Check out the 2024 Festival trailer!
| FILM | DIRECTOR | COUNTRY | LENGTH | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Little Brother | Wiebke Becker | Germany | 15 Min. | |
![]() Little Denis desperately wants to be part of his big brother Markus’ basketball team, but quickly realises that he has to find his own way in order to earn the respect of his family and his brother in the end. Film Block: Final Call: A Cinematic Send-Off | ||||
| BRIDGE My Little Friends | Kazuyuki Ishihara | Japan | 10 Min. | |
‘I’ll take you to see Shiro. That’s a promise!” Jin, a cat, promised Mugi, who was saddened by the loss of his beloved dog Shiro. Jin, who loves Mugi, heard an Film Block: Short, Sweet and Animated for 10 & Under | ||||
| Drawing Land | Tony Collingwood | United Kingdom | 8 Min. | |
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Film Block: Short, Sweet and Animated for 10 & Under | ||||
| Half of a Fairy Tale | Kailang Wang | China | 19 Min. | |
![]() After losing her parents, 10-year-old Lin Qing’er was adopted by Mother Li and joined her foster home, a private orphanage. She longed to regain the feeling of home in the small family Mother Li had created. After a “no fight, no acquaintance” encounter, she befriended Xin Liang, who shared her sensitive nature. Mother Li spared no effort to provide a warm home for these seven children. However, as the children grew older, she gradually realized that, despite her reluctance, she couldn’t change the fact that she couldn’t give them a better life. With no other options and wanting to protect the children, Mother Li could only lie, claiming there was a “singing competition” for Lin Qing’er to rehearse and practice with the children. These children believed that winning the “singing competition” would reward them with the toys they desired. In reality, the singing program was designed for adopters to select the children on stage. As the children were growing up, the “singing competition” served as a symbol that marked the collapse of the orphanage and represented the end of the friendship between Lin Qing’er and Xin Liang.
Film Block: Final Call: A Cinematic Send-Off | ||||
| Krampuss | Guðni Líndal Benediktsson | Iceland | 8 Min. | |
![]() On Christmas Eve, an Icelandic family comes face to face with the Yule Cat, a ravenous creature of folklore hungry for those who didn’t get clothes for Christmas. Film Block: Final Call: A Cinematic Send-Off | ||||
| Matildas Monster | Marc André Misman | Germany | 15 Min. | |
![]() Matilda and her Mother move to a new town, but it is hard for Matilda to make new friends there. One Day she meets a big but lovely monster in the forest behind their new home. They become friends – but can the monster really help her, to find some new friends as well? Film Block: Whimsical Wonders: Shorts for Everyone | ||||
| Operation: Stuplloyd | Vincenté Kabo Baker | Canada | 12 Min. | |
![]() In her tented fortress, 12-year-old Jaz briefs her spy squad—Bahi (12) and Anja (11)—on a mission to thwart Stuplloyd, her “evil” stepfather. Their heist begins with stealing his glasses and coffee, but cracks in the team emerge as Bahi and Anja defect to Lloyd’s side. Alone, Jaz presses on, only to face a final showdown with Lloyd, where she questions whether he’s really the villain she imagined. Film Block: Reel Reflections: Shorts for Tweens and Teens | ||||
| Stomp the Moon | Deju Xie | China | 29 Min. | |
![]() The shy little Hmong girl, Aya, under the constant guidance of the moon, continues to conquer difficulties and obstacles. In a bathhouse wash, she accomplishes a self-transformation on her path of growth. Film Block: Heartfelt Adventures: Shorts for Everyone | ||||
| The Ballad of Sheriff Kid McLain | Gui Pereira | Brazil | 8 Min. | |
Film Block: Short, Sweet and Animated for 10 & Under | ||||
| The Cherry Tree | Tzetzi Lazarov | Netherlands | 9 Min. | |
Two kids, a boy and a girl, meet under a cherry tree by fate, and become inseparable. However, life forces them to part ways. Will fate, after many years, bring them together once again? Based on a true story about sudden separation by emigration, long-distance romance, and the hope to be, one day, reunited with our beloved ones. “The Cherry Tree” explores the enduring power of fate, unspoken love, painful longings and the timeless beauty of cherished memories between two friends. Film Block: Final Call: A Cinematic Send-Off | ||||
| The Last Song | arth Vyas & Hitarth Desai | India | 22 Min. | |
![]() Tragedy strikes when Josh’s father passes away suddenly, he goes numb, leaving Andy his best friend, perplexed. Despite Andy’s attempts to comfort him, Josh distances himself, grappling with newfound responsibilities. As their friendship hangs on the edge, unresolved tensions simmer beneath the surface. But in the quiet moments that follow, Josh’s facade begins to crack, revealing the emotions he’s kept hidden. With uncertainty looming, Josh and Andy navigate the uncharted territory of grief with their friendship bearing witness to the test of time.
Film Block: Whimsical Wonders: Shorts for Everyone | ||||
| Two One Two | Shira Avni | Canada | 4 Min. | |
Film Block: Short, Sweet and Animated for 10 & Under | ||||
| Who Needs Teachers? | Ekal Deep Kaur | India | 19 Min. | |
![]() Isha Sahni, a spirited ten-year-old, grows weary of her teachers’ rules and control. Determined to rebel, she challenges them at every opportunity. But her plans take an unexpected turn when she meets her match in Mrs. Khanna, her new English teacher. Instead of scolding, Mrs. Khanna responds with playful wit, leaving Isha intrigued. As their clashes continue, Isha learns valuable lessons about respecting teachers and knowing they aren’t just authority figures but mentors who place our well-being before theirs. Film Block: Reel Reflections: Shorts for Tweens and Teens | ||||
| Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge | Hattie Archibald | Australia | 15 Min. | |
Film Block: Whimsical Wonders: Shorts for Everyone | ||||
| Written in the Stars | Vincent Gallagher | Ireland | 15 Min. | |
![]() “Written in the Stars” tells the inspiring story of Seán, a 9-year-old neurodivergent boy who is determined to make it to center stage despite the challenges he faces.
Film Block: Beyond the Screen: Shorts for Teens | ||||