Experiencing Interruptions?

Brainstream

You’re inside the head of D., a young girl who’s livestreaming her brain activity during a new kind of treatment session. Online, along with other participants, you massage her brain, experiencing the free flow of her thoughts, emotions and obsessions. Now, she’s telling you about her weekend. Earlier, her anxiety played some catchy beats that still lurk in one corner of her mind—like an earworm that won’t let go. Keep massaging. It’s doing her some good. In exchange, she’s giving you a guided tour of what’s going on inside her head, empowered by your gestures and stimulating presence. D. opens up as her mind wanders—perhaps a little bit like your own mind. Brainstream is an interactive animated film that explores, with sensitivity and humor, the mysteries of brain activity and the unpredictable trajectory of our thoughts.

  • Caroline Robert
    Director
  • Isabelle Repelin
    Producer
  • Marie-Pier Gauthier
    Producer
  • Sophie Shields-Rivard
    Key Cast
    "D."
  • Édouard Lanctôt-Benoit
    Code
  • Mathieu Charbonneau
    Music
  • Vincent Morisset
    Key Collaborators
    Motto, Way to Go, Vast Body, Just a Reflektor
  • AATOAA
    Created by
  • National film board of Canada
    Produced by
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Sérotonine Anonyme
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Experimental, Short, Web / New Media
  • Genres:
    Comedy, Drama, sci-fi, social satire, experimental, adventure
  • Runtime:
    20 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    November 19, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    120,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Language:
    English, French
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • IDFA Doc Lab
    Amsterdam
    Netherlands
    November 19, 2021
    World Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Ottawa International Animation Festival
    Ottawa
    Canada
    September 23, 2022
    Live cinema special event
  • Slamdance
    Park City
    United States
    January 23, 2023
    DIG - Official Selection
  • Les Sommets du cinéma d'animation
    Montreal
    Canada
    May 15, 2022
    Live cinema special event
  • Feinaki Animation Week Beijing
    Beijing
    China
    March 2, 2023
    China Premiere
    Exhibition
  • BIFAN
    Bucheon
    Korea, Republic of
    July 1, 2023
    Korean Premiere
    Official selection - Beyond Reality
  • KIKK Festival
    Namur
    Belgium
    October 27, 2022
  • Bit Bang

    October 24, 2022
  • OFFF
    Barcelona
    Spain
    May 7, 2022
    Live cinema special event
  • Canadian Screen Awards
    Toronto
    Official Nominee
  • Gémeaux awards

    Best Interactive Experience - All Categories
  • Prix Numix

    Best Online Original Experience
  • My Hero Project International Film Festival

    December 10, 2022
    Best Immersive Storytelling - Interactive film
  • FilmGate Miami
    Miami
    United States
    December 4, 2021
    North American Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Webby Awards

    Honorable Mention
  • The FWA Awards

    United States
    Winner - FWA of the day
  • Awwwards

    Honorable Mention
Distribution Information
  • National Film Board of Canada
    Distributor
    Country: Canada
    Rights: Internet
  • Caroline Robert
    Sales Agent
    Country: Canada
    Rights: Internet
Director Biography - Caroline Robert

Caroline Robert is a multidisciplinary artist whose work combines hand-made and new technologies. Known for her unique, sensitive and timeless style, she creates worlds that capture the imagination. Long fascinated by science, and finding beauty in everyday life, Robert wears many hats on a variety of projects: animation, editing, photography, set design, graphic design, interactivity and more. Notable projects she’s worked on include Motto, Way to Go, Bla Bla, Vast Body, Composition and Habitat. She has done visuals for the Arcade Fire albums Reflektor and The Suburbs. As a collaborator on all projects coming out of Studio AATOAA, she has seen her work presented at venues including Sundance, IDFA, the Gaîté lyrique, the Museum of the Moving Image and the Japan Media Arts Festival. She has also been named in Creative Review ‘s “The Ones to Watch”, and won a Grammy for her visual work with Arcade Fire. Brainstream is the first interactive film she has written and directed.

https://caroline-robert.com/

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

My short-film BRAINSTREAM is interactive.
The animations react to touch. You can see it here brainstream.nfb.ca
(mobile or desktop, 6 or 20 min., all audiences starting at 10 years old )

It can also be an installation and/or a live cinema event during festivals.
More information on the live cinema format here > https://aatoaa.com/brainstreamlive/

It was presented at Slamdance DIG online.

We did live cinema screenings at:
- IDFA DocLab
- Ottawa International Animation Festival
- Sommets du Cinéma d’Animation de Montréal
- OFFF

And it was presented as an installation at:
- IDFA DocLab
- Kikk Festival
- Feinaki Animation Week Beijing

Feel free to contact me if you are intrigued. The film is easily adjustable to any context and I'm happy to hear your suggestions!

Caroline Robert
Writer, director and animator

“Brainstream reminds us that human connection […] is key to finding some inner harmony.”
— Chris Robinson, Cartoon Brew

“Robert’s writing perfectly captures the wandering tendencies of our brains”
— Creative Review

“One of the deepest, most personal and emotionally honest pieces of digital art I’ve seen in ages.”
— James Paterson (@presstube)

“Robert creates a vibrant, teeming visual world that tells a moving, sensory-laden and timely story featuring an authentic anti-heroine.”
— Rabble.ca