The Los Angeles Festival of Movies (LAFM | lafestivalofmovies.org), co-founded by Micah Gottlieb and Sarah Winshall, will return to venues on the city’s eastside for its second edition, from April 3-6. The announced lineup will present over 20 films including one world premiere, two restorations, two artist talks, a curated short film program, and a its most recent addition, the Animation Today program, showcasing a selection of animated short films from around the world.
The Animation Today screenings, presented by Cartuna, will take place Sunday, April 5 at 2:45 p.m. at 2220 Arts + Archives as part of LAFM. The day’s program will be introduced by award-winning animator, writer, director and producer Sean Buckelew (Common Side Effects, Scavengers Reign).
Animation Today is described by the festival as:
A survey of the very best in international, independent animation. Featuring some of the most exceptional directors working today, these films represent distinct, daring artistic visions that both embody and transcend the animation medium. Some are narrative, some are experimental, some are sad, some are funny — after all, animation is not a genre.
The selected films are:
Ordinary Life | Yoriko Mizushiri; France, Japan; 2025; 10m
**Won Silver Bear at Berlinale for Best Short Film
U.S. Premiere
Ordinary life repeats itself every day while the succession of moments that we repeat over and over again is never the same.
Hurikán | Jan Saska; France, Czechia; 2024; 13m
**Won audience award at Annecy 2024, screened at Sundance 2025
Los Angeles Premiere
Hurikán rushes out to save his favorite beer stand from closure by fetching a new keg to impress the bartender he has a crush on. In a wild Prague district, he faces robbers, cops, and his own thirst.
Margarethe ’89 | Lucas Malbrun; Germany, France; 2023; 18m
**Premiered at Cannes 2023
Los Angeles Premiere
Margarethe, a young punk opposed to the East German regime, is detained in a psychiatric hospital. She dreams of breaking out to join the man she loves — a punk musician named Heinrich. Though the regime’s days may well be numbered, the Stasi informants are more present than ever.
Mont Noir | Jean-Baptiste Peltier & Erika Haglund; France, Portugal; 2024; 15m
**Premiered at Annecy 2024
U.S. Premiere
In Mont Noir, Marguerite has been experiencing three severe losses: her mother, her dog, then her nanny. She grew up alone, animals and nature as her main companions. She has been setting herself toward becoming a writer.
Retirement Plan | John Kelly, Ireland, 2024, 7m
**Won audience award at SXSW for Best Animated Short
West Coast Premiere
Retirement Plan tells the story of Ray (Domhnall Gleeson), who fantasizes about everything he’d love to do in retirement, once he finally has the “time.”
Sans Voix | Samuel Patthey, Switzerland, 2024, 15m
**Premiered at Locarno
West Coast Premiere
Disconnected from reality, Dan retreats into his apartment consumed by electronic music. Nightclubs provide a solace through techno soundscapes and mind-altering substances. A baby’s curious stare unexpectedly redefines his perception.
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