Honored to be contributing artist in LOOK UP – The Science of Cultural Evolution, a multi-award-winning documentary directed by Nini Myhrvold and Dr. Espen Folmo.
Espen invited me to contribute three artworks to the film in 2023. We share a deep interest in the integral philosophy of Ken Wilber and the weaving together of diverse narratives into a meaningful synthesis—one that reaches beyond surface phenomena.
You can watch the film above.
My art appears at 2:09:40.
Further info:
Embark on a transformative journey with LOOK UP—The Science of Cultural Evolution. This groundbreaking animated documentary bridges the gap between cutting-edge scientific insights and timeless cultural wisdom. Through vivid storytelling and compelling visuals, it unpacks profound ideas from a meticulously crafted scientific manuscript.
Rooted in groundbreaking research, LOOK UP draws its narrative from a scientific manuscript published by Kolofon, available in both English and Norwegian.
About the Film
LOOK UP offers a unique journey where scientific insight meets cultural wisdom. This animated documentary breathes life into complex ideas from a comprehensive scientific manuscript, blending the subtleties of psychotherapy research with timeless cultural insights. At two hours and fifty minutes, this feature film represents a new genre—melding academic depth with the engaging narrative of a documentary.
Embark on a fascinating exploration of how cultural evolution mirrors biological evolution, uncovering emergent phenomena that drive both our scientific pursuits and collective awareness. This film delves into the transformative role of psychotherapy in shaping personal and societal growth, advocating for relational science's integration into daily life.
Guided by a compelling storyline, LOOK UP invites viewers on an immersive journey, exploring the ancient practice of healing through subconscious cultural agreements that manifest in shared human experiences and collective healing processes.
Discover more about the film on our IMDb page, including awards, reviews, and behind-the-scenes details.
Join us for an enlightening experience that fosters both personal growth and societal transformation. This is more than just a viewing—it’s an invitation to integrate profound insights into one’s own journey.
Awards & Recognitions
LOOK UP—The Science of Cultural Evolution has been honored globally for its visionary approach and academic depth. Recent accolades include:
Winner – Best Educational Film – Cannes World Film Festival (2024)
Best Picture & Best Animation – London Movie Awards (2024)
Best Feature Documentary – London Movie Awards (2025)
Best Picture, Best Feature Documentary, Gold Award – Feature Documentary – Hollywood Gold Awards (2024)
Best Feature Documentary – Hollywood Gold Awards (2025)
Best Feature Documentary – Paris Film Awards (2024)
Best Documentary, Best First Time Director (Male and Female), Best Editing, Best VFX – Champs-Élysées Film Awards (2024)
Nominee – Best First Time Filmmaker (Feature), Best Editing, Best Inspirational Film, Best Health Film, Best Educational Film – Cannes World Film Festival (2024)
Best Feature Documentary & Best Editing – American Filmatic Arts Awards (2024)
Best Experimental, Gold Award: Animation, Silver Award: Feature Documentary – International Gold Awards (2024)
Gold Award: Feature Documentary & Gold Award: Animation – International Gold Awards (2025)
Best Documentary, VFX, Feature – Creation International Film Festival (2024)
Special Jury Award – Best Documentary Feature Film – Thilsri International Film Festival (2024)
Best International Feature Film – Athvikvaruni International Film Festival (2024)
Best Documentary Feature Film – Kookai International Film Festival (2024)
Best Feature Film (Documentary) – Chambal International Film Festival (2025)
Best Documentary Feature – Hamburg Indie Film Festival
Best European Film & Best Experimental Film – International Anatolian Film Awards
Best Documentary Feature – Festigious Los Angeles (2025)
Best International Documentary Film – Rajasthan International Film Festival (RIFF) (2025)
Best first time director, documentary – Cine Paris Film Festival (2024)
Short-list – Metropolis Film Festival (2024)
Best Documentary Film – Symbiotic Film Festival, Kiev (2024)
Best Feature Documentary, Gold Award – Animation – New York Movie Awards (2024)
Gold Award: Feature Documentary & Honorable Mention – New York Movie Awards (2025)
Gold Award – Experimental Film, Animated Film, Silver Award – Feature Documentary – Milan Gold Awards (2024)
Best Director of an Inspirational Film – Best Director of a Documentary – Silver Award – Best Actor & Director Awards, New York (2024)
Gold Award: Feature Documentary & Honorable Mention – Florence Film Awards (2025)
Silver Award – Feature Documentary – Florence Film Awards (2024)
Silver Award – Spotlight Documentary Film Awards (2024)
Best Documentary Feature, Best Editing, Best VFX – Rome International Movie Awards (2024)
Honorable Mention – Phare International Film Festival (2024)
Finalist in Best Documentary – Filmique International Film Festival (2024)
Best First Time Director Documentary – Amsterdam New Cinema Film Festival (2024)
Award of Prestige – Best Director Documentary Feature – San Diego Movie Awards (2024)
Best Documentary Feature – Madrid International Movie Awards (2024)
You can find the full list of awards here.
About the Directors
Nini Caroline Skarpaas Myhrvold (b. 1990) has a background in environmental therapy, specializing in trauma-sensitive care and holistic approaches to well-being. Nini is a birth and pregnancy therapist, a biopath with published research, and is currently pursuing an EMBA at Hult International Business School. Visit Nini’s website.
Espen Jan Folmo (b. 1980) holds a PhD in psychology and brings a wealth of experience from international research in psychotherapy. As the former Head of the Quality Laboratory for Psychotherapy at Oslo University Hospital, he is deeply versed in therapeutic research and application. Espen also has expertise in journalism, technology management from MIT, and change management from INSEAD. He has a rich background in spirituality, including the Diamond Approach, which has informed his work over the past two decades.
Abridged Abstract
In our collective odyssey through time and space, from the primordial soup to the sprawling complexities of modern civilization, we encounter the enigmatic dance of emergence and evolution.
The evolution of species, a journey marked by gradual adaptations and sudden leaps, mirrors the trajectory of our cultural evolution. Just as biologists grapple with the 'missing links' that puzzle the evolutionary chain, we, too, find ourselves at crossroads in our cultural and intellectual development. These are moments where leaps in understanding and innovation occur, not through incremental steps but through transformative shifts, akin to the emergent properties of complex systems like Dictyostelium discoideum, where collective intelligence surpasses the sum of individual capabilities.
The staircase from the atom to the stars, a metaphor for our scientific and spiritual quest, is not just a linear path but a series of leaps and bounds, where new understanding emerges from the confluence of ideas, much like the discrete notes on a piano coming together to form music.
In the light of our evolving understanding of emergent phenomena, both in science and culture, we stand at the precipice of a new epoch. Our survival and thriving as a species may well depend on our ability to embrace and navigate these emergent realities, transforming our collective consciousness to meet the challenges and harness the opportunities of our times.
As we ponder these possibilities, let us remember that every step in our evolutionary journey, every leap in our cultural consciousness, brings us closer to realizing our full potential as stewards of this planet and architects of our destiny. And, there is no emergent phenomena, unless we all step up. Cohesion is what makes human groups magic, and emergent: This is why you are one of the most important beings ever to be alive. The present movie, invites you on a “therapeutic” journey to integrate a scientific toolkit for you to play your role in our biblical times.
