Browse films

The Meaning of Vanlife

Jim Lounsbury
Australia, 2019, 88 min.

In English.
Includes adult language.

AIFF Award Winner:
Best Foreign Documentary

The Meaning of Vanlife is an adventurous, revealing look into the Vanlife community through the eyes of nomads who have chosen to live a life of freedom on the road. A documentary about a movement that exemplifies a deeper societal trend towards minimalism and authentic community building.

Director's Statement

Is Vanlife just a fad, driven by social media, hashtags and photographs of beautiful couples in pristine locations? Or is it a community dealing with the current economic pressures by leaning toward minimalism and simpler living? A group of people redefining their expectations for life by valuing things like community, acceptance and renewal? When asking "˜Vanlifers' why they chose this alternative lifestyle, the most common word within their answers was freedom. This documentary was a chance to discover what that freedom looks like, and what resonant beliefs, philosophical truths and new ideas can be gleaned from these modern-day nomads.

Category: Documentary, Award Winner.
Themes: Community, Lifestyle, Road Trip, World Cinema.

More in Documentary

  • Sunday Mornings at the Beach

    Sunday Mornings at the Beach

    Tim Reid
    United States, 2025, 10 min.

    When heading to the oceanside, one might expect to see surfers, joggers, and sunbathers... but not this. Each Sunday, a quiet yet powerful ritual unfolds as... more ›

  • A Promise of Paradise

    A Promise of Paradise

    Thomas Machowicz
    United States, 2025, 15 min.

    In A Promise of Paradise, the quiet fields of Oklahoma become the backdrop for an unexpected moral awakening. Dan Peterson—a Vietnam veteran and... more ›

  • The Sinks

    The Sinks

    Jacob Staudenmaier
    United States, 2026, 16 min.

    A small band from Tucson - comprised of four best friends - plays their final show at the end of college... more ›