WVU Students Shatter World Record with 100-Day Film "The Freedom of Uselessness"

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - EntSun -- West Virginia University students Samuel Felinton and Declan Mungovan have set a new world record for the longest film ever made, completing their experimental documentary The Freedom of Uselessness with 100 days of continuous footage.

The film, which began streaming live on YouTube on August 26, 2025, surpassed the 13-year-old record held by the Swedish film Logistics. The filmmakers reached the symbolic 100-day milestone on December 4, after breaking the previous record on October 11.

A Minimalist Exploration of Time and Non-Productivity

The Freedom of Uselessness features two moss balls, Bubba and Spoiled, floating in still water, filmed continuously in real time. The minimalist documentary delves into Taoist ideas of non-productivity as a form of freedom and reflects on the passage of time through quiet observation.

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The project was livestreamed and archived in real time across 250+ YouTube episodes, allowing global audiences to experience the unfolding experiment.

From Idea to Record-Breaking Film

Felinton and Mungovan chose moss balls for their simplicity and perceived uselessness. While initially considering other subjects like sea monkeys or fish, they ultimately selected moss balls for their stillness. Maintaining a continuous shoot for 100 days required meticulous planning and problem-solving, with the filmmakers pioneering this approach at such a large scale.

What's Next?

Although the official 100-day filming period ended on December 4, the filmmakers plan to continue shooting until December 19, before submitting the film to festivals and exhibitions. They hope the project will spark academic discussions on experimental cinema.

Felinton and Mungovan's previous film, The Death of Film, was featured in West Virginia University's Online Exhibits, and their next project, Project Butterfly: Flatwoods, will debut at the Mothman Festival in September 2026.

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The full Freedom of Uselessness project is available on the Project FINC YouTube channel.

Technical Details

• Title: The Freedom of Uselessness
• Runtime: 100 days (2,400 hours)
• Directors: Samuel Felinton, Declan Mungovan
• Production Companies: Felinton Inc., Project FINC
• Budget: $40 (estimated)
• Stars: Bubba and Spoiled (moss balls)
• Release Date: August 26, 2025 (livestream began)
• IMDb: imdb.com/title/tt38066726
• Full Film: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLm71edmOuaPJvYYi9F9auAAvi1nxMXG1v

About the Filmmakers

Samuel Felinton and Declan Mungovan are junior students at West Virginia University, pushing the boundaries of experimental cinema. Their work challenges traditional film norms through minimalist concepts, duration, and philosophical themes related to time and existence.

Note to Editors: High-resolution stills and filmmaker interviews are available upon request. The film is streaming in full on the Project FINC YouTube channel.