Short Film

Slovakia / Romania, 2024, 15 min

Director: Erik Jasaň
Screenplay: Erik Jasaň
Camera: Tudor Mircea

Actors: Ela Lehotská, Oľga Solárová, Andrej Šoltés, Sandra Lasoková, Patrik Minár, Peter Oszlík, Alena Pajtinková

Locations in Košice Region: Poproč

Professional Parent was created through a collaboration between Slovak and Romanian filmmakers, with ambitions to present Slovak cinema abroad. The short film by Košice-born director Erik Jasaň addresses a sensitive topic. It aims to highlight the moral boundaries of people who cross ethical norms for profit. At the same time, it brings a powerful story about the relationship between a mother and daughter—one that is universal and can appeal to an international audience. The film also involved successful co-producer Marian Crisan and award-winning cinematographer Tudor Mircea. The film was shot over four days and consists of 12 shots within a 14-minute runtime.

It portrays the emotional story of a single mother who is willing to do anything to financially secure her daughter. The main character, Ingrid, decides to take on the role of a professional parent for a young Roma girl. This is a job in which the state pays a caregiver, a so-called substitute parent. However, this decision significantly affects her sensitive family relationships and exposes her to difficult moral dilemmas that fundamentally influence her life. The film touches on current social issues such as racism, the economic crisis, and the ethics of foster care.

The Košice region was also a key source of inspiration. Jasaň visited children’s homes and villages around Košice, gaining direct experience with the topic of professional parents. The social issues and life situations portrayed in the film are closely tied to real situations he observed.

The film was qualified for the Academy Awards in the category of Best Live Action Short Film and was also screened at the Short Film Corner, part of the Cannes Film Festival. It has been shown at more than 70 festivals in over 30 countries and has won more than 15 film awards. Among the most significant is the award for Best International Film at the New York Shorts International Film Festival.