OCULUS is an exploration of the sensations of an anxiety attack, based off of the director’s personal experiences.
Artist Statement
I created OCULUS in attempts to show a wide range of audiences how the sensations of having anxiety can feel at its most heightened points of tension. I used Artaudian theories of Theatre of Cruelty to inform my work, featuring intense colours, jarring sounds and camera movement, to create a sense of unease in both the digital and physical space. I think this experimental film relates to the theme of Untold Stories, because it explores a mental disorder onscreen in a way not often done in the mainstream cinema, and despite being quite subjective to myself, I think it aids in other people’s understanding of how it can feel to have anxiety.
Samira Shaaban has worked on multiple short films, specialising in the production design department. “OCULUS” is her first short film directing debut in which she was also Director of Photography, Producer and Editor.