In a future world, artificial intelligence has become the core of order. Efficiency and stability are the only standards by which everything is measured, and any deviation may be regarded as an error. During what seems to be a routine delivery, courier D-503 unexpectedly triggers an absurd parable.
A trans girl who is voracious for math, must also do the biggest set of calculations every day: how to avoid having to go to the bathroom.
A boy lives surrounded by an oppressive cacophony of sounds, within a dysfunctional family. A day at the beach might be the long-expected opportunity for a break from a hellish existence. The parents, the boy, and his sister put everything they can in the family car and drive away. The boy dreams of playing with his bucket and shovel in the sand, by the sea, but it is not easy to reach the destination. If they arrive at the beach, will they enjoy a peaceful day or will they face something unexpected?
The desire for balance seems a fundamental aspect of our nature, deeply rooted in our genes. Silili & Tree is a story delving into the idea of balance, not just for individuals but also for communities and the wider world. By seeking balance, Silili harnesses the power of frequency and resonance to embark on a transformative journey towards becoming a tree spirit. From the moment she left her mother tree, she, like the other elves, was searching for an ideal to become, however, she didn’t realize that her journey had inadvertently harmed a tree but saved the plants of an entire island.
In every relationship there are ups and downs. This is a story about overcoming a crisis that arose as a result of inattention towards each other. The turbulent emotions that arise help to establish connections in the relationship of a married couple.
The young man carefully follows the instructions in the manual for assembling the closet. But soon the events take on a dreamlike character and, despite the hero's efforts, his logical actions lead to an absurd result.
A colorless chameleon embarks on a magical journey beyond her black-and-white forest, discovering new places, unexpected friendships, and the joy of embracing her true colors.
A sculptor with Alzheimer’s goes on a self-healing voyage on the river Lethe after his death, experiencing a cycle of remembering and forgetting as he seeks the memories of himself and his daughter.
KITSCH&MONSTERS is a visual and sound experiment. A short film made of mistakes, copies, and digital reincarnations. A metaverse looking at itself in the mirror, and finding a monster inside. When the web dreams, something stirs. An impulse, an error, a thought looping endlessly until it takes shape. That’s how Tobu is born: a fragment of self-awareness, a gentle monster emerging while an AI keeps working at the computer. From his gaze, other beings unfold — glitches, avatars, ghosts made of code and matter. No one really knows where the real ends and the virtual begins. Perhaps there is no border at all, only a flow of pixels, electricity and synthetic flesh bubbling in a magma of images. Idea by Simone Macciocchi Animation by CIANG, NESPY5€, Simone Macciocchi Editing by Simone Macciocchi Sounds from freesound.org
On a rainy night in the heart of the city, a hooded, an unstable man engineers a dead bird with his own voice, in order to sing his own bird songs and ultimately get the perspective he needed.
Observed by an elderly figure, a child faces a moment of quiet significance when they encounter a tortoise on its back. Exploring how our anxiety comes from expectation as much as reality, Australian-Canadian visual artist Mawrgan Shaw combines agitated drawings with restrained watercolour in this hand-drawn animated short film. A meditation on compassion and memory, the film transforms a fleeting encounter into a reflection of how we notice, respond to, and carry the vulnerability of others.
Painter Grey Clay is trying to create a painting, but unfortunately he lacks inspiration. After several unsuccessful attempts, he feels tired and uncreative. He decides to lie down and rest. In his dream, he finds an enchanted brush that takes him to a world of nature filled with colours and light. Szarek realises that every season of the day and every change in the weather is a natural palette full of colours that fill the world around him. Will the dream give him an idea for his next painting? Malarz Szarek stara się stworzyć obraz malarski, niestety brakuje mu pomysłu. Po kilku nieudanych próbach, czuje się zmęczony i odczuwa brak weny twórczej Postanawia położyć się i odpocząć. We śnie znajduje zaczarowany pędzel, który zabiera go w świat natury wypełnionego barwami i świetlnymi. Szarek dostrzega, że każda pora roku dnia, zmiana pogody to naturalne palety pełne barw, które wypełniają otaczający go świat. Czy sen sprawi że znajdzie pomysł na stworzenie kolejnego obrazu?
Two friends navigating a world of fantasy and hanging out. The stakes are low and moral is high.
ATHENS ANIMFEST
