IKONA

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Set against the iconography of the Russian Orthodox Church, a young boy projects visions of his future - struggle, substance abuse and freedom.

Ornate Russian iconography presented throughout the film is positioned as divine beauty for “beauty will save the world”* - the filmmaker explores the relationship between life, death and faith. The church and all it represents is a stark contrast to the realities of the boys future.

The project has been shot in Florence, Milan, Los Angeles and Norway. Super 8 film has been used throughout the present storyline juxtaposed with digital to showcase the future dream montage the boy experiences – the contrast between beauty and darkness.

*(Dostoevsky, The Idiot)

Marek Stave

Marek Stave is an independent filmmaker based between Oslo and Los Angeles. His experimental films are characterized by spiritual and cultural themes, poetic imagery and unconventional structure. His work ventures into the oneiric and incorporates philosophic and metaphysical inquiry.

Born by the Baltic Sea in Latvia, Jurmala to a Russian mother and Latvian father, Marek immigrated to a small island on the west coast of Norway when he was 14 and spent his teenage years surrounded by fjords, a landscape which would later enter and form part of the symbolism present in his films. Marek spent his 20s in London working in the creative industries starting in fashion and later film production. He produced his first short film in 2012 in collaboration with Penny Slinger. In 2014, Marek founded the production company The Group with the support of Innovation Norway.

Since moving to Los Angeles in 2017, Marek has practiced filmmaking at University of California, Los Angeles and Echo Park Film Centre. His first super 16mm short film, Malibu og Dem (2018), was shortlisted at Fashion Film Festival Milano in 2018; and his second 16mm, under the mentorship of Juan Carlos Alom, Preacher (2018), exhibited at El Apartamento gallery in Havana, Cuba. His current projects include: IKONA and A Secret (2020).

In August 2020, Marek will begin a stay at the prestigious art film residency, Ecole de Leth, at Arken Modern Museum in Copenhagen. Led by Jørgen Leth with guest lectures by Lars von Trier among others, he will continue to explore his art and filmmaking practice.