LOOK UP—The Science of Cultural Evolution

LOOK UP—The Science of Cultural Evolution | Multi-Award-Winning Documentary

Directed by Nini Myhrvold & Dr. Espen Folmo

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.

For an uninterrupted, ad-free experience, you can watch the film on Vimeo.

Rooted in groundbreaking research, LOOK UP draws its narrative from a scientific manuscript published by Kolofon, available in both English and Norwegian.

The English version is available from Google Play, from Apple Books, and on Amazon. The Norwegian version can be found here.

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. Below is the complete list of over 230 awards and recognitions, categorized by prestige.

Major International Festivals

Winner: Best Educational Film – Cannes World Film Festival (2024)
Nominee: Best First Time Filmmaker (Feature), Best Editing, Best Inspirational Film & Best Health Film – Cannes World Film Festival (2024)
Quarter-Finalist – 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 Experimental, Gold Award: Animation & Silver Award: Feature Documentary – International Gold Awards (2024)
Gold Award: Feature Documentary & Gold Award: Animation – International Gold Awards (2025)
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, Gold Award: Animated Film & Silver Award: Feature Documentary – Milan Gold Awards (2024)
Silver Award: Feature Documentary – Florence Film Awards (2024)
Gold Award: Feature Documentary & Honorable Mention – Florence Film Awards (2025)

Significant International Awards

Best Documentary, Best First Time Director (Male & Female), Best Editing & Best VFX – Champs-Élysées Film Awards (2024)
Best Feature Documentary & Best Editing – American Filmatic Arts Awards (2024)
Best Director of an Inspirational Film, Best Director of a Documentary & Silver Award – Best Actor & Director Awards, New York (2024)
Best Documentary Feature, Best Editing & Best VFX – Rome International Movie Awards (2024)
Best Documentary Feature – Madrid International Movie Awards (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, Best VFX & Best Feature – Creation International Film Festival (2024)

Recognized International Specialty Festivals

Winner: Best Documentary Feature – Hamburg Indie Film Festival (2025)
Winner: Best Documentary Feature – Mei International Film Festival (2025)
Winner: Best European Film & Best Experimental Film – International Anatolian Film Awards (2025)
Winner: Best Documentary Film – Fourth Dimension Independent Film Festival (2025)
Award Winner: Best Documentary Film – Blue Star International Film Festival (2025)
Best Jury Award: Documentary Film, International Category – Lakecity International Film Festival (2025)
Winner: Best Docu-Feature Film (Critics) – Samskara International Film Festival (2025)
Winner: Special Jury Award (Documentary) – Indo-Global International Film Festival (2025)
Special Jury Prize – Albori Soulplace Film Festival (2025)
Award Winner: Best Documentary Film – Vancouver Independent MovieMaker Awards (2025)
Winner: Phenomenal Attainment Award (Best Documentary Film) – Krimson Horyzon International Film Festival (2025)
Award Winner: Best Debut Film – Los Angeles Silver Screen Film Festival (2025)
Award Winner: Best Documentary Film – Golden Bridge Istanbul Short Film Festival (2025)
Most Innovative Film – Shanghai Indie Film Festival (2025)

