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A DANCE SHORT FILM

BY TIM MEYER // CHOREOGRAPHY BY BERNAT MARTÍNEZ SARDÀ // CINEMATOGRAPHY BY CHRISTOPHER THANOS PAPAKOSTAS, DAVID KAMP AND DAVIDE DE PALO

AKILA

The Film

Poster for the ballet film 'Astra' showing the back of a woman's head with platinum blonde hair in a bun, surrounded by other dancers in dark clothing, under a blue stage lighting.

  • ACT ONE
    We enter the world of AKILA, following a nameless character who discovers a mirror. In this mirror, she finds something, somebody. Unsure if it is herself or someone else, she starts exploring and soon realizes that it is indeed somebody else reflected in the mirror.
    We then follow the reflected character on an expressive journey of self-discovery. Throughout this journey, we are introduced to different characters and emotions but ultimately return to the individual with whom we entered the world. Now, she is also inside of the mirror, freed from all constraints. Celebrating this new found liberation, she starts to express her true self.
    When she finishes her expression and looks into the mirror again, she sees all the other characters standing behind her, their eyes fixed on her. The group starts to run towards her as she closes her eyes in fear.

    ACT TWO
    When she opens her eyes again, she finds herself frozen in space along with all the other characters, no longer separated by the mirror portal. More and more, individuals start to temporarily glitch out of their frozen position. These glitches synchronize, as if their minds are trying to connect to one another, trying to become a unity.
    All of a sudden everybody breaks out of their freeze, displaying the unity they have built through the glitches. Through a unified choreography, they explore their connection in time and space. However, individuals still glitch out of this unity for brief moments. The movements build up to a frantic sprint, before everyone collapses onto the floor.

    ACT THREE
    When they wake up, they seem to have become one united entity, breathing in and out as one. As they rise to their feet, they acknowledge each other. Yet, they remain entangled, finding more energy for another unified, synchronized movement.
    After a while, one individual loses synchronicity, falls out of the group, and finds herself alone in space. The others suddenly reappear, now aggressive, trying to force her back into her role within the entity. She feels torn between the comfort of the group and the longing for individual freedom.
    After several attempts to free herself, she succeeds but realizes that the rest of the group is collapsing after losing a part of their group. We see the escaped individual's face, torn between the joy of freedom and the crushing guilt of causing the demise of everyone she knew.

  • In three acts, we follow the lifecycle of a hive-minded entity and its journey to discovering individuality which leads them to their inevitable demise.

