Synopsis:
Iska is a twelve year-old girl living on the streets in a coalmining town in Eastern Europe. The story follows her fight for survival from her small town to the Black Sea where she becomes a victim of ’human trafficking’.

Maria Varga plays a role almost identical to her own life and her childish naivety and vitality lend a tragic charm to this story. Street children play themselves in this story which is full of their vitality and eagerness to escape their fate. When Iska is taken to an orphanage and asked if her parents hurt her, she is happy to response, ‘Well, they do not beat me every day.’

ISKA’S JOURNEY is the official Hungarian entry for the 2009 Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film.

CREW:
Written & Directed by Csaba Bollók
Director of Photography: Francisco Gózon
Producer: Ágnes Csere
Editor: Judit Czakó
Sound: András Vamosi
Art design: Csaba Czene, Radu Razvan
Music: Balázs Temesvári
Costumes: Melinda Domán

CAST:
Mária Varga, Rozália Varga, Marian Ursache, Marius Bodochi, Ágnes Csere, Zsolt Bogdán, Dan Tudor, Noémi Fodor

35mm | Dolby Digital | 93 minutes | 2007 | Hungary

In Hungarian & Romanian with English subtitles

PRESS REVIEWS
" 'Iska's Journey' is the standout (film), unfolding with the utmost confidence and simplicity - to devastating effect. Maria Varga stars as an irresistible, resilient ragamuffin scavenging for scrap metal in an impoverished Romanian mining town, exactly as she was when Bollok discovered her. He elicits from Varga a breathtaking portrayal, natural and spontaneous; Iska's flight from a brutal, alcoholic family is increasingly harrowing, a shattering comment on the terrible vulnerability of children making their way on their own in the world."
- Kevin Thomas, The Los Angeles Times (February 8, 2008)

"A moving, human and relevant film, reminiscent of Ken Loach, it impresses through the magnetism of its central character and the depth of commitment to its subject."
- Peter Hames, bfi London Film Festival

"Iska's Journey contains a central performance by young girl Maria Varga that is worthy of study by any actor."
- Jeremy Irons

"A masterpiece." - Hungarian Quarterly

AWARDS
Csaba Bollók graduated as a film director in 1994 at the Hungarian Academy of Film and Drama. His shorts made in collaboration with Béla Balázs Studió won several prizes abroad. His first feature NORTH BY NORTH (1999) was awarded the Hungarian Filmcritics’ Prize. ISKA’S JOURNEY (2007) produced by actress Agnes Csere and her indie company ‘Merkelfilm’, won Grand Prize at the 38. Hungarian Filmweek, was world premiered at the Berlinale, and has been a great international success since then, presented at more than 50 festivals, winning over 20 prizes, including Discovery of The Year and Main Prize at the Reykjavik Film Festival, Main Prize at Monterrey Film Festival, Best Film of The Visegrad Countries at Zlín Film Festival, Best Acting Prize at Brussels European Film Festival, and many more. ISKA'S JOURNEY has been selected by the European Parliament’s first Lux Prize Nomination among the ten best European movies in 2007.

After its international premier at the Berlinale in 2007, ISKA’S JOURNEY was received on the international festival circuit as a huge success. More than 50 European, Asian and American fest presented Bollók’s feature to date. Following its North-American premier in Seattle last year, ISKA’S JOURNEY was presented in Chicago, Cleveland, Toronto, Palm Springs and Vancouver as well.

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences will announce the nominations – the five features from among the national entries – to compete for the Oscar statuette in the category of Best Foreign Language Film of the Year on January 22, 2009. The 81st Annual Academy Awards Presentation will be held on February 22, 2009 at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles.

Official Selections:
Toronto International Film Festival
Berlin International Film Festival
Brussels European Film Festival (Best Actor Award)
Monterey International Film Festival (Grand Prize)
Cinequest International Film Festival
Sarajevo International Film Festival (Special Mention)