THE LITTLE MAN
A SHORT FILM BY DENIS BUDANOFF
ABOUT
The Little Man tells the story of an 18-year-old Austrian painter
who lacks the talent for depicting humans.
It is an anti-fascist period metaphor for
the greatest evil of our past.
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THE LITTLE MAN
DRAMA | SYMPHONY
23 MINUTES
2024-2025
USA | GERMANY | HUNGARY
ENGLISH
1.37:1
DIGITAL | 16MM FILM
DOLBY SURROUND 5.1
BLACK&WHITE
§120.000
FESTIVAL RUN
'THE SYMPHONY' WAS COMPOSED AND ORCHESTRATED BY PHILIP EISENFELDT.
IT WAS EXCLUSIVELY RECORDED WITH THE BUDAPEST SCORING ORCHESTRA
AND AN OPERA SINGER, ANNA SCHORS, IN BERLIN.
'CHARACTER ZERO' IS A VISUAL STYLE THAT IMMERSES THE AUDIENCE IN THE MOVIE,
CASTING THEM AS A CHARACTER REPRESENTED THROUGH THE CAMERA.
THE CHOICE FOR THE VISUAL STYLE IS A CRUCIAL STORYTELLING ELEMENT
THAT MAKES THE AUDIENCE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FILM.
DIRECTOR STATEMENT
Uncertainty once again defines our world.
The days when magazines and TV programmes were not filled with images of war and its aftermath are long gone. We find ourselves on a path where diplomacy
makes mistakes, where the rational values and needs of one region
seem irrational to another, and where wars are driven by ideologies
and the ideologists who champion them.
History has witnessed the brutality of ideological wars. They foster militancy capable of destroying cities, countries, and entire nations. Today, war holds the power
to annihilate the planet. Today, the planet needs no bombs
but long-awaited unity and peace.
By exploring the path where the evil took root, 'The Little Man' creates unsettling parallels between past and present. It aims to prove that darkness
has no thunderous beginning, but quiet moments we overlook.
With my film, I aim to deliver a message that is being
neglected by many in the present:
History Must Not Repeat Itself.
FILMMAKER
Denis Budanoff | Writer/Director/Producer
Denis embarked on his directing journey at 16 with a feature film,
'Mind Between the Lines', set in medieval England. Four years later, now at a pivotal moment in his career, 'The Little Man' takes center stage. In addition to cinema, Denis was a professional alpine skier for over twelve years while also deeply engaged in history and literature studies.
With roots in Russia and eastern Germany, he currently resides in Los Angeles, CA.
CAST
William Leon | Hans
William Leon is a Chicago-born actor known for How to Get Away with Murder, Shameless, and Grey’s Anatomy. He began acting at age 10 and moved to LA at 11 to train with Tracy Martin. He continues honing his craft at UCB, performing improv while building a career in both film and television.
Mitchell Aidan, born on the Seacoast of New Hampshire, is an actor, director, writer, and model. He began acting in local theatre at age seven, later moving into modeling and film auditions in Boston and NYC. In 2018, he moved to LA and earned a BFA in Acting from AMDA in 2021, graduating in three years.
Mitchell Aidan | August
Katja Schmolka | Klara
Born in Vienna, Katja Schmolka has lived in NYC and now
in Malibu and Pacific Palisades. She acts in English, German, and Italian. Her recent credits include The Fabric, The Mantis Club, and The Forgotten Corner. A former fashion editor, Katja now focuses on acting and storytelling through film.
Paulina Simkin is an award-winning pianist and actress based in LA. A Juilliard-trained Fulbright Fellow, she has performed at Carnegie Hall and the Berliner Philharmonie. Trilingual in German, Russian, and English, she trained in acting at Strasberg and honed her comedic voice at UCB, performing improv and stand-up across Los Angeles.
Paulina Simkin | Eva
CREW
Philip Eisenfeldt is a Berlin-based, classically trained composer and orchestrator. Inspired by film scores like The Lord of the Rings and The Last Samurai, he developed a deep passion for film music. He co-founded Neon Nursery with Damian Press, producing music and sound for films, ads, and more.
Philip Eisenfeldt | Composer
With a background spanning strategy, go-to-market, and marketing at McKinsey, Microsoft, and SaaS startups, Egbert brings sharp narrative instincts and promotional acumen to independent film. He supports bold, character-driven stories and helps position them for meaningful audience connection and cultural impact.
Egbert Cheng | Executive Producer
Shilpa Johar is a Los Angeles and India-based Director and Producer known for intimate, psychologically nuanced storytelling. Her work explores identity, isolation, and the human shadow. From viral hits to Oscar qualifying festivals, she eyes cinema as ritual; intimate and grounded in truth.
Shilpa Johar | Producer
Marco Brochier is a French-Australian cinematographer and USC SCA graduate. Splitting time between France and the U.S., he began with documentaries and feature film electric work. Drawn to character-driven stories, he aims to craft imagery that captures the depth and complexity of the human experience.
Marco Brochier | Cinematographer
Graduate of AFI, Willow is a visual storyteller whose poetic style sets a deeply evocative tone, blending emotion with sensitivity. Through bold cinematic imagery and immersive shot design, she crafts inspiring and memorable work that uncovers and evoke deep emotions.
Willow Bidwell | Cinematographer (Slot I)
Sean Hale is a Las Vegas-born filmmaker shaped by the city’s lights, desert, and contrasts. Influenced by Cirque du Soleil, Psycho, and Coraline, he blends dreamlike visuals with themes of identity, trauma, and religion. Inspired by Burton, Méliès, and Hitchcock, his work explores isolation, redemption, and the surreal nature of the human experience.
Sean Hale | Production Designer (Slot I)
Thea Kegler is a versatile production designer and prop master based in Los Angeles. She brings an integrated knowledge of design and fabrication, as well as a passion for authentic, intimate storytelling to her work in film. Her background in fine arts and social work provides a rich foundation for developing visual worlds that tell diverse human stories.
Thea Kegler | Production Designer (Slot II)
Aaron Tepperman is a composer and sound designer based in Vancouver and Los Angeles. He blends orchestral music, emotive electronics, and cutting-edge sound design.
A UCLA and LA Film School graduate, his award-winning work includes Aguanta and Asphodel Fields, with storytelling at the core of his creative vision.
Aaron Tepperman | Sound Designer
BEHIND THE SCENES
DENIS BUDANOFF PRESENTS 'THE LITTLE MAN'
WILLIAM LEON MITCHELL AIDAN KATJA SCHMOLKA PAULINA SIMKIN c PHILIP EISENFELDT
p DENIS BUDANOFF & EGBERT CHENG j SHILPA JOHAR & LUKA MULLEN t SAMUEL HENCHER
g MARCO BROCHIER & WILLOW BIDWELL f SEAN HALE & THEA KEGLER d MARA KNIGHT v MISH CHERKASOV
COLOR BY ARTUR MELKONYAN SOUND DESIGN BY AARON TEPPERMAN POSTER BY LUCIA ROJAS
