Student 1

Chocolate and Flowers 01:58

United States of America 2023
Directed by: Damaris Unat Almanza
Production/School: Dahra Perez/DigiPen Institute of Technology



Sol, an enthusiastic florist who runs her own vendor stall in a bustling plaza, lets her insecurities get the best of her when a new business sets up.

HeadMister 04:05

Russia 2023
Directed by: Alina Trubacheva
Screenplay: Darya Bukhteeva
Animation: Kira Fedyaeva, Kristina Vyazovtseva, Alena Dudko, Yana Anikina, Alexandra Olshevskaya, Sofia Timoshenko, Nadezhda Nagornaya, Sofia Ikonnikova, Irina Stepanets, Alina Trubacheva
Technique: Hand-drawn 2D animation, computer cutout
Music: Andrey Skobelsky
Production/School: Institute of Film and Television (GITR)
Dialogue language: Russian
Subtitles language: English



Girl Farah tells her classmates a creepy story about an eccentric director.


Filomena 02:38
Italy 2024
Directed by: Joseph Clayson Muela
Screenplay: Joseph Clayson Muela
Animation: Joseph Clayson Muela
Technique: Digital 2D and watercolors by Michela Tirone
Music: Joseph Clayson Muela / Parliament - Come in out of the rain
Production/School: Joe Groe productions / Albertina Academy of fine arts
Dialogue language: Italian
Subtitles language: English

A little girl with a hunger for knowledge wants to free herself from the nightmare of patriarchy.


Lift Off 04:52

United States of America 2023
Directed by: Rui (Grey) Han
Screenplay: Rui (Grey) Han
Animation: Rui (Grey) Han
Technique: Digital 2D Animation
Music: Simon (Seungwon) Lee
Production/School: Xiaowen Wu
Dialogue language: English
Subtitles language: English



A girl goes on a flight trip to her childhood best friend, and on the way she falls into a fantastical journey into their memories of growing up together and then growing apart. When the plane lands, she feels anxious to meet her again and to find out whether their friendship is still the same.

IN/FINITE / UN/ENDLICH 05:57
Germany 2023
Directed by: Daniel Maaß
Screenplay: Daniel Maaß
Animation: Daniel Maaß, Tairan Gavin, Yannik Stark
Technique: digital 2D, digital 3D, stop motion
Music: Thomas Höhl
Production/School: Daniel Maaß / Kunsthochschule Kassel
Dialogue language: German
Subtitles language: English

Two hikers come across a hypnotic-looking water pit in a dry desert. The water pit is now the trigger for an all-encompassing conflict: Should they settle down or keep wandering?


Black Square 14:57

China 2024
Directed by: Shaochong XU
Production/School: Ruoyan LI / Beijing Institute Of Fashion Technology
Dialogue language: Yue Chinese (Cantonese)
Subtitles language: English



It is a story about the mother sneaked into the data backend the day before the historical information of the “Down World” was formatted, eager to preserve the last piece of evidence of her son’s existence in this world.



Chosen't 07:05

Israel 2023
Directed by: Yotam Goren
Screenplay: Yotam Goren
Animation: Yotam Goren
Technique: Hybrid (2D and 3D)
Music: Moran Glazer
Production/School: Bezalel Academy of Arts
Dialogue language: English



In a fantastical world, where all good stories commence, a young girl is declared "The Chosen One" by the angels, destined to face challenges and confront monsters. Initially proud, her joy turns to obsession after experiencing failure and abandonment. A chance encounter with a sensitive monster challenges her perspective. "Chosen't" explores the concept of "The Chosen One" in our lives—highlighting the desire for the title, its negative impact, and the true meaning. The film also delves into the idea of the chosen one among groups, shedding light on potential drawbacks.



Sandcastles 05:42

United Kingdom 2023
Directed by: Meredith Stewart
Screenplay: Meredith Stewart
Animation: 2D
Technique: 2D Computer Animation
Music: Nacho Mañá, Megalithic Sound
Production/School: Meredith Stewart
Dialogue language: No Dialogue
Subtitles language: No Subtitles



A wistful child re-lives a memory close to their heart.

Unicorn Lady 04:45
India 2024
Directed by: Rebecca Rechana Paul
Screenplay: Sumanto Chattopadhyay, Rebecca Rechana Paul
Animation: Rebecca Rechana Paul, Oorjit B S, Adhiti Krishnadas
Technique: 2D Animation
Music: Tanuj Tiku
Production/School: Suresh Eriyat, Nilima Eriyat
Dialogue language: English
Subtitles language: English

The animated short film delicately unfolds the poignant story of a protagonist, a resilient cancer survivor emerging from the shadows of a mastectomy. It's a deeply moving portrayal of her journey, evolving from a life marked by a physical scar to one where she weaves her experiences into a breathtaking mosaic of treasured moments. This narrative is a metaphorical transition from the confines of bodily afflictions to a profound, celebrated understanding of existence. She stands as a beacon of this profound metamorphosis. Her days, imbued with both pain and rebirth, are likened to the delicate, purposeful stitches of a needle through fabric, each one contributing to the magnificent embroidery of life. This film is a touching ode to human endurance, the art of embracing scars, and the beauty in turning suffering into a masterpiece of lived experience.
Off-Course 04:36

Belgium 2023
Directed by: Robbe Bruers
Screenplay: Robbe Bruers
Animation: Robbe Bruers
Technique: 2D frame by frame
Music: Robbe Bruers
Production/School: Luca school of Arts Brussels
Dialogue language: English
Subtitles language: none



A young and inexperienced musician named Olafur loses control because of stress overload and never-ending deadlines. It is not until a meaningful letter from his parents finds its way in his hands that he finds his passion for music once again.

High Tail 02:23

Canada 2023
Directed by: Victoria Biste
Screenplay: Victoria Biste



“High Tail” is a narrative story about a dog who has had enough of living with his owners and, in a burst of spontaneity, decides to move out and start his life in the big city. However, his green optimism is quickly crushed as he realizes the big city and adult life aren’t quite living up to his expectations.



A lover’s discourse 14:00

Japan 2024
Directed by: Pang Wen
Music: PANG WEN
Production/School: Yamamura Koji
Dialogue language: French
Subtitles language: English



Drawing upon Roland Barthes’s work of the same name, A Lover’s Discourse looks into intimate relationships. A couple playing a game in a café tries to talk about love but merely circles the topic, hardly reaching its essence.



Dungeon Fellas 03:20

United Kingdom 2023
Directed by: Caden Casson
Screenplay: Caden Casson
Animation: Caden Casson



A 2D animated short of a creature performing upkeep around a dungeon, and being chased by an adventuring party.

Manna (2024) Stop-motion Animation 02:24

United States of America 2024
Directed by: Ariel Wills
Screenplay: Ariel Wills
Animation: Ariel Wills
Technique: Stop motion
Music: Adam Hichens
Production/School: Ariel Wills



A paper prayer for neighborhood care.