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Sil van der Woerd - Studio Birthplace
Co-Founder, Creative Director, Producer
Based in the Netherlands
Biography
Be the change! Sil is a storyteller on a mission to ignite change through inspiring films, games, and campaigns. With a deep sense of responsibility for our planet's wellbeing — animals, communities, and ecosystems — Sil passionately advocates for those without a voice. Sil's recent works brought attention to environmental topics like deforestation, overconsumption, the climate crisis and the plastic soup, and collected many awards & recognitions. Sil studied Fine Arts in Arnhem, the Netherlands and Visual Effects in Hollywood. In 2019, Sil co-founded Studio Birthplace, a studio that focuses solely on ecological topics and a sustainable future for our planet. Join Sil on his quest to push boundaries, reshape the world, and captivate audiences with bold and innovative work, one powerful narrative at a time!
Chronology / Filmography
2023 co-directs* short film TotalPollution for Greenpeace France; co-directs* music film Ludovico Einaudi - Broken Wings for Waterbear 2022 co-directs* Wear Wool, Not Fossil Fuel campaign film for Woolmark, South Africa 2021 co-directs* short film Wasteminster for Greenpeace UK; co-directs* short film and app Humanity’s Impact; directs short film Mirage, Scotland; exhibits** Drifters at The Shed, New York; co-directs** short film Drifters New York; co-directs* 3 short films Dangerous Lies for Greenpeace, Singapore; exhibits Drifters at Times Square, New York 2020 directs mobile game Jungle Heroes 2019 co-founds environmental and humanitarian focused Studio Birthplace with Jorik Dozy and Sean Lin; co-directs* music video Novo Amor - Sleepless/Repeat Until Death, Mongolia; wins best music video with Birthplace at Camerimage, Poland; exhibits** Drifters at Amos Rex, Helsinki; exhibits** Drifters at Mint Museum, Charlotte, USA; creative director at Park Village, London 2018 co-directs* music video Oliver Spalding - Epoch, Malaysia; co-directs** short film Drifters; co-directs* Novo Amor - Birthplace, Indonesia; exhibits** Drifters at Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam 2017 co-directs* music video Novo Amor & Ed Tullett - Terraform, Indonesia 2016 directs music video Noisia - Mantra, Italy; directs short film Growth, Netherlands 2012 directs music video Jane Blue & The Hunters - The Pagan, Scotland; co-directs short film Requiem 2019 with Rutger Hauer, Denmark; directs music video Noisia - Tommy’s Theme, Netherlands; directs music video Skrillex & Boys Noize - Next Order, Netherlands; decides to pursue environmental and humanitarian projects 2011 leaves Los Angeles to pursue autonomous work; directs 4-month student excellence program, St. Joost Academy, Netherlands 2010 creative director at Digital Domain, Los Angeles 2009 directs music video Lolly Jane Blue - White Swan, Belgium 2008 directs 10-month student excellence program, Gnomon School of Visual Effects, Los Angeles 2007 directs music video Lolly Jane Blue - Worms, Netherlands 2006 graduates from Gnomon School of Visual Effects, Los Angeles 2005 graduates from ArtEZ Academy of Art and Design, Arnhem, Netherlands; directs short film Swim, Netherlands; Duet and Swim featured on Youtube’s International homepage 2004 directs short film Duet, Netherlands 1982 born in Tiel, Netherlands // *with Jorik Dozy **with DRIFT
Awards & Recognitions
Woolmark | Wear Wool, Not Fossil Fuel 2022 Silver Positive Change: Environmental Effie Awards 2023, London, UK | Silver International Craft Shark Advertising Awards 2023, Brighton, UK | Awards Silver Planet Positive 1.4 Awards, London, UK | Bronze Best Colour Grading Creative Circle Awards, London, UK | Nominated Impact Award Integrated Best Over 30” and Up To & Including 60” Original Composition Colourist British Arrows, London, UK Greenpeace | Wasteminster 2021 Bronze Film Craft Lion Animation Cannes Lions 2022, Cannes, France | Gold Online Commercials 3D Animation 43rd Annual Telly Awards 2022, New York, USA | Silver Online Commercials Social Impact 43rd Annual Telly Awards 2022, New