For a long time, we’ve been told that data is something abstract, virtual, and floating somewhere in an untouchable “cloud.” But what if data weren’t just a series of 1s and 0s? What if it had weight, texture, and a footprint on our physical world?

We are thrilled to announce that the experimental short film Data Shadows has officially moved from exclusive screenings to an open-access online launch. After its successful premieres in Munich and the UK, the film is now available for everyone, everywhere, to watch for free.

Produced in collaboration with the Ethical Data Initiative, the University of Exeter, and the TUM Think Tank, Data Shadows is the result of a unique creative collision between three visionary minds who have spent years exploring how we interact with the intangible:

Sabina Leonelli: Professor at the Technical University of Munich, Research Director at the Ethical Data Initiative, and a leading voice in the philosophy of science. Sabina’s pioneering research into “data shadows” – information that is often ignored, invisible, or inaccessible – serves as the film’s intellectual backbone.

Jacob van der Beugel: A renowned sculptor known for works like The North Sketch Sequence at Chatsworth House, where he translated DNA into ceramic panels. In this film, Jacob uses physical materials such as clay and concrete to give shape to abstract digital concepts.

Oliver Page: An award-winning director and screenwriter whose narrative lens brings this philosophical and artistic experiment to life on screen.

The haunting musical score was composed by Lucy Page, and the cinematography was overseen by Jamie Williams.

Watch the Film

Stop thinking of data as invisible. See its shadow for yourself.

The film uses “data cores” – physical cylinders made of concrete – to represent the journey of information. By using both natural and man-made materials, the creators illustrate how data is “extracted” from our lives and environments.

Step into a world where art, science, and philosophy converge to uncover the unseen dimensions of data. Data Shadows casts a light on how research data make their way through human activities and non-human landscapes.

The film is structured into three evocative chapters:

• Extraction: Witnessing the birth of data as a material, labour-intensive process.
• Repository: Exploring the mechanistic and natural spaces where data is stored, categorised, and sometimes forgotten.
• Journeys: Following the “shadows” data leaves behind as it travels through different landscapes, from industrial labs to the natural world.

The film doesn’t just depict data; it makes you feel its weight. Accompanied by a powerful soundscape, we see solid concrete cores interrogated by beams of light and even crushed into dust in a haunting reminder that while data seems permanent, it is actually incredibly fragile and prone to being lost, corrupted, or misinterpreted.

As we navigate an era of AI and massive data collection, understanding the “materiality” of our digital footprint is more important than ever. Data Shadows challenges us to think about the environmental impact of data storage and the ethical responsibilities we have toward the information we use and harvest.

Whether you are an academic, a data professional, or simply someone curious about how the digital world works, this film offers a poetic and thought-provoking perspective that raises many questions about our increasingly data-driven world.