Figuring out the very long list of many shorts that will qualify to land on the shortlist for the Best Animated Short Film Academy Award each year is not an easy task! Nevertheless, we have compiled a list of the shorts that have won a qualifying prize at one of the world’s top film festivals or booked theatrical screening engagements to be considered by the Academy. (The official Oscar shortlist of 15 films will be announced on December 17.)
Congratulations to all the brilliant creators of these innovative, clever and artistic shorts for making it to this first round. Don’t forget that sometimes landing on the long list is an amazing achievement in its own right!
This dossier will be updated online until the official shortlist is announced. If you are the director, producer or distributor of a qualifying animated short not yet included here, email us at edit@ animationmagazine.net.
74
Cyprus
Directed by: Charalambos Margaritis
Produced by: Kimonos Animation Studio
Synopsis: An inept figure takes on the impossible task of dealing with the memory of the 1974 Turkish army invasion in Cyprus and its aftermath.
Qualifying wins: Best Animation Short at Raindance Film Festival.
A Wind and the Shadow
U.K.
Directed by: Kris Kelly
Produced by: Brian J. Falconer, Vicki Rock
Synopsis: As the line between reality and memory blurs, a mother confronts her fears and uncertainty, revealing a narrative of resilience and love. This journey leads to a profound moment when her daughter bravely discusses her illness.
Qualified by exhibition
Aikāne
U.S.
Directed by: Daniel Sousa, Dean Hamer and Joe Wilson
Produced by: Judith Light, Daniel Karslake, Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu; Kanaka Pakipika, Qwaves
Synopsis: A valiant island warrior, wounded in battle against foreign invaders, falls into a mysterious underwater world. When the octopus who rescued him transforms into a handsome young man, they become aikāne, intimate friends bound by love and trust, and an epic adventure begins.
Qualifying wins: Best Made in Hawaii Short Film Award at Hawaii International Film Festival; Shorts Jury Award (Animation) at New Hampshire Film Festival.
An Almost Christmas Story
U.S.
Directed by: David Lowery
Produced by: David Lowery, Alfonso Cuarón
Synopsis: A wooden doll who desperately wants to fit in makes an ill-fated wish upon a star, sparking a journey of self-discovery. Her desire to blend in with her peers leads her down a harmful path, challenging her perspective of both who she is and where she belongs.
Qualified by exhibition
All My Scars Vanish in the Wind
Colombia
Directed by: Carlos Velandia, Angélica Restrepo
Produced by: Sebastián Jaimes; National University of Colombia
Synopsis: Among intrusive memories, a woman hears a disconcerting call from the depths of her being. A cryptic cry for help guides her to the original wound, to her inner child, becoming her own protector.
Qualifying win: Animated Encounters Grand Prix at Encounters Film Festival (U.K.)
Ana Morphose
Portugal
Directed by: João Rodrigues
Produced by: Rodrigo Areias
Synopsis: A little girl reads a book before bedtime, and as she starts to drift off to sleep, the real world transforms into a fantastical place where the book’s stories come to life. Ana, a character in her own tale, embarks on an extraordinary journey to carve out her place in a world filled with hidden surprises and mysteries.
Qualifying win: Best Animated Short at Bend Film Festival.
And Granny Would Dance
U.K.
Directed by: Maryam Mohajer
Produced by: Abigail Addison, Adriana Scalisi; Animate Projects
Synopsis: Six-year-old Marmar observes how the adult women in her life navigate their relationships with their loved ones and each other. She listens in on her grandmother’s friends laughing about their partners as they play an illicit game of cards. Based on the director’s memories of her childhood in Iran, And Granny Would Dance is a tale of love, grief and resilience across generations.
Qualifying win: Best Short Animation at Rhode Island International Film Festival.
Anita, Lost in the News
Iran
Directed & produced by: Behzad Nalbandi
Synopsis: A little girl with big dreams and her family are illegal immigrants who have to cross the English Channel on a sailboat in search of a better life.
Qualifying win: Best Animated Short Jury Award at Cleveland International Film Festival.
The Art of Weightlessness
U.S.
Directed by: Moshe Mahler
Produced by: Moshe Mahler and Bill Shannon
Synopsis: The Art of Weightlessness is an animated short film documentary that chronicles the evolution of artist and performer, Bill Shannon. Born with a degenerative hip condition, Bill developed new ways to express himself through dance and skateboarding on crutches.