York, USA | Gold Animation CGI British Arrows 2022, London, UK | Gold Sustainable Impact Award British Arrows 2022, London, UK | Gold Flying High Cat. Planet Positive One Point Four Awards 2021, UK | Gold Production & Post Production CGI Animation, Bronze Digital Animation / Motion Graphics London International Awards 2021, London, UK | Best Animation For Positive Change Creative Circle Awards 2022, London, UK | Best Digital 3D Animation Creative Circle Awards 2022, London, UK | Top 15 Best Film Ads Of 2021 Campaign Magazine 2021, UK | Best Animation Eatsa Film Festival 2021, Portugal | Best Conservation & Preservation Shorty Awards 2021, New York, USA | Gold Essence Of The Message Luum Awards 2021, Geneva, Switzerland | Gold Planet Luum Awards 2021, Geneva, Switzerland | Gold Best Of Category, Craft Gongs Singapore Gong Show 2021, Singapore | Silver Ad Of The Year: Animation, Nomination Ad Of The Year: Charity, Nomination Ad Of The Year: Concept Up To And Including 2 Minutes Shots EMEA Awards 2021, UK | Vimeo Staff Pick Best Of The Month 2021| Silver Best Charities & Trusts Shark Advertising Awards 2021, Brighton, UK | Silver Best Animation Direction Shark Advertising Awards 2021, Brighton, UK | Third Prize Jury Award 1-5 Minute Films United Filmmakers Festival 2022, Bavaria, Germany // Mirage 2021 Best Short Film Nox Film Fest 2022, Salto, Uruguay | Best Short Film Punto Final Festival 2021, Quinto, Spain | Best Short Film Donosskino Short Film Festival 2021, Donostia, San Sebastian, Spain | Best Short Fiction Film Go Short Film Festival 2021, Arnhem, Netherlands | Best International Short Fiction Film Alicante International Film Festival 2021, Alicante, Spain | Best International Short Film Or Documentary Festiver 2022, Barichara, Colombia | Best Narrative Short Film Ecozine International Film Festival 2022, Zaragoza, Spain | Best Acting to Bosco Hogan, Festival De Cinema Fantastik 2021, Granollers, Spain | Best Directing, Best Screenplay, Best Editing, 2nd Award Best Short Film FICCAB 2021, Benalmadena, Spain | Best Editing Dieciminuti Film Festival 2022, Ceccano, Italy | Best Soundtrack Vitaly Zavadsky, Dieciminuti Film Festival 2022, Ceccano, Italy | Best Cinematography to Lennert Hillege Visioni Corte International Short Film Festival 2021, Minturno, Italy | Best International Debut Short Film Fecicam Festival 2021, Ciudad Real, Spain | Best Acting to Bosco Hogan, Riurau Film Festival 2021, Javea, Spain | Jury Award Best Short, Thriller, Horror or Sci-Fi Cinequest Film Festival 2022, San Jose, USA | 2nd Award Best Short Film XII Sole Tura Award Brain Film Fest 2022, Barcelona, Spain | 3rd Award Best Short Film Festival International Cinema Arganda 2021, Arganda, Spain // Birthplace Game 2021 Nomination Special Jury Award Jackson Wild 2021, Jackson, USA | Nomination Best Applied App Or Game Dutch Game Awards 2021, Hilversum, the Netherlands // Novo Amor | Sleepless / Repeat Until Death 2019 Winner Special Award Eatsa Film Festival 2021, Portugal | Best Cinematography Fastnet Film Festival 2021, West Cork, Ireland | Premio Cinema E Sviluppo Sostenibile Malescorto International Film Festival 2021, Malesco, Italy | Best Photography Ushuaia SHH International Mountain Film Festival 2020, Ushuaia, Argentina | Festival Prize Crossroads Section, Festival Cine De Montana Petrelda 2020, Elda, Spain | Best Cinematography 15th Edition Of Dieciminuti Film Festival 2020, Ceccano, Italy | Best Soundtrack 15th Edition of Dieciminuti Film Festival 2020, Ceccano, Italy | Gülden Glöbe Short Film Festival Kontrast 2020, Bayreuth, Germany | Premio Mejor Film Encrucijada Cuenta Montes 2020, Spain | Special Merit Award Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Festival 2019, KL, Malaysia | Best Short Film Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Festival 2019, KL, Malaysia | 2nd Prize Best Film Festival Of The Shortest Night 2019, Arnhem, Netherlands // Those Who Have Reindeer 2019 Bronze Best Cinematography Ad Stars 2019, Busan, South Korea // Novo Amor | Birthplace 2018 Best Short Film 14th International Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Fest 