SHORTS BLOCK 1 | ANIMATION

RenaiDance

Animated Short | USA

Directed by Zhike Yang, Wenjie Wu and Han Chen Chang

Produced by Han Chen Chang, Ada Vaughan, Lucas A Ferrara, Jorden Samchok and Brian Chapman

RenaiDance is a 3D narrative emotional animation. The theme invigorates cultural inheritance and the integration of dreams, courage, and culture as transformation. By artistically interpreting a motif of inheritance and family support, integrating different cultures“inheritance” through the inspiring story, this film braces strong family love and elder culture in a never-ending chain.

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Felt Love

Animated Short | USA 

Directed by Arlene Bongco and Angeline Vu

A young boy learns to understand the depth of his mother's love despite the distance her dedication may create.

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Sea ya

Wild Card | USA

Directed by Yani Sun

Sea ya is a 2D and 3D animated film about plastic pollution, especially in the ocean. The story traces the journey of so-called single-use plastic products from their first use to their infiltration of human bodies.

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Pipi Thay Too

Wild Card | Australia

Directed by Laura Alica in collaboration with Drawn Together Studios

'Pipi Thay Too' (The grandmother Tree') is an animated film celebrating resilience, the power of identity, mystical encounters with ancestors, and the Karen and Karenni refugee experience.

Made out of hundreds of paintings by young refugee women, the short film was created when the Drawn Together Studio, ages 12-22, joined up with local artist, director and mentor Laura Alice - and started to explore and collaborate to create cutting-edge storytelling art, media and animation. The talented young artists are from a Karenni and Karen background, having come to Australia after their family fled the brutal genocidal regime in their homeland.

《farewell》

Wild Card | China

This is a father-son relationship about a fireman, which shows the difficulty and difficulty of fireman's father-son in facing the choice between family and country. From the contradiction and misunderstanding to the relieved understanding after death, the son finally says his last farewell to his father. To each and every victim and the great family behind them -- they are always with us, and may we never say goodbye.

The Butterfly Cage

Animated Short | France

Written and directed by Hélèna Serra and Maxime Sabisik

Produced by Hélèna Serra, Maxime Sabisik, Pictanovo and Canasucre Productions

A little boy is dead. His parents were trying to grieve until they found out about a cloning laboratory that could give them their son back.

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The Masque of the Red Death

Animated Short | Canada

Written, directed and produced by Deb Ethier

Closely adapted from Edgar Allan Poe's short story, this animated tale of a time of pestilence paints a picture of what might have been Poe's own feelings of fatalistic helplessness in the face of the White Plague, tuberculosis, which had claimed several members of his family. Artistically told in a surreal expressionistic style, this film also draws on Poe's own use of colourful and detailed description in the story.

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First Born

Animated Short | USA

Written by Aerik Bertulfo and Justin Bruce Lee

Directed by Justin Bruce Lee

Produced by David Diba, Aerik Bertulfo and Justin Bruce Lee

Determined to gain favour in his family's eyes and match his sister's status, a boy must prove his worth and show his potential in an upcoming martial arts competition.

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Winter

Animated Short | China

Written and directed by Guodong Yu (余國東)

Produced by Bradley Hawkins and Guodong Yu (余國東)

In bitterly cold northeast China, generations of locals survive in the wilderness by hunting for their food. A young boy born into this culture develops a strong connection with the forest and the wildlife living there, while the relationship between the boy and his father grows increasingly tense, like the thick winter snow of winter that resists melting with the coming change of seasons.

Charlie & Yip

Teaser | UK

Written by Tim Lebbon 

Directed by Alexander Williams

Produced by Nathan Erasmus

Charlie brings his pet to school for Show and Tell - with unfortunate results

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The Odyssey of Cleve Eaton

Animated Short | USA

Written, directed and produced by Kevin Webb

A surreal animated journey with musician extraordinaire Cleve Eaton, proving that music can be a salvation for both musician and audience.

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I Call It Home

Experimental Short | Iran

Written and directed by Leila Ahang

This experimental abstract animation, “I Call It Home”, demonstrates two distinct worlds for a migrant who is born and lives far from her real home. 

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The Mandrake

Wild Card | USA

Directed by Quincy William Baltes

Produced by Kate Jansen

Herman, a farmer content to live out his life alone out in the woods, tends his garden day in and day out. Except for the regulars that come to his market to buy his giant carrots and radishes, he rarely gets visitors. When a witch approaches his cottage one day, asking for a special ingredient and supplying a spell, he is understandably shaken. He wakes up the next morning to the cries of a screaming baby, unaware that his life has taken an incredible turn.

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