Internal Landscapes

Internal Landscapes is a hybrid documentary in development that brings the surrealist paintings of artist William D. Higginson to life through Virtual Production, exploring the transformative power of art, the depth of human resilience, and the connection between inner intentions and external realities.

  • Sina Nazarian
    Director
  • Jill Sharp
    Writer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Experimental, Web / New Media
  • Genres:
    Experimental, Surreal Art
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital + Virtual Production
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Sina Nazarian

Sina Nazarian is an independent producer, director, and assistant director based in Vancouver, BC, with over eight years of experience in the film and television industry. A member of the Directors Guild of Canada, Sina has worked as a key 2nd Assistant Director on major TV series such as UNTAMED (Netflix), GOOSEBUMPS (Sony/Disney), and UPLOAD (Amazon), and as a 1st AD on award-winning independent films like INEDIA (Experimental Forests), which premiered at VIFF 2024.

Sina made his directorial debut with WHERE I’M FROM (2023), an experimental short film he wrote, produced, shot, and edited. The film premiered at the Vancouver Asian Film Festival (VAFF), won a LEO Award for Best Music, received a nomination for Best Editing, and has earned over 20 awards and nominations internationally.

As a producer, Sina’s credits include THE GOLD TEETH (Crazy8s), which has screened at over 40 film festivals, and HATCH (Canada Council & BC Arts Council), which premiered at VIFF 2024 and won Best Short Film at the prestigious Red Sea Film Festival. Recently, he transitioned into documentary filmmaking, producing two back-to-back TELUS Originals: CONSTANT BATTLES (2024) and LIGHT THRU THE BLINDFOLD (2025), deepening his passion for non-fiction storytelling.

Sina holds a Diploma of Technology in Marketing Communications from BCIT (2013). His academic foundation, combined with extensive industry experience, informs his creative vision as an indie producer and filmmaker. While producing has been his primary focus, he is now honing his directorial voice. His latest project, INTERNAL LANDSCAPES—a hybrid documentary and art film exploring surrealist visual storytelling—is currently in pre-development.

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Director Statement

INTERNAL LANDSCAPES is a hybrid documentary and art film that brings the surrealist paintings of Australian artist William D. Higginson to life using Virtual Production (VP) technology. Based in North Vancouver, Higginson’s work evokes themes of existentialism, inner exploration, and the transformative power of art. I aim to translate his compelling visual style into cinematic dreamscapes that delve into his creative process, personal philosophies, and the emotional depth behind his art.
Inspired by Wim Wenders’ ANSELM, Internal Landscapes will explore Higginson’s life journey—including his experiences with illness and artistic challenges—through creative vignettes, re-enactments, and immersive visual storytelling. These vignettes will bring his paintings into 3D environments, where surreal landscapes mirror the internal worlds of the human psyche in dream-like spaces.
With this film I aim to address philosophical questions: How do internal intentions shape our external realities? How does art act as both a mirror and a bridge to our inner lives? By examining Higginson’s work, I hope to connect his deeply personal vision to broader human experiences of resilience, creativity, and self-discovery.
This project builds upon my recent technical training as an auditor at the Versatile Media CSC Workshop, where I gained insight into the workflow of Virtual Productions. Higginson, who has always dreamed of seeing his art realized in a 3D environment, has enthusiastically agreed to collaborate. His paintings, with their layered surrealist style, are an ideal match for VP technology. Foreground elements would be built practically by combination of the art department, greens, paint and live action while seamlessly blending into surreal backdrops through the use of LED walls. With this approach I intend on pushing the boundaries of traditional documentary filmmaking.
This project marks my first attempt at hybrid documentary filmmaking, and I am eager to use it as an opportunity to challenge myself creatively while advancing my career as a director.
If accepted into the Breakthrough Program, I will work with mentors to refine the film's pitch, secure development funding through Creative BC and the Canada and BC Arts Councils, and prepare it for the festival markets, including Hot Docs. I also plan to produce a proof-of-concept using Virtual Production techniques to highlight the cinematic potential of Higginson’s artwork. Collaborating with storyboard artists and animators, I will create visual references inspired by his paintings to convey the project's vision effectively. Attached photos are original paintings by William D Higginson that inspired this project.