Specialized International Awards

Special Jury Award: Best Documentary Feature Film – Thilsri International Film Festival (2024)
Special Jury Award: Best Documentary Feature Film – Tamizhagam International Film Festival (2024)
Special Jury Award – Nitiin International Film Festival, Malaysia (2024)
Best International Feature Film – Athvikvaruni International Film Festival (2024)
Silver Award – Spotlight Documentary Film Awards (2024)
Best Documentary Feature – Miami International Gold Awards (2024)
Best Documentary Feature – Five Continents International Film Festival (2024)
Best Social Science Film – Western Canadian International Film Festival (2024)
Best Documentary Feature – Crown Wood International Film Festival (2024)
Award Winner: Best Feature – Denver Monthly Film Awards (2024)
Best Documentary – Eastern Europe Film Festival (2024)
Best Documentary – The Buddha International Film Festival (2024)
Best Documentary Feature – South Film and Arts Academy Festival (2024)
Best Documentary & Best Experimental Film – Athens International Monthly Art Film Festival (2024)
Award Winner: Feature Documentary – Palermo International Film Festival (2025)
Best Experimental Film – Strasbourg International Film Festival (2025)
Best Documentary Feature Film – Kookai International Film Festival (2024)
Best Feature Film (Documentary) – Chambal International Film Festival (2025)
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)
Best Documentary Film – Symbiotic Film Festival, Kiev (2024)
Best Documentary Feature Film – Rameshwaram International Film Festival (2024)
Best Educational Film – Rameshwaram International Film Festival (2025)
Best Documentary Feature – Kodaikanal International Film Festival (2024)
Best Documentary Feature Film – Makizhmithran International Film Festival (2024)
Best Documentary Feature Film – Poombukar International Film Festival (2024)
Best Documentary Feature Film – Kollywood International Film Festival (2024)
Best Documentary Feature Film – Sittannavasal International Film Festival (2024)
Best Documentary Feature Film – Birsamunda International Film Awards (2024)
Best Documentary Feature & Best Debut Documentary Film – Luleå International Film Festival (2024)
Best First Documentary Film – Sweden Film Awards (2024)
Best Documentary (Feature Length) – Swedish International Film Festival (2024)
Best Documentary Feature – Rohip International Film Festival (2024)
Best Documentary – British Film Festival (2024)
Best Documentary – London Independent Film Awards (2024)
Best Documentary Film – Near Nazareth Festival (2024)
Best Documentary Film & Critic's Choice Award: Best Animated Film – Bangkok Movie Awards (2024)
Best Documentary Film – International Media Arts Film Awards (2024)
Best Feature Documentary – Indie Film Awards (2024)
Best Documentary – 5th Literature in Cinema (2024)
Best Documentary – 6th Literature in Cinema (2024)

Multi-Category Winners & Technical Awards

Best Educational Film, Best Experimental Film, Honorable Mention (Animated Film), Outstanding Achievement Award (Debut Filmmaker) & Best Web & Social Media – Caravan International Film Festival (2024)
Best Artistic Design and Scenery, Best Visual Effects & Best Concept – LuminaFlicks International Short Film Fest (2024)
Best Screenplay, Best Visual Effects & Best Sound and Sound Design – CineTech Future Fest (2024)
Monthly Winner (November 2024) across six categories – Better Earth International Film Festival (2024)
Best Animation Feature & Best Social Awareness Feature – World Premiere Film Awards (2024)
Best Trailer – Chicago Indie Film Awards (2024)
Winner: Best Trailer/Teaser – Melbourne Independent Film Festival (2025)
Best Experimental Film & My 1st Feature Film – Stockholm City Film Festival (2024)
Best Script: Feature Documentary – 12th Noida International Film Festival (2025)
Best Experimental Feature Film – World Cinema Awards (Winter 2024)
Runner-up: Best Docu Feature – Kanchenjunga International Film Festival (2025)
Runner-up: Best Docu Feature – Chauri Chaura International Film Festival (2025)

Merit, Excellence & Special Recognition

Excellence Award – Documentaries Without Borders Film Festival (2024)
Excellence Award – La Bohème Cinema (2024)
Outstanding Excellence: Research & Excellence: Documentary – Depth of Field International Film Festival (2024)
TIFA Award: Best Documentary – Triloka International Filmfare Awards (2024)
MIFF Award – Mokkho International Film Festival (2024)
Award of Merit: Documentary Feature – IndieFEST Film Award (2025)
Award of Merit: Documentary Feature – Accolade Global Film Competition (2024)
Award of Recognition: Documentary Feature, Use of Film/Video for Social Change, Viewer Impact: Motivational/Inspirational & Award of Merit: Research – Impact DOCS Awards (2025)
Platinum Winner: Animation, Documentary Feature & Experimental Film – International Independent Film Awards (2024)
Award of Merit: Animation & Social Awareness – Cinema WorldFest Film Awards (2024)
Best First Time Director & Best Health and Medicine Film – KIEZ Berlin Film Festival (2024)
Winner: Best Documentary Films, Best Educational Film & Best Debut Filmmaker – Dreamz Catcher International Film Festival (2024)
Best First Time Director Feature – Portugal Indie Film Festival (2024)
Monthly Outstanding Achievement Award Winner – Sundarban International Film Festival (2024–25)
Gold Award: Best Documentary – MindField Film Festival Los Angeles (2024)
Gold Award: Best Documentary Feature – Latitude Film Awards (2024)
Award for Culture – Mannheim Arts and Film Festival (2024)
Best Documentary Feature – Second Sight International Film Festival (2024)
Award Winner – Religion Faith International Film Festival (2025)
Award Winner – Santa Barbara International Movie Awards (2025)

