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EDGE OF SPACE

Set in 1961, during the height of the US-Soviet space race, an ambitious USAF test pilot is recruited by NASA for a daring suborbital mission in an X-15 hypersonic rocket-powered aircraft with astronomical implications. Inspired by actual historical events.

  • Jean de Meuron
    Director
  • Jean de Meuron
    Writer
  • Jean de Meuron
    Producer
    La femme et le TGV
  • Nicolas Emiliani
    Producer
    Megan
  • Elena Bawiec
    Producer
    The Suitcase
  • Chad Michael Collins
    Key Cast
    "Glen Ford"
    Sniper film series, Company of Heroes
  • Kimberly Alexander
    Key Cast
    "Chloé Ford"
  • Freedom Bridgewater
    Key Cast
    "United States Air Force Colonel"
  • Gregory Gast
    Key Cast
    "NASA Official"
  • Jackson Robert Scott
    Key Cast
    "Young Glen Ford"
    It
  • Justin Taite
    Key Cast
    "Howard Ford"
  • Kevin LaRosa II
    Key Cast
    "Tom Mitchell"
    Top Gun: Maverick
  • Nathalia Ramos
    Key Cast
    "Emily Mitchell"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, History
  • Runtime:
    18 minutes 39 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 26, 2024
  • Country of Origin:
    Switzerland, United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    ARRI ALEXA Mini (Anamorphic)
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.39:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • 97TH OSCARS® SHORTLIST - Live Action Short Film
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)
  • 2025 SHORTLIST - Young Director Award (Cannes Lions)
    Cannes
    France
    Short Film > 10 minutes and over | Creative Use of Sound
  • The Telly Awards - 46TH Annual Telly Awards
    New York, NY
    United States
    GOLD WINNER - Craft-Directing | General-Science & Technology | Craft-Videography & Cinematography | Craft-Drone & Aerial Cinematography | SILVER WINNER - General-History | Craft-Use of Archival Footage
  • European Short Awards 2025
    London
    United Kingdom
    NOMINEE - Director Short Film
  • Movie Music UK Awards 2024
    London
    United Kingdom
    NOMINEE - Best Original Score For A Short Film
  • USA Film Festival 2025
    Dallas, TX
    United States
    FINALIST
  • MIAMI short FILM FESTIVAL 2025
    Miami, FL
    United States
    SEMI-FINALIST
  • Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival (NIFFF) 2025
    Neuchâtel, NE
    Switzerland
    Switzerland Premiere
    Imaging The Future
  • WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival 2025
    Houston, TX
    United States
    Texas Premiere
    WINNER - WorldFest Remi Award - Special Jury Award
  • Cannes Indie Shorts Awards 2025
    Cannes
    France
    France Premiere
    WINNER - Best Producer
  • New York Film & Cinematography Awards 2025
    New York, NY
    WINNER - Best Short Film
  • Burbank International Film Festival (BIFF) 2025
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    NOMINEE - Best Director | Best Cinematography | Best Production Design / Art Direction
  • The Outer Rim International Science Fiction Film Festival 2025
    Baltimore, MD
    United States
    Maryland Premiere
  • Los Angeles Brazilian Film Festival (LABRFF) 2025
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    NOMINEE - Best International Short | Best Director in International Short
  • Sioux City International Film Festival (SCIFF) 2025
    Sioux City, IA
    United States
    Iowa Premiere
    WINNER - Best Adaptation
  • Lighthouse International Film Festival (LIFF) 2025
    Long Beach Island, NJ
    United States
    New Jersey Premiere
  • Vaughan International Film Festival 2025
    Vaughan, ON
    Canada
    Canada Premiere
    NOMINEE - Best Cinematography
  • West Chester Film Festival 2025
    West Chester, PA
    United States
    Pennsylvania Premiere
  • Hollywood ShortsFest 2025 - Live Event
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    WINNER - Best Drama Short | Best Producer | Best Original Score | Best Sound Design | Best Production Design
  • Arizona International Film Festival 2025
    Tucson, AZ
    United States
    Arizona Premiere
  • Miami International Science Fiction Film Festival (MiSciFi) 2025
    Miami, FL
    United States
    Florida Premiere
    WINNER - Optima Scientifica Historica Excellentia | NOMINEE - Best Director Short | Best Scientific MicroDoc Short | Best Cinematography Short | Best Color Grading Short | Best Visual Effects Short | Best Editing Short | Best Wardrobe Short
  • New York Indie Shorts Awards 2024
    New York, NY
    United States
    WINNER - Best Sound Design
  • New York Shorts International Film Festival 2024
    New York, NY
    United States
    New York Premiere
  • Indie Short Fest - Los Angeles International Short Film Festival, August 2024
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    WINNER - Award of Excellence (Special Jury Mention) | Award for Best Drama Short | Award for Best Male Director
  • Independent Shorts Awards Los Angeles, August 2024
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    WINNER - 6TH Annual Independent Shorts Awards - 2024 Annual Awards | Award of Excellence (Special Jury Mention) | Platinum Award for Best Drama Short | Platinum Award for Best Male Director
  • Hollywood ShortsFest 2024 - Virtual Event
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    WINNER - Honorable Mention
  • Studio City International Film & TV Festival 2024
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    NOMINEE - Best Narrative Short
  • HollyShorts Film Festival 2024
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    NOMINEE - Best VFX
  • Indy Shorts International Film Festival 2024
    Indianapolis, IN
    United States
    Midwest Premiere, Indiana Premiere
  • LA Shorts International Film Festival 2024
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    World Premiere
    JURY SPECIAL MENTION
Director Biography - Jean de Meuron