Qualifying win: Best in Show at SIGGRAPH Computer Animation Festival.
Read more.
Baigal Nuur – Lake Baikal
Canada, Germany
Directed by: Alisi Telengut
Produced by: Alisi Telengut; Fabian & Fred
Synopsis: The formation of Lake Baikal in Siberia is reimagined with hand-painted animation and found objects, featuring the voice of an Indigenous woman who can still recall some words in her endangered Buryat language (a Mongolian dialect).
Qualifying win: Best European Short Animation Film at Go Short International Short Film Festival Nijmegen (The Netherlands).
A Bear Named Wojtek
U.K., Poland
Directed by: Iain Gardner
Produced by: Iain Harvey, Wlodzimierz Matuszewski
Synopsis: Displaced by World War II, a troop of Polish soldiers find an inseparable bond with an orphaned brown bear that they name Wojtek.
Qualified by exhibition
Read more.
Beautiful Men
Belgium
Directed by: Nicolas Keppens
Produced by: Pierre Baussaron, Emmanuel-Alain Raynal, Brecht Van Elslande, Joost van den Bosch, Erik Verkerk; Miyu Productions, Animal Tank, Ka-Ching Cartoons
Synopsis: Three balding brothers travel to Istanbul to get a hair transplant. Stuck with each other in a hotel far from home, their insecurities grow faster than their hair.
Qualifying wins: Best Animation at Aspen Shortsfest; Hiroshima Animation Season (Japan); Best Short Film at Kaboom Animation Festival (The Netherlands).
Read more.
Boat People
Canada
Directed by: Kjell Boersma, Thao Lam
Produced by: Justine Pimlott, Jelena Popović, Anita Lee; National Film Board of Canada
Synopsis: As a child in Vietnam, Thao’s mother often rescued ants from bowls of sugar water. Years later, they return the favor.
Qualifying win: Helen Hill Award for Animated Short at New Orleans Film Festival.
The Brown Dog
U.S.
Directed by: Jamie-James Medina and Nadia Hallgren
Produced by: Nadia Hallgren, Jamie-James Medina, Mikey Stirton, Holly Fraser, Damian Bradfield, Alex Mattinson, Phil van der Krogt, Wren Arthur, Steve Buscemi; WeTransfer
Synopsis: At night, a watchman clocks into a lonely security booth in the empty parking lot. Voiced by the late Michael K. Williams, the character spends his shifts composing endless security logs to stay awake. As the darkness slowly closes in on him, he abandons his post and goes in search of a mysterious brown dog.
Qualifying win: Grand Prize for Animated Short at Indy Shorts International Film Festival.
Bug Diner
U.S.
Directed & produced by: Phoebe Jane Hart
Synopsis: A dissatisfied marriage, a secret crush and workplace fantasies come to a head in a diner run by a mole with a hot ass.
Qualifying wins: Short Film Jury Award (Animation) at Sundance Film Festival.
Read more.
The Car That Came Back From the Sea
Switzerland
Directed by: Jadwiga Kowalska
Produced by: Jadwiga Kowalska; Animation & Illustration, SRF Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen
Synopsis: Full of exuberance and frivolousness, six friends drive to the Polish Baltic coast and back in a small, beaten-up car. During their trip, their car and their country fall apart. Nevertheless, life goes on.
Qualifying wins: Best Animation Short at Palm Springs International Film Festival; Film Jury Award at Annecy (France).
Chasing Birds
Canada, Iceland
Directed by: Una Lorenzen
Produced by: Galilé Marion-Gauvin, Heather Millard; Productions l’Unite Centrale, Compass Films
Synopsis: Follows a little girl who playfully chases a bird throughout a chaotic and transformational period. Chasing Birds is a story about disconnection between people and how change can be a both a terrifying and invigorating experience.
Qualifying wins Chris Frayne Award for Best Animated Film at Ann Arbor Film Festival.
Chutes
U.S.
Directed & produced by: Kenzie Sutton
Synopsis: A girl struggles to be in her life as she navigates the random rules of society, capitalism and consumerism through the lens of childhood toys.
Qualifying win: Grand Jury Prize (Animated Short) at AFI Fest.