Film Stills

Close-up of a woman with red hair and face paint, looking downward with intense expression.
Multiple people lying on the floor in a dark room with blue and red lighting, some wearing costumes or work uniforms.
Two young women with intense expressions under blue and red lighting, their heads close together, focused on something
Close-up of a woman's face with short blonde hair, her hand touching her head, under colorful lighting.
A woman with long reddish-brown hair wearing a black jacket standing in an indoor space with blue and red lighting, looking at her phone.
Three women with braided hair in a neon-lit room, one standing and two seated, with face paint and casual clothing.
A woman with blonde hair tied in a bun, wearing a black top, holding her neck and looking away in a room with blue and red lighting and large windows
Two people in a dimly lit indoor space, one with dyed pink hair and a black jacket, and the other with curly hair and a white shirt, both looking downward. There is a blue-lit barrier and large window in the background.
A young female ballet dancer practicing in a dance studio with colorful lighting.
Women in a line holding a rope, participating in a tug-of-war game indoors, with blue and red lighting
Woman with blonde hair reaching upward, surrounded by hands of other people, illuminated by red and blue lighting in a dark environment.
Group of dancers in black and white outfits performing on a stage with blue and purple lighting.
A person lying on their back with their eyes closed in a dimly lit room with blue and red lighting, another person leaning over them.
A group of six dancers in black and white costumes performing on a dark stage with colorful lighting.
Close-up of a woman with red hair, wearing makeup, lying down with neon lighting.
Top-down view of five young women standing on a dark tiled floor, illuminated by blue and pink lights, with some smiling and striking poses.
A woman with dark hair, wearing a jacket, appears to be shouting or celebrating, raised arm and an intense facial expression, in neon lighting.
A woman with dark hair in a bun wearing a black top and face makeup, reaching upward in a dimly lit room with blue and red lighting.
A person performing a split on the floor in a dark, colored lighting setting.
A woman with arms raised in a dance pose under colorful neon lighting.
A person with dark hair styled back, wearing dark makeup and a black jacket with a white shirt underneath, looks to the side in a scene lit with pink and blue neon lights.
Three women with face paint standing in a row in a dark, colorful environment.
A dramatic scene with two women and a man in a dark, colorful setting. One woman with dark hair and a serious expression is leaning forward, while the other woman with light hair is behind her, both illuminated by pink and blue lighting.
A young woman with short dark hair and light makeup, illuminated by colorful neon lights in a dark setting, looking to her right.
Close-up of a woman with makeup and face paint, resting her head on her arm in a dimly lit room with colorful lighting.
A woman with slicked-back hair, wearing a black top, with small dots on her forehead, looking directly at the camera in a dimly lit setting with other people in the background.
A person with makeup and earrings laying on the floor in a dimly lit room with blue and pink lighting.
A woman with face paint talking to another woman in a dimly lit room with blue and red lighting.
A close-up of a woman with makeup, looking upward, illuminated by blue and pink lighting with a light source behind her head.
Group of women standing in blue lighting, some with serious expressions.
A person with dark hair facing away, watching a large screen displaying an underwater scene with sharks in blue water.
Close-up of a woman with red face, blonde hair, wearing a black top, in a dimly lit room with a blue background.
A person with platinum blonde hair styled in a ponytail, illuminated by colorful stage lighting.
A woman with dark hair, wearing a black top, is in a dimly lit room with blue and purple lighting, looking intensely at the camera.
A group of people engaged in a dance or performance, arranged in a complex, layered formation on a dark floor, illuminated by colorful stage lighting.
Three women in formal attire on the floor, with one woman leaning over and helping two others who are lying on the ground, while a woman in black stands nearby observing.
A person seen from above, standing on a dark tiled floor with hands on the ground in a stretching pose.
Group of seven women dressed in white and black comfortable clothing, lying and kneeling on the floor close together with their heads intertwined, in a dimly lit room with blue lighting.

The Cast of AKILA

  • Close-up of a woman with dark hair slicked back, bold red and black makeup, wearing a white collared shirt under a black jacket, against a dark background.

    Agathe Mas

  • Close-up of a person's face with blue makeup and glitter tears running down their cheeks, with dark hair and a black background.

    Laura Martens García

  • A young woman with dark hair slicked back, makeup including pink eyeshadow and eyeliner, and a slight smile, wearing a white shirt with black suspenders, against a black background.

    Lunis Katholnigg

  • A woman with painted face featuring yellow, green, and blue colors, and white decorative elements around her eyes, wearing a white turtleneck sweater.

    Meike Münch

  • Person with short brown hair wearing blue face paint around eyebrows and eyes, a septum piercing, and a white shirt with black straps, against a black background.

    Neža Goričar

  • Close-up portrait of a young woman with slicked-back blonde hair, wearing a black top, and small earrings, against a dark background.

    Sini Ahonen

  • Close-up of a woman with dark eyeliner, black lipstick, and black face paint creating a gothic style look, against a black background.

    Tinka Brinkman

The Crew behind AKILA

  • Two men with glasses, one with short hair, the other with curly hair and a beard, standing indoors with wooden balconies in the background.

    Tim Meyer

    Director, Composer

  • A young man with glasses, standing on a staircase, leaning on the wooden railing, inside a building with ornate woodwork and a sign that says 'Matth. 24:14' behind him.

    Bernat Martínez Sardà

    Choreographer

  • A person holding a professional camera rig indoors, wearing a baseball cap with a New York Yankees logo.