Certificate-Documented Awards

Best Editing – Opi Soulplace Film Festival (2025)
Best Editing – Trivento Soulplace Film Festival (2025)
Best First Time Director – Trivento Soulplace Film Festival (2025)
Best Documentary Director – Saath Jiyo Foundation International Film Festival (2025)
Best Documentary – Saath Jiyo Foundation International Film Festival (2025)
Best Ensemble Cast – Saath Jiyo Foundation International Film Festival (2025)
Best Experimental Feature Film – Chicago Cinema Awards (2025)
Certificate of Achievement – Kalakari Film Festival (2025)

Honorable Mentions

Honorable Mention – Phare International Film Festival (2024)
Honorable Mention: Best Inspirational Film – New York International Film Awards (2024)
Honorable Mention: Best Documentary (Long) – American Golden Picture International Film Festival (2024)
Honorable Mention – East Village New York Film Festival (2024)
Honorable Mention – Heart of Europe International Monthly Film Festival (2024)
Honorable Mention – Seven Continents Awards (2024)
Honorable Mention – Castle Film & Media Awards (2024)
Honorable Mention – Berlin Indie Film Festival (2024)
Honorable Mention – Berlin Kiez Film Festival (2024)
Honorable Mention – Frames of New York (2025)
Honorable Mention: Best Inspirational Project – World Class Film Awards (2025)
Honorable Mention – Bracciano Film and Arts Festival (2024)
Honorable Mention – Digital Griffix Film Awards (2025)
Honorable Mention – Buffalo Roots Film Festival (2025)
Honorable Mention – Awareness Festival (2024)

Finalists

Best Documentary Feature (Bronze) – Global Indian Film Festival (2024)
2nd Best Documentary Feature – Shunyatam International Film Festival (2024)
Finalist – Metropolis Film Festival (2024)
Finalist: Best Documentary – Filmique International Film Festival (2024)
Finalist – Rome Prisma Film Awards (2024)
Finalist – Bioscope International Film Fest (2024)
Finalist – NewBorn Short Film Festival Berlin (2024)
Finalist – MindField Film Festival (Albuquerque) (2025)
Finalist – Rajasthan International Film Festival (RIFF) (2025)
Finalist, Best Documentary – 12th ARFF Barcelona International Film Festival (2025)
Finalist – Filmmakers Connect Awards (2025)
Finalist – Oniros Film Awards (New York) (2024)
Finalist – Bocas Film Fest (2025)
Finalist – New York Film Awards (2025)
Finalist – Stafford Film Festival (2025)
Finalist – New York Istanbul Short Film Festival (2025)
Finalist – 2025 WSXA Paris // International Film Festival (2025)
Finalist – OUT OF THE CAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (2025)