Cloud (Nube)
France, Hungary, Mexico
Directed by: Christian Arredondo Narváez, Diego Alonso Sánchez de la Barquera Estrada
Produced by: Valentin Maupin, Aristote Douroudakis, Bálint Gelley, Bella Szederkényi; Avec ou sans Vous, CUB Animation, Gobelins School of the Image
Synopsis: After witnessing an old dark stormy cloud painfully rain and die in sorrow, Noma, a puffy white cloud, realizes that Mixtli, her daughter, a dark stormy cloud, is in danger of raining prematurely.
Qualifying win: Ojo for Best Mexican Animated Short Film at Morelia International Film Festival (Mexico).
Compound Eyes of Tropical
Taiwan
Directed by: Zhang Xu Zhan
Produced by: Chan Yu-chu; Zhan Zhan Xi Qi Culture
Synopsis: The film uses the perspective of a fly to create a montage film language using the metaphor of the compound eye. It portrays the Southeast Asian folktale The Mousedeer Crossing the River through multiple perspectives, reinterpreting the story’s multiple facets across cultures.
Qualifying win: BIAF Grand Prize at Bucheon International Animation Festival.
Crab Day
U.K.
Directed by: Ross Stringer
Produced by: Bart Stanislawek; National Film and Television School
Synopsis: As part of a fishing community’s annual ritual, a young boy must kill his first crab in order to become a man and gain his father’s approval.
Qualifying wins: Best British Short Animation at the BAFTAs (U.K.)
Read more.
A Crab in the Pool
Canada
Directed by: Alexandra Myotte, Jean-Sébastien Hamel
Produced by: Alexandra Myotte, Jean-Sébastien Hamel; Semaphore Films
Synopsis: In a run-down neighborhood, Zoe and her little brother Theo are left to fend for themselves. A young adolescent, Zoe is a ball of anger haunted by an intimate terror. Theo, still a child, flees reality into a fantastical world. During a scorching summer day, the two children will have to burst the abscess of their relationship so as not to lose each other.
Qualifying wins: Best Animation Short at Raindance Film Festival; Best Short (Animation) at Short Shorts Film Festival (Japan).
Curiosa
U.K.
Directed by: Tessa Moult-Milewska
Produced by: Sychelle-Kristina Yanda; National Film and Television School
Synopsis: Tells the story of overly curious Mary, who visits her boyfriend’s flat for the first time, just to discover it’s been stripped bare of all personal belongings. After being denied an explanation, she climbs into his head.
Qualifying win: Animated Short Jury Award at Austin Film Festival.
Dark Cloud Memories
South Korea
Directed by: Jung Seung-hee
Produced by: TheQ Kwon; Studio Bbulgorae
Synopsis: In a future world where all memories are stored digitally and reliant on the cloud for one’s identity, a young woman undergoes brain surgery for perfect recall. As storage limits force her to erase old memories, she becomes obsessed with the ones she can’t bear to delete more and more.
Qualifying win: Silver Dragon for Best Short Animated Film at Krakow Film Festival (Poland).
Darwin Story
Australia, U.K.
Directed by: Natasha Tonkin
Produced by: Yeshen Venema, Eero Heinonen
Synopsis: Lee returns to tropical Darwin from London when her mum is taken ill. After a chance encounter, she makes a meaningful friendship that could help her see deeper into her hometown. There’s a chance to revisit the past, but is she ready to think about the beautiful place she calls home?
Qualifying win: Yoram Gross Animation Award at Sydney Film Festival (Australia).
Watch trailer.
Duck (Canard)
Switzerland
Directed by: Elie Chapuis
Produced by: Clémence Pun, Claude Barras, Annemie Degryse, Delphine Dumon, Carole Thévenaz; Hélium Films, Beast Animation, RTS Radio Télévision Suisse
Synopsis: Vladimir and Olga raise ducks on a small isolated farm in the countryside. They hope for a child, but this expectation soon turns into a nightmare.
Qualifying wins: Best Animation (International Competition) at In the Palace Short Film Festival (Bulgaria); Best Animated Short Film at Warsaw Film Festival (Poland).
Edith and the Tall Child
U.S., Japan
Directed & produced by: Kohana Wilson
Synopsis: Edith and the Tall Child is a hand-drawn film about hair, dysphoria and the growing pains of a repeating puberty. It follows the titular Tall Child as they outgrow their tiny apartment, their gender and their hallucinatory giant ground sloth Edith.