    Christopher Thanos Papakostas

    Director of Photography

  • Black and white photo of a young man sitting on a bench, smiling, wearing a dark jacket, jeans, and sneakers, with wooden paneled walls behind him and a white paper rolled on the floor nearby.

    David Kamp

    Director of Photography for Act 1

  • People lying on a dark tiled floor, one person smiling at the camera wearing glasses, a baseball cap, and a black jacket; other individuals partially visible, some with glasses, seated. A camera and tripod are seen on the floor.

    Davide de Palo

    Additional Videography,
    Behind the Scenes

  • A woman with long dark hair and hoop earrings sitting against a graffiti-covered wall, wearing a dark sweater.

    Nadia Bouamra Martínez

    Production Manager
    Hair & Make Up Design

  • Black and white photo of a young person with slicked-back hair, wearing a leather jacket and headphones around their neck, standing against a plain background.

    Misha Kazakov

    Hair & Make Up Design

  • A smiling man with dark, messy hair, wearing a black jacket with a badge that reads '199X Bershka' standing in an indoor industrial setting with exposed concrete walls and metal structures.

    Johannes Tewinkel

    Set Designer

  • A woman with curly hair smiling in a black and white photo, sitting at a table in an outdoor setting with a window and a shop sign in the background.

    Clara von Ketteler

    Costume Designer

  • Black and white photo of a young woman with curly hair, holding a banana near her face, looking at the camera while leaning her head on her hand, with a plain white background.

    Ana-Maria Cojocaru

    Title & Poster Design

  • A woman with curly hair and a calm expression standing in a room with clothing racks in the background.

    Juul Maltha

    Lighting Engineer

  • A woman with curly hair dressed in a light blazer and pants, wearing jewelry, and standing against a plain dark background.

    Natascha Weindler

    Hair & Make Up Artist

  • Black and white photo of a woman holding a clapperboard in front of her chest, in a room with a window in the background. The clapperboard has handwritten notes including production title 'AKILA,' scene 2-6, take 3, director Tim Meyer, and date 20.04.24.

    Léonie Bertram

    Production Assistant

  • A young man with a beard and wavy hair smiling outdoors in a busy city street with buildings, trees, and pedestrians.

    Luca Tilly

    Production Assistant

  • Black and white photo of a young man with short hair, smiling slightly, wearing a hoodie with a logo on the sleeve, standing against a plain background.

    Elias Schröter

    Production Assistant

  • Black-and-white photo of a young woman with shoulder-length dark hair, smiling, wearing a long-sleeved top, standing against a plain background.

    Andreea Lefterovici

    Quantum Physics Consultant

Behind the Scenes of AKILA

We are currently working on an official behind the scenes film about the making of AKILA. We have a lot of footage from shooting day as well as some interviews with the cast and crew. Stay tuned, it is coming soon!

