- In The End
05:17Latvia 2023
Directed by: Linda Stūre
Screenplay: Linda Stūre
Animation: Linda Stūre, Liāna Mihailova, Vidaga Grīnberga, Līva Piterāne, Kristīne Zvirbule
Technique: Pencil drawing animation, 2D
Music: Ģirts Bišs
Production/School: Sabīne Andersone
Dialogue language: No Dialogue
Subtitles language: English
In the deep countryside of Latvia, relatives and neighbors, near and distant, come together to celebrate the last important ritual of human life. A series of events and details reveal a picture where two different eras overlap.
- Goodbye Kepler
07:10Spain 2024
Directed by: Nerea Ayala, Patricia Fañanás, David Modroño, Iraia Yarto
Screenplay: David Modroño
Animation: Nerea Ayala, Patricia Fañanás, David Modroño, Iraia Yarto
Technique: 3D
Music: Irune Ayala
Production/School: DigiPen Institute of Technology Europe-Bilbao
Dialogue language: Basque, English, Spanish
Subtitles language: Basque, English, Spanish
After 9 years in deep space, the Kepler space telescope is running out of fuel and about to turn off. Haley, a 12-year-old kid saddened by the news, goes to the field to bid farewell to Kepler.
- like drops on a bed of embers
09:10Belgium 2023
Directed by: Juliette Pons
Screenplay: Sandrine Schiller Hansen, Juliette Pons
Production/School: Elisa Deschepper
Dialogue language: English
'like drops on a bed of embers' is a animated dance film about a young person's desire for true love. Through the evolution of animated mediums, like cyanotype, oil paint on glass or ceramics; The dancing protagonist experiences different stages of her illusory quest after romantic love: from the toxic admiration or the constant switch of partners, a nd complete exhaustion; to finally surrender and embrace her own changes of heart.
- The Tornado Outside
08:15United Kingdom 2023
Directed by: Maria Tomazou
Screenplay: Marius Scholtz
Animation: Stop Motion
Music: Ariella Koorlander Ereira
Production/School: Solomon Golding
Dialogue language: No Dialogue
Anna lives in a perfect house, but living on the edge of a tornado can be difficult. When she ventures outside, she is forced to face the chaos that she usually hides away from.
- Coleslaw Crisis
02:30United States of America 2023
Directed by: Cam Whipple
Animation: Korben Bauer, Tio Brown, Isa Caraballo, Brinny Flores, Patrick Gilreath, Janise Ison, Rafael Moraes, Jo Campa, Olivia K Robinson
Technique: Hand-Drawn
Production/School: Kennesaw State University
Dialogue language: English
When a celestial star demands coleslaw, only one man is brave enough to serve this disgusting side dish.
- Eclipse
/ خسوف 05:23Iran 2023
Directed by: Elahe Falahian Mehrjerdi
Screenplay: Elahe Falahian Mehrjerdi
Animation: Elahe Falahian Mehrjerdi
Technique: a combination of digital 2d painting and sand on glass stop motion
Music: Mehran Badakhshan/Mohammad Hadi Majidi
Production/School: Elahe Falahian Mehrjerdi
Dialogue language: No dialogue
Subtitles language: No subtitles
A woman is sad and regretful for not wanting her child and aborting his/her. To compensate for cutting the umbilical cord of the small fetus, the woman cuts the rope that connects her to the mountain or life. She throws herself off the mountain, but the fetus protects her with his/her big hands.
- Antarai
01:42Germany 2023
Directed by: Angelina Urbanczyk, Anna Makarova
Screenplay: Angelina Urbanczyk
Animation: Anna Makarova
Music: Lena Radivoj, Max van Dusen, Ole Wiedekamm
Production/School: Cristina Marx
Dialogue language: German
Subtitles language: English
The little creature in the cocoon knows almost nothing about the world yet, but already dreams of it, especially of the great manta ray that hovers above everything. A first melody escapes from it in its dream, even before rain and light wake it up. The lightness of the still untouched voice invites to focus on the positive in one's own memory, to pause thereby. To increase faith in the present is the message of this film.
- Flower Lantern in the Woods
06:10United States of America 2023
Directed by: Yiling Zeng
Technique: Stop-motion
Music: Meng-Hang Shih
Production/School: California Institute of the Arts
Dialogue language: English
A timid rabbit roams in the woods looking for a proper shelter. Waked up by a gleam of light one night, she encounters a mysterious shadow. As the unforeseen danger approaches, a mouse with a flower lantern comes into her sight.
