For the haunting and atmospheric feature Went Up The Hill, Stage23 delivered an ambitious suite of visual effects that blended seamlessly into the film’s highly cinematic style.

A centrepiece of the work was the creation of a fully CG frozen lake — a key location for the story’s most pivotal moments. This digital environment wasn’t just a backdrop; it became a stage for the film’s climactic confrontation, where Stage23’s ice and water simulations brought an extra layer of realism and tension to the scene.

The team also extended the film’s sweeping landscapes with intricate matte paintings, enhancing the sense of isolation and scale without disrupting the carefully composed frames.

Matching the film’s unique painterly cinematography presented a challenge of its own. Every frame demanded meticulous attention to blend CG elements with the live-action plates, ensuring the VFX felt invisible yet essential.

From ice breaking, water simulation to snow peaked mountains Stage23’s work on Went Up The Hill stands as a testament to the studio’s ability to marry technical craft with an artist’s eye — delivering visuals that enhance the story’s emotional and visual impact.

The result is a visual tapestry where technical precision and artistic nuance work hand-in-hand — a hallmark of Stage23’s approach.

“It’s some of the most demanding work we’ve done, but also some of the most rewarding, because the VFX doesn’t just support the story — it’s part of its emotional core.”

Jonathan Hairman VFX supervisor