It’s 1993, and Alma’s family is breaking with tradition. For the first time, they won’t be spending their annual holiday at their cherished seaside resort, Voetplaatpark. Alma’s mother, craving change, books somewhere new—an unwelcome shift for her husband, who clings to routine. Caught in the middle is Alma, a perceptive teenager who documents their road trip with the family’s home video camera, continuing a tradition started by her father. As the journey unfolds, singalongs and scenic detours give way to rising tension and subtle unraveling. When the new resort proves unsuitable, Alma tells a small lie to avoid deeper conflict—one her mother silently upholds. Their trip becomes a string of false starts, evasions, and quiet heartbreaks. As familial pressure builds to a breaking point, Alma must decide what to preserve and what to let go. A tender coming-of-age film about memory, denial, and the quiet sacrifices we make for love.
International Short Film Competition
ALMA EN ROUTE
SHORTS O’CLOCK II, Saturday, April 18, 16:00, Bucharest Time (EEST)
ENGLISH TITLE:
Alma En Route
Original title:
Alma Op Pad
Director:
Jana-Marie Hey
Country:
South Africa
Genre:
fiction
Year:
2025
Length:
20’
Cast:
Alma - Crystal Conradie, Father - Laudo Liebenberg, Mother - Amalia Uys, Frankie - Gerhard Conradie, Receptionist - Jessica Stanley
A quote for the film:
This isn't a life! This is dying in slow motion!"
Selective list of festivals and awards:
KykNet Silwerskermfees 2025
Director’s bio:
Jana-Marie studied film at the University of Johannesburg. She has been working since 2004 as a stylist, prop master, and set dresser in the film industry. Alma Op Pad is her debut as a screenwriter and director.
