Reel Reality Short Slot

Tue Feb 28, 2017 – 5:00 pm | Domenico’s
Fri Mar 3, 2017 – 2:30 pm | Bagels & More

The Art Of Flying

Directed by Jan van IJken

Short Documentary
Netherlands | 7 min | 2015

Short film about “murmurations”: the mysterious flights of the Common Starling. It is still unknown how the thousands of birds are able to fly in such dense swarms without colliding. Every night the starlings gather at dusk to perform their stunning air show.

Because of the relatively warm winter of 2014/2015, the starlings stayed in the Netherlands instead of migrating southwards. This gave filmmaker Jan van IJken the opportunity to film one of the most spectacular and amazing natural phenomena on earth.

The Art of Flying - Jan Van IjkenJan van Ijken
Director, Producer, Writer

Jan van IJken (Amersfoort, the Netherlands 1965) is a documentary photographer and filmmaker.
He is specializing in personal photo- and filmprojects.

He published 3 photo books: A touch of Divinity (2001), New Neighbours (2004) and Dierbaar/Precious Animals (2005). His photos were published in numerous international exhibitions, magazines and newspapers.

In the last few years, he produced 3 short films: Facing Animals (2012, 30 min HD Video) about the complex and  often bizarre relationship between man and animal and Nevermore (2013, 4 min HD Video) about the fast and instinctive creative process of action painting and The art of flying (2015, 7 min HD Video) about the stunning and mysterious flights of the Common Starling.

The Art of Flying - Poster

Film Information

Director: Jan van IJken
Country: Netherlands
Year: 2015
Language: n/a
Runtime: 7 min
Rated: G

Credits

Producers: Jan van Ijken
Cinematographer/DP:  Jan van Ijken

Connect With This Film

BIFF - Beloit International Film Festival
BIFF | Beloit International Film Festival