Teaser
Longevity
2026, Documentary, 90 min
Directors: Anastasia Shubina, Timofey Glinin
Producer: Ksenia Gapchenko
Tagline
When science challenges death, what happens to life?
Logline
What if aging was optional — and time became the ultimate
experiment? As science inches closer to decoding the
biology of aging, a global movement of researchers,
entrepreneurs, and self-experimenters is transforming the
fight against mortality into one of humanity’s most radical
revolutions.
Synopsis
In California, a quiet revolution is taking place. Scientists,
entrepreneurs, and biohackers are exploring how we
might extend human healthspan and delay the processes
of aging. Inspired by experiments that have increased the
lifespans of worms, mice, and naked mole rats, a new
generation of researchers believes that aging is not an
inevitable fate, but a biological process that can be better
understood — and perhaps, one day, managed. Longevity
follows this movement across continents — from Silicon
Valley biotech labs to European research centers and Asian innovation hubs.
The question of how long and how well humans can live
has moved beyond academic discussion: it has become
a global scientific, economic, and cultural challenge —
and, for some countries, even a strategic priority. The film
observes not only the laboratories shaping this emerging
field, but also the organisms that offer alternative models
of resilience — whales, jellyfish, and other species that
seem to have already mastered the art of sustained vitality.
In their slow, deliberate rhythms lies a different idea of time — not just about overcoming mortality, but about
a sustainable harmony with life itself. They embody an
existence defined not by control or acceleration, but by
ecological balance, patience, and continuity — a form of
longevity rooted in nature. Told through the eyes of
biologist-filmmakers embedded in the longevity
community, the film captures both the scientific and poetic
dimensions of this field.
It explores the emotional, ethical, and philosophical implications of a world where the boundaries of aging may one day shift — and asks: as we learn to live longer, how can we also learn to live better?
Visual Approach
“Longevity” will use a sensorial and cinematic visual language — combining macro-photography, fluorescent microscopy, and stylized observational footage from labs and natural environments. The aesthetic oscillates between intimacy and abstraction: luminescent cellular forms, the natural behaviors of ageless creatures, and the futuristic precision of human technology. This visual contrast — between the natural and the engineered — becomes a metaphor for humanity’s attempt to reinvent the meaning of life.
Directors’ Statement
As filmmakers, we are driven by a passion for storytelling that makes complex scientific ideas both engaging and accessible. Longevity represents the culmination of our paths in both science and cinema. We have always lived two parallel lives: by education, we are biologists, but for more than a decade we have been devoted to film and the visual arts. What began as a creative pursuit gradually evolved into a professional journey — our works have been exhibited internationally and shown at film festivals around the world. For a long time, however, our artistic practice remained separate from our scientific background. With Longevity, these two worlds finally merge. This project allows us to bring together our understanding of biology and our cinematic storytelling — to reveal the beauty of science through human stories, clear language, and powerful imagery.
We believe this film has great potential because modern biological research — especially at leading universities — contains remarkable visual and emotional power. It opens up an entire world to audiences who rarely see what happens behind laboratory doors. Alongside the broader landscape of longevity science, we focus on several protagonists who each contribute to the fight against aging in their own way: scientists driven by personal motivation and curiosity, activists advocating for public awareness, and philosophers and sociologists reflecting on how extended life will reshape society and our understanding of what it means to be human.
Longevity marks an important step in our ongoing exploration of how science intersects with everyday life. For us, success means creating a film that not only informs but also inspires — encouraging viewers to reflect on the ethical, emotional, and social dimensions of scientific progress. Our goal is to bridge the gap between the scientific community and the public, fostering a deeper appreciation for the power of science to transform the human experience.
Supported by: Open Longevity, CA
