A wonderfully subtle short by Tel Aviv-born, Los Angeles-based filmmaker Marina Michelson. Inspired by the 2008 recession and the resulting trend toward rooftop gardens and pickling start-ups, “Biophilia” tells the story of a former Brooklynite who relocates to her boyfriend’s old family ranch to live the dream of self-reliance. While touching on themes of power and emotional abuse, Michelson offers a different kind of story than the mythic (and traditionally masculine) experience so often depicted in popular culture. As she explains:

“In recent years, the question of what it means to be self-reliant triggered me at dinner parties where I veered into uncomfortable territory by asking the guests if they would kill the animal we’d be feasting on if they had to. Nature provides tests of character unknown in civil society. Biophilia pits the lust for land against the REALITY of subsisting off it.”

Watch “Biophilia” above and see full credits below!

Starring
Meryl Jones
Dan Pfau
Julie Eccles-Benson

Written & Directed by Marina Michelson
Produced by Devin Shepherd, Nora Unkel, Simran Mahal,
Marina Michelson & Meryl Jones Williams
In association with Destro Films and Script Pipeline
Cinematographer: Lowell A. Meyer
Edit: Sam Fuller
Production Design: Eloise Ayala
Original Score: Igor Kogan
Sound Design: Chase Everett

This video was submitted by Marina Michelson and selected by our team. Click here if you have a project you’d like us to check out!

Nice art direction and colourful styling in this video for MOZIAH’s track “Can’t Stay In One Place.” Directed by Nicolas J Capra, Tyler Crosby and Marcus Guerrier (aka MOZIAH). Watch above and see full credits below!

Featuring:
Kari Seward
MOZIAH
Charlie Rubinovitz
Marcus Brown
Raymond Morency
Lexi Orphanos
Daniel Harris
Tommy Prast
Milton Lopez
Malik Marshall
Kevin Kaminski
Tyler Crosby
Malcolm Virgil
Alison Mingle
Rui Delgado
Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut
David Klein
Raoul Arboite

Directed by Nicolas J Capra, Tyler Crosby & Marcus Guerrier
Produced by Austin Day and Marcus Guerrier
DP: Nicolas J Capra
1st AC/Grip: Alexa Werrlein
Key Grip: Kevin Kaminski
Production Assistant: Malcolm Virgil

Thanks to:
Sitting Shotgun
Don’t Trust the Postal Service
Plushies by Chloe
Stonestreet Studios
Mom, Dad, and Rah

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

Irish director Lochlainn McKenna follows the course of an entire three-year relationship in this video for Daithí. Shot in a single day from one angle, “Orange” features 2 actors, 50+ scenes and over 80 costume changes. Watch above and see full credits below. You can also click here to check out McKenna and Daithí’s previous collaboration, if you haven’t already!

Starring Aoife Spratt & Diarmuid Noyes

Director: Locky
Producer: Daithí O’Dronaí
DOP: Karl Poyzer
Production Designer: Kate Moylan
Art Assistant: Elana Murphy
Stills Photographer: Gemma O’Brien
Colourist: Leandro Arouca @ Element Post
VFX: Henrique Fernandes @ Humanoide

Thanks to:
The Lynch Family
The Walsh Family
Fishpond
Film Equipment Hire Ireland
Chriona O’Sullivan

This video was submitted by Lochlainn McKenna and selected by our team. Click here if you have a project you’d like us to check out!

A fantastic collaboration from directors Zozo Jhen, Yen-Chen Liu, Ellis Kayin Chan, Tena van der Galović and Marine Varguy. Created as their Master’s thesis film from Gobelins, l’École de l’image, “A Gong” follows a 7 year-old boy as he navigates a traditional Taiwanese funeral held for his grandpa. Click here to see more beautiful work from Gobelins, if you haven’t already!

