04/07/2025 - The Slovenian director's sophomore feature is envisioned as a bittersweet coming-of-age comedy set in rural Slovenia

Director Darko Sinko on the set of Confirmation (© Mitja Mlakar)

On Tuesday 1 July, the principal photography stage of Darko Sinko’s sophomore fiction feature, Confirmation, began in the region of Haloze in Northeastern Slovenia. Most of the shoot will take place in the municipality of Cirkulane, with a few more filming days scheduled in Ljubljana.

Sinko is best known for his debut fiction feature, Inventory [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Darko Sinko
film profile], which premiered at the San Sebastián Film Festival in 2021. On the occasion of the beginning of the shoot for his new film, he stated: “We have all experienced disappointment in our friendships, and maybe even caused it for others. Why is that so? Betrayal always comes as a surprise that hurts a great deal, but it can also hide something beautiful and dear – obviously, we lose something that we held as very important.” He added that Confirmation is envisioned as a visually rich movie, with a lot of characters and thick plotting that may head in the direction of irony, the grotesque and even a hint of surrealism. “We hope we shall end up with a communicative film that provides a lot of fun, but which can be moving as well,” Sinko concluded.

Everybody in a small Slovenian village is getting ready for the annual ritual of confirmation. Among them, there are also three teenage best friends, Mate, Peter and Gaber. When a landslide damages the road leading to the church where the confirmation usually takes place, the locals decide to try to repair it on their own. The preparations for the ceremony also reveal a carefully hidden secret: a package of marijuana under the church organ usually played by cool city girl Veronika. The finding points to the three friends, and once the police get involved, their friendship must overcome a considerable challenge.

The cast is led by Martin Kelc, Leo Stopajnik, Petja Hajdinjak, Ajda Mihajlović and Tai Fištravec in the roles of the children and youngsters. It also features professional actors Timon Šturbej (Riders [+see also:
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interview: Dominik Mencej
film profile]), Maruša Majer (seen in Ederlezi Rising [+see also:
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interview: Ivan Ikic
film profile]), Miki Roš, Vojko Belšak, Uroš Nikolić, Luka Martin Škof, Mojca Partljič and Nešo Tokalič, along with local residents who will appear for the first time in front of the camera.

Confirmation is lensed by Urh Pirc and will be edited by Matic Drakulić. Matija Krečič serves as the composer of the score, Neža Zinajić as the production designer and Urška Recer as the costume designer, while Lija Ivančič handles the make-up. The script was written by the filmmaker and Andreea Vălean.

Confirmation is being produced by December, represented by Vlado Bulajić and Lija Pogačnik, who also produced Inventory. RTV Slovenia serves as the co-production company. The film was financially supported by the Slovenian Film Centre and Creative Europe - MEDIA. Viba Film Studio provides technical support.