EXPERIENCE
An actress battles feelings of anxiety and self-doubt while preparing for an audition with a particularly poignant script.
’Experience’ is an exploration of what it means to be a creative person in an increasingly competitive world.
The film was developed with and stars the amazing Karen Bengo who first reached out to Ben two years ago, asking if he wanted to collaborate on something.
‘Experience’ is the result, a deeply personal look at the many faces of the creative process, and all the anxiety and self doubt that arises along the way.
Credits
Starring Karen Bengo
Written & Directed by Ben Lankester
Producer - Joe Binks
1st AD - Ty Hack
DP - Thomas Tyson-Hole
Focus - Alex Coleborn
Loader - Riccardo Angei
Steadicam - Murray Boden
Gaffers - Shaun Clarke & Krunal Saadrani
Spark - Ed Irvine
Production Assistant - Catherine Blackman
Production Designer - Anna Kezia Williams
Set Dresser - Mary French
Stylist - Helen Wrigglesworth
Sound Op - Kirstie Howell
2nd Unit 1st AD - Shayaan Ali
2nd Unit DP - Thomas Terminet
2nd Unit Focus - Alasdair Baines
2nd Unit Operator - Rory Power
Editor - Amanda Marie-Rose
Edit Producer - Daniel Breheny
Sound - James Cobbold
Sound Producer - Rebecca Boswell
Music - Jonny Colgan
Colour - Alex Gregory
Colour Producer - Ollie Ireland
Titles - Shannon Thomas
Camera & Lenses - One Stop Films / Panavision
Lighting - SHL Film Lighting
Film - Kodak
Processing - Cinelab
Festivals & Awards
Winner - Best ‘Short’ Short
Performance Short Film Competition 2024
Winner - Best Super Short Film
Big Fridge International Film Festival 2025
Winner - Best Cinematography
European Short Awards 2025
Winner - Best Director
Brighton Rocks International Film Festival 2025
Nominee - Best Short Film Under 5 Minutes
Kinsale Shark Awards 2024
Nominee - Personal Project
1.4 Awards 2025 Shortlist
Nominee - Best Cinematography
Kino London Short Film Festival 2025
Nominee - Best Super Short Film
Cambridge Short Film Festival 2025
Nominee - Best Micro Short & Best Experimental
Ignite Film Festival 2025
Official Selection 2024/5 - HollyShorts London, Oxford Shorts Film Festival, Directors’ Library. Sunrise Film Festival, Bute Street Film Festival, Shared Visions Film Festival, Imagine This Women’s Film Festival.