Forevergreen: Turning a Bible Parable into an Oscar-Nominated Short | Engelhardt & Spears Interview

Directors Notes sits down with Nathan Engelhardt and Jeremy Spears, the co-directors of the Oscar-nominated animated short film, Forevergreen. Coming fresh off the Academy Luncheon, Nathan and Jeremy share the surreal experience of meeting their heroes (including Steven Spielberg and Guillermo del Toro) and reveal the 6-year journey it took to bring their passion project to life—from creating the unique "wooden" CGI aesthetic to the film's powerful themes of unconditional grace. Forevergreen tells the story of an orphaned bear cub who finds a home with a fatherly tree, only to be tempted away by a dangerous world of trash. But as we dive into in this conversation, the pair reveal how this film is so much more than its simple premise. 👀 WATCH THE FOREVERGREEN: https://youtu.be/B4EPW7JUMTM?si=BcazTEP8OgZDE1iQ 📥 DOWNLOAD THE ART OF FOREVERGREEN BOOK: https://www.forevergreenfilm.com/art-of-forevergreen-book 🔔 Watch more interviews with visionary filmmakers on our channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/directorsnotes 🎥 Want to see your film here? Submit your work to Directors Notes: https://directorsnotes.com/submit/ 📬 Get filmmaking insights delivered: Subscribe to our free Newsletter: https://directorsnotes.beehiiv.com/subscribe 📷 Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/directorsnotes 🎧 Listen to our Podcast: https://pod.link/192507317 👍 **Loved this deep dive?** Hit LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and turn on notifications so you never miss a conversation with the world's best filmmakers. ** VIDEO CHAPTERS ** 00:00 - Intro 00:52 - The Crazy Oscar Ride: Meeting Spielberg & Guillermo del Toro 04:17 - Balancing Disney Careers with a 6-Year Passion Project 05:42 - Taking Inspiration From The Prodigal Son Bible Parable 11:38 - Why the World Needs a Message of Kindness Right Now 17:21 - Choosing The Bear, The Tree as Central Characters 24:11 - The "Secret Sauce": Making CGI Look Like Stop-Motion 31:50 - Advice for Filmmakers: "Don't Make What Others Want" 34:31 - 2 Must-Watch Animated Short Recommendations 💬 Join the Conversation Which part of Forevergreen’s "handcrafted" aesthetic impressed you the most—the wood-grain textures or the "stop-motion" movement? Let us know in the comments below! #Forevergreen #NathanEngelhardt #JeremySpears #oscars #oscarnominee #foryourconsideration #animation #bear #tree #shortfilm