Beyond The Frozen Expanse - Starting Aspen Otis
A quiet reflection on connection, distance, and the stillness of winter in Atlantic Canada. In just under two minutes, Beyond the Frozen Expanse captures a fleeting moment as a young woman, Aspen Otis (my beautiful talented girlfriend) , launches a drone into the sky—her gaze following it across the frozen coastline.
Interwoven with original poetry and set against a stark winter soundscape, the film explores the tension between letting go and holding on.
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Michael James EvesDirector
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Aspen Deirdre OtisKey Cast
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Project Type:Short
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Runtime:2 minutes 9 seconds
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Completion Date:January 29, 2025
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Production Budget:0 USD
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Country of Origin:Canada
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Country of Filming:Canada
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:Digital – Panasonic BGH1
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:Yes
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Student Project:Yes - Holland College
Michael J. Eves is a filmmaker and visual artist Charlottetown PEI, originally from the UK. With a background in VFX compositing and a passion for quiet, emotionally-driven storytelling, Michael explores themes of memory, isolation, and connection through both experimental and narrative film. He is currently a student at Holland College in Prince Edward Island, where he created Beyond the Frozen Expanse as part of his filmmaking studies. This is his first festival submission as a writer-director.
Beyond the Frozen Expanse began as a simple visual project—but became something more personal. Filmed along a quiet stretch of coastline in Prince Edward Island, the film reflects on memory, distance, and the emotional landscapes we carry with us.
The location holds personal meaning to me—it’s a place connected to shared moments. The poem featured in the film was written during a time of emotional transition, and the imagery became a way to express what I couldn’t fully articulate out loud.
Though it's only two minutes long, I hope it invites the viewer to pause, breathe, and reflect on the spaces—and the people—we leave behind.
— Michael J. Eves