INTERVIEW with Andrew Koltuniuk
It was while watching "The Dark Knight" on a discolored projector at Boy Scout Camp that Andrew Koltuniuk decided that he was going to be a filmmaker. His work focuses on exploring relationships and how people relate to one another, from road trips to mentalists, his work is driven by the characters in it. He is passionate about reaching back to help up-and-coming filmmakers continue to hone their talents and their craft of creating stories.
INTERVIEW WITH Andrew Koltuniuk (Director of The Mark of Morasai)
How long have you been doing movies? How did you decide to start making movies?
I have been making movies for over six years now. My journey to making movies really started when I was in high-school. I was at summer camp for The Boys Scouts of America, and I was taking the Cinematography merit badge, and I was really inspired sitting there studying films, and I realized that this was a path that could be a career for me.
Why did you do this project?
This was a project to highlight the lead actor, Connor Hankel. And so he asked my sister to write the film and me to direct, and I really appreciate Connor as an actor and a friend, and I was happy to say yes, and I had been wanting to direct a fantasy film, so this was the perfect opportunity.
(If you can say). How much budget did you have to do this project?
The budget for this film was approximately $4,500.
Was it self-funded or did you get budget/producers/investors?
This film was funded through a crowdfunding campaign, mostly through personal contacts that we had.
How long did it take from the initial idea to being able to release?
The initial idea and script that we started with began in the summer of 2024. We went through several iterations of the script, and we ultimately landed on the final version because it was the strongest from a story perspective, and it was in a budget that we could accomplish. Principal photography happened in the winter of 2025, and then editing happened up until the end of 2025 which is when we began our festival run.
Are you happy with the result?
I believe that this is the best short film that I have directed so far. I am very happy with the final result and I am so proud of the cast and crew who brought this film to life. I think that for having such a small budget, we were really able to stretch it out and make something that looks like it took a lot more. We created a film that has heart, that has a beautiful message, and I’m happy to share it with the world.
What phase is this project in right now? Are you in the initial phase of sending it to festivals, middle phase or finishing the circuit?
We are at the beginning of our festival run. We have shown in two festivals in LA so far, and we still have several months left to find out from additional festivals. We have all of the festivals spread out because we had a select group that we wanted to try and hit, and now we are just in the waiting stage, finding out from all of them what they have decided.
How has your experience been with the festivals so far? Where do you think they should improve?
My experience with festivals has been a bit of a mixed bag. You’ll experience some festivals that really go all out to celebrate the filmmakers and the films that are there, and then you’ll have some really sketchy, small festivals that feel like you paid good money to get scammed for. I think that the biggest thing that festivals can improve on, particularly online festivals, is the price. There are a lot of festivals that I just refuse to apply to because of the cost of them. They aren’t highly established festivals, or they aren’t really providing you with crazy opportunities, and so it’s a gamble on if it will be worth it for you or not.
Could you tell us which platforms you use to submit your entries to festivals?
I almost exclusively use FilmFreeway to submit my films.
Normally, filmmakers use many references, favorite directors, favorite movies, etc. Were you inspired by any director or film? If so, tell us your references.
There were a few references that we used for this project. Lord of the Rings was a huge one, my sister and I are both big Lord of the Rings fans and we love how those movies feel, so that was a reference for sure. Additionally, we used The Count of Monte Cristo from 2002 as a reference. The way that they shot practically and on location was a huge inspiration for our night sequences.
Your favorite movie?
My favorite movie is Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, but a more recent film that I have a huge love for is Dune Part 2.
Favorite series?
One of my favorite series is Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Underrated, but the storytelling, especially in the later seasons, is incredible.
Do you see yourself making movies in 5 years? Where do you see yourself?
I absolutely see myself making movies in 5 years. I have two feature films that I plan on making in the next five years, and I would love to be supporting myself with film work in 5 years time.
Do you have any other project in mind?
One of the projects in mind is actually doing a feature version of The Mark of Morasai. My sister is writing the feature right now and we are starting to create a plan to get the film funded and prep to make this a really awesome film.
What do you ask for the future? (cinematographically speaking)
More practical sets and filming on location. It’s such an awesome aspect to filming, but shooting outside, or shooting at a house, it really makes the film real for you, and I think that it creates a culture on set that just can’t be beat. Additionally, I’d love to see miniatures brought back. That’s something that Lord of the Rings excelled at, and something I’d love to incorporate in the future.
Your best experience in a movie theater?
Dune Part 2. I walked out of that theater a changed person and I felt more driven than ever to create movies and continue being a filmmaker.