Nanoscapes
Two shorts exploring the world of evolutionary biology through the wings of butterflies.
Biopixels
Biopixels explores the world of evolutionary biology on the microscopic scale. Using the latest light microscope technology, butterfly wings become micro-mosaics.
Butterflies and moths comprise 12% of all species known to man (180,000 species!), and their seemingly endless biodiversity is visually translated on their wings through color and pattern variation.
The images in this film have not been altered but were animated to demonstrate both subtle and dramatic evolutionary development and variation.
Nanoscapes
Making the invisible, visible!
Images of butterfly wings at the microscopic scale are stunning, and at the nanoscopic scale they become otherworldly.
Shot at two cutting edge research labs, the images in Nanoscapes were taken with light and electron microscopes at magnifications up to 50,000x.
The elaborate nanoscopic topography of butterfly wings has produced a wealth of data on how structural coloration works, and Nanoscapes is an artistic rendering of exciting new research focused on how butterflies actually build these remarkable, infinitesimal landscapes.
Upcoming screenings
- Biopixels — Showing at the Nature Without Borders International Film Festival (May 17th, 2024) — Official Selection and Winner of Exceptional Merit Award for Original Concept
- Biopixels — Showing at the Wao Film Festival (May 9th–12th, 2024)
Film festival screenings
Biopixels
- Nature Without Borders International Film Festival (May 2024) — Official Selection and Winner of Exceptional Merit Award for Original Concept
- Wao Film Festival, Wānaka, New Zealand (May 2024)
- Wild & Scenic Film Festival, Nevada City, California (February 2024)
- All Living Things Environmental Film Festival, India (December 2023)
- Goethe-Institut's Science Film Festival, Brazil/Egypt/Mozambique/Thailand (October–December 2023)
- Raw Science Film Festival, Los Angeles, California (October 2023)
- Experimental Film Festival, New Bern, North Carolina (September 2023) — Runner up for Audience Favorite Award
- Between the Blue & Green Film Festival, Worthing, UK (September 2023) — Winner of Best Short Film for Children
- Woods Hole Film Festival, Woods Hole, Massachusetts (July–August 2023)
- Rural Film Fest, Alicante, Spain (July–August 2023)
- Big Teeth Small Shorts Festival, Chicago, Illinois (July 2023)
- International Wildlife Film Festival, Missoula, Montana (April 2023)
- Cosmo Genetics Film Festival, St Petersburg, Russia (April 2023)
- InScience Film Festival, Nijmegen, Netherlands (January 2023)
- FAUNA Tepoztlán Animal Festival, Tepoztlan, Mexico (March 2023) — Domingo Award Winner
- Under 5 Minute Film Festival (March 2023)
- Sittannavasal International Film Festival, Karaiyur, India (2023) — Best Environmental Short Award
- Animation and Screenplay Film Festival, Toronto, Canada (January 2023) — Best Short Award
- Environmental Film and Screenplay Festival, Los Angeles, California (November 2022)
- Berlin Short Film Festival, Berlin, Germany (2022)
- Imagine Science Film Festival (October 2022) — Honorable Mention for Best Avant-Garde Film
Nanoscapes
- Wild & Scenic Film Festival, Nevada City, California (February 2024)
- Raw Science Film Festival, Los Angeles, California (October 2023)
- Woods Hole Film Festival, Woods Hole, Massachusetts (July–August 2023)
- International Wildlife Film Festival, Missoula, Montana (April 2023)
- Cosmo Genetics Film Festival, St. Petersburg, Russia (April 2023)
- Under 5 Minute Film Festival (March 2023) — Best Animated Short
- FAUNA Tepoztlán Animal Festival, Tepoztlan, Mexico (March 2023)
- InScience Film Festival, Nijmegen, Netherlands (January 2023)
- Imagine Science Film Festival, New York City, New York (October 2022)
Additional screenings and recognition
Biopixels
- The Exploratorium, San Francisco, California (2023)
- FilmInLatino: Official and free streaming platform of the National Institute of Cinematography of Mexico (IMCINE) (2023)
- Dumbo Film Festival (2023) — Finalist
- Films for the Forest (2023) — Finalist
- Labocine: November Science New Wave issue (art and science hybrid streaming platform) (2022)
- Budapest Photofest: Deschis gallery installation (2022)
Nanoscapes
- The Exploratorium, San Francisco, California (2023)
- FilmInLatino: Official and free streaming platform of the National Institute of Cinematography of Mexico (IMCINE) (2023)
- Films for the Forest (2023) — Finalist
- Labocine: November Science New Wave issue (art and science hybrid streaming platform) (2022)
- Budapest Photofest: Deschis gallery installation (2022)
Credits
- Directed by
- Kristina Dutton
- Produced by
- Kristina Dutton
- Arnaud Martin
- Animated by
- Brandon McFarland
- Music by
- Kristina Dutton
- Nate Kinsella
- Music recorded by
- Nate Kinsella
- Beau Sorenson
- Music mix and mastering
- Jeff Kolhede
- Microscope imaging
- Kristina Dutton
- Arnaud Martin
- Nipam Patel
- Anna Ren
- Vincent Ficarrotta
- Ling Sheng Loh
- Chris Day
- With support from
- Nipam Patel
- George Washington University
- Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory
- New Music USA
- The National Science Foundation
- Scientific advisors
- Arnaud Martin
- Nipam Patel
Contact
Email us hello@nanoscapesfilms.com.
For more on the research featured in these films visit the Martin Lab at George Washington University, and the Patel Lab at University of Chicago's Marine Biological Laboratory.