Minted
A pioneering group of artists gain global recognition after embracing NFTs, but they must reckon with the controversies that threaten to undermine this powerful new technology.
Minted provides an insider’s look at the rise and fall of the NFT (non-fungible token) phenomenon and how technology has transformed the traditional art world. Through a combination of vérité footage, candid interviews, and archival film, director Nicholas Bruckman delves into the complex world of the $40 billion dollar NFT digital art market. The film focuses on a collective of artists who found unprecedented success in this new landscape, including Beeple, the creator of a record-breaking $69 million artwork, whose rise to fame has become symbolic of the NFT boom. The documentary also features emerging artists from across the U.S., Cuba, and Africa whose careers have been impacted by the opportunities provided by NFTs.
Spanning the full arc of the NFT craze, the documentary traces its origins in digital art through the explosive 2021 boom to its crash in 2022 and 2023. Critique is provided from both within and outside the art world around the social implications, viability, and ethics of NFTs, while questions emerge about the sustainability of the market, the impact of blockchain technology, and the commodification of art in the digital age.
Minted reflects on the future of art—its ever-evolving value, its role in society, and its relationship to the transformative potential of technology. As artists seek new forms of expression, the film offers insight into the essence of human creativity.