"ATLAS" Released

Intimate Study of Masculinity Gains International Festival Recognition

Following its completion, ATLAS, the latest short film from Presidential Productions, has been theatrically released on the international festival circuit where it has begun resonating strongly with audiences, critics and programmers alike.

During its 2024 film festival tour, ATLAS received significant international recognition including Winner - Best Experimental Film at David Film Festival in Turkey, was awarded Best Director - Honourable Mention at Athens International Art Film Festival, was nominated for Best Short Film at the prestigious Lone Wolf International Film Festival, and also for Best Screenplay at Five Continents International Film Festival. In addition, ATLAS was considered at the London Director Awards, Cannes Film Awards, Moscow Independent Film Festival, and Costa Brava Film Festival where director James Cunningham was featured with an exclusive filmmaker interview, marking strong early awards trajectory for the project.

Rashawn Glass in ATLAS

Robert Holt in ATLAS

Running twenty-two minutes and containing strong mature themes and nudity, the film presents an unflinching and deeply considered examination of male masculinity and vulnerability — one rarely afforded such space in contemporary cinema.

Conceived as 'six athletes, one conversation,' ATLAS reimagines the mythological figure Atlas condemned to carry the weight of the world not as a singular being, but as a shared psychological state. Six real-world male athletes — performed by Rashawn Glass, Robert Holt, Aygen James, Geoffrey Oliver, Jabriel Robinson and Ethan Vaughan — each embody the character Atlas simultaneously, revealing different internalised responses to strength, endurance, body image and expectation. Produced and directed remotely and self-filmed by the performers in their own bathrooms, the film uses repetition and restraint to strip masculinity back to its most exposed form.

The complex film weaves these six performances into a single psychological portrait, unified by a haunting electronic score composed by Norwegian artist Zimpzon. The score’s atmospheric soundscapes deepen the film’s emotional resonance, amplifying Atlas’ internal struggle while maintaining the film’s minimalist aesthetic. The score was hand-selected to mirror both the vastness and solitude experienced by the characters, reinforcing the film’s contemplative tone.

Aygen James in ATLAS

Geoffrey Oliver in ATLAS

Critics have responded positively to the film's measured and purposeful use of male nudity. A review published by UK Film Review called it "an important and necessary film embracing and defining masculinity in the modern context," and highlights the film’s refusal to sensationalise the male body, instead framing exposure as a necessary act of honesty and self-reckoning. One review notes that the bathroom setting becomes a powerful symbolic space — one of isolation, repetition and ritual — allowing the audience to confront vulnerability without distraction.

This approach is echoed by Cunningham in his recent filmmaker interview at the Costa Brava Film Festival, where he explains that ATLAS was born out of a desire to challenge and redefine conventional concepts of masculinity. “I wanted to explore how societal expectations shape male body image and identity,” Cunningham states, adding that the project aims to encourage audiences to reconsider long-held perceptions of strength and vulnerability. “Nudity in ATLAS is not just a visual element; it’s a narrative tool and a performance instrument." Cunningham describes the film not as a provocation, but as examination — used to strip away public armour and reveal the unfiltered essence of a character. The director also specifically highlights and recognises both the trust and bravery of his lead actors in performing the role and sharing in his vision.

Produced on a modest independent budget and developed over a two-year period, ATLAS represents a carefully constructed international collaboration. Cunningham worked closely with each performer across different locations in the United States, remotely curating cinematography, production design and performance to ensure a cohesive visual language across all six interpretations of Atlas. The result is a film that feels both fragmented and unified; six bodies, six voices, carrying the same unseen weight.

Ethan Vaughan in ATLAS

Jabriel Robinson in ATLAS

Written and directed by Cunningham, and produced alongside Vanessa Abbott and Slade Philips, ATLAS continues Presidential Productions’ commitment to intimate, concept-driven storytelling. In their official review of the film, the Athens International Art Film Festival called ATLAS a "poignant exploration of masculinity in today's society," and commented that "Cunningham's direction shines as he navigates the intimate conversations among the cast."

As ATLAS continues its international festival journey throughout 2024, it stands as a quiet yet powerful work — one that invites audiences to pause, listen and reflect. In confronting the invisible burdens men are expected to carry, ATLAS asks a simple but confronting question: what happens when strength is no longer performed, but finally laid bare?

For more information, visit presproductionsco.com

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