“OBEX” Filmmaker Albert Birney Achieves Sundance Dream with Intimate, Self-Funded Project

Park City, UT – In a testament to independent filmmaking and the power of personal vision, Albert Birney’s OBEX has captivated audiences at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. The film, a deeply personal and inventive work, was born from a desire to create “cool stuff with my friends,” as Birney himself described, and stands as a remarkable achievement in low-budget, highly imaginative storytelling. The project, largely self-funded and shot in Birney’s Maryland home, showcases a unique blend of practical effects, retro aesthetics, and heartfelt emotion.

The Genesis of OBEX: A Passion Project Realized

Birney’s journey to Sundance with OBEX is a story of unwavering dedication and a collaborative spirit. He shared with the audience after the premiere, “This is incredible… We were walking up Main Street and the snow was falling, and it was one of those moments where I was like, ‘This is just perfect.’ This film, OBEX, I put everything I love into it. I made it with everyone I love, and I’m hoping to share that love tonight.” This sentiment encapsulates the core of the film – a genuine expression of artistic passion.

A Two-Year Odyssey: From Maryland Home to Virtual Worlds

The creation of OBEX spanned two years, unfolding in distinct phases. The initial stages of filming took place within the intimate confines of Birney’s home, focusing on Conor, a reclusive protagonist who earns a living creating text-based portraits for clients he finds through computer magazine advertisements – operating under the moniker “Computer Conor.” The film is deliberately set in 1987, a detail crucial to its aesthetic and thematic resonance. This grounded reality serves as a stark contrast to the film’s second half, which plunges viewers into the vibrant, pixelated world of OBEX itself: a choose-your-own-adventure video game promising a quest to defeat a mythical demon.

A Unique Premise: When the Game Becomes Reality

The narrative takes a surreal turn when Conor discovers that purchasing OBEX isn’t merely a digital transaction; it’s a portal to another reality. He finds himself literally transported inside the game, trading his solitary existence for a perilous adventure. This transformation is particularly poignant given Conor’s initial isolation, highlighted by his reliance on a neighbor for grocery shopping. Suddenly, he’s battling bizarre creatures – cicada monsters, for example – and navigating a fantastical landscape guided by a companion with a television for a head. But what does this journey reveal about Conor himself, and his desire for connection?

Intuitive Filmmaking: A Collaborative Process

The film’s production was characterized by a remarkably intuitive and collaborative approach. Birney and his team prioritized feeling over rigid planning, allowing creative decisions to emerge organically. Cinematographer Pete Ohs explained, “I feel like the movie was made intuitively. Just pure creative bliss for like two 15-year-old kids making a movie. So it’s like we didn’t think about anything. We just followed our intuition and said, ‘This seems fun. Let’s keep going in that direction.’” This spontaneity is reflected in the film’s visual style, which Birney envisioned in black and white from the outset. Actor Callie Hernandez embraced the creative freedom, enthusiastically experimenting with a variety of wigs, a suggestion fully supported by Birney. Composer Josh Dibb’s contributions were similarly fluid, often resulting in fully realized musical cues within a mere fifteen minutes of initial exploration.

Did You Know?: Dorothy, Birney’s dog, proved to be a surprisingly reliable performer, consistently hitting her marks during filming, further adding to the film’s charmingly unconventional production story.

The Power of Visual Storytelling

Ohs, who also co-wrote, produced, and edited OBEX, emphasized the organic nature of the film’s visual language. He described the process as a matter of trusting instinct and allowing the story to dictate its own aesthetic. This approach, combined with the team’s shared enthusiasm, fostered a sense of “magic” on set, a feeling that permeated the entire production. But how does this commitment to intuition translate to a compelling cinematic experience for the audience?

The success of OBEX underscores the potential of independent filmmaking to deliver truly original and emotionally resonant stories. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the most compelling narratives are born not from grand ambition, but from a simple desire to create something meaningful with the people you love. For more on independent film and the Sundance Film Festival, explore resources at IndieWire and Film Comment.

Frequently Asked Questions About OBEX