Bear Damen

Oscar Qualifying 💜 SXSW 2025. Grand Jury Award nominee New Orleans Film Festival — WINNER — Jury award, best narrative short.  Virginia Film Festival — WINNER — Audience award Kerry Film Festival — WINNER — Best international short Deadcenter Film Festival — WINNER — Grand Jury award best narrative short. Tallgrass Film Festival — WINNER — Murmurations short award. Hollyshorts Film Festival — SPECIAL MENTION — Kodak award. Cambria Film Festival — WINNER — Best Director It brings us soo much joy to see Synthesize Me at all these festivals reaching people around the world 💜

@sxsw @aurevoirfrancois @claudasaur @violeta_films @couscous @alfonsohss @anablizz @luba_luba_luba_ @floorbijkersma Cast: Ivanna Plantier @ivannaplantier Antonio Trejo Sanchéz @trejoactor Lorena Rodriguez @alorenrodriguez Diana Ríos Producers: Salim El Arja @cocopecar @anacardonaq @irlandatapia @poweisub Casting: @alessandranesma 1st AD: Aldo Jovan Diaz @aldojovan 2nd AD: Marlene Guerin @marleneguerin DOP: Alfonso Herrera Salcedo 1st AC: Chris Muñoz Chief Lighting Technician: Juan ‘POLLO’ Gabriel Production design: Anna Blizzard @anablizz Production Coördinator: Fernanda Preciado @fer_preci Production manager: @rominaspektor Music by Bear Damen & @robkovacsmusic Sounddesign: @jesseenzler @moritz.staub @tijnhazen Boom Operator: Alin Brindis Zecua @alin_brindis Sound Assistant: Daniel Villa @dano.wav Colorist: Bart Voorsluis @bartvoorsluis Special thanks to Patrick Devine @ comany3 Hair & Make-up: @makeupbyreginaguilar Costume design: @luba_luba_luba_ Wardrobe assistant: Carlos Guevara Hernández Mixed at @stmpdrecstudios Post supervision: @ess.s.s VFX: Eduardos Avalos Jimenéz Picture Synths: Jose Carlos Moreno Eguiza Akira Honda FX by Roberto Belmont Equipment by @cinesonica Ronin operator: Alvaro Fuentes @festivalformula @new.europe.film.sales #sxsw #sxswfilmtv

✨Had such a blast making this one with and for the amazing @jamesblake 💖 starring alongside @finneas together with many including @jameelajamilofficial @semerakhan amongst many others. Thank you ❤️ Felt great producing with friends of our very own @couscous Salim El Arja and @sacha_bh and @bennarich . Shooting with ever colourful @packdrawn and editing with lord @hwkaplan . Thanks to @dianqi for helping out as well and let us invade the house ❤️ and as always @floorbijkersma @giancarlosanchez link in bio. Credits: Director: @beardamen Cinematographer: @packdrawn Editor: @hwkaplan Producer: Salim El Arja, @sacha_bh Production Company: @couscous Line Producer: @bennarich Production Manager: Neil Engelman 1st AD: @cashonwrap 2nd AD: James Cornett Location Manager: Barry Norwood 1st AC: Nino Doto 2nd AC: Patricia Tscharkyj Loader: Keith Bronsdon VFX Sup: @coopvchrn Key Grip: @mr.hotcoffee Lead Grip: Mikey Tell Grip: Sean Blair, David Nunez, Sam Le Bas Gaffer: @geehanski Lead Gaffer: Mikey Tell Electric: Ben Bowen, Andrew Kendall Sound Recordist: @jeremyjemery Production Designer: @alexisjohnsonstyle Art Director: Olga Nesvetaylov Leadman: Andres Villanueva Decorator: Harrison Harvey Set Dresser: Abraham Bautista, Breeana Garcia HMU: @nellichristine , @makeupbykayce HMU assistant: Odera Nduka Wardrobe: @annaannasusu , Anton Schneider, @lindseyhartman Wardrobe assistant: Kelly Page CCO: Scott Davidson PA: James Dotin, Jared Pockalny, Andrea “Dre” Quinonez, Stacy Dickerson, Ariyan Kassam Site Rep: Christopher Payton, Genelyn Arante.   Cast: @jamesblake , @finneas Extras: Sonny Frank, Garret Daily, Era Dream, Alec Pacheco, Scott Mik, Ilene Shen, Naomi Dell, Dion’tai Lewis, Brandon Bates, Rose Conroy-Voza, Tiffany Smith, Dylan Fisher. Commissioner @semerakhan   Scans: @fotokem_la Assistant Editor: @katyashleyyy VFX Artist: @coopvchrn Sound Design/Mix:  @staubaudio Color: @rickygausis - @movingpicturecompany Suppliers: @panavisionofficial , @kodak_shootfilm , Mischief Lights, Alliance Grip, Universal, Full Moon Pickles. #finneas #jamesblake

happy to announce ‘open up that door’ feat. @kilimanjaromusic was nominated for Best Narrative at @berlinmusicvideoawards and selected for screening at this @sxswlondon we can’t thank everyone involved enough for bringing this project to life. this really was a labour of love from everyone who worked on it ❤️‍🔥 it ended up becoming the background artwork for the vinyl and part of the core chorophobia mantra. some more bts vibes in these clips, including merijn’s parents (and former school teacher haha) doing catering, and the second clip probably says enough about how much fun this was to make ❤️ Endless love to cast + crew Directed and written: @beardamen & @weval_ 
Cast: @tim.haars , @kilimanjaromusic , @rubenvdmeer 

