Beamafilm Exclusive: interview with Harley Chamandy - director, Allen Sunshine
Exclusive Interview
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Louise van Rooyen - Beamafilm
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03/09/2026
After the death of his famous wife, a former music industry mogul retreats to a secluded lakeside cabin in the Canadian wilderness.
Intending to grieve in solitude, he finds his isolation interrupted by two young boys whose friendship slowly draws him back into the world, until an unexpected encounter ends his isolation.
Set against the tranquil beauty of the Canadian landscape, Allen Sunshine is a poignant meditation on loss, connection, and the quiet ways in which healing can emerge from the most unexpected encounters.
Winner of the Werner Herzog Film Award for 2024, writer/director Harley Chamandy is the youngest-ever recipient of this prestigious award.
Watch 'Allen Sunshine' on Beamafilm now!
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A former music industry mogul grieving the death of his wife retreats to an isolated lakeside home, where an unexpected friendship with two young boys...
Director:
BEAMAFILM: Thanks for speaking with us today about your stunning film, Allen Sunshine. To begin, what inspired you to tell this story?
HARLEY CHAMANDY: Allen Sunshine started with an image: a man alone by a lake, surrounded by nature, making electronic music with big vintage synthesizers. The juxtaposition of the natural world and the electronic world interested me. I was chasing a feeling...
I wanted to make a film about love and what it means to live without it, and then finding it again in new forms.
BEAMAFILM: A moving aspect of the film is the way this arrives through unexpected friendships rather than dramatic breakthroughs. Was that something you consciously wanted to explore?
HARLEY CHAMANDY: It’s a reminder that if we open up to the world and to the generosities of life, sometimes new experiences and ways of being can enlighten us in ways we have never thought.
BEAMAFILM: The boys who enter Allen's life become catalysts for change. What interested you about that intergenerational friendship, and how did you work with the young actors to create such natural chemistry and authenticity on screen??
HARLEY CHAMANDY: I like the idea of learning to live like a child again. I think that’s the truth. Staying curious.
I treated them like kids - like we were at summer camp (haha : )
BEAMAFILM: Allen is a former music industry mogul. Why was it important for his past to be rooted in music?
HARLEY CHAMANDY: The juxtaposition of his working as an executive and becoming an artist was interesting to me because it shows the character's dichotomy. Music is his way of articulating his emotions.
BEAMAFILM: Did any particular artists, songs, or music influence the film's tone?
HARLEY CHAMANDY: Yes, Ethan Rose. When I was in high school, I heard his album Ceiling Songs, and I was so moved that I emailed him to say I wanted to work with him.
BEAMAFILM: How did you approach the film's soundtrack and sound design to reflect Allen's emotional state?
HARLEY CHAMANDY: I worked closely with Ethan Rose, who composed all the film's original music. I chose electronic ambient music because it’s the most introspective. It’s really about Allen and his relationship with the machines and what comes from that.
BEAMAFILM: The lakeside setting feels almost like a character in its own right. What drew you to that landscape?
HARLEY CHAMANDY: Growing up in Canada. The aesthetics of the Northeast. Harmony.
BEAMAFILM: The film has many quiet moments and striking, contemplative imagery. How did you decide to use cinematography to create that visual language, and did any scenes evolve significantly during production?
HARLEY CHAMANDY: Image comes first for me. We worked very hard on crafting the image, and I worked with my amazing cinematographer, Kenny Suleimanagich, who shot this on 16mm. Everything is exactly like the script!
BEAMAFILM: Werner Herzog compares your film to the work of a young Kiarostami or Korine - were there specific visual references or filmmakers that influenced the look and feel of Allen Sunshine?
HARLEY CHAMANDY: The paintings of Canadian painter Alex Coville.
BEAMAFILM: Were there any distinctive qualities you were looking for in the actor playing Allen?
HARLEY CHAMANDY: Someone with sensitivity and restraint.
BEAMAFILM: As your debut feature, what were some of the biggest challenges in bringing Allen Sunshine to life, and was there a particular moment during production when you felt the film had found its voice?
HARLEY CHAMANDY: Almost everything was challenging - shooting on water, non-actors, children, fire, rain and boats...
The moment during production was when I saw the first dailies!
BEAMAFILM: Looking back now, what did this film teach you about yourself as a filmmaker?
HARLEY CHAMANDY: Filmmaking is a team sport, and work with people you respect and love.
BEAMAFILM: At 22, you were the youngest recipient to receive the acclaimed Werner Herzog Award. What has it meant for you personally to receive this award for Allen Sunshine?
HARLEY CHAMANDY: It meant everything to me. Werner Herzog was my biggest inspiration growing up and a true legend and master…
I thought I was dreaming for months.
BEAMAFILM: Herzog has often spoken about cinema's ability to reveal deeper emotional truths. Do you see any connection between that philosophy and your own approach to storytelling, and has the recognition changed your perspective on stories you want to tell next?
HARLEY CHAMANDY: I feel like I am also searching for “poetic ecstasy". It made me feel like I was on the right track and that I should keep trusting my gut.
BEAMAFILM: What has surprised you most about audience reactions to the film so far, and what do you hope it leaves people thinking or feeling?
HARLEY CHAMANDY: It's surprising when I see people put it in their top four favorites on Letterboxd, haha.
That feeling is stronger than plot. No one remembers the storyline, but they remember how a film made them feel.
BEAMAFILM: If viewers remember one thing after watching Allen Sunshine, what would you like that to be?
HARLEY CHAMANDY: Peace.
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BEAMAFILM: Finally, are you working on any new projects you can share with the Beamafilm audience?
HARLEY CHAMANDY: Yes, I am working on my next film with a very big independent American film company, which I cannot wait to announce.
BEAMAFILM: Oh wow, that’s incredibly exciting! We’ll certainly be looking forward to hearing more about your new project, so please keep us posted. Thank you so much for sharing your insights with the Beamafilm audience, and for taking the time to speak with us today.
Watch 'Allen Sunshine' on Beamafilm here!