (Österreich, April 2022)
2. Palm Springs Shortsfest (USA, Juni 2022)
3. Filmfestival Kitzbuehel (Österreich, August 2022)
4. Festival of Nations (Österreich, September 2022)
5. DRAMA International Short Film Festival (Griechenland, September 2022)
6. Kurz.Film.Zuckerl (Österreich, Oktober 2022) - Publikumspreis
7. EnergaCAMERIMAGE (Polen, November 2022)
8. Montainfilmfestival (Österreich, November 2022) - Lobende Erwähnung
9. FIFMA - Festival International du Film de Montagne d'Autrans (Frankreich, November 2022)
10. 47th Cleveland International Film Festival (USA, April, 2023)
11. Julian Dubuque Festival (USA, April 2023)
12. Cinema Talks (Österreich, Mai 2023)
13. Leuven DisABILITY Film Festival (Belgien, Mai 2023)
14. Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2023 (Japan, Juni 2023)
15. IN THE PALACE International Short Film Festival (Bulgarien, Juni 2023)
16. Semifinalist Student Academy Awards 2023 (USA, August 2023)
17. Portobello Film Festival (Vereinigtes Königreich, September 2023)
18. Carpathian Mountain International Film Festival (Ukraine, September 2023)
19. KO:SH International Short Film Festival (Albanien, September 2023)
20. Edimotion - Festival für Filmschnitt und Montagekunst (Deutschland, Oktober 2023)
21. Bergfilmfestival Tegernsee (Österreich, Oktober 2023)
22. Accessible Film Festival (Österreich, Oktober 2023)
23. Kurzfilmfest Dreiländereck Bayerischer Wald (Deutschland, November 2023)
24. Offline Film Festival (Irland, Oktober 2024)
Lemonade Films - Festival Strategies and Distribution Agency