Clavadista is a coming-of-age story about 15-year-old Ava Alvarez and her family of clavadistas (or cliff divers). By day, Ava works at a cliffside restaurant while her father and brothers perform dangerous meal-side dives. But in her free time, Ava is secretly passionate about diving as well — and once her family uncovers her secret, everything changes. In this homage to the classic 1980’s sport competition film, director, Meredith Danluck captures the utter freedom of diving, Ava’s resilience in the face of those who doubt her abilities, and the ultimate triumph of family bonds over societal restrictions. Gorgeously shot on location in Acapulco Mexico with a cast of untrained actors, Clavadista is a cinematic treat.

Through the vivid and intimate reflections of WWII veterans, Why We Dream explores the power of memory and the quiet persistence of trauma and hope. Blending together rare wartime footage, 16mm home movies, cinematic portraiture, and classic film excerpts, Danluck creates an emotionally driven examination of war’s lasting imprint accompanied by an immersive score from Christian Lundberg and Academy Award® winner Hans Zimmer.

“I am beyond excited to share this film, which feels both timeless and urgent. We couldn’t have found a better partner than CNN Films, where emotional storytelling and collective history form the backbone of their incredible roster,” said director Meredith Danluck.

Why We Dream premiered at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival and was an official selection of the 2025 Deauville American Film Festival.

In Norway’s Varanger Fjord, on the northernmost coastline of continental Europe, the Barents Sea fluctuates between mystic calm, ferocious instability, and fleeting windows of harmony. Rumors are, in those windows lie the sublime dream of every surfer: perfection. NØ_WAY follows a mixed group as they chase that dream and ponder their motivations. Experience the highs and lows of surf exploration in the 21st century with this raw and off-the-cuff look at the Arctic. 

the antithesis to The Endless Summer.

This 45 minute surf doc was made in partnership with Roark and premiered at the Cost Film festival in Laguna beach, before showing at The SLO Film Fest and Florida Surf Film Festival.

Sprite Limelight: a global music experiment in partnership with iconic producer, singer, and songwriter James Blake, that aims to shine a light on trailblazing artists from around the world - Coi Leray (USA), Omah Lay (Nigeria), Hua Chenyu (China), and Kali Uchis (Colombia).

In this groundbreaking new concept, James has created an original musical hook that each artist will re-interpret and use to create a song in their own unique style. In addition to fresh music drops, fans have the opportunity to get up close and personal with these artists through immersive video content that tells their stories of overcoming moments of heat through creativity and music.

Shot on location in Medellin, Colombia, we officially only had 1 day and only half of that with Kali.

AA co-founder Jake Burghart is the cinematographer behind a good portion of our projects.

I try to bring premium cinema quality to out-of-the-way places, using small crews, in an authentic documentary style for whatever type of project i’m working on. As the lead DP on all 8 seasons of VICE on HBO I’ve shot docs in almost 100 countries on every continent. Before VICE I got my start shooting my friends surfing and skating, and then following punk bands around the country making tour docs. Nowadays i’ve been focusing on feature docs, but I still work with VICE founder Shane Smith shooting his podcast, in his home and around the world. - Jake

Starring: Katherine Waterston, Michael Shannon, Luke Evans, Michiel Huisman, Mary Kay Place

One year after the mysterious death of her Belgian actor husband, American photographer Katherine (Katherine Waterston) returns to Brussels, a city filled with memories of the life she’s tried to leave behind. Their marriage was rocky, but Katherine’s return to the city forces her to finally confront her grief as she packs up the flat they once shared. In doing so, though, she discovers a web of secrets that propel her to probe the circumstances of her husband’s last days. Following in his footsteps, Katherine plunges into Brussels’s underground club scene, where she encounters a mysterious woman and a secret group of friends. At the same time, she meets Edward (Michael Shannon), a fellow American, who offers the possibility of a new future as she comes to terms with her troubled past.

Writer-director Meredith Danluck’s feature debut is shot in sleek, seductive widescreen by cinematographer Christopher Blauvelt (The Bling Ring, Certain Women). Mixing elements from film noir, American-abroad dramas, and ’80s erotic thrillers, State Like Sleep is a cool, dreamlike experience. — Jason Gutierrez, Tribeca Film Festival 2018

Earthworks (2017) is a three-episode documentary series following musicians; Miguel, Animal Collective, and Local Natives to ecologically significant locations, exploring the connection between creativity and environmental preservation. The show focuses on journeys to special places, highlighting the artists' personal links to nature and the broader ecosystem. Produced in partnership with Livenation the show originally aired on Viceland and is now available on apple tv.

Beloved French vocalist Sébastien Tellier teamed up with Noisey and VICE to produce this kaleidoscopic new video for “Russian Attractions,” a track from his latest record My God Is Blue.

The video, directed by Meredith Danluck and shot by Jake Burghart, is a watery affair, and features a bunch of American Apparel-clad swimmers and modern dancers participating in oddly-disconcerting synchronized moves. Imagine if Busby Berkeley shot Eyes Wide Shut underwater and you’ll get the idea. -vice.com

Shot in 2020 we took a train from Tehran to the southern boarder to explore the Straight of Hormuz, as even then it seemed to be a flash point.

“Over the past weeks and months, Iran has descended into chaos. From the downing of a passenger jet to the assassination of a top general, and now one of the world's largest coronavirus outbreaks, life in the Islamic Republic is facing its toughest challenges since it was founded in 1979. Just days before all hell broke loose, VICE founder Suroosh Alvi traveled to the country, meeting people from all walks of life: from hipsters to hostage-takers, and from top lawmakers to one of Iran's heaviest metal bands.” - VICE YouTube 2020

Using the cutting-edge exploration and research vessel, the OceanXplorer as a base, top marine scientists from around the world converge upon the Red Sea, searching for clues to address the escalating climate crisis. Employing subs, divers, and remotely operated vehicles, researchers visit depths approaching 10,000 feet to extract secrets from one of the most unspoiled marine ecosystems on Earth.

5.5 Million views on YouTube

We shot for 10 days onboard the Ocean eXplorer with a 3 person crew to craft this feature length documentary.

John Legend - Love in the Future

"The show was bolstered by artfully shot film segments... creating a multi-sensory experience that elevated the soulful performance into a visual narrative." - The Hollywood Reporter

“The visuals provided a "cinematic backdrop" that felt like a "cohesive art installation" rather than just a series of music videos.” - Chicago Tribune

Jay-Z / Beyonce - On the Run

“Over the course of two-and-a-half hours and 42 songs, the Carters opened their joint ‘On the Run’ tour with a well synchronized cinematic spectacle.” - Rolling Stone

“On the Run is a distinctly cinematic event”- Entertainment Weekly

“a cinematic presentation where the couple's story was told through high-concept video vignettes.” - The New York Times