At a Crossroads – A Short Film on Child Exploitation

The short film “At a Crossroads” was produced by Életrevaló Karitatív Egyesület and Északi Támpont Közhasznú Egyesület to raise awareness of child prostitution and human trafficking. Though the story is fictional, the script was developed in collaboration with experts and based on real-life events.

The film will also be available on RTL+, RTL's new subscription-based streaming platform.

A Shocking Reality Behind Fiction

The film addresses a deeply relevant issue: in the European Union, 64% of the identified Hungarian victims of sexual exploitation are children, and 7.4% of those are under 11 years old. Hungarians make up the largest group of all registered trafficking victims in the EU. Extreme poverty, Roma background, and state care are all risk factors contributing to the sexual exploitation of children.

The aim of the organizations is to spark public dialogue and bring about meaningful change in these alarming statistics. One particularly impactful element of the film is that the young lead actress was actually living in a temporary shelter for families during the shoot — a powerful detail, as research shows that institutionalized children are among the most vulnerable to trafficking.

Plot Summary

The film follows Deni, a young man just released from prison. Seeking refuge with his family, he quickly finds himself entangled again when his stepfather — a pimp — tasks him with recruiting a girl into prostitution. This "job" seems to be his chance to gain acceptance in the family.

Raising Important Questions

The film raises essential questions: What happens to girls who grow up in state care? How vulnerable are they? Do they have a real chance to avoid becoming victims? Who are the victims — only the girls? Or even boys who grow up under distorted family norms, where pimping is passed down as a role model?

Awards

2021 – BUSHO: Best Hungarian Fiction Short Film
2021 – Bujtor István Film Festival: Special Award
2020 – Short Film Factory (Bucharest): Award Winner
2020 – Short to the Point (Romania): Best Actor – Cristopher Pászik
2020 – 65th National Independent Film Festival: Best Directing – Chilton Flóra
2020 – Hét Domb Film Festival: Best Short Fiction Film
2020 – Civil Award: Top 3 – Best Cooperation
2020 – Ars Sacra Film Festival: 1st Prize – Short Fiction
2020 – Bujtor István Film Festival: Honorary Certificate