EXCLUSIVE: London-based sales and production outfit Dogwoof has boarded world sales for Anirban Dutta and Anupama Srinivasan’s Nocturnes, which will get its world premiere in the World Cinema Documentary Competition at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.
Set in the Eastern Himalayas, the eco-doc sees two curious observers shine a light on a secret universe, transporting audiences to a rarely-seen place where moths help knit together an important ecosystem.
Oscar-nominated Sandbox Films (Fire of Love) is producing.
In addition to co-directing, Dutta is producing along with executive producers Boustead and Harrop. Yaël Bitton (Advocate) is editor; Satya Rai Nagpaul is director of photography; original score is by BAFTA Breakthrough composer Nainita Desai (For Sama). The movie is a production of Sandbox Films and the directors’ Delhi-based Metamorphosis Films Junction.
Anirban Dutta and Anupama Srinivasan’s latest documentary, Flickering Lights, competed in the International Competition at the 2023 edition of IDFA, where it took the top prize for cinematography.
Sandbox Films Co-founder Greg Boustead said: “Nocturnes is such a unique and intoxicating experience. Anirban and Anupama have such a patient eye, and the nuanced lens with which they see the natural world is evident in every frame. Sandbox co-founder Jess Harrop and I have had such a rich experience collaborating with them these past three years. Now with our premiere set for Sundance and Dogwoof on board, we can’t wait to transport a global audience to this special corner of the world.”
Dogwoof’s Oli Harbottle added: “I remember meeting Anirban and Anupama when they first pitched Nocturnes and knowing that this was going to be a truly unique film. When I was finally able to see it, I was blown away by the cinematic beauty of this visually and aurally immersive piece of filmmaking. It’s great to be working with our previous collaborators at Sandbox Films to launch this very special film at Sundance.”
“Through the cinematic style of the film, we seek to create an experience where the audience feels embedded in the natural environment, and responds to the vibrations of nature,” commented the film’s directors. “We hope to inspire an understanding of the human world as being part of, dependent on, and impacted by even the most minute creatures in nature. With their amazing track records of bringing artistic films to large audiences, Sandbox and Dogwoof are perfect partners to take our film to the world.”
