Private Project

California Light

One filmmaker's exploration of natural light in California and its influence on people's lives.

  • Robert Denfeld
    Director
  • Robert Denfeld
    Producer
  • Robert Denfeld
    Cinematographer
  • Robert Denfeld
    Editor
  • Jon Bell
    Music
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    19 minutes 59 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 1, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    9,500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital - Blackmagic RAW
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1.9:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - UCLA
  • UCLA TFT Film Festival - Directors Spotlight (2023)
    Los Angeles
    United States
    June 12, 2023
    World Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Denali Film Festival (2023)
    Denali National Park
    United States
    August 12, 2023
    Online Screening Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Best Shorts Competition (June, 2023)
    La Jolla, CA
    United States
    Award of Merit Winner - Nature / Environment / Wildlife
  • California Capital International Documentary Film Festival (2023)
    Sacramento
    United States
    September 30, 2023
    Official Selection
  • ASC Student Heritage Awards (2023)
    Los Angeles
    United States
    Nominee - Haskell Wexler, ASC - Student Documentary Heritage Award
  • Washington West Film Festival (2023)
    Reston, VA
    United States
    October 14, 2023
    East Coast Premiere
    Official Selection
  • San Francisco Short Film Festival presented by SF IndieFest
    San Francisco
    United States
    October 12, 2023
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Robert Denfeld

I'm a Long Beach, California based filmmaker with an MFA in Cinematography from UCLA. I was born and raised in northern Virginia, before moving to California in 2017.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

This film was my MFA thesis project. The pre-production and production processes took place during the late stages of the pandemic. After feeling cooped up for two years, I set out to create something on my own. I wanted to travel, to be outside, to shoot! It was a personal adventure; a journey of self-reliance and self-discovery. Over the course of two months, I drove 4,000+ miles around the state of California, capturing what I came across. I followed my eyes and ears and trusted my instincts. I met and spoke with fellow artists and travelers while learning about the universality of light.