Qualifying win: Jury Award for Animation Short at Slamdance Film Festival.
The Family Portrait
Croatia
Directed by: Lea Vidaković
Produced by: Draško Ivezić, Jean-François Le Corre, Nikolina Vučetić Zečević; Adriatic Animation, Vivement Lundi, Biberche Productions
Synopsis: The story depicts a quiet Sunday afternoon in an aristocratic, family home, just before World War I. Andras and his daughter Zsófia are caught by surprise when Andras’ brother, Zoltan, pays a sudden visit with his numerous twelve-member family. A poetic, dark and somewhat humorous social observation, in which family ties and relationships are broken down and dissected to pieces.
Qualifying win: Rigo Mora Award for Best International Animated Short Film at Guadalajara International Film Festival (Mexico).
Father’s Letters
France, Russia
Directed by: Alexey Evstigneev
Produced by: Igor Courtecuisse, Clémence Crépin Neel, Yanna Buryak
Synopsis: One winter day in 1934, Pr. Vangengheim was arrested for sabotage and sent to the Gulag on the Solovki Islands. He decided to hide the truth from his wife and daughter Eleonora — until his execution.
Qualifying win: Best Animation Short Film at Melbourne International Film Festival (Australia).
Flutz
U.S.
Directed & produced by: Ryan McCown
Synopsis: Two rival figure skaters under the same coach compete for the top spot.
Qualifying win: Best Animation at Athens International Film and Video Festival.
Watch full short.
The Garden of Heart
Hungary, Slovakia
Directed by: Olivér Hegyi
Produced by: Bella Szederkényi, Juraj Krasnohorsky, Bálint Gelley; CUB Animation, Artichoke
Synopsis: Dániel Juhász, a young aspiring painter with low self-esteem, is in his last round of interviews at the painting department of the Academy of Fine Arts. While waiting for his interview, his demons appear to him in the form of garden pests.
Qualifying win: Best Short Animation at PÖFF Shorts (Estonia).
In the Shadow of the Cypress
Iran
Directed by: Shirin Sohani and Hossein Molayemi
Produced by: Sohani and Molayehmi; Barfak Studio
Synopsis: A captain suffering from PTSD lives with his daughter and struggles with a harsh life. One day, something unexpected happens. It can be either more trouble or a blessing in disguise.
Qualifying wins: Grand Jury Prize at Animayo (Spain); Best Animation at LA Shorts Fest; Best Short Film (International Animation) at Lebu International Film Festival (Chile); Best Animated Short at Tribeca Film Festival. Best Animated Short at Sparks Festival
Read more.
Joko
Poland, Czech Republic, Germany
Directed by: Izabela Plucińska
Produced by: Piotr Szczepanowicz, Grzegorz Wacławek, Alena Vandasová, Martin Vandas; Animoon, Clay Traces, MAUR Film
Synopsis: Joko is a young man, supporting his entire family from his tanker job. On the second anniversary of his employment, Joko and his fellow workers are surprised by a meeting with unspecified foreign delegates who order … him to carry himself on his back. Joko is a grotesque vision of eternal exploitation and domination of man over man, full of absurd humor and macabre.
Qualifying wins: Grand Jury Prize (The Golden Pegasus) at Animator International Animated Film Festival (Poland).
Kawauso
Japan
Directed by: Akihito Izuhara
Produced by: Studio Mangosteen
Synopsis: ”Kawauso” means Japanese river otter. One day, a girl meets a Japanese river otter. They try to communicate, but it doesn’t go very well. This is because the Japanese river otter is already extinct, and it is not possible to actually interact with the girl. They existed in separate spaces.
Qualifying win: Golden Dragon for Best Short Film at Krakow Film Festival (Poland).
A Kind of Testament
France
Directed by: Stephen Vuillemin
Produced by: Ugo Bienvenu, Félix de Givry, Joséphine Mancini; Remembers, Aycevee London
Synopsis: A young woman comes across animations on the internet that have clearly been created from her private selfies. A stranger with the same name confesses to identity theft. But death is quicker than the answer to the question: “Why?”
Qualifying wins: Best Animated Short at St. Louis International Film Festival.
Lil’ Ruby
U.S.
