Film

Give Me Grace

Emilia J Tolnai

Exhibition

See it On Campus: Level 1

Visitor Info

Emilia J Tolnai

Duration: 8m9s

Genre: Drama, Surrealism

film synopsis

21 year old Clara gains clarity on her epilepsy as she regains consciousness after having a seizure. She is forced to confront self obsession with being in control and letting go of the fear of being perceived. This film dives into the sensation of what a seizure feels like from an epileptics point of view.

film stills

trailer

POSTER

artist statement

I am Emilia Joan Tolnai, a Queer Vancouver-based filmmaker studying at Emily Carr University of Art + Design, where I serve as the student representative for Film, Media, and Screen Arts. My practice centers on intimate, emotionally driven storytelling that explores vulnerability, distance, and self-exploration. With a background in industrial design, I approach filmmaking through strong visual composition, production design, and costume. I’m drawn to quiet, atmospheric moments where emotion unfolds through space. Nature and movement deeply influence my creative process, guiding me toward immersive worlds that reflect the subtle, often unspoken architecture of human experience

why give me grace?

Growing up, I never saw my experience with epilepsy reflected in media. Through Give Me Grace, I centred around what it feels like to have a seizure and the raw emotional roller coaster that comes with epilepsy. With only a few films centred on epilepsy, despite over 50 million people worldwide living with the condition, the lack of representation compelled me to create. Clara portrays a young woman waking from a seizure, embodying the anger, confusion, and discomfort of living with something uncontrollable and lifelong. Through her story, I aim to capture both the physical intensity of epilepsy and the emotional weight it carries for individuals and their families.

credits

Starring:

Martine Anderson

Galadriel Brolly

Ineke Lievens

Audrey Allanson

Writer/Director: Emilia J Tolnai

Co writers/ Ideas Guys: Audrey Allanson, Leo Martinez

First Assistant Director: Ekin Tepe

Producer: Donya M Amini

Script Supervisor: Adrian Arthur Chao

Set Designer: Audrey Allanson

Set Decorator: Valerie Ivashchenko

Carpenter(s): Alex Turnbull, Saanvi Bhat

Production Sound Mixer: Gustavo Dias Vieira

Boom Operator: Brayden Fraser, Izzy Seow

Director of Photography: Anton Koltunov

Camera Operator: Anton Koltunov

1st Assistant Camera: Aurélien Rosset

2nd Assistant Camera: Izzy Seow

Storyboard Artist: Leonor Martinez

BTS Photographer(s): Donya M Amini, Angel Bolandi

Driving Equipment: Brayden Fraser

Key Grip: Weston Bui

Gaffer: Antony Nguyen , Cristian Oriak

Costume Designer: Izzy Seow

Key Hair/Makeup Artist: Kitty Yin

2nd HMU: Tomás Herrera

Supervisor Sound Editor & Re Recording Mixer : Sebastian Cartas

Dialogue Editor: Abigail Raine-Hunt

Sound Composer: Leo Martinez

Vocalist: Emilia J Tolnai

Editing: Brayden Fraser

Colour: Sammy Vu

Credit Animator: Donya M. Amini

Special thanks to all the donations and endless support from my roomate Ella, my parents, Donya, Martine, Anton, Adi, and all my amazing profs that have helped me over the last four years!!!!