Acclaimed filmmaker Spike Jonze premieres his latest work – I’m Here, a 30-minute short film – today at the Sundance Film Festival as part of the first-ever Opening Night’s Shorts Program at the festival. The film is a collaboration with ABSOLUT VODKA, and will be accompanied by a charitable donation of $30,000 to 20/20, an American Film Institute (AFI) initiative, designed to enhance cultural exchange, understanding and collaboration through filmmakers and their films from the US and abroad. The partnership acknowledges the brand’s position as a pioneering and culture-shaping brand. Previous collaborations include those with Andy Warhol, Keith Haring and Helmut Newton. I’m Here honors the brand’s history while embarking on a new and innovative alliance with one of today’s most original filmmakers.

“It was a pretty incredible opportunity,” says Jonze. “They (ABSOLUT) didn’t give me any requirements to make a movie that had anything to do with vodka. They just wanted me to make something that was important to me, and let my imagination take me wherever I wanted. And it wasn’t like working with some huge corporation where I had to meet with committees of people. It was just a small group, and it seemed like creativity and making something that affected them emotionally was the only thing that really mattered to them. I got to make my first love story. It’s about the relationship between two robots living in Los Angeles”.

This collaboration with Spike Jonze was created by long-standing ad agency of record TBWA\Chiat\Day. In addition to the 30-minute film, there are also 30 and 60 second trailers, to be used online and as TV commercials globally. The film will also screen at the Berlin Film Festival in February, followed by a global release in March on www.imheremovie.com.

“Since its inception, ABSOLUT VODKA has been driven by creativity, and together with Spike Jonze we set a new standard for creative collaborations,” says Anna Malmhake, Vice President Global Marketing at The Absolut Company. “Spike Jonze is one of the most important influencers of modern popular culture, and this 30-minute film subtly and artfully expresses our enduring commitment to collaborations and creativity.”

I’m Here, a 30-minute short film by Spike Jonze. Featuring Andrew Garfield and Sienna Guillory in the lead roles. The soundtrack includes original music by Sam Spiegel and original songs by L.A.-based art musician Aska Matsumiya and other emerging musicians.

Credits:

Director: Spike Jonze
Writer: Spike Jonze
Cast: Andrew Garfield, Sienna Guillory
Producer: Vincent Landay
Executive Producer: Mark Figliulo, Matt Bijarchi
Director Of Photography: Adam Kimmel, A.S.C.
Editors: Eric Zumbrunnen, A.C.E., Stephen Berger
Production Designer: Floyd Albee
Casting By: Justine Baddeley & Kim Davis-Wagner
Costume Designer: Casey Storm
Robot Designer: Sonny Gerasimowicz
Sound Designer: Ren Klyce
Original Score By: Sam Spiegel
“There are many of us” By: Aska Matsumiya
Lost Trees Music Produced By: Nick Zinner
Visual Effects Supervisor: Ben Gibbs
Visual Effects By: Method Studios
Produced In Association with MJZ