Conor Oberst Goes Cinema: Bright Eyes Singer Announces Debut Short Film 'Invention 13'

Indie rock royalty Conor Oberst is expanding his creative toolkit into a brand-new medium. The Bright Eyes frontman has officially teamed up with creative collaborator Shawn Foree to unveil their joint directorial debut, a short film titled *Invention 13*. The upcoming project marks a fresh artistic venture for the acclaimed singer, who is stepping away from the microphone to try his hand at cinematic storytelling. For decades, Oberst has captivated music fans around the globe with his raw lyrics, emotional vocal delivery, and deeply visual songwriting style. Now, the musician is taking those narrative ideas off the vinyl records and placing them squarely onto the movie screen. The move into filmmaking represents an exciting chapter for the singer-songwriter as he explores a completely fresh creative outlet outside of his music catalog.

Where is Conor Oberst premiering Invention 13?

Indie music lovers and cinema buffs won't have to wait very long to check out the new release. Reports confirm that *Invention 13* is scheduled to celebrate its official world premiere at the high-profile Beyond Fest event in Los Angeles on September 26. The popular West Coast film festival provides a massive launching pad for the co-directing duo to showcase their visual work to a broader audience. Screening the project in Los Angeles will give festival attendees an exclusive first look at how Oberst’s distinct artistic vision transitions from audio tracks into a short film narrative.

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How was Conor Oberst short film made?

Instead of leaning on slick modern digital equipment, Oberst and Foree deliberately chose a vintage aesthetic approach for the project. The directors shot *Invention 13* entirely on classic Super 16mm film stock, bringing a grainy, tactile, and moody atmosphere to the screen that perfectly complements Oberst's signature indie aesthetic. The physical production process was a grueling, icy ordeal for everyone involved on set. The entire project was filmed on location in Omaha, Nebraska, across four punishingly cold nights back in January. Navigating the brutal winter freeze in Oberst's longtime Midwest stomping grounds, the team pushed through the frigid weather elements to capture the movie's dark visuals. With its Los Angeles festival debut right around the corner, *Invention 13* proves that the veteran singer is far from finished finding new ways to captivate an audience.