A VITAL SUN WINS 2025 TRIBECA X AWARD FOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
We're honored to announce that A Vital Sun, a short documentary shot and edited by Rodrigo Lopresti of RandM Pink Films, has been awarded the Environmental Impact Award at the 2025 Tribeca X Festival.
Narrated by Ben Stiller and directed by Alison Bartlett, A Vital Sun tells the powerful story of SEKEM, an Egyptian community that transformed desert land into a thriving sustainable ecosystem, blending agriculture, education, and social innovation.
Rodrigo handled the cinematography, editing, and color grading, shaping a visual narrative that highlights the beauty, hope, and transformative energy of the SEKEM project. This collaboration exemplifies RandM Pink Films' commitment to cinematic storytelling, documentary filmmaking, and impact-driven visual media.
🎬 Official Selection: Tribeca X 2025
🏆 Winner: Environmental Impact Award
From lens to cut, this film reflects the kind of human stories we live to tell: real, vital, and capable of reshaping the world.
SEKEM | A CINEMATIC JOURNEY INTO EGYPT’S SUSTAINABLE HEART
SEKEM, a short documentary I had the privilege to edit and shoot, has been officially selected for the 2025 Tribeca X Awards. Narrated by Ben Stiller, this film delves into the inspiring story of the SEKEM community in Egypt—a pioneering initiative founded in 1977 by Dr. Ibrahim Abouleish. SEKEM, meaning "vitality from the sun," has transformed desert land northeast of Cairo into a thriving hub of sustainable agriculture, education, and social entrepreneurship.
Working on this project was a profound experience. Capturing the essence of a community that integrates biodynamic farming, holistic education, and cultural development challenged me to blend visual storytelling with deep respect for the subject matter. The cinematography aimed to reflect the harmony between humans and nature that SEKEM embodies, using natural light and thoughtful composition to mirror the community's ethos.
Editing the documentary required a delicate balance—honoring the narrative's authenticity while ensuring it resonated with a global audience. Ben Stiller's narration added a compelling layer, bringing attention to SEKEM's mission of sustainable development and social innovation.
Being part of a project recognized by the Tribeca X Awards is an honor, and it underscores the power of documentary filmmaking to spotlight transformative stories. This experience has deepened my commitment to creating content that not only informs but also inspires change.
BADLANDS | MUSIC VIDEO
This music video for Jack O’Neill’s song Badlands was shot in NYC and built around themes of intimacy, memory, and emotional tension. I leaned heavily on natural lighting, using only two softboxes and fast lenses to create an organic, lived-in look.
The goal was to let the emotion breathe in each frame — capturing the push-pull between two characters at a crossroads. The minimal gear setup let us move freely, keeping the performances raw and honest.
Directed, shot, and edited under RandM Pink Films, this project blends cinematography, editing, and color into a visual that feels both tender and untamed — like the track itself.