Private Project

Metaphor

Metaphor is an animated journey across the borders of reality, identity, and the digital unknown. In the vast, shifting landscapes of a virtual world, a figure known only as Fallen God wanders—searching, escaping, becoming. When he encounters Encre, an ethereal and mesmerising presence, their connection defies explanation. Is she a muse, a memory, a mirror—or something altogether more infinite?

What unfolds is not just a relationship, but a meditation on the many faces we wear and the truths we hide, even from ourselves. Inspired by true events and brought to life through a rare collaboration between French visionary Basile Vignes (Tutsy Navarathna) and Australian producer Jay Jay Jegathesan, Metaphor blurs the line between art and avatar, between the virtual and the deeply human.

A film that transcends continents, identities, and even death, Metaphor invites viewers to question what is real, what is imagined—and what might endure beyond both.

  • Jay Jay Jegathesan
    Producer
    iRony, Journey
  • Basile Vignes
    Director
  • Basile Vignes
    Writer
  • Basile Vignes
    Key Cast
    "Narrator"
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Metaphore
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Short
  • Genres:
    Sci-Fi, Romance, LGBT, Animation
  • Runtime:
    7 minutes 54 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 6, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    50 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    France
  • Country of Filming:
    Australia, France, India
  • Language:
    French
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Distribution Information
  • 'Jay Jay' Jegatheva Jegathesan
    Country: Australia
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Basile Vignes

UPDATED SHORT BIO
Basile Vignes, a graduate of the École des Beaux-Arts de Paris, was a visionary French filmmaker and multimedia artist. Splitting time between France and Auroville, India, he created over 50 films blending traditional art, animation, and digital media. Widely regarded as the foremost machinima filmmaker, his seminal works using platforms like Second Life redefined virtual storytelling. Basile passed away in June 2025, leaving a legacy of innovation and artistry.

ORIGINAL BIO
A graduate of the ecole des Beaux Arts de Paris, Basile Vignes is a Frenchman who lives part of the year in his native France with the other half being in Auroville, India, and has been splitting his time this way for the past 15 years working on documentaries and short film.

His repertoire covers multimedia, mixing traditional art techniques, art video and computer technologies which he extends to experimenting with 2D and 3D animation and virtual worlds. He has a long CV in France and India with various trailers, fashion films, documentaries and long form programmes appearing on French TV channels including TF1, Arte, Fr3, France 2 and Canal+ as well as private and NGO related work in India. He has also created more than 50 corporate and institutional films.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Metaphor transcends time and space and the borders of nations and even identity. I have known the producer, Jay Jay Jegathesan for close to a decade and had participated in numerous film events he ran over the years. This is the first time we have worked in a partnership though and hence 'Basile-Jegathesan Productions' is born, with Metaphor as the vehicle. There are a lot of challenges of course with me being in France and India and him being in Australia, but in Metaphor, we have managed to transcend the borders of 3 continents to produce something special.