Tiny Trembling Bird

by Maja Križnik

Drobna ptica, fiction, digital DCP, c
In progress

SI, IT

EMA (36) is selling their family home after the death of their father. While her sisters are full of advice, they offer little help. Meanwhile, Ema’s longtime partner tells her he is reconsidering not having kids, making Ema question her whole life. The sisters struggle to agree on their childhood memories and face a devastating blow when the middle sister, mom of three, gets diagnosed with breast cancer. Ema takes on the responsibility of taking care of her nephew while realizing she’s getting closer to her sister’s family than her own partner. Feeling guilty over this, she resorts to reckless behavior but ultimately finds peace within herself and her sister’s embrace.

screenwriter
Maja Križnik
director
Maja Križnik
producers
Lija Pogačnik, Vlado Bulajić
co-producer
Marta Zaccaron
director of photography
Fabris Šulin
film editor
Matic Drakulić
production designer
Adriana Furlan
costume designer
Gilda Venturini
key make-up artist
Lija Ivančič

featuring
Nika Rozman, Jana Zupančič, Janja Majzelj, Goran Marković, Dejan Spasić, Isabel Gradišnik, Julijan Cvet, Marijana Brecelj, Ksenija Marinković, Ivo Ban, Mateja Pucko, Timon Šturbej, Jure Henigman, Mina Antonina

production
December
co-production
RTV Slovenija, Incipit film
in collaboration with
Film Studio Viba Film
co-funding
Slovenian Film Centre, Creative Europe - MEDIA, Regional audiovisual fund Friuli Venezia Giulia

December
Lija Pogačnik
lija@decemberfilm.si
Vlado Bulajić
vlado@decemberfilm.si

Maja Križnik, born in 1986, is a screenwriter and director. After graduating in Comparative Literature and Philosophy in 2012, Maja pursued studies at the Academy of Theatre, Radio, Film and Television in Ljubljana, specializing in Film and Television Directing. Her graduation film, Little Fish (2016), earned her the Vesna Award for Best Study Film at the 19th Festival of Slovenian Film and together with her diploma short film Zoo (2016) the Prešeren Student Award. Uncomfortable Beings is her first feature film.

December is a Ljubljana-based production company founded in 2013 by Vlado Bulajić and Lija Pogačnik (EAVE, EFA, FPS). With debut features Inventory (dir. Darko Sinko, 2021, San Sebastián) and Bitch, a Derogatory Term for a Woman (dir. Tijana Zinajić, 2021, Valencia) December established its presence internationally. The company later produced documentaries 2017 (dir. Goran Vojnović, 2022) and The Last Cowboy (dir. Tadej Čater, 2024, Sarajevo), and a debut feature Fantasy (dir. Kukla, 2025, Locarno), winner of the Heart of Sarajevo for Best Female Cast Ensemble and five FSF awards. International co-productions include The Diary of Diana B. (2019), Safe Place (2022), Dražen (2024), and Mother Mara (2024).