Cast

Branden Garrett is an actor and physicist with nearly 15 years of experience across film and television, primarily known for his versatile supporting roles. Splitting his time between Los Angeles and Slovenia, Branden balances his creative work with a dedication to yoga, fitness, and cooking.

In January 2025, Branden approached director Vital Butinar with the idea to collaborate on a feature film. The project quickly gained momentum, backed by an exceptional crew and an undeniable creative chemistry where everything felt perfectly aligned.

In Pure Vortex, Branden takes on the lead role of Nik, while also serving as the film’s casting director and one of the producers. He connected deeply with Nik’s journey, drawing from his own past experiences to bring an authentic, highly personal layer to the character. For Branden, this film is far more than just a project, it is a deeply meaningful milestone.

Julija Poljanec stars as Ana Maria, the female lead in Pure Vortex. She brought a profound personal connection to the role, mirroring her character’s quiet determination, emotional depth, and strong sense of purpose through times of uncertainty and change.

Julija’s real-life path is defined by an exceptional range of expertise and a relentless drive for growth. She holds a Master’s degree in Primary Education with English, is currently a PhD candidate, and has studied abroad to expand her global perspective. Her diverse professional background spans TV and radio hosting, language education, interpreting, and tourism. An adventurer at heart, she is also a certified ski, swimming, and children’s yoga instructor, as well as a maritime trainer and skipper experiences that instilled the same resilience and inner strength she channeled into her character.

Stepping into Ana Maria’s world was both a privilege and an intense creative challenge, often requiring Julija to navigate a wide spectrum of conflicting emotions within a single shooting day. She found the collaborative journey with the entire team to be deeply inspiring and rewarding.

Alen Kermac is a versatile Slovenian-Italian actor who joined the cast of Pure Vortex at the invitation of his close friend, lead actor and producer Branden Garrett. Involved with the project from its early stages, Alen brought his extensive experience to both the on-screen performance and the collaborative production environment.

Alen made his feature debut in 2018 in the documentary film Kartoteka. A truly multilingual performer, he went on to portray a Roman priest speaking ancient Latin in Alive in Christ, and a German aristocrat speaking German in Srečen Bo Čas. His career in Italian cinema took off with his compelling portrayal of a partisan commander in La Rosa dell’Istria, broadcast on Italy’s national television network, RAI.

His notable international and regional credits also include prominent roles in the Italian feature Amiche Mai (directed by the renowned Maurizio Nichetti), Memorie di un Marciatore, and the short film Il Ponte. In Slovenia, he has appeared in well-known films and television series such as Inventura, Inhumanum, Exodus 1945, and Sekirca v med, and he is involved in the upcoming Bulgarian feature, Stud/Cold.
📷Picture: Peter Uhan

Dr. Uroš Zavodnik is an accomplished director, screenwriter, and actor. A freelance filmmaker who studied film art in Austria, he holds a PhD in Film Directing. His expansive creative background also spans photography, songwriting, and music, with an established portfolio of cinematic work across both Austria and Slovenia.

Uroš honed his craft by studying Method Acting under the guidance of Janez Vajevec at the Actor Studio of Brother Vajevec in Ljubljana, later expanding his skill set through various international acting masterclasses.

This rich vortex of multi-disciplinary artistic experience naturally led him to the set of Pure Vortex. He joined the production at the invitation of his longtime acting colleague, Branden Garrett, with whom he originally trained at the Actor Studio.

Francesco Tribuzio’s journey with Pure Vortex began through a chance connection. Following an acting workshop, fellow cast member Alen Kermac introduced him to director Vital Butinar and producer/lead actor Branden Garrett. The timing was perfect, aligning with Francesco’s long-held ambition to work within the Slovenian film industry.

For Francesco, this project beautifully captures the essence of independent filmmaking, where collaborative efforts spark from simple human connections, alter paths unexpectedly, and foster an undeniable chemistry on set.

Stepping into the role of a fictional bass player for the film, Francesco connected so deeply with the character that he went on to actually study the bass guitar in real life. A testament to what he calls “the true beauty of movies.”

Goran Ajtič is a celebrated director, writer, screenwriter, and actor whose passion for filmmaking began in his childhood, directing his first short film with friends at just 12 years old. By 2005, his work transitioned to a serious professional stage. A definitive “auteur” and art-house filmmaker, Goran writes, directs, and produces highly imaginative independent projects.

