We believe in the power of narration. We tell stories to make an impact, to raise awareness, to expand our imagination through image, sound...to reflect, to dream...with eyes wide open and finally, to inspire action
towards the common good.
Action or should we say...
Devotion to the Welfare of Others.
“ One does not tread life’s path twice over, all the good that one can do, must be done now.”
Because let’s face it: Emotion leads to action... (sometimes)
“Liberty” is a feature film, a thriller that exposes the suffering
of wild animals in captivity.
Lose yourself in the stunning scenery and unspoiled natural beauty of Canada, in the midst of forests, mountains, lakes and streams.
We bring you a new adventure, a celebration of freedom.
Production Title
Liberty
Production Type
Feature Film (independent)
Production Length
100 minutes
Written, produced & directed by
Phil De Witte
Director of Photography
Kassim Olivier Ahmed
Associate Producer
Sophie Gunsbourg
Casting
New York & Calgary (Canada)
Scouting Locations
Montana (USA) & Calgary (Canada)
Shootings
Belgium & Canada
Editing
Malcom Crowe (London)
VFX & Sound
Brussels
Main actors from the movie "Liberty"
Phil De Witte: writer, producer and director from 1Life Production & Lifexpressions
(with freediving legend Umberto PELIZZARI)
We know to expect hard-hitting messages from Phil De Witte, the Belgian director who's now synonymous with socially conscious films. At the European Environment Agency’s request, he’s made a visually stunning but emotionally wrenching appeal for better air quality for all. De Witte was quick to “get his feet wet” by filming world champion freediver Umberto Pelizzari, a record holder with over 7 minutes underwater and dives of up to 490 ft.
The message is clear: without pure air in his lungs, such physical achievements are beyond even the greatest and most experienced champion. This does not bode well for the rest of us, given the current levels of air pollution. For the shoot, De Witte utilized his cinematographic prowess to present the image of a diver floating almost motionlessly in the water’s depths. Using special recreations and specific techniques, including over 30 ft of blue tarpaulin, he managed to turn a Brussels swimming pool into a little piece of the ocean, and a midwinter shoot a timeless story of the air we all breathe.
On behalf of the European Environment Agency, Emakina communication agency has called on the imaginaTIon and creaTIvity
of director Phil De WiTTe
The challenge: talking about water? Or letting water speak for itself?
An essential but fragile resource, just like human life, water shares its story and the legends it’s inspired. But it’s also warning us and begging us to stop taking it for granted as “every drop counts” to sustain humanity. Phil De Witte has chosen a strong symbol to talk about the source of our lives: an hourglass with dripping water, whose transparency, purity, and association with the passage of time conveys the urgent need for action.
The film has won awards at several festivals, including the Golden Award of Montreux and Madeira Film Festival. Once again, De Witte has taken a highly technical approach to the moving images, with the help of Director of Photography François Star, and exclusively using a Phantom Flex high-speed video camera to reach 3,000 frames per second.
Ultra-filtered water was used, alongside the support of a liquid and bubble special effects specialist, to create the combined impression of purity and fragility. The ambition and expertise were equal to the challenge and reflected the importance of the sole aim: creating the emotion that, for the director, is the real driver of awareness and action.
Written, produced and directed by Phil De Witte
