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Albatros - A Mariner Tale

A cranky, lonely old fisherman fishes on his boat in the middle of the sea. A flock of albatrosses flies over his head, when one of them breaks away from the group and pounces on the pile of fish caught by the man. The bird slips its beak between the fishing net, steals a fish and swallows it. The old man kills the bird by twisting its neck. At that exact moment a ghost ship emerges from the waves. There are two figures on the ship: Death and Life-in-Death. The two look at the old man and, imposing their hands, summon from the bottom of the sea a sea monster whose tentacles take the old fisherman down with them. The two figures bring the bird back to life as it recedes from the now calm waves.

  • Raffaele Chiantese
    Director
  • Ivan Mazzone
    Producer
  • Raffaele Chiantese
    Writer
  • Raffaele Chiantese
    Animator
  • Raffaele Chiantese
    Editor
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Albatros
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Short, Student
  • Genres:
    thriller, horror
  • Runtime:
    1 minute 23 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 14, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    0 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Italy
  • Language:
    Italian
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2,35:1
  • Film Color:
    Black & White
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Accademia di Belle Arti di Napoli
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Raffaele Chiantese

Raffaele Chiantese, born in Giugliano in Campania, in Naples, showed a lively interest in storytelling from an early age. His passion for visual storytelling led him to enroll in the Cinema and Audiovisual course at the Academy of Fine Arts of Naples, a stimulating environment that allowed him to express and cultivate his artistic talent and to shoot his first short film, “In piedi per le scale”. During his academy years, he enthusiastically devoted himself to the study of directing, screenwriting and film production techniques. Here, surrounded by equally passionate peers, began directing his first short films, exploring different genres and narrative styles. These early works allow him to experiment and refine his creative vision. His dedication and talent are rewarded with graduation with 110 with honors. Immediately after graduation, he started working as a director of music videos, with the aim of expressing his visual creativity in an immediate and engaging way. At the same time, he continues to direct short films, exploring social and personal issues with a careful and sensitive gaze.
In addition to his work in the film field, he also distinguishes himself as a storyboard artist, illustrator and concept designer, collaborating on various projects ranging from advertising to film products. Since 2023 he has been attending the master's degree in Animation, which led to the creation of his first animated short film: Albatros - A Mariner Tale.

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Director Statement

"Albatros - A Mariner Tale" is an animated short film created as a project at the Academy of Fine Arts in Naples. It modernizes and simplifies Coleridge's "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," drawing inspiration from Robert Eggers' film "The Lighthouse." The film uses a black-and-white aesthetic with dramatic lighting and combines 2D and 3D animation to create a sense of isolation and disconnection between man and nature. The sound design, devoid of music, emphasizes ambient sounds to heighten tension. The short film conveys a message of respect for nature, exploring the consequences of its neglect.