An intense experimental short written and directed by Spanish filmmaker Álvaro de la Hoz of Burbuja Films. “Frightening Woods” tells the story of a young woman who discovers a blindfold hidden in a strange clearing in the forest. The film contains no dialogue, employing instead what de la Hoz refers to as “the secret weapon of cinema” — allowing the visuals to speak directly to the audience in “its native language: imagination.” Shooting on Super 8mm similarly adds to the haunting and dream-like nature of the piece, as de la Hoz explains:

“The process of working with real film was exciting and very different from the digital workflow. We didn’t have the luxury of unlimited recording time, good low-light sensitivity or even the ability to review what we have just filmed! Those constraints force you to rehearse a lot with the actors, to plan your shooting very carefully and to be extremely focused on set. Whenever the camera starts rolling you can feel a special energy among the actors and crew. I believe it added a unique tension to the performances and helped to build the film’s atmosphere.”

Watch above and see full credits below!

Cast:
Olivia Matas
Alfonso Señas

Director & Writer: Álvaro de la Hoz
Assistant Director: Nacho Solana
Cinematographer: Laura Hojas
Producer: Roberto Silva
Assistant Producer: Raquel Lobera
Production Designer: Jorge Cimiano
Costume Designer: Marta Solano
FX: Miguel Angel Orellana
Picture Editor: Alvaro de la Hoz
Sound Editor: Diego Gonzalez
Music Composer: Pablo Gregor

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

A delightful animated road trip for Camarano by Chicago-based illustrator and animator Shane Beam (previously featured here). Inspired by the iconic South African landmark, “Table Mountain” explores themes of commitment, friendship, spirit animals, and the ways traveling can help us wake up from our everyday lives and appreciate the moment.

A stunning video for Son Lux’s track “Yesterday’s Wake” by Prague-based writer-director Marek Partyš and Bratislava-based cinematographer Dušan Husár (previously featured here). We’ve also featured a bunch of incredible Son Lux videos in the past, click here to check them out if you haven’t already!

Featuring:
Markéta Vutru Vutru
Jiří Podzimek
Libuše Večeřová
Václav Havelka
Erik Lukavský
Babeta Ondrová

Written and Directed by Marek Partyš
Produced by Bistro Films
Executive Producer: Jiří Ptáček, Kristýna Večeřová, Marek Partyš, Dušan Husár
Producer: Kristýna Večeřová
Production Assistant: Jakub Žídek
Runner: Michael Bělák, Manlai Erdembileg
DOP: Dušan Husár
AC 1: Ludvík Otevřel, Filip Knoll
AC 2: Dona Domeska, Lukáš Bistřický
DIT + Camera car: Jakub Žídek
Ronin: Filip Rybář
Steadicam: David Růžička
Gaffer: Miro Žila, Roger Keist
Grip: Jan Matiášek, Kryštof Hlůže
Colorist: Nicke Jacobsson
Props master: Tomáš Bukáček
Props + Construction: Jan Trakal, Jan Rejžek, Jakub Žídek
SFX: Pavel Policar, Tomáš Policar
Foodstylist: Adéla Srbová
Key Make up: Renee Vidourková
Wardrobe: Kristýna Voců
Edit: Marek Partyš

Thanks to:
Samuel Stano, Kristýna Voců, Martina Popperová,
Tomáš Válek, VANTAGE, Marie Tučková,
Margareta Abena, Sára Johanovská, Julie Žáčková,
Linda Fasseti, Hana Drahošová

This video was submitted by Dušan Husár and selected by our team. Click here if you have a project you’d like us to check out!

The remaining members of an indie folk band struggle to move on with their lives after an unexpected tragedy in the latest short from Thai-born, Toronto-raised filmmaker Johnny Vong (previously featured here).

Starring
Regan James – Suzy
Montana Pine – Charlotte
Justin Possenti – Howie
Thomas Queyja – Thomas

Directed by Johnny Vong
Produced by Justin Possenti & Johnny Vong
Story by Johnny Vong
Co-Writers:
Regan James
Montana Pine
Justin Possenti
Johnny Vong
Cinematography: Johnny Vong
Editing: Johnny Vong
Gaffer: Seth Koury
Boom Operator/Sound Mixer: Marcus Heleker
Boom Operator/Sound Mixer: Ed Mattiuzzi
Boom Operator/Sound Mixer: Shaina Pakravan
Sound Editor/Sound Mixer: Johnny Vong

This video was submitted by Johnny Vong and selected by our team. Click here if you have a project you’d like us to check out!

