My World Upside Down
An 11-year-old altar boy tries to cure his brother’s gayness but accidentally outs himself instead.
In a conservative Slovak village, altar boy Miško (11) is small, clumsy and naive. His older brother Lukáš (17) is everything he's not: straight-A student, football star, with a gorgeous girlfriend Linda (17). Miško has one big wish — to be just like Lukáš — and one big secret: he's in love with Linda. When Miško discovers Lukáš may be gay, he's shocked and vows to "save his brother from hell." He asks his fellow altar boys how to fight "gayness" — never saying why — and they decide: Miško must be the gay one. His denials only feed the rumour. Miško is ostracized. The only companion he has left is Jesus, who is silent... and Linda! Can they overcome the village's prejudice together?
Producers' note
Our motivation with My World Upside Down is to deliver a bold, socially resonant coming-of-age comedy that tackles the roots of prejudice through the disarming, naive perspective of an 11-year-old boy. At WHAT IF Films we blend genre storytelling with deeper societal themes, and we see strong international crossover potential in the project.
61.7% of the €1.14M total budget is already confirmed. Our Slovak financing is fully secured through the Slovak Audiovisual Fund (development, production and cash rebate) and our national broadcaster, STVR. Our Czech co-producer, Filmkolektiv, has secured minority funding from the Czech Audiovisual Fund and the Moravian-Silesian Regional Incentives. The project also holds Creative Europe MEDIA Slate support and has confirmed theatrical distributors for Slovakia (ITA Films) and the Czech Republic (Falcon). Our strategy now is to find a reliable third minority co-producer, complete our European trilateral co-production structure, close the financing and apply for Eurimages. Principal photography is scheduled for July–September 2027, with final delivery to our broadcast and distribution partners by 1 September 2028.
At Baltic Event we are looking for an established European production company with a solid track record in international co-productions, proven access to national or regional minority co-production funds and experience with the Eurimages process — a partner passionate about arthouse-crossover cinema and socially relevant storytelling. Financially, we are seeking a minority share of approximately €250-300K. Creatively and logistically, we intend to allocate a substantial part of both image and sound post-production to our new partner's territory as well as a talented composer to create the original score.
Director's note
MY WORLD UPSIDE DOWN is a comedy of errors and mistaken identity, told from the perspective of an 11-year-old boy. Miško, a devoted altar boy, sets out to save his older brother Lukáš from eternal damnation in hell. But in an environment full of prejudice, things quickly spin out of control. Through a dramatic paradox he becomes the target of his own prejudices, and from this new place he suddenly sees what was hidden from him before. This reversal is both the source of comedy and of a truthful transformation.
I chose the genre of coming-of-age comedy because these themes are sensitive and potentially polarising, and humour lets us skip the politics and connect through something deeply human. Once we can laugh at our own prejudices, they lose their power over us. Miško believes everything he hears — family, school, friends, and increasingly the voices online — which is funny, but also points to how easily a child's imagination is shaped. Through his silent conversations with Jesus we get to know his sensitive, kind soul, so that even as he keeps making mistakes, we never doubt his good intentions. Miško’s story is not only about a well-meaning, confused little boy; it mirrors our post-truth society lost in a fast-changing world.
What I care deeply about is emotional authenticity. I believe the most personal things are also the most universal, so I always try to reach for the most intimate feelings: embarrassment, insecurity, hope, love, and courage. The child actors are the heart of the film, and my work with them is built on a safe, playful space where they're free to be spontaneous, messy, authentic, and true.
Through an entertaining and optimistic story, we try to deliver a serious and important message for our polarised society: if an eleven-year-old boy can learn to think for himself and grow out of fear and prejudice, then anyone can.
Profile
WHAT IF Films is an emerging, Bratislava-based production company established by directors and producers Daniel Rihák and Martina Saková. We focus on developing projects that offer fresh, unconventional perspectives and blend genre storytelling with socially resonant themes. As a young and dynamic team, we are dedicated to creating quality cinema that resonates with contemporary audiences and inspires reflection.