An Inspired Chat with Clément Oberto of Fairfax District

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Clément Oberto. Check out our conversation below.

Clément, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
For quite some time, I’ve been developing an environmental musical feature called Sacrebleu. Led by the music of Ilya Lagutenko (from Mumiy Troll), it blends live action, animation, and poetry to raise awareness about plastic waste and ocean preservation.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Clément Oberto. I’m a French film director, creative director, writer, producer, and photographer based in Los Angeles. I’ve been doing this for about 20 years, 10 of them here in LA. My body of work has mainly been focused on music videos and commercials, and today I’d like to tell you about the Creative Film Awards — a festival I founded in 2020 to celebrate filmmakers through short form content.

Every year we showcase short films, music videos, commercials, fashion films, and student works that push creative boundaries. With submissions from 55+ countries and jury members such as Devin Sarno (VP Creative Services at Warner Records) and Pira Ina (Lead Curator at Vimeo Staff Picks), the festival’s goal is to help both seasoned and emerging voices connect with industry leaders.

This year, we’re planning a three-day event and adding a Special French Program in collaboration with the French Consulate and Unifrance. Submissions are set to open later this month, and I’m excited to see how the festival continues to grow as a platform where bold, visually striking work can find the recognition and connections it deserves.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
A few years ago, I rented a small house in the Japanese countryside to write my first feature script. My intention was to disconnect completely. No internet, no phone, no screens, not even a clock. For a month, I lived simply: biking along the ocean, buying fresh produce, cooking, swimming, running, exploring, and writing.

Soon the tatami floors were covered in handwritten pages. To this day I still think about it as the most peaceful and wholesome time of my life. I felt aligned. I was exactly where I was supposed to be, doing exactly what I was meant to do.

On my last day, I took a train to Lake Shinji and had a profound epiphany. Standing there, I felt this overwhelming sense of belonging to something bigger, something benevolent. It was as if the world whispered that everything was, and will be, okay. That experience gave me faith and shifted how I see the world as a place where we can find meaning and trust the path we’re on.

When you were sad or scared as a child, what helped?
Writing was always my tool. As a child, it helped me cope with loneliness, it was a safe space where I could both reflect on the world and escape into stories of my own making. Creating characters, building little worlds on paper… it was always there for me, always healing.

In many ways, that practice never left me. It grew into filmmaking, but the impulse is the same: to process life through storytelling.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
My feature film Voices — the one I began writing in Japan — is the project I’m committed to, no matter how long it takes. It feels like my life’s goal. The story is deeply personal: it’s about connection, memory, and finding meaning through sound. In many ways, it reflects my own search for belonging and the way I make sense of the world.

Everything I do today (building experience, gathering resources, earning credits) is, in a way, preparing me to give justice to that story. One day, I hope to make it into the beautiful, resonant film I know it deserves to be.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
Gratitude.

For the people I’ve met, for the experiences I’ve lived, for the chance to create and share stories. It’s the one thing that doesn’t depend on titles or belongings, and the one thing that always stays with me.

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Highlighter Series
What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?

Coffee? Workouts? Hitting the snooze button 14 times? Everyone has their morning ritual and we

Highlighter Series
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?

Our deepest wounds often shape us as much as our greatest joys. The pain we

Highlighter Series
Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?

Culture, economic circumstances, family traditions, local customs and more can often influence us more than