Sci-Fi Short Film: "Soulmate" | DUST

[@nikkacevski3799]

Huge thanks to Dust for featuring our film. The story of SOULMATE was triggered by personal childhood trauma growing up in a violent youth environment with a strict Eastern European upbringing. The making of this film became a therapeutic exploration of fear and strength. Shot in the Bulgarian winter, I wrote and directed this short film as an introduction to the larger story I have been developing into a series. I am more than happy to answer any questions.

[@dandhan87]

I alway find the nihilism of east European work pretty fascinating, of product of its Brutal past, present and maybe even the future

[@aboriginal.man.1492]

Absolutely amazing!

[@tena2sweet]

I would like to see a version where the soulmates run off and choose each other instead. But it's your story. 😁 Great story though

[@lego4virgo]

@@nikkacevski3799 Will your series be featured here, on DUST?

[@durere]

Congratulations Nik, beautiful work, and most touching. Got me fully invested. I'm Ro, hits close to home :D

[@angiewinchester3384]

Τhe contrast between the girl hugging her father while the mother is crying over her son's body in the background brings me to tears. Truly an amazing film.

[@randal4776]

The mother was the one who gave the girl the gun. Messed Up.

[@MickeyMishra]

@@randal4776 I think she did it to spare him some of the pain. Still. Its pretty fucked up.

[@overbuiltlimited]

@@randal4776 The mother didn't give the girl the gun. Where did you get that from? She was calling her boy over to take the gun and shoot the girl. The girl disarmed the mother and left the gun because, presumably she only trained hand to hand and didn't know how to operate a pistol.

[@novakingood3788]

Me: I have this idea for a short film. It opens in the future where everything is really sunny and lovely and the people are happy and... DUST: Sorry we're not interested.

[@michaelrichter9427]

That's been the state of SF since the '80s.

[@williamkoppos7039]

Yeah. Had enough depression and darkness for a while.

[@scetchport]

It's been done .................

[@benjaminslife9424]

I've seen that where it opens into this bright future but it always gets dark

[@LegendofLaw]

I wouldn't be interested either.

[@RobertLeaverton]

I feel that Holly May Lewis is someone to keep an eye on. She did a fantastic job here!

[@Fyuter]

Is she related to Daniel Day Lewis by any chance?

[@RobertLeaverton]

@@Fyuter It doesn't seem so. Her IMDB entry is very stark.

[@29lookingood]

@Todd Hendrix 🏆🥇

[@lonewretch]

@@Fyuter No, don't be silly... But Daniel Day Lewis is definitely related to her, though.

[@PavelKOT11]

She certainly is! I feel like I have spent a days beside her after seeing this film just once. She has a spirit. Wish she could play in "Red Hat" fairy tale too.

[@andrejsasd8904]

This was really dark and brutal... The best thing: this story is complete- it has intro, "the meat", and the conclusion. AND there's enough space to expand it. Great work!

[@grimreaper6557]

This is another one of those stories from Dust that goes on my 5 Star list thank you for sharing it with us it was awesome.

[@nikkacevski9824]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@AppNasty]

This is what is already happening today only via digital means. It's where it all begins. Excellent short. Young lady is one heck of an actor.

[@eddiepitts]

In the world we live in today, this doesn't seem too far fetched!

[@ericeaklor1300]

It's not.

[@ashemgold]

you think this is a dystopian fiction because it's in grayscale. Look around you. People and news channels selling others out for citizenship and a place in the market. And it only took one tiny pandemic. What an evil race we are!

[@AlJay0032]

Yeah, left-green fascism is currently very strong again.

[@johnflynn6140]

Credit to the writer's directors and actors this was just great and needs to be a full-length film, truly amazing come on how was Hollywood not throwing money at the creators behind this just blows my mind some of the shit they fund when there are people out there making quality like this. For everyone involved in the congratulations you all deserve it.

[@jeots962]

Hollywood has been compromised, hacked, bought out by the ccp. They can only dream of the mind of free thinking people. That’s why the two can never compare to one another. One is a controlled narrative, the other is free form thinking. Dust is awesome. The imagination shown is thought provoking and intriguing and interesting and well, awesome sci-fi. AWESOME 👏

[@nikkacevski9824]

Really appreciate that!