As a director of experimental art films and videos, Goran’s distinct cinematic voice has earned international acclaim, securing more than 100 awards at film festivals across Europe, North America, South America, and Asia.

In addition to his primary work behind the camera, Goran is an accomplished screen actor. He joined the cast of Pure Vortex in a supporting role at the invitation of his friend and colleague, director Vital Butinar, stepping into the character of a newspaper editor.

Timothy Vrabl is a classically trained actor who graduated from the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles. Following his graduation, he relocated to London to further expand his acting career within the European film industry.

Timothy joined the cast of Pure Vortex toward the tail end of production. Stepping into the role of a detective, his involvement opened up a key narrative piece right as principal photography was wrapping, making him a fantastic final addition to the film’s international ensemble.

Slavica Štrukelj-Kokoravec portrays the role of the mother in Pure Vortex. A formally trained painter and an energy healer with over 30 years of practice, Slavica infuses her artistic and healing worlds into everything she does. Her dynamic, vividly colorful paintings carry an official energy-healing certification from the BION Institute, reflecting her own contrastingly vibrant personality.

Beyond the canvas, Slavica is a passionate dancer, well-versed in styles ranging from ballroom and Latin to salsa and Argentine tango. She is no stranger to the screen, having appeared in the TV series Da dragi, da draga, as well as a variety of television programs where she and her partner have performed.

Slavica was thrilled to join the Pure Vortex cast, dedicating her talents and warm screen presence to supporting the young, ambitious team on their filmmaking journey. In a beautiful cross-collaboration of her talents, her original paintings were also featured prominently as part of the film’s set decoration.

Vojko Kokoravec portrays the role of the father in Pure Vortex. He holds a Master of Science in Economics and has enjoyed a distinguished career primarily focused on investment management within prominent financial environments, including the Development Fund, KD-Group, and various investment funds. Additionally, Vojko brought his analytical expertise to the field as a licensed corporate valuer with two decades of experience.

In his private life, Vojko is a passionate dancer, exploring styles ranging from ballroom and Latin to salsa and Argentine tango, which he performs alongside his partner, Slavica.

Vojko has accumulated valuable television experience throughout both his corporate career and his creative, joint on-screen appearances with Slavica. He was delighted to join the Pure Vortex cast, lending his presence and dedicating his time to help propel the young, ambitious filmmaking team toward success.

Borut Butinar brings a unique blend of international life experience and natural charisma to the screen. His cinematic journey began in 1989 as a background actor in the German feature African Timber, which was shot on location in Ghana while he was living and working there. After returning to Slovenia, he also appeared as a doctor in the acclaimed 2003 film Beneath Her Window (Pod njenim oknom).

In Pure Vortex, Borut steps into his first speaking role as the lovable Uncle Frank, a successful Slovenian immigrant running a thriving air conditioning business in Los Angeles.

Because Borut happens to be the director’s father, he naturally had absolutely no choice but to accept the role. Originally planned as a voice-over performance, the director made an executive decision during the first cut of the film to upgrade it to an on-screen appearance. Borut was drafted back to the set, mastered his lines, and delivered a warm, authentic performance that beautifully mirrors his real-life charm. Having thoroughly enjoyed the experience, his son fully intends to recruit him for many more characters in the future.

Crew

Pulling off an ambitious feature film requires absolute precision long before the cameras start rolling. As the director and screenwriter of Pure Vortex, Vital Butinar brought over a decade of multi-faceted filmmaking experience to the table, leveraging deep technical and narrative expertise to manage the massive scale of a feature production.

When the project sparked from a casual conversation with actor Branden Garrett at the beginning of 2025, Vital immediately adapted his screenplay for reality. He spent weeks running intense, focused Zoom rehearsals with an international cast and personally designed and built the physical props, posters, and set dressing required to bring the film’s world to life. Because of this meticulous pre-production, the team successfully captured the entire movie in under 14 production days.

An independent filmmaker at heart, Vital writes and develops his own distinct stories, maintaining a growing catalog of screenplays ready for the screen. With principal photography wrapped, he has channeled his focus into the meticulous post-production phase, pushing the film through its final master edits and color grading to bring Pure Vortex to its definitive completion.

