Stop-motion + Real Fire + Real Explosions
Watch the behind-the-scenes here: https://vimeo.com/1158421551

The BBC’s 2026 Winter Olympics film celebrates the trails athletes will blaze, as they smash records and break boundaries at the games. Created in stop motion using real fire and 700 individually 3D-printed athletes, the film sought to push the limits of stop motion, just like the athletes push the limits of their sports. It used an array of experimental combustion techniques and complicated technical procedures to seamlessly weave together the fiery trails of different athletes against scale models of the Italian Dolomite mountains. Creating a dramatic and unexpected fusion of ice and fire.

Credits

BBC Creative
Director – Justin Bairamian
Head of Production – James Wood
Interim Head of Planning – Rhonwen Lally
Executive Creative Director – Rasmus Smith Bech
Executive Creative Director – Dave Monk
Creative Director – Matt Leach
Creative Director – Jess Oudot
Senior Creative – Paul Bailey
Senior Creative – Russell Hendrie
Senior Producer – Rachel Roberts
Project Manager – Hattie Buxton
Planner – Asa Nowers
Production Manager – Emi Bozzi
Senior Designer – Amy Fullalove
Lead Designer – Daniel Cooper
Motion Designer – Andrea Stragapede

BBC Marketing
Director, Marketing & Audiences – Paul Davies
Head of Marketing, BBC Sports – Liv Slack
Marketing Manager – David Wheadon
Marketing Executive – Kate Plowright
Media Portfolio Lead – Marc Jones
Campaign Planner – Eleanor O’Kane

Production Company – NOMINT
Director – Yannis Konstantinidis
Executive Producer – Marilena Vatseri
Executive Producer – Christos Lefakis
Producer – John Mouratis
Director of Photography – Toby Howell
Production Designer – Gordon Allen
Stopmotion Animator – Dario Imbrogno
Stopmotion Animator – Rhiannon Evans
VFX Supervisor – Matthieu Landour
Pyrotechnics – Armoury FX
SFX Supervisor – Matthew Strange

BDS
Behind the Scenes Videographer – Ben Dowden

Black Kite
Colourist – George Kyriacou
VFX Artist – Alistair Hamer
Producer – Carmen Hogg

750mph
Sound Design – Sam Ashwell
Sound Design – Mike Bovill
Head of Production – Rachel Saxon

Music “Requiem”
Composer – Giuseppe Verdi
Arranger – Alex Baranowski Performer

BBC Symphony Orchestra
Performer – BBC Symphony Chorus
Performer – Crouch End Festival Chorus
Chief Conductor – BBC Symphony Orchestra Sakari Oramo