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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 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 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 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
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