In several short animations, the authors discuss topics ranging from global to very personal ones. They combine animation with documentary and music, as well as talk about the world we know and the one they invented. Sometimes the realism is shocking, more often it is an accurate metaphor. The animated world is worth exploring.

screening curator: Emilia Rusin

Zima, dir. Tomasz Popakul, Kasumi Ozeki (Poland) 2023, 26’, 16+

Mosaic portrait of a small fisherman’s village where human to human, human to animal, animal to animal interdepend on a delicate balance of warm tender care and cold emotional cruelty.

Film awarded at the Ottawa International Animation Festival and the Krakow Film Festival.

This Will Not Be a Festival Film, dir. Julia Orlik (Poland) 2022, 8’, 13+

A tale of a girl who studied animation and spent four years without a day of vacation. An animated short about a film school student who is working on her graduation film.

Film awarded at Animator IAFF.

In Vain, dir. Jean-Baptiste Bertholom (France) 2023, 19’, 15+

Gabriel, a Savoyard farmer, is living a daily life full of habits, until his daily routine starts falling apart.

Film presented at e.g. Warsaw FF.

Crush, dir. Michał Socha, Jakub Socha (Poland) 2022, 6’, 13+

An ambitious thief wants to steal a precious diamond. He unexpectedly meets competition – a femme fatale who appeared for the same purpose. The rivalry for the diamond slowly turns into a mutual fascination that takes the couple into a world between dream and reality.

Film presented at e.g. Animateka IAF.

Whale’s Song, dir. Adeline Faye (France) 2023, 12’, 13+

A giant white sperm whale is stranded in the middle of a city. People gather around the dying animal. Unable to avoid it, they have to get closer. This encounter will change them in an unexpected way.

Film presented at the IAFF Animocje.

Middle Watch, dir. Aiesha Penwarden, John Stevenson (United Kingdom, Czech Republic) 2022, 12’, 15+

World War II is coming to an end. A sailor tormented by trauma is on the middle watch, also known as the graveyard watch. An unexpected encounter will put his fragile psyche to a great test.

BAFTA nominated film. Polish premiere.

Father’s Letters, dir. Alexey Evstigneev (France) 2024, 12’, 15+

In 1934, Professor Vangengheim was condemned to the Gulag on the Solovki. As he pretends to be on a grand voyage of exploration, he crafts imaginative tales in letters to his daughter Eleonora, shielding her from the truth of his sentencing as a “traitor to the motherland”.

Film awarded at  e.g. Melbourne IFF and StopTrik IFF.