Emily Kai Bock is a Canadian filmmaker based in Los Angeles. She has written, directed and edited music videos for bands such as Arcade Fire, Grimes, Solange, Lorde and Grizzly Bear. Her video for Arcade Fire’s single “Afterlife” won the Prism Prize for Best Canadian Music Video and a UKMVA for Best International Alternative video. Her short documentary Spit Gold Under an Empire screened at Sundance 2013 and on Sundance TV. In 2017, her short film, A Funeral for Lightning, premiered at Toronto International Film Festival, where it was selected by TIFF as one of Canada’s Top 10 Short Films of the year. It went on to win the Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Short Film at the LA Film Festival. She is currently completing another narrative short film and prepping her debut feature film.t
Started in 2008, Vimeo’s Staff Pick program celebrates and awards creators who have challenged the status quo and ushered in a new vision for what video can do. Hand-selected by Vimeo’s curation team, the Staff Pick designation is a badge of honor for the creative community on Vimeo and spotlights the best short films on the internet. Generation Vimeo, Staff Pick’s 15-year anniversary campaign, invited 15 members of the Staff Picks community to curate video playlists, called Staff Pick Mixtapes, of their favorite Staff Picked Films – offering a special glimpse into the perspective of a community that celebrates the impact of boundary-pushing work and the power of video to inspire and enhance storytelling. In the second of three Staff Pick Mixtapes being shared exclusively on Talkhouse, acclaimed music video director Emily Kai Bock shares her six favorites from the back catalogue.
LCD Soundsystem – “Oh Baby” directed by Rian Johnson
This video directed by Rian Johnson knocks me out every time. It is a perfect narrative music video. It’s also very rare to have such A-list talented actors star in a music video.
All These Creatures by Charles Williams
This short film is exquisite – Palme d’Or-winning level good. The tone and performances are extremely dialed in. The son character’s eyes are so expressive. The cinematography and the writing are amazing.
In a Cane Field by Emily Avila
This film is superb. Gorgeously shot. I love the use of voice-over from multiple characters. Has an amazing rhythm that loops in on itself, and unfolds the details of a murder in multiple timelines and perspectives. Really impressive filmmaking.
Death to the Tinman by Roy Tintori
This short film is so fun and exhilarating. The pacing is so good. It feels like it should be up there with Michel Gondry and Spike Jonze’s early work.
Flying Lotus – “Until the Quiet Comes” by Kahlil Joseph
One of the most influential music videos of the past 15 years. I think this video changed the lives of so many filmmakers. I love how it blends magic realism and documentary and fiction … this video is a whole genre onto itself.
Leon Bridges – “River” by Miles Jay
A perfect video. I love how it drifts in and out of the song into sync sound, haunting images. Really powerful portrait of police injustice affecting marginalized communities.
