Flying Lotus makes directorial debut, announced Brainfeeder film division

Flying Lotus’ music has always been influenced by a profound visual and directorial sensibility: His shorts with Kahlil Joseph and Eddie Alcazar are essential works in his long catalog.

Now the producer born Steven Ellison is making the connection official: He has announced both a new film division of his label Brainfeeder and his debut work as a director.

The 2016 Sundance Next Fest, taking place at the Theater at the Ace in downtown L.A. on Aug. 12-14, will host a screening of “Royal,” his short-film debut under the alias of “steve.”

The film is “an awkward love story that’s definitely not for the kiddies,” he said on Twitter.

The fest has a strong music component, with performances by Shamir, Sunflower Bean and Nick Jonas’ turn in the heavy fraternity-drama feature “Goat.”

Ellison also added that his label which has released a string of well-loved experimental electronic and jazz albums, including Kamasi Washington’s “The Epic” — will incorporate a new film component to produce projects like “Royal.”

Ellison said the decision was partly inspired by a silly GIF of him DJ’ing with Thom Yorke, and that “Royal” will include new FlyLo music. “Thank u for that,” he wrote to the GIF’s creator, before deadpanning a bit: “Changed the course of my life and bank account.”