In 1944, the sanctuary of the Slovakian mountains was shattered.

Under the immediate threat of execution by invading Nazi forces, Pavel (born 1902) was forced to make an impossible choice: stay and face certain death, or leave his family behind to survive. His flight for life led him deep into the forest, where he joined the ranks of the Slovak National Uprising.

Left alone in a village crawling with occupiers, Anastasia (born 1908), a midwife who had spent her life bringing new breath into the world, had to find the steel within herself to shield her six children from the horrors of a front line moving through her front door.

We are currently in the critical Development Phase. This initial £10,000 is the "seed money" required to finance the direct production costs of a high-end three-minute Proof of Concept.

Your support will fund:

• Production Costs: Securing regional location scouting, period-accurate wardrobe, authentic historical props, and equipment rentals.

• Technical Crew: Hiring the core technical crew required on the ground to physically shoot the opening sequence of the uprising.

• Talent Packaging: Allowing us to deploy every pound directly onto the screen to capture a grounded, realistic cinematic style.

Every pound raised in Phase 1 directly builds the tangible asset needed to secure major equity partners, A-list talent, and BFI support for the full feature production.

Michal Indrak

Filmmaker / Director

Filmmaker & Storyteller Michal Indrak is an award-winning Czech filmmaker currently based in the UK. Since relocating in 2012, Michal has bridged the cinematic traditions of Central Europe with British technical excellence. Leveraging his training from Birkbeck, University of London, and Raindance, he has built a strong professional portfolio focused on ambitious, character-driven narratives that challenge and inspire.

Achievements & Recognition Michal’s work is defined by emotional depth and historical curiosity:

• Recipient of "Best Short Script" for the developing project "Replaced."

• Filmography recognised at multiple international film festivals.

• Directed the debut film "Whispers: Waves of the Diary," which premiered to acclaim in July 2024.

A Personal Pledge "Ashes of Courage" is the culmination of Michal’s professional journey and personal history. As a Czech filmmaker telling the story of his own great-grandparents' survival during the Slovak National Uprising, Michal brings a level of unparalleled commitment and authenticity to the project. This is more than a film; it is a pledge to ensure that the courage of the past is never forgotten.