If you want to know where to go next and aren’t satisfied with just looking at images of these places, then these short films about different cities featured in National Geographic’s Short Film Showcase will definitely set you packing up right this moment!
1. Experience Venice’s Spectacular Beauty in Under 4 Minutes
Who doesn’t want to go to Venice, Italy? Fall in love with this city as this short film directed by Olvier Astrologo and Nils Astrologo, gives you a glimpse of the Venetian life, its breathtaking canals, diverse architecture and other historical places that illustrate their ancient folk tradition.
Click and click away! Make sure your cameras and phones are fully charged for this trip. You wouldn’t want to miss capturing on cam their jaw-dropping sites.
2. Experience a Whirlwind Look at Life in Shanghai
If you want something closer to home, why don’t you brave the streets of the most populous city in China? Known for its bustling streets, exemplary skylines, and urban landscapes, get to experience the different side of Shanghai as this short film by JT Singh takes its viewers to some of the city’s unexplored neighborhoods.
Better polish a few must-know Mandarin phrases if you want to go exploring on your own! You wouldn’t want to get lost in place where most people don’t speak English. And just a tip, making hand gestures and speaking slowly in English will not make them understand you no matter what! Don’t tell me, I didn’t warn you.
3. Experience the Magic of Redwood National Park
Get lost among the tallest trees of the world and experience the breathtaking wildlife in Redwood National Park located in Northern California, USA. This short film made by More Than Just Parks features the diverse landscapes and flora and fauna found in the rainforest.
Ah, ready those boots, hooded parka, and your heavy-duty backpack for this one! Be sure you don’t mind getting your hands dirty and doing a lot of walking. Or if you’re up for it, just go camping! I don’t know! Come up with something along the way. *wink!*
4. Timelapse: South Korea’s Stunning Seoul
Do some soul-searching in South Korea’s capital city – Seoul. This time-lapse short film created by Noe Alonzo takes a peek on some of the must-see places in the city such as the Gyeongbokgung Palace, N Seoul Tower, and Changdeokgung Palace among others.
Don’t forget to bow and say Annyeong haseyo to Koreans you will encounter while you’re here! At least you have one Korean phrase that you know. Or if you are a K-POP fan, then time to use those words you learned! Just make sure you got their meanings correctly or you’re in big trouble, kid.
5. Travel from Tokyo to Hiroshima in Less Than 4 Minutes
Discover the rich culture of some of the key cities in Japan, the Land of the Rising Sun. In this short film, three filmmakers Vincent Urban, Alex Schiller, and Alex Tank recorded their three-week journey as they immerse themselves in the rich and vibrant life evident in the stunning cities of Tokyo, Osaka, Hiroshima, and Kyoto.
If you want to bask in the beauty of the Japan’s cities, better ready yourself for a long trip ahead! And watch it, the ground shakes more often on this side of the world! So if you’re a little afraid of earthquakes, then you should better be ready for it.
6. Travel Around Turkey in 5.5 Minutes
Leave your tracks on this historical place and be enamored with Turkey’s countryside, rocky hillside villages, and lustrous skylines. Captured in this time-lapsed short film by Vincent Urban, Clemens Krüger, and Stefane Templer, are Turkey’s most prized gems you ought to discover yourself.
If you’re afraid of heights and want to try out the hot air balloons at Cappadocia, then better man up and go for the ride! Who knows when you’ll get the chance to do that again? And man, you wouldn’t want to chicken out in front of your date, right?
—
The digital video team of National Geographic puts to the limelight notable short videos created by filmmakers from around the Web through their Short Film Showcase. The topics range from life, culture, nature, animals, and art you can find or experience from different places around the world. These videos are selected by National Geographic editors and must affirm their mission to inspire people to care about the planet.