The Sundance Film Festival has uncovered another gem, and it’s not just a shiny rock from the Eastern Himalayas. No, it’s actually the world premiere of Anirban Dutta and Anupama Srinivasan’s documentary “Nocturnes”, which has secured a world sales deal with London-based outfit Dogwoof.
This eco-doc takes us on a journey to a secret universe in the Eastern Himalayas, where moths play a crucial role in knitting together an important ecosystem. It’s like a nature documentary, but with a dash of mystery and intrigue.
The film is produced by none other than Oscar-nominated Sandbox Films, known for their work on “Fire of Love”. Anirban Dutta is not only co-directing, but also producing the film along with executive producers Boustead and Harrop. The talented team behind the camera includes editor Yaël Bitton and director of photography Satya Rai Nagpaul, with an original score by BAFTA Breakthrough composer Nainita Desai. This is truly a star-studded lineup of creatives.
And this isn’t Dutta and Srinivasan’s first rodeo. Their previous documentary, “Flickering Lights”, competed in the International Competition at the 2023 edition of IDFA, where it took home the top prize for cinematography. Clearly, these two have a knack for capturing the essence of their subjects on film.
Sandbox Films Co-founder Greg Boustead gushes about “Nocturnes”, calling it a “unique and intoxicating experience”. We can only imagine what that means, but it sounds promising. He and his co-founder Jess Harrop have been collaborating with Dutta and Srinivasan for the past three years, and now with the premiere set for Sundance and Dogwoof on board, they’re ready to transport a global audience to this special corner of the world.
Oli Harbottle of Dogwoof is equally enthusiastic about the film, describing it as a “truly unique” and “visually and aurally immersive piece of filmmaking”. It seems like everyone is on board the “Nocturnes” hype train, and we’re all eagerly awaiting its arrival at Sundance.
But what do the filmmakers themselves have to say about all this? Well, they want to create an experience where the audience feels “embedded in the natural environment” and “responds to the vibrations of nature”. It sounds like they’re aiming for some next-level immersive filmmaking, and we’re here for it.
With such an amazing track record of bringing artistic films to large audiences, Sandbox and Dogwoof seem like the perfect partners to take “Nocturnes” to the world. We can’t wait to see this documentary unfold on the big screen and inspire an understanding of the interconnectedness of nature.
So, mark your calendars and get ready to be transported to the Eastern Himalayas with “Nocturnes”. It’s bound to be an otherworldly experience that will leave a lasting impression on all who watch it. Let’s just hope the moths don’t steal the show!
