The Professional Parent Heads to Kitzbühel: Austrian Premiere and Festival Farewell
The short film The Professional Parent, directed by Erik Jasaň, is approaching another significant milestone in its festival journey. The film has been selected for the Kitzbühel Film Festival in Austria, where it will have its Austrian premiere. The festival will take place from 24 to 29 November 2026 and is accredited by FIAPF.
The selection in Kitzbühel is particularly meaningful for the film for another reason. After more than two years on the festival circuit, this will most likely be the film's final festival screening.
From Oscar Qualification to FIAPF
The Professional Parent had its world premiere on 14 May 2024 at the Lebu International Film Festival in Chile. The international co-production between Slovakia, Romania and Spain subsequently embarked on an extensive festival journey. The film has been selected for more than 120 film festivals, screened in 40 countries, and received more than 20 awards. It also qualified for the 98th Academy Awards (Oscars) in the Best Live Action Short Film category.
Throughout its journey, the film has been presented at festivals that serve as qualifying festivals for some of the most prestigious film awards. According to the film's festival history, these included festivals qualifying films for the Oscars, European Film Awards, BAFTA and Goya Awards. Among the selections were festivals in Tirana, Odense, Huesca, Lebu, Alexandria and St Kilda, as well as Balinale – Bali International Film Festival and HollyShorts Film Festival.
A Story That Travelled the World
The Professional Parent tells the story of Ingrid, a single mother from a village in eastern Slovakia marked by prejudice against Roma people. Ingrid becomes a professional foster parent to a Roma girl in order to support her daughter and grandmother.
The film was produced as a Slovak-Romanian-Spanish co-production. The Slovak production company is dog 95 film factory, with ROVA FILM representing Romania and Mailuki Films representing Spain. The film was produced by Erik Jasaň, Marian Crișan and Eduardo M. Escribano Solera.
Among the film's achievements are the Best International Film award at the New York Shorts International Film Festival, Best European Film at the Navarra International Film Festival, Best Extralarge Short Film at the Dieciminuti Film Festival, and the Best Acting Award for lead actress Ela Lehotská at Ouaga Côté Court.
The Final Stop
Kitzbühel will therefore be more than just another festival on the long list of The Professional Parent. It will be the place where its festival journey comes to an end.
For a film that began its journey in Chile in May 2024, Kitzbühel will be a symbolic full stop after more than two years on the international festival circuit.