Places Half Empty
Places Half Empty
Félig üres helyek
Feature film - in development
Director: Dorka Vermes
Writer: Dorka Vermes, Sára Törley-Havas
Executive Producer: Béla Tarr
Producer: Botond Lelkes, Evelyn Balogh
Juli (26), an anxious and introverted woman, falls in love with the free-spirited Noá (32), and finds herself in a lesbian relationship for the first time. Although both are part of Budapest's progressive artistic community, Juli's family disapproves, shattering her belief in their progressive values. Torn between loyalty to her family and her love for Noá, Juli begins leading a double life, navigating a complex web of lies that erodes her sense of self.
The tension peaks as their housing situation spirals at a time of a growing housing crisis. Juli's parents offer to buy her an apartment, but this "gift" forces her to confront her divided loyalties. Though she promises Noá they'll move in together, Juli's growing uncertainty strains their bond. Noá's patience waver as dishonesty and instability take their toll, and distrust begins to unravel the relationship.
Through fragmented, time-jumping scenes, the film explores Juli's journey through shifting living spaces—from the family house to Noá's apartment, a staged "fake flat" for her parents, and finally, the new apartment she convinces herself represents independence. Ultimately, Juli's choices reflect a deeper entanglement in the very systems she sought to escape, leaving her caught between conformity and freedom.
Eurimages Co-production Development Award Recognition
Winning the Eurimages Co-production Development Award at the CineLink Co-Production Market is a significant milestone for our project. This prestigious award not only highlights the quality of our film but also showcases its potential for successful co-production opportunities.
This recognition means a lot to us, and we're grateful to the jury for these generous words:
Tonight, we honour a film that embodies artistic excellence, courage, and integrity. It transcends borders to gently challenge conformity, upholding the very essence of European values: dignity, inclusion, and the celebration of our differences.
This powerful voice inspires others to reclaim essential humanist principles and to remain steadfast in their truth – softening hearts while giving strength to those who live divided lives to persevere courage.
Thank you for the jury, Sarajevo Film Festival and the CineLink program!
read more:
Our team participated with our project Places Half Empty, currently in the development phase, at the CineLink Development Workshop held in Slano, Croatia, as part of the Sarajevo Film Festival's industry program.
This early-stage workshop focused on script development and project strategy, offering tailored mentorship and group consultations with international industry professionals. The Slano workshop provided valuable support in refining the artistic vision of Places Half Empty and served as a first step in building regional and international partnerships for the project.
Our feature film project Places Half Empty, currently in development, has been officially selected for the CineLink Co-Production Market at the Sarajevo Film Festival 2025.
Directed by Dorka Vermes and executive produced by Béla Tarr, the film explores contemporary social tensions through a distinctly personal and stylistically bold lens.
Being selected for CineLink not only offers the opportunity to present the project to international producers, sales agents, funders, and festival programmers, but also allows us to share our new wave mindset toward filmmaking — one that values experimentation, authenticity, and collaboration — with potential international partners.