What Is 24 Frames

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: 24 Frames is a 2017 experimental film by Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami that reimagines 24 static photographs by adding three minutes of imagined motion and sound to each, blending reality and fiction. The film premiered posthumously at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival. It was Kiarostami’s final work, released a year after his death in 2016.

Key Facts

24 Frames was released in 2017, one year after director Abbas Kiarostami’s death in 2016
The film consists of 24 segments, each lasting approximately 3 minutes, totaling about 72 minutes
Each frame is based on a still photograph, with digital animation simulating movement over three minutes
The film premiered at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival in the Special Screenings section
Abbas Kiarostami directed the film using digital compositing and CGI to animate still images

Overview

24 Frames is an experimental cinematic project by acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami, completed and released posthumously in 2017. The film explores the boundary between still photography and moving images by animating 24 static photographs for three minutes each, creating a meditative visual experience.

Originally conceived before Kiarostami’s death in 2016, the project was finalized by his collaborators and premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. It reflects Kiarostami’s lifelong interest in the nature of perception, time, and cinematic illusion, using minimal narrative to evoke deep emotional and philosophical resonance.

Each of the 24 segments lasts exactly three minutes, resulting in a total runtime of approximately 72 minutes, creating a structured yet contemplative rhythm.
The film begins with a reinterpretation of Pieter Bruegel the Elder’s 1565 painting Hunters in the Snow, digitally animating the scene to explore implied motion.
Abbas Kiarostami used digital animation techniques to add subtle movements—such as falling snow, drifting clouds, and walking animals—into otherwise static images.
Only four of the 24 frames include human figures, emphasizing Kiarostami’s focus on nature, stillness, and the passage of time.
The audio design features ambient soundscapes—wind, birdsong, distant murmurs—carefully synchronized to enhance the illusion of reality within each animated frame.

How It Works

24 Frames operates on a conceptual and technical framework that merges photography, digital animation, and sound design to transform still images into living scenes. Kiarostami’s method challenges traditional narrative cinema by focusing on duration, observation, and the viewer’s imagination.

Conceptual Origin: The idea originated from Kiarostami’s question: What happened just before or after a photograph was taken? Each frame imagines that unseen moment.
Photographic Source: Each segment begins with a still image—either a historical photograph or a painting—serving as the foundation for digital expansion and animation.
Animation Process: Using CGI and compositing software, Kiarostami’s team added realistic motion, such as birds flying or leaves rustling, to create the illusion of real-time observation.
Duration Control: Every sequence is strictly limited to three minutes, enforcing a disciplined structure that encourages mindfulness and focused viewing.
Sound Integration: Original ambient audio was crafted for each frame, with sounds like footsteps, wind, or distant chatter carefully timed to match visual cues.
Posthumous Completion: After Kiarostami’s death in 2016, his production team finalized the film using his detailed notes and pre-visualization sketches.

Comparison at a Glance

The following table compares 24 Frames with traditional narrative films and other experimental works in terms of structure, technique, and artistic intent.

Feature	24 Frames	Traditional Narrative Film	Experimental Film (e.g., Koyaanisqatsi)
Runtime	72 minutes	90–120 minutes	86 minutes
Frames Used	24	N/A	N/A
Animation per Frame	3 minutes	Not applicable	Continuous
Director	Abbas Kiarostami	Varies	Godfrey Reggio
Release Year	2017	Varies	1982

The structured brevity of 24 Frames contrasts sharply with the extended runtimes of conventional cinema. By isolating moments and extending them through animation, Kiarostami invites viewers to reconsider how time and stillness function in visual storytelling. Its minimalist approach aligns more with poetic cinema than commercial filmmaking.

Why It Matters

24 Frames represents a significant evolution in the dialogue between photography and film, pushing the boundaries of what cinema can be. As Kiarostami’s final artistic statement, it stands as a testament to his innovative spirit and philosophical depth.

Reimagines photography by digitally extending still images into short cinematic sequences, blurring the line between capture and creation.
Challenges narrative norms by eliminating dialogue, plot, and characters in favor of immersive observation and sensory experience.
Influences digital art by demonstrating how CGI can be used subtly for contemplative effect rather than spectacle.
Premiered at Cannes in 2017, affirming its importance in global cinema despite its unconventional format.
Encourages mindfulness through its slow pacing, inviting audiences to engage deeply with each passing second.
Preserves Kiarostami’s legacy as a pioneering filmmaker who consistently explored the metaphysics of the moving image.

Ultimately, 24 Frames is not just a film but an artistic meditation on time, perception, and the unseen moments that lie beyond the camera’s shutter.