13-23 nov 2025
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A Ü T O/M Ö T O R
Program
A Ü T O/M Ö T O R
DocLab

A Ü T O/M Ö T O R

Albert Johnson
United States, France, Italy
2025
57 min
International Premiere
IDFA DocLab Program & Competition, IDFA DocLab Competition for Digital Storytelling
Synopsis

In 31 tracks on this interactive music album, rapper Vyle is your guide through a virtual re-creation of Chicago, visiting important places from the hip-hop culture of his hometown, and from his own personal history.

It’s the early 21st century, in an apartment in a towering skyscraper. While lying on the bed, you can watch music videos on TV, check out covers of mixtape CDs, and gaze out the window. It’s from here that your journey begins into Chicago’s turbulent hip-hop history.

You race through tunnels in a speeding car, stop off at Black-owned cosmetics stores, and discover intriguing alleyways whose significance is hidden at first glance. And this journey to influential locations isn’t limited to Chicago—it continues on farther, to New York’s Manhattan and Spoleto, Italy. This digital monument brings Chicago’s music history to light via a single album.

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Credits
57 min
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-
Spoken languages: English
Director
    Albert Johnson
    Albert Johnson
Production
    Albert Johnson for A/M CREATIVE
    Albert Johnson for A/M CREATIVE
Co-production
    NEW INC for New Museum
    NEW INC for New Museum
Cinematography
    A/M CREATIVE,
    Setta Studio
    A/M CREATIVE,
    Setta Studio
Animation
    Albert Johnson for A/M CREATIVE
    Albert Johnson for A/M CREATIVE
Editing
    Albert Johnson for A/M CREATIVE
    Albert Johnson for A/M CREATIVE
Sound
    Albert Johnson for A/M CREATIVE
    Albert Johnson for A/M CREATIVE
Sound Design
    Albert Johnson for A/M CREATIVE
    Albert Johnson for A/M CREATIVE
Music
    vyle.,
    Cities Aviv,
    Brodinski,
    Fat Tony,
    Beans,
    M. Sayyid,
    Teki Latex,
    Meaty Ogre
    vyle.,
    Cities Aviv,
    Brodinski,
    Fat Tony,
    Beans,
    M. Sayyid,
    Teki Latex,
    Meaty Ogre
Screenplay
    Norma Jean Johnson
    Norma Jean Johnson
Screening copy
    Albert Johnson for A/M CREATIVE
    Albert Johnson for A/M CREATIVE
Technical artist
    Albert Johnson,
    Mark Alan Johnson,
    Tim Saccenti,
    Joseph Esquivel,
    Rivka Kopelman,
    Hattie Ball,
    Nicholas S. Martin,
    Sam Rofles,
    Leighton Pope,
    Terence Byas
    Albert Johnson,
    Mark Alan Johnson,
    Tim Saccenti,
    Joseph Esquivel,
    Rivka Kopelman,
    Hattie Ball,
    Nicholas S. Martin,
    Sam Rofles,
    Leighton Pope,
    Terence Byas

Stills

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More from the program section IDFA DocLab Program & Competition
IDFA DocLab: Off the Internet explores the paradox of our time: the growing desire to disconnect, the impossibility of ever truly logging off, and the inherent privilege of stepping offline. With Off the Internet, DocLab turns to interactive and immersive art in search of new forms of presence and connection.
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A Ü T O/M Ö T O R

A Ü T O/M Ö T O R

DocLab
Albert Johnson
2025
57 min