Tatiana Pavolková Sees Paths Where Others Don’t. Her First Film Was Made at an IT Faculty.

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Originally from Dolný Kubín, a small town in Slovakia, Tatiana moved to Brno for university. She initially studied journalism and international relations but soon realized that her true passion lay in storytelling and creating reports. “I was always filming, but I wanted to learn more. I started taking online courses in post-production and couldn’t wait to try working on a production as part of a team.” She eventually switched to studying Film Theory and Audiovisual Culture at Masaryk University, where she broadened her horizons. “I saw films I would never have encountered otherwise. The festivals were also fantasticI – got to try my hand at organizing them. But something was still missing – practical experience.”

She found that missing piece at Masaryk University’s Faculty of Informatics, where she discovered courses dedicated to filmmaking. “It was a huge leap. One semester we wrote scripts, the next we were filming, handling production, and editing. That’s where I learned the most.” She and her classmates formed a team and created the experimental drama Too Many Balloons. “It was very visual, dreamlike. The protagonist was going through a tough time but had to pretend to be happy at her birthday party, all while watching her unrequited love with a new partner.” The film was a success, eventually winning two awards.

Tatiana, however, had been drawn to filmmaking long before university – creativity has been a part of her life since childhood. Her first stories weren’t told through a camera but on stage. “As a kid, I was constantly staging plays at home, putting on little productions for my family. For a while, I even thought I’d become an actress. That dream faded, but working with actors still fascinates me, and I love exploring it in my directing.”

Her early attempts at filmmaking took place in high school, where she and a team created a video campaign against bullying. “Most of my classmates saw it as just another assignment, but I had big ambitions, and I probably didn’t make it easy for them. In the end, we even placed in an international competition.”

Her love for film was also shaped by her family, especially her mother. “My mom is a huge film enthusiast. Thanks to her, I watched so many great movies growing up. My passion for audiovisual storytelling started long before I ever thought about studying it.”

After completing her bachelor’s degree, Tatiana wasn’t sure what to do next. She found out about CME Content Academy at the last minute – just twelve hours before the application deadline. Despite the tight timing, she took a chance, and it paid off.

Today, she continues to refine her focus, exploring what resonates with her most in filmmaking. Directing is her main interest, but she is also drawn to editing and documentary filmmaking. “Maybe that’s the journalist in me. I love scripted content, but I’d also like to try something more observational, like a travel documentary.” She is also intrigued by festival organization – she enjoys structure and coordination.

One of her biggest inspirations is director Tereza Nvotová. “I love her approach to people. She’s not authoritative but friendly, and she has an incredible ability to work with actors. If something isn’t working, she doesn’t force it, she simply asks them how they feel. That connection makes everything fall into place.”

Among CME projects, Tatiana was most impressed by the series Metoda Markovič. “That’s quality TV. It really got me excited.” Over the years, she has also been influenced by genre-bending comedies like The Good Place and Glee. More recently, however, she has developed an interest in reality TV. “For example, Love Island. I’m curious about how such a large-scale production operates, how so many cameras are coordinated, and how storytelling unfolds in real time.”

She also has a deep connection to music and dance. “I used to dance, and it still fascinates me. Now I’m considering incorporating a dance element into my short film.”

Tatiana is proof that the path to film isn’t always straightforward. Today, she draws from her experiences in journalism, film theory, festival organization, and theater to shape her own creative voice. “It’s not just about making something – it’s about leaving something behind in the audience.”

CME Content Academy, a project of TV Nova and TV Markiza, provides practical training alongside theoretical lectures at the Television Institute. The aim is to educate the next generation of TV professionals and enable them to work with these leading TV companies.

-Kristina Sverkunová

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