[@msjohncox]

Stuff like this is waaaaaay to awesome to be made into a movie or series. Oats Studio is a good example also.

[@martyn_g]

Simple. Converting Marvel and DC makes money for the studios, not independent film makers. Not many original screenplays make money, but converting crap pulp comics like The Avengers does. It's easy money for them.

[@martyn_g]

@@jeots962 your seeing waaaayyy too much into it. Film studios like to make easy money, they're capitalist. They know what sells, (Marvel and remakes) because people like shit fed to them. Nothing to do with a ccp conspiracy.

[@benjaminslife9424]

The cinematography for this is outstanding. The auteur who created this work did a phenomenal editing job. This film was crafted with love and felt like a complete story. Kudos on an outstanding product.

[@29lookingood]

That was brutal 😲. And for a change, didn't know where this was going till the end.

[@jrciacia821]

Stop having kids

[@29lookingood]

@@jrciacia821 Go away troll.

[@kahnfatman]

Thing is, the boy could do the same.

[@lego4virgo]

@@kahnfatman That's why his Mom brought the pistol, but Mila already had the upper hand.

[@moguldamongrel3054]

I'm guessing people haven't figured out how to plant things in this world?

[@bsimmons277]

As soon as the opening scene, hit the lights, bust out the snacks and buckled in! This could have been 2 1/2 hrs and it would have felt like 20 min! This much production for 15min! we should be so lucky! Unbelievably well written and acted!

[@nikkacevski3799]

Really appreciate it! The entire cast and crew worked really hard to create this film. We are very proud of the outcome.

[@abhisekpal5026]

An absolute masterpiece I must say. Stop existing or stop being moral animals. Later was logical, which we chose, and stoping to exist altogether was emotional. What a fight between logic and emotions that makes us human!

[@moguldamongrel3054]

Or....plant food.... Which again negates all of this...

[@garicrewsen1128]

One of the BEST, INTRIGUING, MORE HORRIFYING, and MOST COMPELLING short films Dust has published in the 5 years since I subbed. Nik Kacevski has an incredibly therapeutic and personal story to tell and I can't wait for the series. Here's hoping this alleviated some of what ales you, Nik. Cheers!🍻

[@farmerprater81]

My name is Thanos, and I approve this message. Excellent short-film.

[@davehales2249]

What a little gem of an independent made movie

[@foxfiretales9273]

Better than expected, and an instant addition to my short film favourites. Stylistic, slick, tight cinematography, slow burn to the reveal. Personally loved the difference between the two parent/child approaches. In the father/daughter, he coaches, emphasises personal accountability, personal growth. The mother/son pair has a clearly different dynamic, revealed by the act of the mother doing the work for the boy. It’s another layer to the story, elegantly shown. Wonderfully done. I wish you full success in your writing and film journeys.

[@kahnfatman]

Very very very dark. But truly artistically executed.

[@nikkacevski9824]

The entire team worked really hard. Thank you for the amazing compliment.

[@interestedlen8823]

Nik, I have sat here for ten minutes absorbing what I have just seen. Storytelling of the highest calibre, produced and perfomed breathtakingly well. Old enough for the crushing dehumanism of the Soviet era to have been the shadow across the world of my youth, I find myself thinking of the Chinese Cultural Revolution, which encouraged children to denounce their own parents, betraying them into punishment and even death. This sort of naked brutal functionalism could well await us in the future if the sociopaths in charge continue to squander our options. From the answers you have given, I suspect you will find a spark of hope in the long-form of your story, some redemption to leaven the mix. I wish you every success in getting it made - I am eager to see it. Bravo.

[@nikkacevski3799]

Very appreciative of your comments. I am really glad it affected you in the intended way. Sometimes we need to shock people as a warning that this is not a future anyone wants.

[@Reaper4367]

@Nik Kacevski Thank you for sharing this film with us. It is incredible. Eagerly looking forward to the 'main feature' you planned.

[@kyleblundell122]

This was not what I expected. I'm completely blown away. Well done. Solid 10/10. Wouldn't mind seeing this as a feature length.

[@fredwupkensoppel8949]

The actress is absolutely stunning!