Leya serves as the cinematographer, editor, and visual anchor behind Pure Vortex. While marking her feature film debut, she brings a decade of rigorous, hands-on experience behind the lens, having spent years lensing a diverse portfolio of short films, music videos, commercials, and documentaries.

Originally rooted in the fine arts as an exhibiting and successful sculptor, Leya seamlessly transitions her innate instinct for form, framing, and light directly into cinematic storytelling. For a zero-budget production like Pure Vortex, there was no room for guesswork. During pre-production, Leya spent weeks hand-sketching detailed storyboards and mapping out complex setups alongside director Vital Butinar to guarantee a tight, polished, and high-end aesthetic.

Operating with agility under demanding conditions, Leya navigated extreme summer heatwaves and freezing night shoots with a handheld camera system. Her sharp visual execution and unshakeable focus kept the look of the film completely locked in from the first frame to the last.

Iza Kokoravec is a versatile creative force whose journey with the team began in a moment of production necessity. When director Vital Butinar and cinematographer Leya urgently needed to scale up their crew for a demanding shoot, Iza stepped in to help. Driven by a lifelong passion for collaborative, creative environments, she quickly transformed from an emergency helping hand into an invaluable, permanent pillar of the team.

Her contributions to the crew span both the logistics of production and the artistry of post-production. A talented musician, Iza lends her sonic instincts to the team’s projects, composing original musical inserts that help shape the emotional landscape of their cinematic content.

Continually expanding her craft, Iza has evolved into a multi-hyphenate creator, taking on pivotal responsibilities as a screenwriter, production designer, and producer. Her adaptability, artistic range, and dediction to the collective vision make her a vital anchor behind the scenes of Pure Vortex.

Blaž Juvan is a Cinematographer with over a decade of experience across commercials, corporate videos, and feature films. A master of lighting and composition, he is highly skilled in camera operation, gimbal movement, and technical post-production workflows.

On Pure Vortex, Blaž served as both gaffer and co-cinematographer, working alongside his long-term collaborator Leya to craft a high-end visual aesthetic under intense indie conditions.

Having collaborated together for years, their established creative shorthand made him the ultimate asset on set. From sweltering summer days to freezing night shoots, Blaž’s technical problem-solving and lighting expertise were foundational to capturing the film in under 14 production days.

Gregor Goršič is an accomplished producer and the founder of Upsquare, a premier Slovenian video production agency recognized among the top in the region. Bringing years of professional agency leadership and commercial expertise to the table, Gregor serves as a vital production anchor behind Pure Vortex.

Believing deeply in the collaborative spirit of the narrative project, Gregor threw his full support behind the crew from day one. In addition to providing strategic production insight, he generously opened up his own professional video studio to serve as a primary set, giving the feature access to top-tier industry resources. Showing up on set daily to help navigate the intense logistics of the shoot, Gregor’s dedication, generosity, and seasoned industry background were instrumental in helping the team bring Pure Vortex to life.

Sandi Strmljan is an established, multi-platinum awarded songwriter and producer based out of Hamburg, Stuttgart, and Ljubljana. With a staggering portfolio, Sandi has been involved in the release of more than 1,000 songs across Europe, Japan, and the USA. Throughout his prolific career, he has collaborated with a diverse roster of legendary national and international artists, including The Temptations, MC Lyte, Udo Lindenberg, Glasperlenspiel, Helen Schneider, and Chris Norman.

Sandi’s musical mastery spans nearly every genre, from jazz and classical to cutting-edge contemporary music—and extends into writing and producing scores for films, commercials, and live events.

As a neighbor to the filmmakers, Sandi fell in love with what Vital and Leya were creating with Pure Vortex. Inspired by their vision and eager to support the project, he joined the team as the film’s composer, bringing his world-class musical expertise and unparalleled intuition to the movie’s soundtrack.

Mitja Lunder is an accomplished industrial designer and versatile 3D artist dedicated to delivering innovative, future-proof design solutions across a wide range of industries. With an extensive background in product development and cutting-edge 3D technologies, Mitja specializes in bridging the gap between visual aesthetics and technical functionality.

Driven by a long-held ambition to transition his elite 3D design expertise into the world of cinematic visual effects, Mitja joined the crew of Pure Vortex at the personal request of the director. Bringing his sharp eye for detail and mastery of digital spaces to the production, Mitja’s work as a VFX artist adds a vital layer of polished, high-end imagery to the film, marking a thrilling new chapter in his creative journey.