American Golden Picture
International Film Festival
AN INTERVIEW WITH Dr. Espen Jan Folmo & Nini Caroline Skarpaas Myhrvold DIRECTORS
As a filmmaker, please introduce yourself.
Our vision as filmmakers stems from a profound wish to share knowledge and inspire reflection, particularly around cultural evolution and the psychology of interconnectedness.
We see filmmaking as a universal language with the power to convey complex themes
that might otherwise remain abstract. Our work seeks to bridge science and spirituality,
offering audiences a way to reflect on their place within a shared, evolving world. By creating films that are
both thought-provoking and visually impactful, we aim to foster a deeper awareness of our collective journey.
Why did you become a filmmaker as a director and producer?
Becoming filmmakers allowed us to merge our backgrounds in psychology with a passion for storytelling.
Film has a unique ability to bring abstract ideas, like cultural evolution and collective responsibility,
into a living experience for viewers. Much like Wagner’s quest for a universal medium in his operas,
we see film as today’s ultimate “church”—a space where music, visuals, and narrative converge,
inviting audiences to experience a journey that touches both mind and soul. In film, we find a place where
intellectual curiosity meets spiritual resonance, creating an experience that speaks to both the heart and the mind.
Tell us more about yourself and the films you have made so far, about your experience.
LOOK UP—The Science of Cultural Evolution is our first feature-length documentary, and it represents
a pioneering approach, as it is entirely based on a scientific manuscript. In many ways, the film reflects a new genre where the narrative voice interprets the manuscript from beginning to end, creating a structured
yet deeply reflective journey. Prior to LOOK UP, our professional work focused on research
and publishing within psychology, especially therapeutic practices and cultural studies, which offered us
a foundation in understanding human behavior. We have also created smaller films on topics like blockchain,
but LOOK UP is our first substantial work, blending our psychological insights with our love for cinematic storytelling.
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What films or people have impacted you and deeply inspired you to become a filmmaker?
For us, The Matrix has been an important and inspiring documentary, and both Ken Wilber, Immanuel Kant,
and Jean Baudrillard – the minds behind much of the philosophical spine of the trilogy, are also cornerstones in Look UP. Apart from this, both Espen and Nini grew up typically digesting one European Art Film, Tarkovsky, Kubrick,
and other giants in the most important medium of today. Much as J.S. Bach was in love with the organ, an instrument which allowed him to manifest some of the magical polyphonic soundscapes of his soul, modern TV-series
and films are potent vehicles for human story telling – which is after all what defines humans. Recently,
we contemplated both Devs and Shogun with deep appreciation, as such series informs the soul beyond words.
They really allow you to take part in the story, and it is an important story. For us, there should be both aspects,
such that there would be stories brilliantly told, less important than profound stories poorly stated.
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Your film "Look Up..." received an award at the
"American Golden Picture International Film Festival"
What inspired you to create this film as a filmmaker?
The movie is the culmination, and currently best attempt to define how science seems to imply that
culture is the true healer, and as humanity truly seems to be in strong need for healers,
we felt that sharing what we have discovered in psychotherapy is not only universal, but also
important across most relational fields, including how to best handle the climate crises. The book Look UP
conveys the same words, but the films transmit so much more. Hence, we try to share the most important insights,
such that science tells us that average groups make better decisions than individuals, except for the
one expert in the group, if one knows how to make groups wise. There are plenty of examples
of the madness of crowds, but we need to make the number of places harnessing the power to the wisdom
of crowds higher. Hence, the process of making the film is about discriminating between, and the optimally
presenting such ideas, ideas we think are crucial for collective survival. We also wanted to invite
the viewer on a therapeutic journey, as time is no healer: The patient arriving is not the same that once left,
and our journey through experience, is not strictly bound by clock time. Time could be seen as the distance
the soul travels, or the amount of experience one can digest can be defines as spiritual power. However,
whatever we name it, such ideas are important. And we think we can contribute by translating such ideas into a vision.