[@yawningkitty457]

This is some top drawer movie making, loved every minute of it. Huge respect for the writers and film crew for an excellent story, it's rare for a short film to have so much packed into only fifteen minutes and have a solid ending.

[@nikkacevski3799]

Really appreciate the kind words. We all worked very hard to create this film and are excited to see that people want more. We are in development on the series.

[@paolomartini150]

Some of these are better than more famous shows.

[@alikigeorgiou8499]

I haven't seen such a thought-provoking and disturbing sci-fi short as this in a very long time. Very well-filmed and also emotional - great acting and great story!

[@nikkacevski3799]

Thank you! We love sharing this film with you all.

[@hollyperrin7353]

Yeah, still wondering how a 12 year old girl murdered a 12 year old boy with her own hands. Make it slightly more believable and give her a knife, or something.

[@nerdwhispererscottyj.3912]

A compelling, disturbing, deeply thought-provoking story brilliantly executed. Easily one of the best of the dozens of Dust videos I've watched.

[@TheRatlord74]

The scary part is this situation is entirely possible. Great stuff.

[@strange-universe]

oh yeah, it's getting easier and easier to see people jumping on board with something like this.

[@Argentvs]

No is not. Fun fact, overpopulation isn't real, the major demographic problem the world will see, is already happening. Even the most poor countries are dropping birth rates. Half the world is below replacement level. Aging population, low birth rate, low fertility is coming hard for us in the next 60 years and a major crash in the world economy unless people get 2 to 3 kids per woman or we get robots to do everything. Most European countries, Japan, SKorea, China, are already in population decline, Japan will drop below 80 million in 2050 with most of the people being old. Even here in Argentina we have that problem, only immigration is keeping growth, we don't have children to replacement level. And immigration is going to deplete soon. Even African countries with 11 children per woman now dropped to 5 and keeps going down .

[@ChipGuy]

In Germany you can see it now coming. The new government is just the 1st step: Making citizens fight for resources soon to come in 2021/2022

[@Dr_Himanshu]

@@Argentvs Yes. Overpopulation is getting under control. The predictions models of the past didn't properly accounted for the lowering birth rate with increase in resources.

[@charlesangell_bulmtl]

@@Argentvs It is a far stretch from the reality of natures balance, the premise of this 'film'

[@jamesmyers4133]

Well done and great actors.....thanks...keep up the good work

[@pumabear2724]

This was a well written, and very well acted out film! This is a rare gem, among the other dust films out there right now..bravo! ✨⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@tymonjames8577]

I felt sick after watching this.... Well done!! :D

[@wilfriedsiems9658]

HHOAHHH!!! That was a DARK one!!! But it hooks you early lure you in and after that let you experience a whole new (changed) world...it was HARD to watch but at the same time FUN to watch...GREAT work done on this!!! :)

[@wwiewolle5849]

Today it's sci-fi, in 15 - 20 years it's a conspiracy theory, and in 40 - 50 years it's real life! It's one of the best short films, I've ever seen on DUST!

[@rudevalve]

Certified Gold!!!!!

[@danielhanawalt4998]

Saved ourselves...but at what cost? Our humanity? Reminds me a little of The Hunger Games. This would make a great full length film or series. Second time I watched. Must have been a little distracted the first time. This is one of the best short films I've seen. Well written and acted. Mila has a bright future in acting. All involved in the making of this, congrats. Well done. I see awards in your future.

[@MW-us3sv]

Wow that hit hard. Amazing work of art so thanks for giving me the privilege of watching it. I hope you do wonders in the future in this regard. On another note, I find it funny/odd/sad that many people are commenting how this ''could'' become reality. Urm yeah guys, it's been like this for decades in a fair few countries around the world. Child soldiers of Africa come to mind as just one example. They were forced to go back home and actually murder their families. There are of course many more examples of that type of thing that have happened and continue to happen. Lots of us live an extremely innocent life, which I'm happy about personally, but for far too many humans around this globe life is quite traumatic. Oops, didn't mean to get so deep, anyway, great film, best of luck for future creative endeavours.