Directed by: Bartek Kik
Produced by: Elise Canup, Tasha Dean, Aurelien Simon, Hanna Drewek; The Martin Agency, Platige Image Animation
Synopsis: Based on Little Red Riding Hood, Lil’ Ruby reimagines the classic tale with a modern twist. The animated short follows a gifted young Black girl from Brooklyn, as she leaves her home and takes the train to her grandmother Nanda’s house in Connecticut.
Qualifying win: Best Animated Short Film – First Place (Professional Jury Awards Competition) at the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival.
The Lovers
Sweden
Directed by: Carolina Sandvik
Produced by: Kerstin Übelacker; We Have a Plan
Synopsis: A man and a woman are having a candlelit dinner at a restaurant. All of a sudden the man’s appearance begins to change. The Lovers is a stop-motion relationship horror and unromantic comedy about a couple forced to deal with escalating bodily transformations.
Qualifying win: Best Nordic Short Film at Nordisk Panorama Film Festival.
LUKi and the Lights
U.S.
Directed by: Toby Cochran
Produced by: Adrian Ochoa
Synopsis: A joyful robot living his best life starts to notice signs that parts of his body are malfunctioning. After a visit to the doctor, LUKi is diagnosed with ALS/MND, but he confronts the illness on his own terms with the support of his friends.
Qualifying wins: Best Animated Short at Burbank International Film Festival, N.Y.Animation Film Awards
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5spd89QHQY
Madeleine
Canada
Directed & produced by: Raquel Sancinetti
Synopsis: Two friends, decades apart, take a whimsical trip to the sea in this hybrid animated documentary that blurs the lines between the real and imagined.
Qualifying wins: Grand Jury Award for Best Documentary Short at Edmonton International Film Festival (Canada); Grand Jury Prize (Short Animation) at Seattle International Film Festival; International Competition Grand Prix at Uppsala International Short Film Festival (Sweden).
Magic Candies
Japan
Directed by: Daisuke Nishio
Produced by: Takashi Washio
Synopsis: The other kids never ask Dong-Dong to play, but he’s fine just playing marbles on his own. Until one day, he buys a bag of colorful candies and begins to discover new voices and perspectives.
Qualifying win: Jury Award (Animated Short) at New York International Children’s Film Festival.
The Mayfly
U.S.
Directed by: Sue Perrotto
Produced by: Melissa and Bradford Coolidge
Synopsis: Inspired by a real event witnessed by the film’s creator and writer, actress Betty Lynn Buckley, the narrative explores the fleeting life of Megalyn, a mayfly who dares to dream beyond all Mayfly norms and dedicate her life to music.
Qualified by exhibition
Watch trailer.
The Meatseller
Italy
Directed by: Margherita Giusti
Produced by: Luca Guadagnino; Frenesy Film Company
Synopsis: The Meatseller is the true story of Selinna Ajamikoko, a young Nigerian woman who dreams of becoming a meatseller like her mom. To achieve her dream, she begins a dangerous voyage to Italy.
Qualifying win: David di Donatello Award (Italy) for Best Short Film.
Mello’s Funk
MONSTR
Canada
Directed by: Tank Standing Buffalo
Produced by: Amanda Miller, Xstine Cook, Leah Solis; Warner Bros. Discovery, Calgary Animated Objects Society
Synopsis: The story of a young artist who confronts his inner demons while apprenticing with a northwest totem carver after the death of his beloved.
Qualifying win: Grand Jury Award for Best Animated Short at Edmonton International Film Festival (Canada).
My Mother’s Story
South Korea
Directed by: Kim So-young, Jang Min-hee
Produced by: Gim Boseong, Kwak Youngjin, Kwak Eunjung
Synopsis: Notsae shares childhood stories with her daughter Eunsung. She reminisces about her first love who was drafted into the military, the day electricity first arrived in the village and her dearly missed mother. As she unravels her memories, Notsae’s longing for the irreplaceable hometown deepens.
Qualifying win: Grand Prix (Korean Competition) at Busan International Short Film Festival (South Korea).
Nodnarb Namztruk
U.S.
Directed & produced by: Ani Manukyan
Synopsis: Nodnarb Namztruk is a nonlinear journey of self-discovery and sexuality portrayed through the dreams of a young woman. As she navigates a surreal landscape of fantasies and memories, the film seeks to challenge norms and empower female characters in media.
Qualifying win: Best Animated Short Film at Cinequest Film Festival.
