Private Project

NEW ATLANTIS

While exploring an abandoned building, two friends discover a recording of a woman who claims to be the last citizen of a lost Utopia.

  • Matt Smith
    Director
  • Matt Smith
    Writer
  • Rhian Smith
    Producer
  • Thomas Wightman
    Executive Producer
  • Niamh Coogan
    Project Coordinator
  • Katie Smale
    Key Cast
    "Jess"
  • Benjamin Aluwihare
    Key Cast
    "Chris"
  • Alana Ramsey
    Key Cast
    "Alice Barnham "
  • Oliviero Papi
    Key Cast
    "William Rawley"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    14 minutes 55 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 7, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    15,000 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1:66:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Matt Smith

UK-born writer/director Matt Smith honed his skills in experimental filmmaking at Dartington College of Arts, leading to his short films competing in various BAFTA-recognised festivals. He expanded his repertoire as a promo filmmaker, video designer, and artist-filmmaker, with his artist films gaining international exposure through support from Arts Council England, The Arts Council of Wales, and France's Drac Occitanie - Ministère de la Culture.

His work often explores unsettling realities and imagined histories, blurring the line between what is real and what is fantasy. After finishing the self-funded short 'BUGBEAR' during the 2020 lockdown, he's now focused on narrative films. His latest project, 'NEW ATLANTIS,' is supported by BFI Network.

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Director Statement

When filming a series of artist films in abandoned places in France, I had the strange experience of finding a cassette tape which had a recording of the man who had lived in the building, giving a speech to UNESCO.

It was introduced in English so a sudden feeling of direct conversation with the deceased owner of the crumbling building I was in was bizarre and frankly unsettling. It definitely sparked something, some sort of starting point for a film.

Now we're here - with New Atlantis.