[@anmagrkur001]

I still don't understand why DUST has so less subscribers it should have had at least 20 million subs

[@sparkysmalarkey]

Strength does not come from beating the brains out of people weaker than you, it comes from suffering a harsh environment long enough to adapt and overcome it. I didn't see her overcome a force more powerful than herself, all I seen was her killing something weaker to reinforce the idea that she is strong. I would have liked to see her resist the power of the government by thinking outside of the box, she could have removed the boys testicles and achieved the governments desired outcome. I did enjoy the content, I sat here for nearly an hour thinking about it, that's rare these days, thank you.

[@JustMe-nq3my]

It seems so real,that i hardly believe it.s just a simple sci fi movie.

[@oblivian9505]

This is only my second short and I'm still blown away! You guys put SO much effort into making a short story! Definitely as good as anything Hollywood puts out. Only one drawback I can see...IT'S ADDICTING! And it's not just watching one after another, it's also wanting more and more of the same story! GREAT JOB!🇨🇱

[@V4VestA]

FINALLY, a Dust short well worth watching! This was superb-I most certainly look forward to seeing more from the creators.

[@klc6769]

Amazing one of the best I have seen so far! 5 stars!

[@LuKaZz420]

Bloody hell. That was epic.

[@robertw31968]

Wow that was really brutal, but really good also. That young lady is a good actress.

[@AnthonyMiyazaki]

Brilliantly disturbing. Excellent storyline, directing, acting, and filmography.

[@ChefMimsy]

Netflix needs a series based on this!

[@lillyanneserrelio2187]

Ugh no. Let's keep it on KZbin where all can enjoy it for free

[@ExploringCabinsandMines]

No transgender in the story so Netflix would pass.

[@charlesangell_bulmtl]

@@ExploringCabinsandMines 🙄🙄there you go, fucked up people won't reproduce, vitality forsaken...

[@superdude1759]

This is a twisted and demented film! The writers and producers are sick people!

[@zpinkLondonBelow]

This was bloody brilliant! Well done to everyone involved in its creation!

[@nikkacevski9824]

@@TheAstroflight Really appreciate it!

[@denisleclerc7804]

Thank you, makers of "Merv" ! What a beautiful message your film is !

[@grammybear4226]

🐼 Big Bear Hugs from a 68 yr old grandma in Kirby, Texas, USA 🐼 ❤️ 🎀 ❤️ 🎀 ❤️ 🎀

[@nivasantos7653]

Hollywood is dead. But not the true creators doing masterpieces with little money. The queen is dead. RIP

[@JerryDechant]

violence is never the correct solution.

[@AnarchistCaptain]

huh, Soulmate. This should be cutesy and happy. ... X_x I was wrong. Very very wrong. O_o All jokes aside, it was exceptionally well done on all accounts. Acting, story, plot, everything. Bravo. Bravo.

[@gorflunk]

Star Trek TOS "A Taste of Armageddon" and "The Mark of Gideon" come to mind.

[@MrTigurius]

This is the environment all Americans should have to experience. Excellent production showing the hardship many of have never known.

[@D3voidofsoul]

Nicely done. Thank you for sharing this with us. It's nice to have a well told complete story line and even though there is a lot that you are still wondering about at least you know the ending of THIS story. Your mind can create the tapestry of the world that this story exists in and keep you thinking about it for awhile.

[@andymoss2490]

There are a lot of very good 'Shorts ' on Dust for which I am grateful ,this is exceptional even amongst those .A remarkable piece of speculative fiction ,many thanks and very well done.

[@eredemia5912]

I can see a story arc were two character's become close friends or fall in love or whatever but those two people become "designated Soulmates".

[@ThisOrThat13]

"We don't do that here, this is Dust"

[@BariumCobaltNitrog3n]

A well-written and shot story. Every shot advances the story line. The cab was a perfect shot to start the hero's journey.

[@AdityaSingh-mz2zn]

one of the best from Dust 👍👍

[@rangerg7278]

I saw this when it came out ( or onto KZbin ) several weeks ago, and I was shocked and disturbed. Too close to my childhood reality, although it was more about beating and being beaten, than death. Still, deciding to prevent some people from having any romantic relationships ( or breeding ) was a thing. So, too real. I just watched it twice again, once for the storyline, again for cinemaphotography. So well done, and so well done. Impressive, Nik Kacevski.