On the 8th Day (Au 8ème jour)
France
Directed by: Agathe Sénéchal, Alicia Massez, Élise Debruyne, Flavie Carin, Théo Duhautois
Produced by: Carlos De Carvalho; Piktura, l’École de l’Image
Synopsis: It took seven days to create the world; it only took one to disrupt its balance.
Qualifying win: Bruce Corwin Award (Best Animation Short Film) at Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
Oren’s Way
U.S.
Directed by: Keika Lee
Produced by: Greyscale Animation
Synopsis: A clever princess must capture a magical Golden Fox in order to save her kingdom from eternal sadness but on her journey, she conquers obstacles — the last of which reveals a hidden truth about herself.
Qualified by exhibition
Watch full short.
Pacific Vein
Germany
Directed by: Ulu Braun
Produced by: Studio Ulu Braun
Synopsis: In this painterly panorama of the American West, Julian Assange stands between fake imperial Roman buildings as a soda-maker and ponders the digitalization of our world. Around him, hippies, artists and homeless people search for meaning while their messages are captured by surveillance cameras. Media and fictional scenes merge hypnotically with documentary footage.
Qualifying win: Jury Prize (Animation) at Vis Vienna Shorts Festival.
Percebes
Portugal, France
Directed by: Alexandra Ramires, Laura Gonçalves
Produced by: David Doutel, Nidia Santiago, Vasco Sá, Edwina Liard; BAP Animation Studios, IKKI Films
Synopsis: With the sea and the urban Algarve as a background, we follow a complete cycle of the life of a special shellfish called Percebes (goose barnacle). From their formation to the dish, in this journey we cross different contexts that allow us to better understand this region and those who live there.
Qualifying win: Cristal for Short Film at Annecy International Animation Film Festival (France).
Read more.
Pisces
Israel
Directed by: Lee Dror
Produced by: Amit Gicelter, The Hive
Synopsis: After Rona cuts off the relationship with her family in Israel, and relocates to Japan, she wakes up to a surprising phone call informing her of her sister’s death shakes her world and reveals the most painful wounds in her life.
Qualified by exhibition
The Queen’s Flowers
Directed by: Ciara Leina’ala Lacy
Produced by: Concepcion Saucedo-Trejo, Ciara Leinaʻala Lacy
Synopsis: A magical take on a true story about Emma, a Native Hawaiian girl who struggles against great odds to make a special gift for the last monarch of Hawai’i, Queen Lili’uokalani.
Qualifying win: Grand Prize, New York International Children’s Film Festival
Watch trailer.
Remember Us
Colombia, Guatemala, U.S.
Directed by: Pablo Leon
Produced by: Jonathan Rivas, Bryan Dimas, Rebecca Nelson, Jonathan Coria, Carlos López Estrada, Winsor Yuan; Kojtanchanej Productions, 100 Volcanoes, Antigravity Academy, Streets Ahead Productions, Ocelotl Productions, Dinamita Animación
Synopsis: A journalist documents the experiences of three different people who lived through the tragic 12-year-long Salvadoran Civil War in the 1980s, exploring themes of childhood loss, violence against women and the Indigenous population.
Qualifying win: Best Animated Short Film in Spanish at Animayo (Spain).
Self
U.S.
Directed by: Searit Huluf
Produced by: Eric Rosales, Pixar SparkShorts
Synopsis: A wooden doll who desperately wants to fit in makes an ill-fated wish upon a star, sparking a journey of self-discovery. Her desire to blend in with her peers leads her down a harmful path, challenging her perspective of both who she is and where she belongs.
Qualified by exhibition
Shoes and Hooves (Cipők és paták)
Hungary
Directed by: Viktória Traub
Produced by: Polett Dus; PI Production
Synopsis: Paula the centaur-girl finds love, but now she must confront herself, her desires, the dilemmas of conformity and self-acceptance.
Qualifying win: Best Short Animation at Guanajuato International Film Festival (Mexico).
Such Miracles Do Happen (Takie cuda sie zdarzaja)
Poland
Directed by: Barbara Rupik
Produced by: Agata Golańska; Polish National Film School in Łodz
Synopsis: One day, all the statues in the area come to life. They do not even stop for a moment. People watch the phenomenon with growing anxiety. Only a little girl with a boneless body marvels at the procession of the unusual figures with pure fascination.
