The Big Leap

Wielki skok (The Big Leap) - zdjęcia z planu, fot. Olivia Maria Rus

Three people meet at the top of a skyscrapers. They have the same intention - to commit suicide due to a major financial crisis. The conflict quickly deepens when they discover that they all represent a different conviction about the hereafter: Sarah is the believer, John the atheist and Ben the uncertain agnostic. The only way to find out who’s right is to take The Big Leap...

"Does God exist? It´s an impossible question to answer. Yet, I firmly believe that it is our existential task to do just that. This film is my exploration of that Quest told in an absurd and comic way with great acting, comic dialogue and mesmerizing visual story telling. And all this in a short film! What can I say…it’s very intensive, it’s not very sane and it’s the way I want to make feature films in the future".
Kristoffer Rus

"The Big Leap is an extremly ambitious project – it is made with a vision so far unknown in Polish film production. The whole film is made using green box technology. The actors and parts of the set are real, but the whole space around them is created by computer technology. This space can intimidate with the level of difficulty. As the action takes place on the roof of the skyscraper, we have to create the whole city, that spreads around the building – we are talking about few districts! Kristoffer Rus with help of the director of photography decided to shoot everything using constant, fluent movement of the camera. The image is hypnotizing but on the other hand there is another challenge for the postproduction. There`s no place to hide, no way to rescue, no chance for fixed shots. We wanted to give authors the freedom, they had no limits in adding visual effects and they exploited their possibilities in surprising way.

We have joined the project with great satisfaction. It`s for sure the biggest enterprise that we ever decided to take part in. And what impressed us most, was that all these special effects, ambitious and brave images are only a tool to tell a story, not the aim. I think that „The Big Leap” will be perfect a example of what CGI (computer-generated imagery) can bring into a film".
Filip Kaczorek , Visual Effects Supervisor, ATM FX

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"The Big Leap" (Wielki Skok)
black comedy
Script & directing: Kristoffer Rus
Cast: Tilly Scott Pedersen, Gustaf Skarsgård, Arkadiusz Jakubik
Dop: Christoffer Rus
Production design: Agata Uchman, Szymon Gaszczyński
Editing: Bartek Pietras
Music: Kristian Eliasson
VFX supervisor: Filip Kaczorek ATM FX
Casting: Tusse Lande
Production manager: Andrzej Besztak, Grzegorz Olkowski
Producers: Renata Czarnkowska-Listoś, Ewa Borguńska, Maciej Strzembosz, Kaśka Krosny
Production: Prasa & Film Ltd. (Poland)
Co-production: East of West Cinema AB (Sweden); Telewizja Polska S.A.; ATM FX; WFDiF
Co-financed by: Polish Film Institute, Swedish Film Institute
Language: English
Format: HD & Blu-ray
Length: 13’ 30''
Premiere: 2013

* Distribution: New Europe Film Sales
Jan Naszewski, tel. +48 600 173 205, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.neweuropefilmsales.com

* PR: Wajda Studio
Joanna Solecka, tel. + 48 501 102 878, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.wajdastudio.pl

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"The Big Leap" credits

PIF presents "The Big Leap" credits:

Who is who: Kristoffer Rus

After finishing inter-arts studies at Lund University and later film school in Stockholm, Kristoffer Rus started to work as an editor and cameraman for TV 4 in Sweden. At the same time he was writing scripts and directing shorts. The short film „The Apple tree” (produced by Lars Jönsson, Memfis Film) was awarded and recognized at film festivals like Cannes, Marrakech and Palm Springs.

Who is who: Gustaf Skarsgård

Gustaf Skarsgård - one of the most popular Swedish actors, son of an film icon, Stellan Skarsgård. Gustaf graduated The Stockholm Academy of Dramatic Arts (Teaterhögskolan) in 2003. In the same year he joined Dramaten Theatre Company and starred in many stage productions such as The Merchant of Venice and Lulu. While continuing with stage productions, he was also in a number of TV and film roles, most notably Den Osynlige (The Invisible) in 2002 and Oscar-nominated Ondskan (Evil) in 2003.

Read more: Who is who: Gustaf Skarsgård

Who is who: Tilly Scott Pedersen

Half Scottish and half Danish actress born in Ulfborg, Denmark. In the age of 18 Tilly moved to New York, where she studied documentary photography. Also worked as a model in Metropolitan Agency. Her acting career started in 2001, when she was referred to famous acting coach, Jackie Bartone in NYC with whom she worked till 2004.

Who is who: Arkadiusz Jakubik

A graduate of the State Higher Theatre School in Wrocław, member of the Polish Film Academy, lead singer of the „Dr Misio” rock band. His acting career started when as a child, in 1977, he appeared in the film „Okragły tydzień” (“Round Week”), but he earned true recognition for the roles in the films: Wojciech Smarzowski’s „Wesele” (”The Wedding”) and „Dom zły” (”The Dark House”).