This short film The Rite–directed by Adam Csoka Keller via Stink Films–captures the artistry of Culture Device, the first dance troupe of its kind. The group is comprised solely of extraordinary dancers with Down syndrome. Created in collaboration with the Royal Opera House, the Royal Ballet and Nowness, the troupe's performance marks the 106th anniversary of Stravinsky’s scandalous work "The Rite of Spring."
The Rite is Keller’s first endeavor with Stink Films, the production house he recently joined for global representation.
Daniel Bergmann, founder and president of Stink, said, “We are so proud that we have been able to collaborate on this very meaningful project. I’m blown away by the result: it’s very powerful to see dancers with Down syndrome performing so beautifully and emotionally in this incredible Stravinsky piece. The whole team was so focused and respectful; this collaboration with the Royal Opera House and Royal Ballet will remain one of the pinnacles in Stink’s history.”
Credits
Client Royal Opera House/Royal Ballet/Nowness Production Stink Films Adam Csoka Keller, director; Igor Smitka, DP; Masha Peva, costumes, set design, art direction; Daniel Vass, David Pickering, choreography; Katie Lambert, Rosie Litterick, producers; Daniel Bergmann, exec producer; Anthena Paginton, makeup. Editorial Nicola Powell, editor. Postproduction Lucia Kavalova, colorist. VFX Enes Guc, VFX artist; Andrej Barcak, Andrej Canecky, visual identity. Sound Joao Poppe Toulson, sound designer/composer; Mauro Polito, Donato Ponoccio, Joao Silvestre, sound recordists.
Stain remover Vanish presents this emotional short film--created by BETC Havas, Sao Paulo, and produced by LOBO--that explores the profound consequences of bullying and highlights the importance of open conversations between parents and children. Titled The Bully Monster, the animated film premiered at the Maquinaria Festival in Rio de Janeiro on February 15 in a special edition featuring family-focused programming.
The filmโs protagonist is a boy who experiences bullying at school but keeps silent about his suffering. Isolation turns sadness into insecurity, creating invisible emotional scars that only grow in the absence of dialogue. When his mother notices stains on his uniform, these marks become the starting point for a revealing conversation. As words find space to make themselves heard, the stains begin to fade.
This initiative aligns with the Vanish Saves Your Uniform campaign, which, for the past three years during the back-to-school season, has engaged with parents by positioning the brand as a trusted partner in preserving school uniforms. This year, Vanish decided to broaden the conversation, bringing bullying into the debate as the real stain that can impact a childโs life.
The Bully Monster is being screened as preshow material in movie theaters starting February 20 and will also be available on streaming platforms and digital channels. In addition to the film, the campaign will include out-of-home activations and school initiatives through a partnership with Abrace โ Preventive Programs, the founding organization of the โBullying-Free Schoolsโ program, which has been equipping institutions with resources to combat school violence for 12 years.
โResearch indicates that stains on a uniform can... Read More
