Emilia Tolnai Film Selected for Industry-Leading Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Market
From Emilia Tolnai's Don't Call Mom. (Image courtesy Emilia Tolnai)
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Don’t Call Mom was written and directed by Emilia in summer 2024 during a two-week film development workshop in Lithuania.
A new film written and directed by Emily Carr University of Art + Design (ECU) student Emilia J. Tolnai was recently selected for feature in the Clermont Ferrand Short Film Market.
Don’t Call Mom tells the story of a young woman whose desire to step fully into independent adulthood is complicated by her epilepsy and her relationship with her mother.
“When I received the email from Clermont-Ferrand, I thought it was a scam,” Emilia says. “Like many artists, I wrestle with imposter syndrome, making it difficult to grasp that my work had been truly seen, valued and celebrated. Yet beyond the disbelief, I felt immense pride — for myself, my cast and my crew, whose dedication brought Don’t Call Mom to life. As an emerging filmmaker, the thought that my work resonates with others is both humbling and exhilarating.”
The Short Film Market in Clermont-Ferrand is the world’s leading industry event for short films. Each year, it brings together more than 3,600 accredited visitors from over 80 countries to access a catalogue of 7,500 recent titles.
“Filmmaking is my way of baring my soul, of creating something that lingers and matters,” says Emilia (pictured). (Photo courtesy Emilia Tolnai)
Filmmaker and ECU faculty member Jonathan Tammuz notes the Short Film Market is a curated event where buyers for networks, streaming services and other broadcast platforms come to purchase films for screening.
“For an emerging filmmaker, being included in the market is huge. It’s significant,” says Jonathan, who has taught Emilia for several years at ECU. “It’s a major film market, and it’s selective by design.”
Don’t Call Mom was shot over the summer between Emilia’s second and third years during her participation in the Summer Media Studio (SMS) workshop in Lithuania. The two-week intensive brings together emerging filmmakers from across the globe to receive mentorship, develop their practices and work together on short films.
“It’s a wonderful boot camp where participants make lifelong friendships and connections in a stunning location on the Baltic Sea,” says Jonathan, who has worked as a mentor with SMS for years and was present during Emilia’s residency. “For our students to be surrounded by other artists from all over the world is fantastic. So much knowledge is gained and exchanged.”
Emilia was selected from among nearly 50 applicants to direct a project she had written and proposed herself. (Still frame from Don't Call Mom courtesy Emilia Tolnai)
Emilia was selected from among nearly 50 applicants to direct a project she had written and proposed herself. She notes the experience was meaningful both personally and professionally.
“Through SMS, I had the privilege of collaborating with incredibly talented students from around the world,” Emilia says. “This film is a deeply personal reflection of my experience living with epilepsy. Beyond sharing my story, the project became a platform to raise awareness for a condition rarely explored in cinema.”
Emilia notes her decision to have her actors speak in their native Lithuanian was one of many challenges that made the experience so significant.
“Directing in a foreign language in an unfamiliar country alongside strangers was an immense challenge, and also one of the most rewarding experiences of my life,” she says. “It pushed me to grow as a director, adapt under pressure and embrace the artistry of filmmaking. With only eight days to bring this vision to life, the process was both intense and exhilarating — a testament to the passion and dedication behind every frame.”
“Through SMS, I had the privilege of collaborating with incredibly talented students from around the world,” Emilia says. (Still frame from Don't Call Mom courtesy Emilia Tolnai)
Jonathan says Emilia is an example of a student who has ceased viewing her coursework as assignments to be fulfilled. Instead, she approaches her studies as an opportunity to develop a professional filmmaking practice.
“She has enormous talent, she is incredibly hardworking and she just loves film,” he says. “She is one of those students who shows up in all ways. She must have gone through a dozen script drafts before arriving in Lithuania, which speaks to her enthusiasm and eagerness to advance her practice.”
For her part, Emilia notes her gratitude for the support of her peers and teachers, including Jonathan.
“Filmmaking is my way of baring my soul, of creating something that lingers and matters,” she says. “I’m grateful for the chance to grow, learn and be surrounded by the brilliant minds at Emily Carr University, where creativity is a shared force constantly pushing me forward.”