Behind the Scenes Pictures

Two crew members on a film set working with a camera, one person is lying on the floor operating the camera while the other person is sitting beside them.
A group of women with dark hair, some styled in braids, seated closely together, looking downward, with serious expressions. The image is in black and white.
A woman with dark makeup and black tears painted on her face looking directly at the camera while another woman with long hair styles her hair. The scene appears dark and moody.
A person with dark, curly hair styled into space buns, wearing face makeup resembling a cat with winged eyeliner and a black nose, dressed in a hoodie, fishnet stockings, and fishnet shorts, posing with one hand near the mouth in front of a tiled wal
Top-down view of a group of people standing in a line indoors with a tiled floor.
A woman with long black hair and light skin is holding a film slate, looking down, in front of a black tiled wall. The slate has details including production, scene, take, director, and date.
A group of people standing in a circle indoors, viewed from above, with a man with curly hair and glasses in the center.
Black and white photo of a film crew on set with a person operating a camera and several women standing in a formation on a tiled floor.
Two people sitting behind a railing at a public event or hearing, focused on papers in front of them. The person on the left is wearing glasses and a hoodie, and the person on the right has dark hair pulled back, wearing a jacket, with a serious expr
A woman with glasses smiling and a person wearing a baseball cap sitting on a black tiled floor, with parts of their bodies visible.
Black and white photo of a group of people engaged in a conversation, viewed from underneath a table or desk.
A group of people gathered around and looking at something, with one person smiling and others with serious expressions, in an indoor setting with large windows and wooden paneling.
A black and white photograph of a group of young people sitting on the floor, engaged in a conversation or activity. A girl with braided hair and glasses is prominently visible on the right, while other individuals are gathered around, some with hand
A dark scene with silhouettes of people, including a person wearing a cap, in front of a bright light source. The image appears to be taken indoors or at night.
Silhouettes of people seated indoors with sunlight streaming in, some wearing face masks.
A person with glasses and curly hair sitting in a dark room, illuminated by a bright light coming from the right side.
Silhouettes of people in a dark setting, with bright lights in the background, possibly working on a film or photography shoot.
A group of five young women practicing ballet or dance moves on a black tiled floor. They are all in different poses, with some standing and others slightly bent or reaching out with their arms. The scene is in black and white.
Black and white photo of people dancing on a dark tiled floor, seen from above.
A black and white aerial view of a group of young women in dance or yoga poses on a dark tiled floor, with some standing and others sitting cross-legged with hands behind their heads.
Black and white overhead view of five women in dark clothing and white shirts, with makeup and hairstyles, posed on a dark tiled floor.
A woman standing above a group of women who are holding hands in a circle indoors at night.
Group of people lying on the floor in a circle, extending their arms outward, in a large dark indoor space with tiled flooring.
A group of dancers sitting on the floor in a circle, with one person in the center looking upward. The dancers are dressed in casual or performance attire. The scene is in a dark room with a black, shiny floor.
Two women in classical dance costumes sitting on the floor in a dance studio with large windows in the background.
Person standing on a balcony inside a modern building with a curved ceiling, white walls, and overhead lights.
A woman holding a film clapperboard partially covering her face, standing in a well-lit room with large windows, with her eyes visible and looking towards the camera.
A group of six women standing in a circle, engaging in a conversation or dance, inside a building with high ceilings and large windows, in black and white photography.
A black and white photo of three women in an indoor setting. One woman with glasses and a patterned shirt is sitting, holding a cup and covering her mouth with her hand. Two women are standing, one on the left holding a phone and the one on the right
A woman with curly hair wearing earrings and a blazer, holding a stuffed animal, standing indoors with a blurred background.
A man with curly hair, beard, and glasses stands indoors, blowing a bubble with gum. He wears a black turtleneck. Several people are seated in front of him, and there is a balcony with balustrades above, and large windows in the background.
Three people standing on a balcony or balcony-like structure indoors, with a visible emergency exit sign above them and railing in front of them.
Two young women with dark, curly hair, smiling and conversing in a dimly lit indoor setting.
A young woman with curly hair wearing a turtleneck sweater smiling and looking at a person in front of her in a dark room.
Side profile of a woman with dark hair pulled back, wearing a light-colored jacket, sitting in a dark room with minimal lighting.
A black-and-white photo of a man with curly hair, glasses, and a beard, sitting indoors near a wall with two children, both also wearing glasses and smiling.
Four people in a circle, smiling and enjoying each other's company.
Black and white photo of a woman holding a film slate with writing on it inside a room with a window in the background.
A person wearing a baseball cap and glasses is operating a professional camera mounted on a stabilization rig indoors with large windows in the background.