[@nikkacevski3799]

Thank you so much.

[@garicrewsen1128]

It's a pretty awesome occurrence when a story is therapeutic for both author and audience.

[@AcheliusDecimus]

Wow, powerful message at the end if mankind reaches the brink of extinction.

[@Argentvs]

Fun fact, overpopulation isn't real, the major demographic problem the world will see, is already happening. Even the most poor countries are dropping birth rates. Half the world is below replacement level. Aging population, low birth rate, low fertility is coming hard for us in the next 60 years and a major crash in the world economy unless people get 2 to 3 kids per woman or we get robots to do everything. Most European countries, Japan, SKorea, China, are already in population decline, Japan will drop below 80 million in 2050 with most of the people being old. Even here in Argentina we have that problem, only immigration is keeping growth, we don't have children to replacement level. And immigration is going to deplete soon. Even African countries with 11 children per woman now dropped to 5 and keeps going down .

[@jonathanedwardfranklin3929]

Absolutely astounding

[@LeenaStark]

*La Femme Nikita : The Teen Years* --- phenomenal actress, Oscar worthy performance. I hope we see more of her!

[@SaiKelly]

Really well done, very well executed. A truly horrible story! 😂 I was gutted as the mother held her dead son while everyone cheered which I'm sure you were hoping for. Great concept for a film. Well done all.

[@OgdenM]

To gut us even more: The realization that those people didn't care who survived. They would have cheered either way.

[@jclowe735]

At first I was a little confused but when I read the description it made more sense to me. Good job to the cast and crew of soulmate. This is a wonderful video that I'd like to see more of this.

[@westphaliaphilosopher1900]

Intense! Much enjoyed this short. This reminds me of the story The Lottery, by Shirley Jackson

[@Portland2006]

Fantastic short film. The Long Walk and Battle Royale in one, but shorter and somehow better. Love it!

[@MatrixDownload5150]

Intriguing.

[@donixaugusto7356]

I must to confess that I was in shock. We're not that far from this reality,unfortunately...

[@maxcruz5936]

wow was a great movie and shows us how something like this is a possibility

[@everx7]

I highly doubt that. But interesting story.

[@lonewretch]

@@everx7 Give it a few years. When the planet is conquered by tyranny, and divided into a global caste system, you'll see exactly this.

[@Klytus1]

If Marvel reboots The New Mutants, she would be a great pick to play Illyana/Magik.

Sempre surpreendendo ! Melhor canal de ficção próximo da realidade.

[@maniyakc9c149]

✔️✔️💜

[@koneser12345]

Is the survival the highest level of evolution? Is this what the Controllers wants us to believe? GREAT WORK ALL INVOLVED IN THIS MOVIE

[@iamnotabot961]

oh wow, that was asbolutely brillant and genius at every level !

[@thedaggonator]

my mom was born in Soviet Russia. I don't know much about what her life was like there, but she often says that when she came to America she was shocked about how rich most people were. However it wasn't all bad, she said children had a lot more freedom back then. Even more in Soviet Russia

[@tablescissors]

Yeah. Sure. You heard wrong.

[@raggedbreath]

Amazing work! Such high quality in the writing and setting!

[@woodstoney]

One of several possible futures that humanity might have to endure. Well done!

[@morkiethuglife2195]

Well done

[@blackbird5634]

sound bite hypnosis. who needs whole movies anymore? we're being programmed not with subliminal messaging but with ten minute movies. good luck getting past these delicious mental M&M's.

[@batencheetos]

Who wants to steal apples with me?

[@allisonjames2923]

Well that was unexpected 😳 Good short though. Would make a great full length movie

[@leonestello]

And she just killed the next Einstein that would have brought them out of that existence...

[@leonestello]

@@nickolasortiz8045 it's more likely Adolf or Saddam would come about in that culture as opposed to being disposed of in that culture

[@leonestello]

@@nickolasortiz8045 those types of people are far more rare than loving geniuses.

[@nickolasortiz8045]

@@leonestello Adolf was a weak, insecure boy... who would have been easily killed off. Most serial killers aren't the strongest, aren't the bravest, aren't the best... they're the abomination.

