Here at IMPACT 20twenty, some projects resonate on a deeply personal level, reminding us why we love telling stories through film. Our latest work with the incredibly talented Bridgwater-based singer-songwriter, Justyna Michalka, is one such project. We are immensely proud and deeply moved to present the official music video for her powerful new single, "Tęskno Mi."
Watch the full video below and save her song if you use Spotify!
The Heart of the Song: "Tęskno Mi"
"Tęskno Mi" is a Polish phrase that beautifully translates to "I am longing," and it forms the emotional core of this stunning acoustic track. The song is Justyna's brave and heartfelt tribute to her late mother—a raw and honest exploration of grief, memory, and the enduring power of love.
While the entire song is a masterclass in poignant songwriting, a few lines in particular capture the depth of this loss with heartbreaking clarity, reflecting on a future that can never be:What hurts me the most— they’ll never know you, never say, “Grandma, hold me close.”
The Vision: From Ideas to the Quantock Hills
When Justyna approached us saying she had a new song she wanted to shoot a music video for our brains immediately start going wild with ideas! Once we heard the new single and what it was about we knew the visuals had to match its raw authenticity and emotional weight. Justin envisioned a film that felt both vast and intimate, reflecting the solitude of grief and the scale of a love that transcends time. There was only one location that felt right: the timeless, windswept landscape of the Quantock Hills AONB, right here on our Somerset doorstep. On a clear May day, we took to the hills! The chosen area, who some might recognise, with it's beautiful dappled sunlight coming through the ancient trees provided a powerful location, mirroring the feelings of memory, space and soulful reflection that Justyna’s music evokes. Our aim wasn't to distract from the song, but to give its emotion a place to breathe.
A Shoot Built on Trust
Capturing such a personal performance requires trust and a delicate approach. The atmosphere on set was one of respect and quiet focus. Our entire crew understood the significance of the story being told, and our primary goal was to create a comfortable space where Justyna could connect with her emotions authentically, allowing the camera to simply witness her tribute.
This project is a testament to the power of local collaboration and authentic storytelling. It’s proof that a powerful story, whether in song or on screen, can connect us all. We are honoured that Justyna trusted IMPACT 20twenty to help share hers.
In filmmaking, sometimes the most powerful choices are about what you leave out. One of the most powerful lines in 'Tęskno Mi' speaks of Justyna’s daughters never getting to know their grandmother, and our initial concept was to visually echo this poignant sentiment. On the day, we captured a scene that was pure magic: Justyna sharing a joyous, spinning embrace with her children, their laughter echoing in the sunlit trees and her eldest, stood behind her mother whilst she sang and played, with her arms wrapped around her neck singing along with Justyna. Memories for us and the family though...
....those beautiful, close-up moments now live on what we call 'the cutting room floor.' During the editing process, a crucial and unanimous decision was made between our team and the family. While the footage was stunning, protecting the preciousness of their childhood from the public eye was, and always will be, our paramount concern. You can still see them from afar in the final video - subtle frames against the landscape - and we feel this choice honours the song’s deepest meaning while safeguarding the family at its very heart.
We invite you to watch the video, listen closely to the lyrics and support this incredible local artist by following her journey online.
Film Craft
For those who love to geek out on the craft of filmmaking, we wanted to share a little about the technical choices that helped shape the video's soul. The majority of the film was shot on our modern Sony FX6 cinema camera, but the real heart of the visual language came from one specific piece of vintage glass. Director, Justin Krause, had long wanted to use a Canon FD 35-105mm f/3.5 lens (released in 1981) that was gathering dust in a project but nothing had come across our desks up until this point. Completely randomly, and we believe things DO happen for a reason, the very week of Justyna's enquiry, we had purchased the adaptor plate to take the vintage FD lens fit the modern Sony E-Mount. Of course, making the Sony FX6's fantastic autofocus redundant wasn't an easy decision but we thought it a risk worth taking. The Canon FD 35-105mm is a lens with a unique personality and whilst some might dislike its distinctive bokeh and its tendency to flare, but for us, that's precisely where the magic lies. We believe those 'imperfections' create character and a tangible sense of nostalgia. However, its character isn't just in its aesthetics. What makes this particular lens a hidden gem for filmmakers is a surprising technical quality: while never marketed as such, it's nearly parfocal. This means it holds focus remarkably well throughout its entire zoom range. For perspective, modern true-parfocal cinema lenses are prohibitively expensive, often costing tens of thousands of pounds, so finding this quality in a vintage lens is incredible. It allows for dynamic, in-camera zooms without losing sharpness - a trick usually reserved for high-end cinema productions.
This near-parfocal ability, combined with the lens's beautiful and distinctive flares gave us the creative freedom to play. While we captured composed, locked-off shots, we also dedicated takes to a more organic, handheld approach. This allowed us to manually pull focus and intentionally use the bright Somerset sun to dance with the vintage optics. The resulting flares aren't a mistake - they are a deliberate brushstroke, adding a dreamlike, hazy quality that feels like a fading memory, perfectly in tune with the song's heartfelt theme.
Updated Press Shots
The beauty of a location shoot like this is the opportunity to create a complete visual package for an artist. While we were up on the stunning Quantock Hills, Justyna also asked if we could capture a new set of press shots to support the release of "Tęskno Mi" and her future marketing. Naturally, we were more than happy to oblige, packing our professional stills photography kit alongside the cinema rig.
This synergy on set is something we love. It allows us to ensure the promotional photos carry the same raw, authentic atmosphere as the music video itself, creating a cohesive visual identity for an artist's entire campaign. Keep an eye out for these new shots across Justyna's social media and press features!
The collaboration on "Tęskno Mi" is a perfect example of the work we live for here at IMPACT 20twenty. We believe truly powerful content, be it a documentary, music video, even through to our commercial and corporate video production and photography is born from a deep and respectful partnership between the client or artist's vision and the filmmaker's craft. It’s far more than a 'wam, bam, thank you ma'am' scenario for us; it's a creative journey we take together, built on trust, passion and a shared commitment to telling an authentic story that resonates. We thrive when working with artists like Justyna who are deeply invested in their music and are looking for a production partner to bring its soul to the screen.
If you are an artist or own or run a brand who values cinematic storytelling and is searching for a team to create something truly meaningful with, we would love to hear from you. Get in touch with us using the form today and let's start the conversation about your next project!
Thank you!
Credits:
Artist: Justyna Michalka
Song: Tęskno Mi (I Miss You)
Mixed/Mastered: prod. Macios
Video Production: IMPACT 20twenty
Director: Justin Krause
Location: Quantock Hills AONB, Somerset, UK
