How the indie filmmaker carved out a cinematic hit.
When Dragon premiered earlier this year, it didn’t arrive with studio fanfare or a marketing blitz. But it didn’t need to. The film spoke for itself, raw, hypnotic, and emotionally charged, it marked a major leap forward for director Sebastian Sommer, whose distinctive voice is finally catching fire with a broader audience.
Dragon is a study in restraint and tension, laced with striking compositions and elliptical editing, a signature of Sommer’s ever evolving visual grammar. It’s the kind of film that feels handmade, personal, but with ambition that extends far beyond the frame. And it’s proving that in an era flooded with fast content, something crafted with intention can still break through.
“There’s this pressure now to treat movies like social media posts,” Sommer explains. “But filmmaking isn’t about chasing attention, it’s about creating a world people want to live in for a while. It was about creating an actual movie. That’s always been my goal.”
While critics have praised Dragon for its originality and nerve, Sommer is quick to ground the moment in humility. “I just wanted to thank my mom. She always believed in me and supported me.” he says. There’s also time for some family banter: “To my nieces…your dad is a moron,” he laughs.
With Dragon making the rounds, Sommer’s trajectory is only rising.
You can watch the film here:
