Martin Marko
Director - editor - writer
At Sea (2024)
AT SEA (2024)
AT SEA is a visceral and poetic short film that blends docu-style realism with narrative fiction, following a group of faceless sailors navigating the vast and unpredictable seas of Greece. Through the fragmented memories of an unreliable narrator, the film weaves together a non-linear story that shifts in mood with each chapter, offering a fresh and thought-provoking perspective on the sea—where everything we see actually happened, or so we’re led to believe.
An unreliable narrator. Howling wind. Swaying sea. Burning sand. And the calm after the storm. A fast-paced homage to the sea and the ever-curious human spirit.
“At sea proposes a sensory and immersive experience with the help of very detailed and precise visual and sound effects. Its unreliable narrator and non-linear story give the film a unique and appealing format engaging the viewer directly in the story’s game.”
– Hollywood Shortsfest
Director’s Statement:
It is a deeply personal passion project that I’ve been working on for years. The film is anchored by stunning visuals shot primarily with the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K during a 2019 voyage in Greece, seamlessly blended with select footage from earlier travels in Greece and Croatia between 2011 and 2018. This combination creates a rich and immersive experience that brings the spirit of the sea to life. Some shots are shot on the good old legacy Canon 7D, GoPro 4, and iPhone 15 Pro.
The footage is meticulously arranged to tell a story of voyage, human spirit, and the sea, with the ultimate goal of engaging and entertaining the audience. This film is my biggest statement piece, an opportunity to experiment with every storytelling technique I’ve ever wanted to try. One thing I can promise: you won’t even have time to blink!
As for the film’s origins, they are as varied as the journey itself. Shot in Greece, edited in Prague, and finished in Toronto, I consider “At Sea” a Canadian-Czech-Slovak film, reflecting the global nature of the project and my own journey as a director.
© COPYRIGHT MARTIN MARKO 2025