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Conor Oberst is stepping into film for the first time with a short titled Invention 13, a moody, atmospheric piece that brings together musicians, skateboarders and animation. The project reunites him with familiar collaborators and adds a surprising cast. It will debut on a Los Angeles festival bill this fall.
What Invention 13 is about and how it looks
The short centers on a frustrated pianist struggling to master one of Bach’s trickiest pieces. The story unfolds on a single cold night, where routine practice turns into a surreal series of obstacles. Filmmakers used a mix of in-camera tricks and hand-drawn animation to give the film a tactile, handcrafted feel.
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Runtime: About 15 minutes. Style: Practical effects blended with animation for a dreamlike mood.
Key creators behind the camera
Invention 13 is a collaboration led by Oberst and musician-filmmaker Shawn Foree of Digital Leather. The two steered the project from concept to shoot. Bright Eyes’ longtime arranger Nathaniel Walcott wrote original music, adding orchestral textures to the short’s soundtrack.
- Co-creator: Shawn Foree (Digital Leather)
- Composer: Nathaniel Walcott (Bright Eyes)
- Filming location: Omaha, Nebraska
Who appears on screen and in the soundtrack
The cast mixes actors and figures from music and skate culture. Emory Cohen plays the pianist at the center of the story. Olivia Howard also appears. Pro skateboarder Nelly Morville has a role that nods to her rising profile in the skate world.
Phoebe Bridgers contributes a voiceover, linking the project to Oberst’s musical circle. The pair recently worked together again when Oberst guested on Bridgers’ album. That shared musical chemistry carries into the film’s audio design.
Notable cameo and collaborators
- Nelly Morville — known for her part in Limousine Skateboards’ video Paymaster
- Phoebe Bridgers — voiceover contribution and recent musical collaborator
- Emory Cohen — lead actor
How and where the film was made
Shooting took place in Oberst’s hometown of Omaha. The crew worked across four nights when temperatures fell below freezing. That extreme weather informed the film’s atmosphere and performance choices.
Direct, low-tech methods were favored. The makers leaned on real sets and hand-drawn animation rather than heavy CGI. That choice gives the short a textured, intimate look.
Festival premiere and screening information
Invention 13 premieres at Mubi’s Beyond Fest during a late-night program at Los Angeles’ Egyptian Theatre. The screening will be paired with a showing of the cult horror film Hausu, giving audiences a double feature rooted in mood and surrealism.
- Date: September 26
- Time: 10:00 PM
- Venue: Egyptian Theatre, Los Angeles
- Extras: Onstage Q&A with Foree and Oberst, moderated by Whitmer Thomas
- Tickets: Available via Beyond Fest’s official site
Oberst’s wider interest in film
This short marks a new public step into cinema for Oberst, but he has flirted with film in the past. In 2014 he revealed he auditioned for the lead in Inside Llewyn Davis. The role eventually went to Oscar Isaac.
Oberst recalled the wide net casting directors cast when searching for that part. Industry figures reportedly tested many musicians and actors before settling on their pick.
