Joyful

synopsis

we live in a hectic and chaotic world that relentlessly stresses our planet, humans and animals alike. joyful is a unique audio-visual exploration of finding joy in all the turmoil that surrounds us.

joyful uses timelapses, hyperlapses, drone videos and astrophotography from around the world with dramatic sound and music overlay to contrast our fast-paced contemporary lifestyle with simple moments of joy that provides us respite in all the chaos.

the director’s cut is dedicated to beloved pet Yoyo, who also made a cameo on a swing in the film.

reviews

“

I just saw Simantini's film joyful. The film was beautifully done, and indicates the suffering and joy of life as we know it today. A beautiful piece of art indeed, and very timely. The film deserved every single award and accolade that it has received. People need to watch the film. I will call her to express how I feel."

Godfrey Reggio, legendary filmmaker of the timeless classic Koyaanisqatsi and the Qatsi trilogy (with Philip Glass and Ron Fricke)

“

An extraordinary visual journey through time and space.”

- Doug Blush, Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker

“

Unforgettable and uplifting film that was chosen as the closing film of the festival. Great message and storytelling that is sure to inspire people.”

- Dianna Nilsson, Breckenridge Film Festival

“

Fantastic documentary with skillful filmmaking and superb editing with sound design.”

- Michael Rey, Seattle Film Festival

“

I'm now watching the full film every morning. it seriously puts my head in the right place.”

- Danielle McClelland, Port Townsend Film Festival

honorable mentions

won 18 awards + nominations and was a semi-finalist (including in Oscar and Canadian Screen Award qualifying festivals)

screened in 22 countries

across 6 continents

awards categories:

best short film
best editing
best cinematography
best audience award
best inspirational film
best experimental/avant garde film
best environmental awareness/climate change film

opening/closing film:

closing film at the prestigious Breckenridge Film Festival (attended by the Governor of Colorado)
opening film at Port Townsend Film Festival

exciting
screening venues:

the iconic TCL Chinese Theater, Hollywood
in the heart of wine country, Napa Valley
Greek Amphitheater
opera house in Spain
large drive-in theater
movie theater nestled in high mountains
public plaza
open air amphitheater
and various large and local movie theaters (including Regal, AMC, Greenwich Village, among others)

distribution

1 Jan 2024

SBS Australia broadcast joyful in live prime time on 1 January 2024. SBS is one of the largest lifestyle and film television networks in Australia and is watched by majority of Australians. SBS will live broadcast the film from time to time for the next three years. The film is now available on SBS OnDemand.

1 Mar 2024

Virgin Atlantic is going to license joyful from 1 March 2024 and the film will be available fleetwide on all of its 41 aircrafts. Passengers will be able to select joyful from multiple genres including: Vera loves (which is their ”best of the best”), World films and Travel TV.

13 April 2024 (first live broadcast)

JLTV is going to license joyful for broadcast on all its platforms in the US and Canada.

April 13 (Saturday): 10:40pm ET / 7:40pm PT
April 28 (Sunday): 1:20pm ET / 10:20am PT
August 10 (Saturday): 5:40PM ET / 2:40pm PT
October 18 (Friday): 9:50PM ET/ 6:50pm PT

JLTV is available in 50 million households in the US through Comcast, Spectrum and DirecTV and many others, in addition to a live feed on the Internet. In Canada it is available on Bell Fibe TV, Toober and other Satellite TV services.

28 April 2024 (first live broadcast)

in discussions with several other large brands as well

director’s bio

Simantini Chakraborty

Life is a grand adventure. It’s about exploring and experiencing unique moments and sharing them with the world. Simantini is a documentary filmmaker who tells compelling stories about people, places, issues and events that truly matter, using dramatic visual imagery, technology and sound design. Simantini has a unique background in filmmaking, photography, technology and world travel, which motivates her to explore universal aspects of human condition through film. The universal theme of joyful continues to resonate deeply and emotionally with people around the world.

Simantini has recently founded an exciting new-generation film production company called Pixel Perfect Pictures that is a making groundbreaking, cinematic documentaries on thought-provoking issues that affect us all.

Simantini has taken filmmaking courses at the University of California's School of Cinematic Arts. She has also worked in various creative aspects of technology in big tech and startups in Silicon Valley in product design, branding and product launches. Simantini has an MBA from Washington University and a certificate in entrepreneurship from Wharton School of Business.

Simantini is a unconventoinal filmmaker, technology innovator, avid photographer, amateur drone pilot, world traveler, passionate adventurer, fierce egalitarian and an eternal optimist.

tap image to enlarge

director’s statement

the world has changed inexorably, especially in the past few years, due to the devastating impacts of senseless wars, horrific effects of a global pandemic and the catastrophic consequences of climate change. people have become more anxious, more isolated. the world now is full of hate, anger and chaos fueled by divisive political rhetoric, socio-economic disparity, rampant misinformation, wide-spread racism, lack of compassion towards fellow humans, incessant greed and lust for power, and abject apathy towards the planet.

in such a tumultuous time, I wanted to use my voice as a filmmaker, photographer, technologist and world traveler to share the message of hope, love and humanity with the world as films are a powerful, expressive, universal and magical medium of expression. the film asks a simple yet profound question: “what is the speed of happiness?”

I have strived to create mind-blowing experiences by manipulating time in various ways along with dramatic sound design and music overlay to depict our contemporary life and simple moments of joy and calm that provides us respite in all the chaos. I have compressed time through timelapses and hyperlapses to heighten the sense of relentless chaos, stress and tension caused by our modern lifestyles. I have stretched time through slow motion drone videos and astrophotography to bring calm and tranquility to remind us what really matters in the end.

I am grateful and overjoyed that the universal language of my film has been resonating so strongly with people around the world. I dedicate my film to joy, hope and our collective humanity in a chaotic and stressful world.

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