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PHENOMENA Documentary, a Psychedelic Odyssey Into the Fabric of the Universe

PHENOMENA Documentary, a Psychedelic Odyssey Into the Fabric of the Universe – Trailer, Cast & Entertainment Release Details

PHENOMENA is a psychedelic odyssey into the fabric of the universe, guided by a filmmaker and his immersive practical experiments that blur the lines between art and science to reveal nature’s inner workings. Captured entirely by camera with no visual effects or artifice, the unfolding awe-inspiring hyper-real imagery is elevated by music from legendary Nils Frahm and an ethereal electronic original score by Rival Consoles, transforming curious observation into a hypnotic audio-visual adventure spanning from the subatomic to cosmological scales. Tracing the forces and elements shaping the natural world, PHENOMENA is a kinetic sensory experience, exploring the wonders of the universe and our connection to it.

WHO

Written, Directed, and Produced by Josef Gatti

Producer Rob Innes

Executive Producers Jessica Harrop, Caitlin Mae Burke, Jad Abumrad

Music Nils Frahm

Original Score by Rival Consoles

Featuring Josef Gatti

With the Participation of Mark Gatti, Emme Orbach , John-Paul James, James McAsey

Co-Writer & Co-Producer Joseph Nizeti

 

Editors Johanna Scott, Josef Gatti

Co-Producer Niraj Lal

Associate Producer Marcus Wright

Director of Photography Josef Gatti

Cinematographer Martine Wolff

Art Director Pernell Marsden, supported by VicScreen

Sound Designer Pip Atherstone-Reid
Phenomena is a Gatti and Mashup Pictures production. Principal production funding from Sandbox Films and Screen Australia, in association with VicScreen.

 

 

