From scratch animation to installation film, documentary and narrative film, Kasimirs inquisitive and searching nature has led him to explore many forms of filmmaking, in particular filmmaking that mines the territory between art, music and film. He has collaborated with painters, sculptors, philosophers and writers. His collaboration with musicians has led to dynamic music video’s that have received awards in Australia and the US.
His interest in other cultures has lead him to PNG to direct a documentary on children affected by AIDS, to remote indigenous communities to teach filmmaking and to the Torres Straight Islands to record important cultural songs that might otherwise be forgotten. These films, along with his collaborative work with artists have been screened and collected by The National Gallery of Victoria, Heidi Centre for Contemporary Art, The Melbourne Arts Centre and The Australian Centre for The Moving Image.
Heightened and at times fantastical, Kasimir’s narrative short films tend to embrace marginalized characters who often discover hope in the darkest of places. His films explore universal themes that seem to resonate with people from all cultures and walks of life and have screened in over thirty countries and won twenty-five awards – including the Crystal Bear for best short film at the 2011 Berlin International Film Festival for Lily. In 2005 a jury made up of Lou Reed, Dame Judy Dench and Anton Corbijn awarded Booth Story the Film of The Festival at Raindance Film Festival (UK). In 2008 George Lucas awarded Directions Best Short at the Tiburon Int’l Film Festival (US). In 2009 the Sapporo Film Festival, (Japan’s leading short film festival), held a retrospective of Kasimirs’ films, an indicator as to his reach and dedication to the form.
Kasimir is currently in post on a dark comedy short featuring Geoffrey Rush, Alan Brough and Fred Whitlock. He is also in pre on his first feature film, FELL. Written by acclaimed writer / director Natasha Pincus and produced by veteran producer John Maynard (The Bank, The Boys, Romulus My father), FELL unravels a singular fable-like story of grief and redemption through its five characters, illuminating the life cycle of the natural world and our own inextricable place within it.
“ There is no emotionally manipulative film making here. Kasimirs’ films are open and sincere, that takes creative courage – yet nimble and funny, that takes brightness of spirit”
Michael Leunig