- Seaglass
03:32United Kingdom 2023
Directed by: Cheryl Blake
Animation: Cheryl Blake
Technique: Stop Motion
Music: Dan Jones
Production/School: University of Salford
Dialogue language: English
Subtitles language: English
Struggling in the fog of grief, Fern embarks on a journey gradually rediscovering the light that can be found amongst the darkness following bereavement.
- Ozymandias
04:38United States of America 2023
Directed by: Beau Shepherd
Screenplay: Beau Shepherd
Animation: Beau Shepherd
Technique: Digital 2D Animation
Music: Public Domain
Production/School: University of South Alabama
Ozymandias is a 2D animated short-film that explores the nature of discontent, burn-out, and self-identity as a creative in a professional field. Our titular main character, Ozymandias, goes on a harrowing chase through various colorful set pieces as he quite literally chases his dream.
- The Struggle for Inner Peace
04:53United States of America 2023
Directed by: Jacob Mitchell Dew
Screenplay: Jacob Mitchell Dew
Animation: Jacob Mitchell Dew
Technique: Digital 2D Animation
Music: Public Domain
Production/School: University of South Alabama
The Struggle for Inner Peace is a story about a small dragon boy, named Rhogar. The piece follows Rhogar on a journey of self-discovery throughout different stages of his life. At a young age we see Rhogar is ruthlessly bullied by the people in his town, so he seeks a way to defend himself. This leads him to the Master, a wizened instructor in martial arts who teaches him how to fight and protect himself. During his training, Rhogar learns to find his own inner peace and move beyond the pain of his past.
- Sundrop
05:16United States of America 2023
Directed by: Anna Sirk-Morato
Screenplay: Anna Sirk-Morato
Animation: Anna Sirk-Morato
Technique: Digital 2D Animation
Music: "Run Away" and "Hello and Goodbye" - Anna Sirk-Morato, "Flight of the Inner Bird" - Yehezkel Raz
Production/School: University of South Alabama
Dialogue language: English
The Sundrop is a short 5-minute 2D animated film that tells the story of a robot named Sam. Who, after the sun disappears one day and plunges the world into darkness, finds one last bit of light. She attempts to help using it until others try to steal it from her.
- Kurumba
03:10India 2023
Directed by: Elias George Ponodathu
Screenplay: Elias George Ponodathu
Dialogue language: Malayalam
"Story of Kurumba" chronicles the tragic fate of Kurumba, a Pulaya woman, encapsulating heart-wrenching discrimination in Kerala centuries ago. In a society sharply divided by caste, Kurumba becomes a tragic victim of Karinirth, an abominable ritual wherein she's brutally sacrificed, and buried alive under the foundations of a bridge. This ritual was believed to strengthen the bridge's foundation, reflecting society's chilling indifference to the lower castes. Amidst this backdrop of cruelty, the story emphasizes the unwavering loyalty and love of Kayel, Kurumba's pet dog. This tale, passed down to me by my great-grandmother, serves as a potent reminder of history's darker moments, urging audiences to reflect on inhumane cultural practices and inspiring hope for a more egalitarian and empathetic society. The film's grayscale animation, combined with evocative Kerala-themed music, creates an ambiance that amplifies the profound emotions conveyed throughout the story.
- The Avenging Veggies
/ Les Veggies Vengeurs 03:59France 2023
Directed by: Louis Granados
Screenplay: Granados Louis - Antoine Da Cruz - Valentin Pascal-Suisse
Animation: Valentin Pascal-Suisse - Arsene Bablon
Music: Bastien Nectoux - Theophile Yvert
Production/School: Antoine Da Cruz
Dialogue language: French
Subtitles language: English
Isolated from the rest of the world, a farmer sleeps peacefully. But an event is about to change everything...
- Dead End
09:15Germany 2024
Directed by: Fabienne Priess, Levin Tamoj
Screenplay: Fabienne Priess, Levin Tamoj
Production/School: Fabienne Priess
Dialogue language: English
When a strange being appears, Fred's neighborhood is frightened. Only Fred dares to approach the intruder, opening up a world that had yet been closed to him.
ATHENS ANIMFEST
