A stunning portrait of Israeli adventurer Roei Sadan by Tel Aviv-based filmmaker and photographer Dan Lior. Famous for cycling around the world, this time Sadan is in Iceland, embarking on a different kind of journey — one of reflection and rejuvenation. As Lior shared with us:

“2 years ago Roei suffered a life threatening event. Last august, Roei set out with his brother for their first bicycle trip since the accident. I joined them to create this movie and tell his story.”

Director | Cinematography | Editing by Dan Lior
Music: The Hope Arsenal – Awake the Soul
Sound mixing by Byond Studios

A quirky short by Chicago-based animator Nolan Downs. “Shmevolution” follows the life of a strange little organism as he evolves through an even stranger land. Check it out above as well as some of Downs’ test images for the project below!

Nolan Downs’s Website

Nolan Downs on Instagram

Nolan Downs on Tumblr

Paris-based editor Hugo Lemant tells the story of a young French woman’s travels through Senegal in “Niofar” (“to be together”). The documentary-style film is inspired by his brother, Colin Lemant, who spent a year in Grand Mbao, a small village in Senegal and was called “Sénégaulois” a mix between the words Senegal and the Gauls.

Main character : Solaire Moisset
Second character : Gigi Dia
Voice over : Emmanuelle Degeorges

Director : Hugo Lemant
Producer : Gautier Lacaille & Clément Gaucher-Holmann
Production : Ubiquity Films
Sound Designer/ Music Editor/ Mix : Lohengrin Aloys
Colorist: Thomas Canu
Music : “Easy” by Son Lux

A fun short about one woman’s tortured​ ​affair​ ​with​ ​cigarettes written and directed by London-based RCA grad Christine Hooper. The film’s distinctive visual style is a mix of Wes Anderson-inspired colours as well as the techniques of classic cinema — using backdrops, hand-made props, miniatures and in-camera tricks rather than relying on computerized effects to recreate the fanciful facades, 90s-style photos or ‘Hurlboro” cigarette packages.

As Hooper described the project to us, “The Last Time” offers a relatable alternative to the “humourless piety” of most anti-smoking content, wisely noting: “it’s​ ​rarely​ ​as​ ​simple​ ​as​ ​dumping​ ​a​ ​bad​ ​habit​ ​and​ ​never looking​ ​back.​” See full credits below (Fun Fact: Twelve​ ​of​ ​the​ ​cast​ ​and​ ​crew​ ​were​ ​smokers​ ​or​ ​ex​ ​smokers).

Written and Directed by Christine Hooper
Voiceover: Charlotte Ritchie

Lucy: Heather Winstanley
Sam: Josh Taylor
Additional Cast:
Sally Stevens
Liran Nathan
Ruth Judge
Jack Philips
Dan Baker
Greet Kallikorm
Sophia Attais

Producers:
Greet Kallikorm
Christine Hooper
Executive Producers:
Bart Yates
Christine Hooper
Director of Photography: Ian Forbes
Art Director: Ruth Pickard
Editor: Kelly Armstrong
Costume: Sabina Piccini
Composer: Terence Dunn
Sound Design: Joe Wilkinson
Production Manager: Alli Albion
1st AD: Dan Baker
1st Camera Assistant: Jake McClean
2nd Camera Assistant: Isabel Boddy
Gaffer: Robbie Gray
Spark: Elinor Williams
Hair & Makeup:
Laura Miles
Sophia Attais
Storyboard Artists:
Andrew Neil
Simon Cartwright

Art Department Assistants:
Grym Leighton
Phil Medhurst
Laura Castellano
Jessica Robinson
Sarah Deane
Sarah Duffield-Harding
Andy Ralst
Ruth Judge
Tom Harnett O’Meara

Runners:
Hector Gifford
Katie Millner
Additional Background Photography:
Jasmine Holm
Nicholas Hendrick
Michelle Devall
Compositing:
Christine Hooper
Stephen McNally
Grade:
Mark Meadows @ Smoke & Mirrors

Video for Rich The Kid’s track with Kendrick Lamar co-directed by Jack Begert and The Little Homies’ Dave Free (previously featured here).

Nice effect in this self-directed video by Clean Bandit for their track with Julia Michaels.

A striking collaboration between Tel Aviv-based photographer Ekaterina Bourindine and Paris-based dancer and choreographer Van Chriqui. Shot in a cave where time seems to stand still, “Portable Secret Zone” traces the movement of light that seeps in from above, illuminating previously hidden spaces while recasting others in complete darkness.

The project is a reminder that everything is temporary no matter how permanent or timeless they appear. As Chriqui explains: “From the outside the cave is stationary, but from the inside it is an ever-changing world.” Check out “Portable Secret Zone” above as well as photos from the shoot below!

Directed by Ekaterina Bourindine & Van Chriqui
Filming: Ekaterina Bourindine
Movement Director: Van Chriqui
Dancer & Styling: Van Chriqui

Ekaterina Bourindine’s Website

Ekaterina Bourindine on Instagram

Van Chriqui on Facebook

Van Chriqui on Instagram

Raw visuals for “Siphon,” Zola Jesus’s track about trying to reach a loved one struggling with depression. Directed by filmmaker Zia Anger (previously featured here).

Director: Zia Anger
Cinematographer: Ashley Connor
Blood: Chris Osborn & Breanne Thomas
Special Effects: James Siewert
Editor: Chris Osborn
Colorist: Samuel Gursky
Artistic Director: Jenni Hensler
Concept: Zia Anger & Zola Jesus

Thank you:
Theo Anthony
Mark Bero

Gorgeous cinematography in this video by Sven Dreesbach and Philipp Primus for Fortnite (aka producer Robot Koch and musician Fiora). Shot on location in South Africa, “Gasoline” follows a young man named Blanka who dreams of performing in front of the crowd that gathers on the outskirts of Soweto for Wheelz and Smoke — a weekly event where “spinners” perform dangerous stunts inside an enclosed arena.

A film by Sven D. & Philipp Primus
Production Assistants:
Andile Madinani
Makwash Phiri

The Driver: Gilbert ‘Blanka’ Sewoha
FX Artist: Erik Zimmermann
Production by Revolutio

Thanks to:
Mpho Raborife
Lizel & Stacey May
Austin Kruger
Meadowlands Community Association
Wheelz & Smoke, Alberton
Glow Hire Rentals
Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department
Soweto Tourist Information

This is just one of the many impressive submissions we’ve received in the past week. Consider participating here if you have a project you’d like us to check out!

A brilliantly poppy and dystopian short by UK-based directorial collective Youth Hymns.

Really like the look of this video for Protomartyr’s track “Don’t Go To Anacita” by New York-based filmmaker Yoonha Park (previously featured here).

Fantastic video for Royal Blood’s track “How Did We Get So Dark?” by Ed Kaye and Alex Mavor aka directing duo The Sacred Egg (previously featured here).

Directed by The Sacred Egg
Producer: Natalie Arnett
Production Company: Riff Raff
Special thanks to Jon Day at Orange Films and all in Capetown