2021, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Best Film Inspired By Ecological Issues Malescorto ISFF 2019, Italy | Audience Award Fest New Directors New Films Festival 2019, Portugal | Annual Winner Best Music Video Queen Palm Film Festival 2019, Palm Springs, USA | Annual Winner Best Cinematography In A Music Video Queen Palm Film Festival 2019, Palm Springs, USA | Best Music Video Ecozine Festival 2019, Zaragoza, Spain | Best International Documentary Imperia Video Festival 2019, Imperia, Italy | Best Documentary International Children And Youth Festival Cinemegaguay 2019, Almeria, Spain | Best Music Video Ecu the European Independent Film Festival 2019, Paris, France | Best Film Reel Teal Film Festival 2019, Wilmington, USA | Best Experimental Reel Teal Film Festival 2019, Wilmington, USA | Best Video Clip The Blue Gold 2019, Santo Stefano, Italy | Best Music Video CamerImage 2018, Bydgoszcz, Poland | Nomination Best Cinematography In A Music Video CamerImage 2018, Bydgoszcz, Poland | Independent Video Of The Year AIM Independent Music Awards 2018, London, UK | Best Film Punto Di Vista Film Festival 2018, Cagliari, Italy | Best Short Film Corto Corto Mon Amour 2018, Palermo, Italy | Best Short Film Category Environmental Issues Villammare Film Festival 2018, Salerno, Italy | Best Short Fiction Film Innsbruck Nature Film Festival 2018, Innsbruck, Austria | Royal Gem Diamond Palm Springs Film Fest 2018, Palm Springs, USA | Most Inspiring Film Carrboro Film Festival 2018, Carrboro, USA | 2nd Prize Best Open Category Barrie Film Festival 2018, Barrie, Canada | Special Mention Best Experimental Short Fincortex International Short Experimental Film Festival 2018, Colombia | Nomination Best Alternative Video UK UK Music Video Awards 2018, London, UK | Nomination Best Photography Soundie Music Video Awards 2018, Barcelona, Spain // Oliver Spalding | Epoch 2018 Best Music Video Festival Cortos Rodinia 2020, Valladolid, Spain | Outstanding Production Design Special Jury Award Autumn Shorts Film Fest 2018, Kentucky, USA // Novo Amor & Ed Tullett | Terraform 2017 Special Mention Best Documentary Festival Internacional del Cortometraje FIC 2019, Argentina | Vimeo Staff Pick 2018 | Best Music Video Short Shorts, 2018, Tokyo, Japan | Nomination Best Music Video CamerImage 2018, Bydgoszcz, Poland | Nomination Best Cinematography in a Music Video CamerImage 2018, Bydgoszcz, Poland | Best Experimental Swiff South West London International Film Festival 2018, London, UK | Best Documentary 7th Visioni Corte International Film Festival 2018, Minturno, Italy | Best Documentary Cinematography International Film Festival Autumn At Voronet 2018, Gura H., Romania | Best Film Interactions Jury 13th SoleLuna Doc Film Festival 2018, Treviso, Italy | CortoNatura Award 21th Gran Paradiso Film Festival 2018, Cogne, Italy | Best Film Audience Award 16th Festival De Curtmetratges de Manlleu 2018, Manlleu, Spain | Best Short New Italians Jury Sole Luna Doc Film Festival 2018, Palermo, Italy | Best Short Mount Fuji, Atami Film & VR Festival 2018, Atami, Japan | Best Documentary Greenwich Village Film Festival 2018, New York, USA | Best Music Video Audience Choice Award 42nd Cleveland IFF 2018, Cleveland, USA | Special Mention Best Short International Jury Sole Luna Doc Film Festival 2018, Palermo, Italy | Special Mention Best Miglior Short Documentary Malescorto Int’ Short Film Festival 2018, Malesco, Italy | Special Jury Mention 6th International Audiovisual Festival Mambe 2018, Florencia, Colombia | Special Jury Mention Minidoc 2018, Polan, Toledo, Spain // Growth 2016 Vimeo Staff Pick 2018 | Best Short Film Gouden Hert, Gelders Doek 2018, Arnhem, Gelders Doek | Special Mention Premio Internacional De Cortometrajes De La Universidad 2017, De La Laguna, Spain | Best Picture Jury Award, 9th Wordless International Short Film Festival 2017, Tehran, Iran, Australia | Outstanding Editing Autumn Shorts Film Festival Somerset 2017, Kentucky, USA | Nomination Best of Fest Autumn Shorts Film Festival Somerset 2017, Kentucky, USA | Special Mention Short of the Year Winter 2017, Madrid, Spain | Special