A group of women practicing cheerleading stunts inside a room with wooden floors. One woman is lifted and balanced by her teammates, who are dressed in black and white outfits, while another woman looks up at her with a supportive expression.
Two women laughing and embracing in a gym or dojo with large windows in the background, while a man wearing a jacket with Japanese characters and a wave design on the back sits nearby.
A woman with her arms raised, smiling and appearing joyful, surrounded by other people, possibly at a celebration or dance event.
Black and white photo of three women, two standing and one being held upside down by the shoulders, all smiling and interacting in a dark room.
A group of children and adults gathered closely together in a dark room, possibly engaged in a group activity or discussion.
A man with a beard and dark hair looking at the camera, dressed in a dark jacket, standing against a dark background.
A group of people standing in a circle, seen from above, with a woman in black smiling at the center. The scene appears to be in an indoor setting with dark flooring.
A group of people, some holding papers, gathered in a circle, with one person wearing a New York Yankees cap, speaking to the group indoors.
Two individuals, one wearing a New York Yankees baseball cap, are interacting with a clapperboard used in filmmaking, which is labeled with production details and date, in a dark setting.
Black and white photo of a man with curly hair and glasses holding a clapperboard on a film set
A person wearing a New York Yankees cap is smiling and giving a middle finger gesture. They are in a room with other people, and there is a camera on a tripod in front of them, likely recording or taking a photo.
Black and white photo of several young women lying on the floor, some with eyes closed and some with eyes open, in a dance studio or similar space.
A black-and-white photo of a group of women performing a dance or theatrical act on stage, with some women holding a woman in a black outfit above their heads. A camera operator is recording the scene.
Black and white photo of five young women with braided hair, engaging in a dance or performance, with one woman raising her hand and another touching her head.
Top-down black and white photo of seven women dancing or practicing choreography on a tiled floor. They are wearing dark and light clothing, some with fishnet stockings, and are engaged in different dance poses.
Group of young women and a young man in conversation inside a spacious building, some women sitting on the floor, and a man filming with a camera on his shoulder.
A group of young people interacting indoors, engaged in conversation, with some wearing glasses and others with various hairstyles, in a spacious room with large windows.
Black and white photo of a group of young women in theatrical costumes, practicing a scene indoors.
A group of young women gathered around a man who appears to be giving them instructions or coaching in an indoor setting with a high ceiling and balcony. Some women are wearing fishnet stockings and casual clothing. A person with a camera is filming
Two men are engaged in an interview or conversation inside a building with a grand staircase. One man, wearing glasses and a dark shirt, is gesturing with his hands while the other, wearing a light hoodie and cap, listens. There is a musical keyboard
A group of people participating in a yoga class inside a spacious studio with natural light, performing a synchronized pose.
A young man with glasses and a hoodie standing on a staircase next to a wooden railing, with ornate wood carvings and a sign that reads 'Math. 24:14' in the background.
People attending a presentation or lecture in a large room with high windows, some seated and others standing, with a speaker at the front.
Six women walking in a line indoors, with a person standing on a balcony watching from above.
A group of young women dressed in costumes and makeup poses together indoors, with a man in black and white explaining something and a cameraman filming them in the background.
A black and white photo showing two young men; one with glasses and curly hair, the other with glasses and a shaved head, standing on a tiled floor. They appear to be engaged in a conversation or activity, with one pointing or gesturing with his hand
A man standing behind a wooden pulpit with ornate carvings, speaking or singing into a microphone in a church or chapel with decorative woodwork and an ornate wood sculpture of cherubs above him.
A young man with glasses, short hair, and a slight smile leaning on a wooden railing inside a building with ornate architectural details.
Group of people, mostly women, in a dance or theater rehearsal space with costumes and mirrors, some kneeling or lying on the floor.
A group of people, including children and adults, are standing in a line indoors, with some painted faces, possibly for a performance or event, and a cameraman filming from the left.
Group of women standing in line indoors, some looking around or talking, in a modern building with railings and large windows in the background.
A group of young women standing together in an indoor space, possibly a church or community hall, with a man on a staircase behind them. Some women have their heads bowed or are looking away, while others are looking at each other.
A group of people practicing yoga or stretching exercises in a studio with some on their knees, others standing, with hands behind their heads, facing a wall or mirror. There are three individuals in the foreground with their backs to the camera and
Group of people practicing yoga or stretching on a tiled floor in a spacious indoor setting, with some individuals in a deep stretch on their knees and others standing.
A group of people practicing yoga or stretching exercises on the floor in a spacious indoor area with a black tiled floor, with some people kneeling and others standing or reaching forward.