about | The Sunset Special

The Sunset Special

is an audiovisual, interdisciplinary, multimedia project by Nicolas Gebbe centered around an animated short film. The project deals with the effects of reality distorting imagery and narrative spread by social media and advertisement through new technologies. It examines their connection to nostalgia, desires, and wanderlust and deconstructs the perfectly customized, digital products: The idea of the unique trip, the perfect partner, the ideal life... Set in a world of luxury, travel and abundance The Sunset Special plays a game with the superficiality these products and worlds incorporate.

The Sunset Special examines the role of the individual in the digital world as a consumer and the relation to real world experiences and desires. How much attention do the virtual worlds require? What is their influence on the individuals desires? How much is its moral compass guided by a digital narrative? In an attempt to investigate the effects on social interaction and contentment, the perfect facades of these virtual worlds are used and broken open as their character is analysed. Looking for connections between the digital and analog worlds, The Sunset Special questions the nature of the realities presented to the individual.

The project branches out into an exhibition, a VR experience and a concept social media account. The independent projects and platforms are narratively and audiovisually linked and complement each other.

Awards and exhibition

Premiere: Locarno Film Festival

FBW - Prädikat Besonders Wertvoll

2022

Annecy International Animation Film Festival: WTF screening

Athens International Film + Video Festival Ohio

Motovun Film Festival - Official Competition

Lago Filmfest - Official Selection

Vilnius Film Festival (out of competition)

Filmfest Dresden: Open Air Screening

2021

Locarno Film Festival