UK-based filmmaker George Daniell’s video for the track “Tin Monner” (“Hardship”) by Rap Son — the brother of a young boy named Abdul who Daniell’s met while volunteering in the George Brook Community of Freetown in Sierra Leone. After hearing Abdul describe his older brother, Abu, as “the second best rapper” in their neighbourhood, Daniell’s offered to make a video for his first recorded song. This involved shooting around Freetown with Abu (aka Rap Son) and 10 of his friends from sunrise to sunset. As Daniell’s reflects:

“It’s been a great experience to be part of, it happened by complete chance and created with no budget and I really hope the video can encourage and help Rap Son pursue his dream of being a rapper. It’s given me all sorts of ideas of creating similar projects.”

Check out “Tin Monner” above and some photos of Daniells, Rap Son and his friends below!

George Daniell on Vimeo

George Daniell on Instagram

A wonderful short written by Martha Hardy-Ward and directed by New Zealand-based filmmaker Michelle Savill. “Ellen is Leaving” offers a refreshing portrait of young love and new beginnings.

A fun ident for MTV Worldwide by Morgan Powell of London-based Seed Animation. Confronted with a one-word brief (“Horny”), Powell responds with two (“Balloon Orgy”).

Really like the smokey effect in this video for Future and Young Thug’s track “All da Smoke” by director Spike Jordan.

Love this video for pianist Nitai Hershkovits’s track with MNDSGN by Melbourne-based animator Felix Colgrave (previously featured here). Painted backgrounds by artist Zoë Medcraft aka Trugglet. “Flyin’ Bamboo” marks Colgrave’s first collaboration with Medcraft, who also happens to be his fiancée!

Video for Seattle-born, Los Angeles-based singer and guitarist Sapphire Jewell’s latest solo project Racquet. “Surface” belongs to a three part narrative EP which follows a relationship broken by depression and was directed by Jack Martin and filmed by Arjan Sudick in Jewell’s home state of Washington.

Great video for Troye Sivan’s track “My My My!” by Los Angeles-based director Grant Singer (previously featured here). Seizure warning: may contain triggers for those with photosensitive epilepsy.

So many beautiful shots in this video for Vance Joy’s track “We’re Going Home” by California-based director Mimi Cave (previously featured here). Choreography by Dana Wilson.

Love the look of this video for Son Lux by Los Angeles-based director Alex Cook (previously featured here). “Slowly” follows two caretakers as they tend to a small group of patients hooked up to a mysterious machine. See full credits below.

Directed and Edited by Alex Cook
Producer: Tim Kerigan
Director of Photography: Sam Davis
1st AC: Aaron Seller
2nd AC: RJ Ong
Gaffer: Chandler Desforges
Key Grip: Matt Burke
Grip: Eli DiFiore, Matthew Kloker, Mason Charles, Logan Evans
Production Design: Mollie Wartelle
Art Director: Devin Cheney
Makeup: Veronica Werner
Costume: Maggie Clapis, Holly Holcomb
Visual Effects: Nick Chamberlain

Featuring:
Mackenzie Firgens, Raluca Vlad,
Saro, Merry Berchfield,
Yadira Orozco, and Greena Park

Special Thanks:
Michael Kaufmann, Hannah Houser,
Deven Chierighino, Katy Spence,
Lindsey Sheets, Nathan Pfaff, and Andrew Brueck

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

Charlotte Gainsbourg’s latest self-directed video for her track “I’m a Lie.” Click here for previous posts.

A powerful portrait of personal reinvention by Rio de Janeiro-born, New Jersey-raised filmmaker Yuri Alves. “Grind” follows Robert Wilmote, a Liberian refugee and former gangster, who transformed his life following his release from prison and now challenges other to do the same. Wanting to do justice to Robert’s story, Alves created a very specific cinematic aesthetic — a fusion of documentary and narrative reenactments. The latter involved bringing Robert back to places from his past (including his old jail cell), a dynamic which added not only an emotional weight to the scenes but a cathartic element to the filmmaking process. As Alves shared with us:

“It was an intense and intimate shoot that required an immense amount of trust on both sides of the camera.”

Check out “Grind” above. Behind-the-Scenes photos and full credits below!

Directed by Yuri Alves
Introducing: Robert Wilmote
Producers: Yuri Alves and Igor Alves
Executive Producers: Yuri Alves, Igor Alves
Associate Producers: Dan Dowding and Paul Burger
Cinematographer: Michael Gomes
Editor: Yuri Alves
Sound Editing and Mix: Mert Ozcan
Composer: Benjamin Zecker
Assistant Camera: Caroline Sincaruk and Marco Penajoia
Gaffer: Gabriel Kurzlop
Sound: Victor Buitrago
Colorist: Alex Maclean
Production Coordinator: Li Kurzlop
Production Assistants: Erick Arce, Corey Brumfield,
Steven Goncalves, Khadijah Thomas, Sharon Wu
Post Production Sound Services: The Record House
Post Production Color Services: Rogue
In Association with: The Hidden Fortress
Production Company: DreamPlay Media
Made with support from:
Newark Office of Film and Television
City of Newark
Hell’z Kitchen Lounge

Yuri Alves’s Website

Yuri Alves on Instagram

A moving art/dance film by Los Angeles-based director Jane Qian (previously featured here). Created to help raise awareness and support for the victims of the recent wildfires in California — and actually shot at what remains of the home of one of the many people affected — “Phoenix” offers a visual expression of the stages of grief and finding the strength to rebuild.