After attending the New York Film Academy (NYFA), USC’s School of Cinematic Arts Summer Program in Los Angeles, CA and receiving the UCLA Extension Business & Management of Entertainment Certificate (Earned with Distinction), Jean de Meuron graduated with a Bachelor’s degree (Film & Media Studies) from The New School in New York, NY. He was honored with Outstanding Academic Achievement for his consistency on the Dean’s List.

Jean was an Executive for internationally renowned director Roland Emmerich at his production company Centropolis Entertainment in Los Angeles, CA. There, he worked on TIDES/THE COLONY (2021) from OSCAR® and Golden Globe® Award nominated filmmaker Tim Fehlbaum and the epic sci-fi disaster film MOONFALL (2022), which was theatrically released globally in February 2022. Upon its streaming release on Netflix, TIDES/THE COLONY was the #1 Movie in the U.S., claiming the top spot in the Top 10 ranking of the most watched films.

Jean’s professional directorial debut, the critically acclaimed EDGE OF SPACE (2024), made the 97TH OSCARS® Shortlist – Live Action Short Film and the 2025 Shortlist Young Director Award (Cannes Lions). Furthermore, he and his team won a total of 6 Telly Awards, honoring excellence in video and television across all screens since 1979, for EDGE OF SPACE at the 46TH Annual Telly Awards, including Gold for Craft-Directing.

Since 2019, Jean has been a Member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the Short Films Branch.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Ad astra per aspera (Latin for "a rough road leads to the stars")

EDGE OF SPACE is set in 1961 during the height of the space race between the US and Soviet Union. The story cinematically depicts the struggles and conflicts of those who took "a clearly leading role in space achievement, which in many ways," as President John F. Kennedy famously noted, "may hold the key to our future on earth."

As NASA embarks on the Artemis Program, aiming to land a new generation of astronauts on the Moon, it is fascinating to trace the origins of the space exploration era, paying homage to the pioneers who risked it all.

This is a timely story about human perseverance, scientific innovation and overcoming the impossible against all odds. Subtextually speaking, the film deals with the notion of the impact those who inspire us have, as we aspire to leave our own legacy.

Inspired by actual historical events, Tom Wolfe's book THE RIGHT STUFF, which detailed the heroic and brave exploits of test pilots turned astronauts, was a major influence.