NH vod
Summer in the Gardens
A socially isolated boy imagines he is living inside an invisible bubble, separating him from the world – but he must challenge himself to solve a castle museum heist and expose the thief, discovering that the very thing that makes him different might be his greatest strength.
12-year-old Bubble Boy knows he is different. He hates physical contact with people, struggles to interpret others’ emotions; he imagines he lives inside an invisible, beautiful, yet fragile “bubble” – a symbol of his social isolation. But when a mysterious thief steals a valuable trinket from the local castle, his dad is wrongfully accused of the theft and Bubble Boy believes it is all his fault. He will have to put his bubble at risk. Forming an unlikely alliance with Tutu, an irrepressible boy with ADHD, and Amelia a tenage runaway. The investigation leads the three social misfits to local community gardens. The kids uncover that thief’s plan to steal five royal crowns from the castle. The bubble becomes a major hindrance, and Bubble Boy tries to cut it away. He learns that accepting his uniqueness is his real strength. In a thrilling chase across gardens and underground tunnels, the kids expose the thieves and discover that being different can be your superpower.
Pitching team
Joanna Ronikier
Joanna Ronikier has been a producer and production manager for 15 years, primarily working on animated films and series, but also on documentaries and feature films. She is the producer or co-producer of award-winning international productions such as the Polish–British co-production 'Corporal Wojtek', dir. by Iain Gardner (Oscar 2025 shortlist, British Animation Award 2025 and over 30 other awards), and the Polish–French–Romanian co-production 'The Magic Mountain', dir. by Anca Damian (Jury Award at Karlovy Vary 2016, Eurimages Audienta Award 2017 and many others). She is also the producer of feature films currently in production, including 'Vetustas. Here and Now!', dir. by Mariusz Palej, and in development, 'Summer in the Gardens' (Lato na RODOS) directed by Maciej Prykowski.
Maciej Prykowski
Maciej Prykowski is a film director and screenwriter with professional experience dating back to 2005. His Screenwriting and Directing portfolio includes 'Delivery By Christmas' (Jeszcze przed świętami) -directed with Aleksandra Kułakowska, produced for Netflix. It premiered on December 6, 2022. The film reached an estimated 12 million viewing hours in its first month of release. His earlier work includes 'Public Outrage' (Zgorszenie Publiczne), released theatrically on September 10, 2010, and 'What No One Knows' (Czego Nikt Nie Wie), a short comedy produced at the Warsaw Film School in 2008. The film garnered significant acclaim. He has served as writer on a number of TV shows. He has received professional training both in directing and screenwriting at the Warsaw Film School and the National Film School in Łódź. Since 2012, he has also served as a lecturer at the Directing Department of the Warsaw Film School, sharing his expertise with emerging filmmakers.