Qualifying win: Golden Dove (International Competition Short Animated Film) at Dok Leipzig (Germany).
Summer 96 (Été 96)
France
Directed by: Mathilde Bédouet
Produced by: Ninon Chapuis, Thibault de Gantès, Lucas Le Postec, Simon Ingelaere; L’Heure d’été, Tita B Productions
Synopsis: The eternal August 15 picnic on Callot Island. But this year Paul, his family and their friends find themselves trapped by the tide. Paul, upset, stuck between the world of adults and that of children, becomes aware of his individuality.
Qualifying win: César Award (France) for Best Animated Short Film.
Watch full short.
The Sun Is Bad
U.S.
Directed by: Rachel Mow
Produced by: Ivan Chui; Savannah College of Art and Design
Synopsis: Set in Hong Kong during the late ’80s, a temperamental girl tries to destroy the sun and stop it from melting her city using toys and whatever she has.
Qualifying win: Best Animated Short Film at Atlanta Film Festival.
Symbiotic
U.S.
Directed by: Arianna Ahrabinejad
Produced by: Avery Wilt; Savannah College of Art and Design
Synopsis: A teenage girl is plagued by dreams of a praying mantis couple, all while tackling her own personal demons at home.
Qualifying win: Grand Jury Award for Best Animated Short at Florida Film Festival.
Watch trailer.
There Are People in the Forest
Poland
Directed by: Szymon Ruczynski
Produced by: Agata Golańska; Polish National Film School in Łodz
Synopsis: A lonely man limps down the road. A truck drives up to him. Several armed men jump out of it. They capture the limping man and transport him to the forest. The only witnesses of the scene are people from a nearby village. Since 2021, situations like these are commonplace on the Polish-Belarussian border of the EU, which is the scene of an ongoing refugee crisis.
Qualifying win: Best International Short Film at Norwegian Short Film Festival (Norway).
To Bird or Not to Bird
Spain
Directed by: Martín Romero
Produced by: Chelo Loureiro, Iván Miñambres; UniKo, Abano Produciòns
Synopsis: A critical and kaleidoscopic gaze at the current world, told through the tragicomic and grotesque experiences of several birds.
Qualifying win: Goya Award (Spain) for Best Animated Short Film.
To Break a Circle
U.K.
Directed by: Kalia Firester
Produced by: Tim Bryans, Andrea McQuade, Lee McQuade; ALT Animation
Synopsis: Time has worn down the land and opportunity in a small town, leaving only an ancient stone circle behind, until a young man accepts an ill-fated job offer to construct a motorway straight through it.
Qualifying win: James Horgan Award for the Best Animation Short at Galway Film Fleadh (Ireland).
Tomorrow
Iran
Directed by: Aryasb Feiz
Produced by: Sadia Ashraf, Mahnaz Farrokhi, Elahe Khalili; BadStache Animation Studio
Synopsis: Set in Shiraz, Iran, this story revolves around a determined 10-year-old street urchin navigating the challenges of his daily life. As he faces numerous obstacles, he forms a remarkable connection with a stray dog, resulting in a profound transformation in both of their lives.
Qualifying win: Best Animated Short Film at Foyle Film Festival (Northern Ireland).
Two Young Men (Duwarra Wujara)
Australia
Directed by: Brent D. McKee, John Bradley
Produced by: John Bradley, Fred Leone, Brent D. McKee; Studio Xisco
Synopsis: Duwarra Wujara tells the story of two young cousins, recently initiated as young men into the clans of their people. Frustrated and impatient, these two cousins abandon their duties in search of adventure … and mischief.
Qualifying win: Yoram Gross Award for Best International Animation at Flickerfest International Short Film Festival (Australia).
The Voice of the Sirens (La Voix des Sirènes)
France, Italy
Directed by: Gianluigi Toccafondo
Produced by: Emmanuel-Alain Raynal, Pierre Baussaron, Vittorio Moroni; Miyu Productions, 50N
Synopsis: At the heart of the seabed, between rocks and corals, primitive algae undulate, lulled by the muffled and roaring sound of the currents. Up there, on the surface of the water, something extraordinary has just appeared: a voice.
Qualifying wins: Best Animated Short at Fest Anča International Animation Festival (Slovakia); Grand Prize for Short Animation at Ottawa International Animation Festival (Canada).
