LEGACY OF ELYRIANS, 2min., Poland
Directed by Marcin Zawistowski
Marcus Zane spent his entire life believing he was an ordinary person. Yet ever since childhood, strange and unexplained events followed him wherever he went. He knew things he should never have known, heard people’s thoughts before they spoke, and strong emotions could trigger dangerous phenomena that someone had spent years hiding from the world.

Get to know the filmmaker:

What motivated you to make this film?

What motivated me most was the desire to create something new. Combining science fiction with fantasy isn’t exactly a new concept, but I feel that we rarely see extremely powerful characters who also struggle with a deep conflict of identity.

I wanted to create a series where the main character’s greatest challenge isn’t defeating another enemy, but discovering who he truly wants to be.

The idea of choosing humanity over power became one of my biggest motivations for creating and developing “Legacy of Elyrian”.

From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

I’ve been actively working on “Legacy of Elyrian” for about two years. During that time, I haven’t focused only on the main story, but also on creating the entire universe, its civilizations, characters, and the relationships between them.

What took me the most time was working out the details, because I wanted everything to make sense and be connected. I didn’t want to create a story where things happen just because they’re convenient for the plot.

The project is still evolving, but over these two years, I’ve managed to shape it into something close to what I originally envisioned.

How would you describe your film in two words!?

Living Legacy.

What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

The biggest challenge for me was creating the main character. Marcus is an incredibly powerful character, so I had to find a way to make sure his abilities didn’t take away the tension or sense of danger from the story.

I also wanted his emotions to have a real impact on his power. I didn’t want emotions to be just part of his personality, but something that actually influences what he’s capable of.

Another challenge was creating an opponent who could match his power while being his complete opposite. Both are strongly connected to their emotions, but while Marcus learns to accept his feelings, his opponent draws strength mainly from negative emotions.

The hardest part was finding the right balance between their immense power, their emotions, and keeping the tension throughout the story.

What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

My first reaction was a mix of happiness and gratitude. I was really pleased with all three women’s feedback. They were honest, thoughtful, and took the time to talk about both what they liked and what they felt could be improved.

What I appreciated most was how detailed their feedback was. They didn’t just say whether they liked the project or not. They actually explained their thoughts, and that means a lot to me as a creator. Even the criticism was valuable because it gave me a different perspective on my work.

There’s also one thing I’d like to clarify about AI. Right now, I’m mainly using it as a tool to help visualize and bring the world of “Legacy of Elyrian” to life. That doesn’t mean I’m planning to create the entire series with AI. The story, the characters, and the universe itself come from my own ideas and creative work.

I’m genuinely thankful to all three women for taking the time to watch my project and share their thoughts. It was really encouraging to hear their perspectives, and I appreciate their honesty.

When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

It’s hard to point to one specific moment. Over the past few years, I’ve become more and more interested in the whole process of making films and TV series. I love coming up with scenes, imagining how they would look on screen, thinking about which actors could play certain characters, and figuring out how to turn a story into a screenplay.

I’m also really excited by the idea of working with professionals, being involved in casting, and bringing something to life that previously existed only in my imagination.

I think that, over time, I realized I didn’t just want to tell stories. I also wanted to be part of bringing them to the screen and have a real say in how they’re presented.

What film have you seen the most in your life?

Definitely Stargate. And I don’t just mean the original 1994 film, but the entire TV universe as well.

I’ve watched Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, and Stargate Universe many times. I love the combination of science fiction, ancient civilizations, advanced technology, and exploring unknown worlds.

It’s one of those universes I always enjoy coming back to. It was also one of the inspirations behind the creation of “Legacy of Elyrian”.

What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

To be honest, I’m really happy with my experience at WILDsound so far. Having the opportunity to share the teaser for “Legacy of Elyrian” with a wider audience has been a really interesting and valuable experience for me.

I also appreciate that the festival gives creators the chance to hear audience feedback and share their stories through interviews.

At the moment, it’s hard for me to think of anything specific that could be improved, because everything has met my expectations.

I think opportunities like these are already a great way to support independent creators, especially those who are just starting out in the film industry.

You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experience been working with the festival platform site?

My experience with FilmFreeway has been great. The platform is easy to use, and the whole submission process went smoothly. I haven’t had any problems with it so far, so I’m really happy with how everything works.

What is your favorite meal?

Definitely spaghetti! It’s always been one of my favorite dishes, and I never get tired of it.

What is next for you? A new film?

For now, I want to focus on continuing to develop “Legacy of Elyrian”. My plan is to turn the story into a TV series spanning three or four seasons.

I’m also currently working on finishing the book, which serves as the foundation for the entire project.

My biggest goal is, of course, to bring “Legacy of Elyrian” to the screen. I know it’s going to be a long and challenging journey, but I’m determined to take the steps needed to get closer to making that dream a reality.

I’m not planning a new film at the moment. I want to give this story a real chance to come to life on screen one day.