Spirit
Kevin is a boy who loves figure skating. In his free time he trains on a frozen lake, diligently polishing his moves alone.
He has no mother, and his relationship with his father is strained: his father disapproves of his son's choice and wants him to take up hockey.
Kevin is used to avoiding attention at school and at practice, but one day the coach puts him on the list of participants for the figure-skating tournament — his turning point: accept the challenge or back down. He decides to compete.
While training on the lake, the boy meets a mysterious glowing spirit.
On the day of the competition a rival mocks Kevin, and then disaster strikes — the boy's costume is ruined by someone; the spirit appears again and creates a new shining costume for him.
Stepping onto the stadium ice, Kevin still hesitates, and the spirit encourages him one last time — for a moment his mother's features appear in it. Inspired, Kevin delivers a confident, emotional performance: although at first he is nervous and makes small mistakes, he turns them into striking elements and, in the end, finds the courage to demonstrate the strength of his own spirit and attempts an incredibly difficult move...
Director - Mila Logos
Mila Logos (at birth Liudmila Yurievna Solodovnik) was born in Turkmenia in a multicultural family. Her mother is Russian, and her father is Ukrainian. Thanks to this, Mila loves to travel and explore other cultures since childhood. Currently, she resides in Israel.
During her time in school, Mila received a comprehensive art education, as she adores art in all its diverse forms.
Later, she seriously delved into the path of psychology, as she finds the complexities of human emotions and intentions fascinating. With great passion she helps to unlock the potential in kids (from one year to infinity).
Finally, Logos tied all her knowledge together with information technologies, as in the modern world, it offers tremendous opportunities to express oneself and change the world in a wonderful way!
This way, Mila received another degree in the field of computer visualization for animated films. She continuously improves her qualifications and wins IT competitions with socially significant cases.
Inspired by the multifaceted display of Leonardo da Vinci's talents, Mila Logos also loves a wide scope for creativity. That's why she happily engages in diverse projects, ranging from UI/UX to motion design, from writing and illustrating books to creating games.
Writer’s Statement
"Spirit" is a film about how a fragile inner kernel grows into a fighting core. I have always been drawn to moments when outward movements — a step, a jump, a spin — become a mirror of a person's inner struggle; here the figure skating serves as a metaphor for courage: each fall is not a defeat but a lesson, each attempt is an act of will.
At the heart of the story is not a competition for a medal but a child's choice — one obstructed by parents, peers, and his own insecurities. We are not filming a diagnosis but a living emotional spectrum: shame, mockery, meanness — and also support and an unexpected magical resource. The magical spirit helps the hero summon his fighting spirit. A treasured talisman returns the boy to his dream, reminding him that what is fragile deserves protection.
Cinematically, I work with the contrast of silence and sound: the scrape of blades, the crack of ice, breathing — these become the hero's voice, while light and close-ups convey the intimacy of his choice. The magical element is introduced gently: it does not decide Kevin's fate, it only opens the door to belief in his own strength. The ending leaves room for the viewer’s imagination — victory here is not a final score but the fact that the boy steps onto the ice.
This short attempts to speak about bravery and masculinity without stigma, about upbringing without blame, and about how support and perseverance are stronger than bullying. I believe "Spirit" will resonate not only with those who remember their first fears and the instant they decided to take a step toward a dream. May this short also prompt parents and all caring people to reflect on the power of their influence over someone else’s entire universe — and over their own. And may every young (and not-so-young) Kevin find his own strength of spirit.