To summarize: We felt an urgency to address how interconnectedness and cultural evolution shape our
individual and collective lives. LOOK UP aims to inspire viewers to contemplate their impact on
the world around them and recognize their role in humanity’s ongoing journey. The film invites
us all to consider the scientific, social, and spiritual dimensions of cultural evolution.
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What were some of the challenges you faced in making this specific film?
A key challenge was translating abstract concepts like emergent phenomena and cultural evolution
into visuals and narratives that resonate with a broad audience. Balancing scientific rigor with accessible
storytelling required us to continually refine our approach. The philosophical depth we aimed to
capture—drawing on themes from spiritual texts and scientific studies—added complexity but
ultimately made the process deeply rewarding. Crafting a narrative that speaks both to the mind
and to a sense of purpose felt essential, yet it was a challenging balance to achieve."
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Let us know more about your experience in this film?
We felt a profound urgency to explore how interconnectedness and cultural evolution shape our lives.
In our so-called ‘Biblical times,’ whether seen through spiritual or scientific lenses, there is
an undeniable call for humanity to embrace cooperation over ego-driven actions. Inspired by
the idea of emergence—where the whole gains abilities beyond the sum of its parts—LOOK UP invites
viewers to reflect on our collective potential. Just as Jesus spoke of unity in Matthew 18:20, science
shows us that true strength lies in synergy, whether among cells or cultures.
We hope the film inspires viewers to recognize their role in humanity’s ongoing journey
and embrace their part in building a shared future.
The Crew member of your film supports the story in a very good way.
What was it like to work with them?
As a team of two, our process required a continuous exchange of perspectives that enriched every layer
of the film. Each decision and scene emerged from challenging one another’s ideas,
leading us to transcend what either of us could have achieved alone. This close collaboration became
a crucible for creativity, forcing each idea to be refined until it reflected our combined vision.
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For you what was the biggest lesson you had to learn after making this film?
The greatest lesson was realizing how universal and timeless our message is.
As T.S. Eliot observed, ‘Time present and time past / Are both perhaps present in time future.
’ Working on LOOK UP reminded us that cultural evolution is not just a concept but a lived experience,
reshaping us as we move forward. Perseverance was crucial, not just in the process but in trusting that
this message could resonate across different cultures and beliefs. The experience has deepened
our conviction that authentic storytelling has the power to reach people beyond any barriers of time or place.
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What keeps you inspired to continue filmmaking?
We are inspired by film’s ability to provoke self-reflection and collective growth.
The notion that spiritual or mystical experiences—whether in religious gatherings or within
nature—can emerge from unity rather than division is a powerful one. The positive response
to LOOK UP has reinforced our commitment to exploring themes like cultural evolution, human
interconnectedness, and our shared responsibility to each other and the world. Every new project offers a chance to deepen these ideas and inspire audiences to view themselves as active participants in humanity’s unfolding story.
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The most important part is distributing the film. What did you do for distributing your film?
We have been invited to, and actively submitted LOOK UP to international film festivals,
aiming to reach audiences across various cultures and backgrounds. Our goal is to find distribution
channels that align with the film’s message and support our vision for global impact.
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What are your filmmaking goals?
Our goal is to continue creating films that address crucial themes in psychology, spirituality, and social responsibility.
We aim to contribute to the evolving discourse on cultural evolution and inspire audiences to consider their role in shaping our collective future. In an era where individualism often overshadows collective wisdom,
our films invites viewers to re-evaluate interconnectedness as a vital pathway to healing,
both individually and as a society. We believe LOOK UP offers not just insights, but a sense of
shared purpose, highlighting that our cultural evolution relies on our ability to cultivate our collective awareness.
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What is your next project?
This film will focus on the relationship dynamics between parents and children a microcosm of
cultural evolution, where wisdom, values, and emotional understanding are passed from one generation to the next.
By exploring how these generational links shape our collective psyche, we hope to shed light on how
each family’s legacy becomes part of humanity’s broader cultural journey. We hop to continue
fostering a sense of interconnectedness and responsibility in viewers worldwide.
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GOOD LUCK both Nini and Espen,
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Link's
Website:
https://www.espenfolmo.no/index.php/en/
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IMDB:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt34540212/
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Linkedin:
