Tom Brown’s Queer Operatic Thriller ‘Christopher At Sea’ Gets Venice World Premiere

Tom Brown’s Christopher at Sea will world premiere in the Orizzonti section of this year’s Venice International Film Festival in September.

The film is the only U.S. short which was selected for this year’s festival (it is a co-production with France and the U.K.), and the only animated film playing in the prestigious Orizzonti competition section.

Christopher at Sea follows its titular protagonist, voiced by James Potter, as he embarks on a transatlantic voyage as a passenger on a cargo ship. A chance encounter with Third Engineer Valentin, voiced by Andrew Isar, under moonlight waylays his hopes of finding out what lures so many men to sea and sets him on a journey into solitude, fantasy, and obsession.

The film is directed by British filmmaker and advertising artist Tom C J Brown, who is best known for co-directing the short Teeth. Psyop co-produced with Temple Carrington & Brown, and Miyu. It’s the second of Psyop’s non-commercial productions to release this year as the company continues to expand its Original Division production slate. At the 2022 Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, the studio premiered Marie Hyon and Marco Spier’s Bottle Cap.

According to Brown, “Christopher at Sea is a queer operatic thriller set to the emotive music of Schubert’s 1823 song cycle ‘Die schöne Müllerin’ alongside contemporary music from Casey Spooner, Walt Disco, and the film’s composers Brian McOmber and Judith Berkson. Twenty minutes of sumptuous hand-drawn animation awaits the viewer, the combination of thousands of hours, years of love, and an incredible team of artists and collaborators bringing Christopher to life on open waters.”

Psyop’s Amanda Miller added: “Tom is a singular filmmaker. Christopher at Sea is a vision that could have only come from him and every frame is a piece of art. I am honored to have been part of the team that brought this project to life as part of Psyop’s ongoing investment in creatively led original projects.”