Semi-Finalists

Semi-Finalist – Los Angeles Film Awards (2024)
Semi-Finalist – London International Filmmakers Festival (2024)
Semi-Finalist – Hamburg Indie Film Festival (2024)
Semi-Finalist – Glasgow Film Awards (2024)
Semi-Finalist – Dublin Movie Awards (2025)
Semi-Finalist – Berlin Indie Awards (2025)
Semi-Finalist – Kyoto Independent Film Festival (2024)
Semi-Finalist – New Orleans International Film Awards (2024)
Semi-Finalist – Vesuvius International Film Awards (2024)
Semi-Finalist – Santa Fe Movie Awards (2025)
Semi-Finalist – Brussels World Film Festival (2025)
Semi-Finalist – Ottawa Film Award (2025)
Semi-Finalist – Hollywood International Golden Age Festival (2025)
Semi-Finalist – Santa Monica International Filmmaker Awards (2025)
Semi-Finalist – Nashville Independent Filmmakers Festival (2025)
Semi-Finalist – Chicago Filmmaker Awards (2024)
Semi-Finalist – Detroit Independent Film Festival (2025)
Semi-Finalist – Sacramento Independent Film Festival (2025)
Semi-Finalist – Oakland Awards (2025)
Semi-Finalist – San Diego International Film Awards (2025)
Semi-Finalist – Austin International Art Festival (2025)
Semi-Finalist – Cleveland Arthouse Film Awards (2025)
Semi-Finalist – Madrid Arthouse Film Festival (2025)
Semi-Finalist – Voce Spettacolo Film Festival (2024)
Semi-Finalist – FilmHaus (2024)
Semi-Finalist – San Jose Independent Film Festival (2025)
Semi-Finalist – Nocturna Online Brooklyn Film Festival (2025)
Semi-Finalist – Lonely Wolf: London International Film Festival (2025)

Quarter-Finalists

Quarter-Finalist – Clout Film Fest (Winterfest) (2024)
Quarter-Finalist – Golden Jury Film Festival (2024)

Nominees

Nominee – Ekurhuleni International Film Festival (2024)
Nominee – Madonie Film Festival (2024)
Nominee – Director's Cut International Film Festival (2024)
Nominee – Art Film Spirit Awards (2024)
Nominee – SEAiff (South East Asian International Film Festival) (2025)
Nominee – Barcelona Indie Awards (2025)
Nominee – Toronto Film & Script Awards (2025)
Nominee – LA Sun Film Fest (2025)
Nominee – LA International Art Film Fest (2024)
Nominee – Faith, Hope & Love: International Screenwriting Competition & Film Festival (2025)
Nominee – AltFF Alternative Film Festival (2024)
Nominee – New York Metropolitan Screenwriting Competition & Film Awards (2025)
Nominee – Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival (2025)
Nominee – Seattle Film Festival (2025)

Official Selections

Official Selection – Indian Panorama International Film Festival (2024–25)
Official Selection – Indian Independent Film Festival (IIFF) (2024)
Official Selection – Mysuru International Film Festival (MYIFF) (2024)
Official Selection – FilmFare India International Film Festival (2025)
Official Selection – Red Dirt International Film Festival (2025)
Official Selection – Maracay International Film & Video Festival (2025)
Official Selection – New York Lift-Off Film Festival (2025)
Official Selection – Kalakari Film Festival (2025)

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.

Featured Interviews & Reviews

Notice in Psykologtidsskriftet about the film LOOK UP

In August 2024, the Norwegian Psychological Association's journal highlighted LOOK UP, noting the film "has won several international film awards, including Best Picture at the London Movie Awards" and that it was produced without external funding.

Learn more about the creative process, inspiration, and vision behind LOOK UP—The Science of Cultural Evolution in these selected interviews, reviews, and features:

Watch the Trailer

Abridged Abstract

In our collective odyssey through time and space—from the primordial soup to the 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" in evolutionary chains, we find ourselves at crossroads in our cultural and intellectual development, where leaps in understanding and innovation occur not through incremental steps but via transformative shifts, akin to the emergent intelligence seen in certain complex systems.

The staircase from the atom to the stars, a metaphor for our scientific and spiritual quest, is not simply a linear path but a series of leaps where new understanding emerges from the confluence of ideas—much like discrete musical notes combining to create a symphony. As our understanding of emergent phenomena grows (in both science and culture), we stand on the precipice of a new epoch. Humanity’s future may depend on embracing these emergent realities and transforming our collective consciousness to meet the challenges and opportunities of our times.

Every step in our evolutionary journey and every leap in cultural consciousness brings us closer to realizing our potential as stewards of this planet and architects of our destiny. There is no emergence without collective action—cohesion is what makes human groups magical and emergent. This film is a “therapeutic” invitation to integrate a scientific toolkit and play our role in these pivotal times.