Voiceless (Sans Voix)
Switzerland
Directed by: Samuel Patthey
Produced by: Mark Olexa; DOK MOBILE, RTS Radio Télévision Suisse
Synopsis: Dan is a young man who spends a lot of time listening to music in his flat. But when he steps outside, he feels disconnected from the world around him and only finds solace in nightclubs. One day, he catches the eye of a baby which will change his perception of the world around him.
Qualifying win: Golden Leopard (Best Short Film, National Competition) at Locarno International Film Festival (Switzerland).
The Waiting (Das Warten)
Germany
Directed by: Volker Schlecht
Produced by: Alexander Lahl, Max Mönch, Volker Schlecht; mobyDOK
Synopsis: For several years, Karen has been living in a tiny little shack in Costa Rica to observe frogs. When she briefly leaves the rainforest, the frogs are gone upon her return. All of them. Karen sets out to find them — and unveils a horrible truth.
Qualifying wins: Best Documentary Short Film at Hamptons International Film Festival; Grand Jury Prize (Short Documentary) at Seattle International Film Festival.
Wander to Wonder
The Netherlands, Belgium, France, U.K.
Directed by: Nina Gantz
Produced by: Stienette Bosklopper, Maarten Swart, Nina Gantz, Annemie Degryse, Ben Tesseur, Steven De Beul, Bart Yates, James Stevenson Bretton, Lisette Kelder; Circe Films, Kaap Holland Film, Beast Animation, Les Productions de Milou, Blink Industries Pictanovo
Synopsis: Mary, Billybud and Fumbleton are three tiny humans who star in a kids’ TV series called Wander to Wonder. After the creator dies, they are left alone in the studio. Struggling to find enough to eat, they continue to make increasingly strange episodes for their fans.
Qualifying wins: Grand Prix Anima for Best International Short Film at Anima – The Brussels Animation Film Festival (Belgium); Best International Animation Short Film at Chilemonos International Animation Festival (Chile); Best Short Animation at Hollyshorts Film Festival; Best Animated Short at Nashville Film Festival; Best Animated Short at South by Southwest; International Competition Grand Prix at Tampere Film Festival (Finland).
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Wereawolf
Czech Republic
Directed by: Niko Mlynarčík
Produced by: Lukáš Gregor; Tomas Bata University in Zlín
Synopsis: An animated short about sparkledogs, werewolves and other things that are just drawings.
Qualifying win: Best Slovak Animated Short at Fest Anča International Animation Festival (Slovakia).
Where Rabbits Come From
Canada
Directed by: Colin Ludvic Racicot
Produced by: Bertrand Paquette, Simon Allard, Colin L. Racicot; Studio Niloc
Synopsis: In a cold dystopian world, a widowed father defies the authorities trying to instill a sense of wonder into his daughter’s life.
Qualifying win: Canadian Screen Award for Best Animated Short.
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Wolf’s Box (Kurdun Kutusu)
Turkey
Directed by: Uğur Savaş
Produced by: Emir Külal Haznevi, Berat İlk, Doğuş Minsin
Synopsis: A man who turns into a wolf for the sake of his ideals invites a group of hooded dwarfs born from the clouds to his home for a job offer.
Qualifying win: Best National Short Animation at Izmir International Short Film Festival (Turkey).
Worry World
Ireland
Directed by: Jessica Patterson
Produced by: Shauna Cullen; JAM Media
Synopsis: In a regimented world of black-and-white, where all thought is on display, a rebellious young factory worker who thinks in color makes an unexpected connection.
Qualifying wins: Best Irish Professional Short at Animation Dingle (Ireland).
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Xanh
Germany
Directed by: Thi Dang An Tran
Produced by: Sylvia Jorde
Synopsis: Duy Em asks her father why he chose not to defend himself against racist remarks. His response transports both of them into his past life among the boat people of Vietnam.
Qualifying win: German Short Film Award for Animated Film
Zoo
Jordan, Germany
Directed by: Tariq Rimawi
Produced by: Moritz Mayerhofer, Aminah Abdat
Synopsis: A young boy travels from a war-torn city in order to find a place to play soccer. Along the way, he encounters a tiger cub who joins him on his quest, but the remnants of war harbor many dangers.
Qualified by exhibition
Animated Shorts Dossier compiled by Jason Sanchez for the December ’24 issue of Animation Magazine.