About JOSEF GATTI (Writer, Director, Producer, Director of Photography, Editor, Narrator)
Josef Gatti is a filmmaker and artist based in Melbourne specialising in documentary and experimental film. His distinctive visual style is shaped by innovative cinematography and practical experimentation, bringing together art and science to create immersive experiences. Phenomena marks his feature-documentary debut, made in collaboration with Academy Award–nominated production studio Sandbox Films. The project builds on the success of a multi-platform iteration of the same name, broadcast by the ABC (Australia) and screened at international film festivals and immersive exhibition spaces. It was named the second-best Australian series of 2021 by The Guardian, and described by DOC NYC as “a film that just has to be experienced”. Beyond longform filmmaking, Josef works as a creative and cinematographer in Australia’s music and arts scene, documenting and collaborating with some of Australia’s leading music festivals and acclaimed artists. Notably, in 2024 Josef directed the series Matter for Cercle Records.
About NILS FRAHM (Featuring Music from)
The pianist, composer and producer Nils Frahm is renowned for his unique fusion of classical and electronic music. His contemplative piano style and innovative use of ambient textures have earned him international acclaim and a devoted global audience. After early solo piano works and a collaboration with cellist Anne Müller, his breakthrough came with Felt (2011), followed by the widely praised live-inspired album Spaces (2013). In 2015, he founded Piano Day and won the German Film Prize for his soundtrack to Victoria, further expanding his artistic reach through additional film projects. His 2018 album All Melody led to a two-year world tour with more than 180 sold-out shows and the concert film Tripping with Nils Frahm. Subsequent releases include Graz, the dub-influenced 2X1=4 with F.S.Blumm, and the archival piano collection Old Friends New Friends. In 2022, he unveiled the expansive Music For Animals and completed the accompanying global tour. Recent works include the solo albums Day (2024) and Night (2025), as well as the live album Paris (2024).
About RIVAL CONSOLES (Original Score by)
Rival Consoles (aka Ryan Lee West) is best known for creating humanised electronic music from an instantly recognisable palette of haunting and emotive synths. Scoring work includes Netflix’s Black Mirror and The Figo Affair, original music for Secret Cinema’s Blade Runner and Stranger Things UK and LA experiences. Most recently, he’s scored Michael Carolan’s short Collision for RTE and Josef Gatti’s visually absorbing feature project Phenomena.
About ROB INNES (Producer)
Rob Innes is an award-winning producer and director with experience across documentary, factual, entertainment and comedy. He is known for his creative and innovative approaches to storytelling. Currently he has just produced science documentary film Phenomena with Academy-Award nominated and Emmy-Award winning studio Sandbox Films. Previously Rob has directed the high-rating 3-part TV series Magda’s Big National Health Check for the ABC with Magda Szubanski; produced ABC original digital series Phenomena which was named as “one of the best Australian programs of 2022” by The Guardian; directed and produced 4-part ob-doc TV series Housemates for the ABC; produced animated film Bright Lights for The Guardian which has over 700K views on YouTube; produced vertical series Unerased for Instagram; and was selected for the Screen Australia Enterprise program where he worked with Arrow Media’s development team in London.
About JESSICA HARROP (Executive Producer)
Jessica Harrop is Executive Director of Sandbox Films and an Emmy and Peabody Award-winning documentary filmmaker who has dedicated her career to inspiring passion about science through film. In her role at Sandbox Films she oversees all project decisions and company strategy and acts as an executive producer across Sandbox Films’ documentary slate  — including Oscar-nominated Fire of Love; Sundance Special Jury-Prize winning All Light, Everywhere, Nocturnes and Andre Is an Idiot; Emmy-winning Fathom; and Fireball, a documentary directed by Werner Herzog. Jessica has produced content for a variety of outlets including Netflix, Showtime, Discovery, National Geographic, and PBS. As an establishing partner of Sandbox Films, Jessica’s passion for science storytelling shines through in each project she produces. Jessica is a member of both PGA and WGA. She holds a degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and a Certificate in Theater from Princeton University, where she also co-taught an undergraduate film course on communicating climate change. Jessica serves on the board of Reel Works Teen Filmmaking.
About CAITLIN MAE BURKE (Executive Producer)
Caitlin Mae Burke is an Emmy-winning producer and Oscar-shortlisted executive producer, who brings over fifteen years of producing experience to her work supporting and expanding the Sandbox Films slate as Head of Production and Development. Notable 2026 premieres from Sandbox that Caitlin executive produced include Sundance Opening Day selection The Lake (dir. Abby Ellis) and Sara Dosa’s Time and Water with Nat Geo. Caitlin’s work as an independent producer has been broadcast and screened in movie theaters internationally, recognized with Emmy, Grand Clio, and Gotham Awards, and nominated for Critic’s Choice, Independent Spirit, and Cinema Eye Honors, as well as numerous “Best of festival” designations. In their prior role as Co-Director of IF/Then Shorts at Field of Vision, they oversaw 117 short documentaries from development to distribution as a supervising or executive producer, including 2024 Oscar-shortlisted Between Earth and Sky. Caitlin is an inaugural inductee into DOC NYC’s 40 Under 40 and alumna of Berlinale Talents and serves as on the advisory board of The Redford Center and as a member of the Television Academy’s Documentary branch.
About JAD ABUMRAD (Executive Producer)
Composer/artist/journalist Jad Abumrad is the creator of Radiolab, Dolly Parton’s America, Fela Kuti: Fear No Man and many other podcasts which collectively have been downloaded over a billion times. He’s been called a “master of the radio craft” for his unique ability to combine cutting edge sound-design, cinematic storytelling and a personal approach to explaining complex topics, from the stochasticity of tumor cells to the mathematics of morality. Jad studied creative writing and music composition at Oberlin College in Ohio. He composed much of the music for Radiolab, and has composed music for film, theater and dance. Jad has received three Peabody Awards, the highest honor in broadcasting and two DuPont Awards.  And in 2011, he received the prestigious MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship. He’s currently a Distinguished Professor of Research at Vanderbilt University.
WHEN
Beginning on: March 5, 2026
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