Production Company: @luckrystofhueber 
Producer: @luchueber 
Production manager: @annelangedijk 
Assistant production manager: @marielvermue 
PA / Driver: @jameskarbie 
First AD: @strikmijnveters 
Second AD: @svmwxlve 
D.O.P.: @tobiassmeets 
Focus Puller: Krijn Wintjes
Steadicam: @steadi_raaf 
Gaffer: Teun Pulles
Electrician: @tamboerein 
Electrician: @meesblaak 
Production design: Koen Hueber
Art director: @atelierjeli_ 
Set Dresser: @zumapleijzier 
Art assistant: @djina.bdb 
Styling: @annebaarslag 
Styling assistant: @fioseptember Choreography & Movement Direction: @leonarda_lovrekovic Make up artist: @thatsalilusithing 
Make up assistant: Niels Broeksmit
Behind the Scenes Photography: @sabka.film.photography 
Catering: Renince Werkhoven, Marilou Klein & Kasper Scholte Albers
Camera equipment: @cinesupply.nl 
Light equipment: Teun Pulles
Editor: @vastez 
Sound designer: @jesseenzler 
Titlels: @floorbijkersma 
Grading: @miltonbroen.color 
Label: @ninjatune / @technicolourrecs 
Management: 285group All dancers and extras ❤️‍🔥
Special appearance by: @megandeklerk

Bear Damen on building a short around something extremely specific, and trusting that specificity. SYNTHESIZE ME is now streaming on Rover 🎛️

Inspired by synthesizers and the very real power grid quirks around Mexico City. A short film shaped by its setting. 🎞️ Watch Synthesize Me 📄 Read the screenplay 🧬 Study the tech DNA only on Rover · rover.stream Written and directed by Bear Damen @couscous @synthesize_me_film @violeta_films @alfonsohss @anablizz @luba_luba_luba_ @floorbijkersma @ivannaplantier @cocopecar @anacardonaq @irlandatapia @poweisub @new.europe.film.sales

‘Til The Morning’ in between setups by @royelotis live in a garden. Camera: @rhyswarren Produced by @david__gourlay Production @nezzle_ for @agilefilms Sound: @anthonyleungsound Commissioner: @john_moule and @mrandrereid Color @washldn @panavisionofficial @kodak_shootfilm

US theatrical release today!. War Pony is coming out everywhere in Cinemas! In awe of how far this film, directed by @rileykeough and @chinagammell has come. Starting with a bang of winning the Camera D’or in Cannes. MANY premieres, accolades, EU releases later, and finally its release in the US and Streaming right after (+ NY Times Critic’s pick!). I urge everyone to go see this film, made with such strong belief and love!

Grateful to @sacha_bh who brought this script to @couscous (Salim El Arja and I) we just had to help produce it and bring it out there. It’s very special to see its release (also in Europe) these past months and have it touch people, make them think, feel and point them towards the subject. Thank you! @rileykeough @chinagammell @felixculpa @ladainiancrazythunder #jojobapteisewhiting @williwhite @sacha_bh @davidgallego @couscous @eleanorehendrickson @zaca_ryan77 @berthamelinck @caviar.tv @terr_watson3 
@sjdougan @matowayuhi @uncleleftys @hannahreyer @_frankdope93 @matowayuhi @cherrypickersfilm @momentum_pics @protagonistpictures

New one for @royelotis with @beardamen . If Our Love Is Dead. ❤️ Director - @beardamen Producer - @david__gourlay Exec. Producer - @nezzle_ Runner - @lizalewiss Location Scout - @crwa12 Commissioner - @john_moule Video Rep - @mrandrereid Production Company - @agilefilms Director of Photography- @rhyswarren @vision.artists Focus Puller - @tony.sharps Loader - @joemedlock Gaffer - @miserotti Spark - @ernie.films Playback - @anthonyleungsound Playback - David Simpson Post Production - @jess_sabine Post Production - @angiebroomfield Editor - @_joe_corrie Colour Production - @washldn Colour Producer - @georegtraynro Colourist - @ikohchung #kodakshootfilm #kodak200t @kodak_shootfilm @panavisionofficial

Just clownin’ around in my street and dawgpark with my dawgs @delwatergap , @floorbijkersma , @tjerkmuilwijk , @toto_doggo , @juliusk008 #kodak200t @kodak_shootfilm 🇵🇸

Directed a short series of dialogues between the amazing @kennybeats and @bennysingsmusic for their upcoming collaboration(s)on Benny’s new album coming 2023 ✨this is just a small teaser🫰🏼 #kennybeats #bennysings #stonesthrow Director: Bear Damen @beardamen Cinematography: Zeeger Verschuren @zeegerverschuren Producer: Lion Kojo @lionlbk 1st AC: Christiaan van Dijk Sound: Gijs Domen @gijspieter Edit / Music / Grade / Sound mix: Bear Damen Management Benny Sings: Eef van Vliet Management Kenny Beats: Mike Power