MORTEN follows a sensitive, introverted 15-year-old boy living with his unemployed uncle in a decaying farmhouse while his mother works abroad to secure a better future. Isolated from his classmates and ashamed of his circumstances, Morten retreats into the world he captures with his inherited 35mm film camera—his only tool for understanding and navigating the life around him.

Morten’s world shifts when two very different girls enter his life. Emilie, a mysterious girl he encounters in the bog, becomes the first person he dares to be fully honest with. And Miia, a vibrant and self-assured girl he meets in town, draws him out of his shell and into the possibilities of the real world. As their stories intertwine, Morten is pulled between friendship, first love and unresolved family tensions—ultimately embarking on a journey of emotional awakening and self-discovery.

Blending grounded realism with subtle magical-realism elements, MORTEN explores the fragile, transformative moment between childhood and adulthood. The film balances contemporary life with a sense of timelessness, creating a poetic atmosphere that reflects the inner world of youth. At its core, MORTEN is a coming-of-age story shaped by authenticity, raw emotion, and the unique energy that young actors bring to the screen.

Ivan Pavljutskov is an Estonian film director who studied at the Baltic Film and Media School, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Audiovisual Media in 2011 and a Master of Arts in Directing in 2014. His short films have been showcased at numerous international film festivals, gaining recognition for their distinct visual and narrative style. "Morten" marks his debut full-length feature film. Ivan is deeply passionate about bringing poetic and visually evocative stories to the screen, often seeking to uncover subtle connections between the present and the past.