Let’s Get Animated

Animation IS magic. Giving inanimate materials the illusion of having life can be extraordinary. Puppets, clay cats and baking flour are just a few to come to life this year!

Films and film order are subject to change without notice.

CATS ARE LIQUID- (Kočky jsou tekuté) What melts in your lap, pours into a glass, and slides through your fingers into a pool on the floor? This filmmaker takes full advantage of their claymation kitty’s shapeshifting abilities, and amps up the fun with a squishy squashy soundtrack. Meow! (2023/ 1 min/ Czech Republic/ dir. Natálie Durchánková/ non-verbal)

CROSSWALK- Big drama in the tiny moments before the crosswalk sign turns green. A clever take on different perceptions of time. (2023/ 2 min/ Russian Federation/ dir. Daria Volchok/ non-verbal)

DEDE IS DEAD- Dede the dog and her boy are best friends. So when Dede dies unexpectedly, her boy’s sadness is unbearable. Her spirit helps him honor his grief, find beauty, and foster new loves. Dedicated to dogs who have passed away and the grieving humans they leave behind. ( 2023/ 8.5 min/ Czech Republic/ dir. Philippe Kastner/ non-verbal)

FEATHERS AND WHISPERS- ( Les Bruits) Once upon a time, there was a sound, a nursery rhyme that danced all around…
( 2023/ 6.5 min/ France/ dir. Hélène Ducrocq/ French)

FLOUR & MUSH- (人生總有堆肥) A chance encounter between a living sack of flour and a magical mushroom-sprouting tree trunk grows into a love that endures hardship, injury and even death. (2022/ 12 min/ China/ dir. Emily Wong/ non-verbal)

THE HEDGEHOG- Can a hedgehog swim? A little boy can’t rest until he finds the answer. He throws one into the deep end and discovers that hedgehogs have their own opinions on swimming. This one isn’t afraid to retaliate! (2023/ 1.5 min/ Czech Republic/ dir. Daniela Hýbnerová/ non-verbal)

LIGHTS- (Světla) In a town where young flames are initiated into life as lightbulbs, one flame rebels. (2023/ 8.5 min/ Czech Republic/ dir. Jitka Nemikinsová/ non-verbal)

OUR PHOTO MOMENTO- Old photos come to life in this stop-motion rom-com! An elderly gentleman tries desperately to move from his own photo into his wife’s across the wall. They’ll have to think outside the box (literally!) to make it happen. (2022/ 6.5 min/ Iran/ dir. Alireza Mirzaee/ non-verbal)

PINK NOISE- (Bruit Rose) A kaleidoscope of flora and fauna bursts off the screen in this beautiful poetic ode to the creation of life. (2022/ 2 min/ France/ dir. Martin Wiklund, Athrur Lemaitre, Ulysse Lefort/ non-verbal)

SHACKLE- Three archetypal woodland spirits explore the conflicting human drives of creativity, possessiveness and our desire for status. (2022/ 10 min/ UK/dir. Ainslie Henderson/ English)

SOCKS FOR THE STAR-A humble star weaver’s newest constellation comes to life to share a dance – until she’s snapped up by a sky serpent! Can the weaver rescue her before it’s too late? Jaw-dropping stop motion in a beautiful ballet-meets-folkdance piece. (2023/ 9.5 min/ Russian Federation/dir. Olga Titova/ non-verbal)

SUNFLOWER- (Tournesol) When a sunflower like no other chooses to take a new look at his environment, he will discover a totally different universe…(2023/ 4.5 min/ France/ dir. Natalia Chernysheva/ non-verbal)

TWO ONE TWO- (Deux Un Deux) Two One Two, by award-winning filmmaker Shira Avni, combines shimmering clay on glass animation with personal archives in this deeply intimate, experimental animated documentary love letter to motherhood, parenting on the spectrum, and two headed monsters everywhere. (2023/ 4 min/ Canada/ dir. Shira Avni/ English)

THE WORLD- (Le Monde) Fly with birds, bounce on flowers and marvel at new insect friends in this larger-than-life ode to our natural world. (2023/ 3 min/ France/ dir. Baptiste Ratajski/ French)