Mention Trani Film Festival 2017, Italy | Best Set Design Gino Pellegrini Prize, Movievalley Bazzacinema 2017, Italy // Noisia | Mantra 2016 Best Experimental Film My Hero International Film Festival 2017, Santa Monica, USA | Best Music Video DNBA Drum and Bass Arena Awards 2017, London, UK | Vimeo Staff Pick 2016 // Requiem 2019 2012 Best Film Official Selection Sisak Eco Film Festival 2016, Croatia | Best Music San Gió Video Festival 2014, Verona, Italy | Vimeo Staff Pick 2013 // Noisia | Tommy's Theme 2012 Video Staff Pick 2012 // Lolly Jane Blue | White Swan 2009 Best Music Video Rutger Hauer’s I’ve Seen Films Festival 2010, Milan, Italy | Best Music Performance Rutger Hauer’s I’ve Seen Films Festival 2010, Milan, Italy | Special Jury Prize World Music Video Amsterdam Film Festival 2010, Amsterdam, Netherlands | Special Jury Mention Musiclip Festival 2010, Barcelona, Spain | Best Music Video HDfest Event 2009, New York, USA | 2nd Prize Best Dutch Music Video Shoot Me Film Festival 2009, The Hague, Netherlands // Lolly Jane Blue | Worms 2007 Best Music Video Cyprus International Film Festival 2009 | Nomination Most Cutting Edge Dutch Music Video Kosmopolis Hero Award 2008, Amsterdam, Netherlands | Best Film November Edition of NPS New Arrivals Competition 2008, Utrecht, NL | Music Video of the Month Dutch magazine Music Maker 2007, Netherlands // Swim 2005 Best Animation In De Maak Final 2007, Utrecht, Netherlands | Best Digital Short Playgrounds Festival 2006, Tilburg, Netherlands | Best Graduating Student Academy Prize 2006 Arnhem, Netherlands | Finalist Global Student Animation Award competition 2005, New York, USA | 2nd Prize Best Film Tent Academy Awards 2005, Rotterdam, Netherlands // Duet 2004 Best Film Beeldbuis Festival 2004, Zwolle, Netherlands | Best Film Teek Festival 2004, Breda, Netherlands
Museum Exhibitions
Wasteminster 2021 Vancouver Art Gallery The Imitation Game: Visual Culture In The Age Of Artificial Intelligence, Vancouver, Canada, March 5 - October 23, 2022 | Drifters New York 2021 The Shed New York, USA, September 29, 2021 - December 19, 2021 | Drifters 2018 Dhahran Expo Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, December 8 - December 16, 2023 | The Israel Museum Drifting with Magritte: Castles in the Air, Jerusalem, Israel, March 17, 2022 - October 18, 2022 | Times Square Art Project 'Midnight Moment', Times Square, New York, USA, Exhibited On 90 Screens, Daily 23:57-00:00, December 1 - December 30, 2021 | The Shed New York, USA, September 29, 2021 - December 19, 2021 | Mint Museum Charlotte, USA, September 20, 2019 - April 26, 2020 | Amos Rex Helsinki, Finland, March 6 - May 19, 2019 | Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, Netherlands, April 25 - August 26, 2018 | White Swan 2009 Centraal Museum Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands, September 15 - October 4, 2010 | Museum Arnhem Arnhem, the Netherlands, September 12, October 25, 2009
Speaker
Innovate 2023 Bio Based Awareness, Arnhem, October 13, 2023 | Playgrounds Blend Information Through Emotion, Amsterdam Eye Film Museum, November 3, 2022, Breda Chasse Theater, November 4, 2022 | G7 International Digital Twins of the Ocean Summit Digital Twins In Films And Games Lancaster House, London, UK, May 5, 2022 | Kancil Festival Information Through Emotion Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, October 24, 2019 | KCD ONGD - 10th International Meeting On Culture, Communication And Development "Communication for Social Transformation" Information Through Emotion Bilbao, Spain, July 2, 2019 | World Building Humanity's Impact, Wasteminster, Birthplace Game + Student Guidance Arnhem, Netherlands, November 12, 2021 | 10th International Unseen Film Festival “Film Sozialak” Terraform, Epoch High School Tour Bilbao, Spain, October 16 - 19, 2018
Teacher
ArtEZ University Of The Arts - Design Art Technology Course Solidarity & Ecology Arnhem, the Netherlands, 2022 | St. Joost School Of Art & Design Program Of Excellence Breda, the Netherlands, 2011 - 2012 | Gnomon, School Of Visual Effects, Games & Animation VFX For Production Hollywood, USA, 2008 - 2009