[@leonestello]

@@nickolasortiz8045 I know this... because Darkness and Fear fester into rotten fruit.

[@leonestello]

@@nickolasortiz8045 to you maybe but not to those who have a heart and definitely not to the those that have a soul.

[@phoenixrises1311]

Dust is the Only KZbin short flick spot!!

[@matt_aviz]

An excellent storyline, told in short format. The trick in short film, as I see it, is not only being able to grab the viewer initially, but to provide a satisfying end, i.e. a sense of completion, closure, to the story. This reminds me in a more grisly way of Shirley Jackson's _The Lottery_.

[@michaeldavid6832]

That was grisly too -- you ever seen what a stoning does to a person's head?

[@nigelclarke6786]

Yeah, I get what you mean, very satisfying....but I also like when you come in to an open beginning, no idea what's happened before, disorientated, but the story unfolds, you become aware and then it comes to an end, but you can imagine that the story keeps on....

[@NamorImperius1969]

wow...JUST WOW! The kind of story the makes you cry, cheer and think about what's going on at the same time. Good Work Nik Kacevski!!!

[@nikkacevski3799]

Thank you!

[@chrisu.k9307]

This has inspired me 😏

[@sonovivo1247]

Although violent AND horrific, both genres I abhor, the whole movie is perfectly made, the acting is OK and the ideas are… original and at the same time, it is made as it seems possible and realistic… Thus: a quite perfect movie. Thank you.

[@tonitrillionaire]

this was horrendous at best, all of these predictive dystopian films want us to agree with them as this is mankind's only future, and I'm not on board

[@charlesangell_bulmtl]

Hear Hear ... Thank you sister

[@elessarsgirl4883]

Thank you. To think we can envision and make such things proves we're already there. What are we teaching people?

[@gerstmanndavid]

Amen! I'm sick of the constant predictive programming and propaganda that says this is our only future. We must imagine better, we are limited to our imagination aside from the hope that God gives us.

[@charlesangell_bulmtl]

@@gerstmanndavid AMEN BROTHER

[@charlesangell_bulmtl]

@@elessarsgirl4883 INDEED

[@monro2159]

A very good short film. The location, direction, art direction, music and performances depicted a grim dystopian world where humans sink to a feral mentality in a society governed by brutal rules in order to survive. The atmosphere was menacing and threatening and the colours grey and lifeless. Very good centrral performance from Holy May Lewis in what appears to be her first film.

[@jaroslawswitala69]

Absolutely brilliant and I really enjoyed it… well, such dark story must have born in Russians’ minds if I am not mistaken. Anyway big thanks to everyone who were involved!

[@nikkacevski9824]

Close... Macedonian!

[@vince1229]

Good. The girl didn't die in this one.

[@kuldeep_jena007]

Such a great 🙏🏻

[@johnconroy3078]

Well that was cheery! Reminded me of 1980s Peckham - the real one, not the toss you see in Only Fools And Horses. Fantastic.

[@gartymabaya3095]

Because of the economic crisis and the rate of unemployment, now is the best time to invest and make money 💯

[@greymanhood9433]

You can say that again

[@aprylung6111]

Cry`pto is the new gold

[@agathamareth1060]

Stocks are good but Crypto is better

[@iyanaparker9006]

I wanted to trade crypto but got confused by the fluctuations in price

[@millerlopez2184]

It won't bother you if you trade with a professional like Mrs Alyssa Tsotne

[@paulocarvalho2305]

Just a simple comment: 5 stars!!!

[@ricardodelzealandia6290]

This Holly May Lewis has got a fairly promising career me thinks.

[@sonatartica2590]

1) Communist leaning POV: This is a metaphor on how brutal capitalism turns and devastates a population when not controlled and even instigated by the government itself, pitting citizens among one another instead collaborating and fighting big corporations. 2) Capitalist leaning POV: This is how things would turn if you lived in an actual communist country, authoritarian rule, mandated government homicide and a narrative preaching "lack of resources" to enforce rules keeping the population scared and controlled. 3) Me into scif-fi: This is a sci-fi story not connected to reality, really cool, I would like a sequel please.

[@jeots962]

Awesome

[@TheSoulBlossom]

will I ever see a positive vision of the future world from DUST??? Ever??