Captivating visuals for Clams Casino’s track “Healing” by New York City-based director Timothy Saccenti (previously featured here). Featuring dancers Bria Bacon, Jaqi Medlock, Tess Montoya, and Megan Wright. Choreography by Stephen Petronio of the Stephen Petronio Company.

A lovely short by Paris-based director Chloé Borgella. Set to her own musical track, “Shaolin” follows a young boy left daydreaming in the back seat of a car while his parents argue up front. Watch above and see full credits below!

Featuring:
Cyril Carre-Ebe
François Marie Nivon
Hélène Arnault
Agathe Bokja
Louis Schwab

Produced by UFO CREATIVE PICTURES
Directed by Chloé Borgella
DOP: Claire Bouchard
1st AD: Savannah Delcamp-Rise
2nd AD: Antoine De Ducla, Mathilde Neau
Script: Yael Golberg
Line Producer: Farah Chennith
Assistant unit manager: Yoann Ouachcene, Cléméntine Valenzuela
Camera operator: Claire Bouchard
1st AC: Julie Robineau, Julia Portanier
Key Grip: Patrick Brouillet
Gaffer: Gregoire Lobut
Electrician: Kentin Gobe

Set designer: Léo cano
Costume designer: Caroline Revillion
Assistant costume designer: Megumi Carre-Ebe
Key make up artist: Mika Korkida
Hair stylist: Amélie Clamart
Sound Recordist: Alix Clement
Mixer: Arthur Boulanger, Alexis Venot
“Shaolin” music mixed by Rita Pradinas
Mastering: Renaud Biri
Editor: Mathilde De Brancion
Colorist: Thomas Garbis

Thanks to:
David Levi, Martien Biri, Emmanuel Valette,
Etienne Fu-Le-Saulnier, Myrtille Biri Julien,
Sophie Biri Julien, Venceslas Biri,
Yoan Cottet de la villa mais d’ici, Jeanne Sarda,
L’atelier Art-Teck, La compagnie “Les Mistons”,
Le magasin les Drapeaux de France,
Brendan Spinec, Mickael Rodrigues, Estelle Lembert,
Hélène Bigot, Audrey Ako, Clara Léac

This video was submitted by Chloé Borgella and selected by our team. Consider participating here if you have a project you’d like us to check out!

A delightful collaboration from our friend Los Angeles-based writer Nada Alic and artist/animator Andrea Nakhla. Part of their ongoing collection of short fiction and original artwork, Future You, “The Trick: A Simple Guide to Achieving Total Spiritual Transformation” is a charming tongue-in-cheek take on self-help culture, based on a short story Nada wrote and almost left buried in Google docs.

Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared’s Joseph Pelling teams up with British comedian Jamie Demetriou for a brilliant blend of live-action and animation. Produced by Blink Industries, “Jarressey” follows its titular character as he finally lands a job and tries to grab a bite to eat before heading to the pub to celebrate. Watch above and see full credits below!

A Blink Industries Production
Created by Jamie Demetriou, Joseph Pelling & Blink Industries
Written and Performed by Jamie Demetriou
Directed by Joseph Pelling
Produced by Charlie Perkins & Hugo Donkin
Executive Producers:
James Stevenson Bretton
Tom Stuart
James Studholme

Cast:
Jarressey – Jamie Demetriou
George – Liam Williams
Window Boy – Chris Hayward

Director of Photography: Ed Tucker
Camera Assistant: Harry Wheeler
Gaffer: Max Halstead
Electrician: Fiachra Kerrigan
Production Designer: Joseph Pelling
Art Director: Becky Sloan
Set Builder: Will Vincent
Puppetteer: Stephanie Bouldoc
Art Department:
Jack Needell
Rosalind Gahamire
Stephanie Bouldoc
Editor: Joseph Pelling
Sound Recordist: Calum Sample
Original Music: Joseph Pelling & Jamie Demetriou
Post-Production Supervisors: Charlie Perkins, Jen Coatsworth
Clean Up: Joseph Pelling, David O’Neill, Team Digital

2D Animation:
Joseph Pelling
Millie Tennant
Nick Turner
Charlie Perkins
Pär Söderlund

3D Animation: Gustaf Lindström
Colourist at Freefolk: Tim Martin
Sound Mix at Offset Audio: Claire Bilyard

Special Thanks:
Clapham Road Studios
Blinkink Studio

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