This programme explores the full spectrum of human emotions through 8 captivating films that delve into themes of love, hate, jealousy, sensuality, melancholy, anxiety, confusion, fear, and doubt. Each film is powerful and moving, offering profound insights and striking visuals that resonate with contemporary issues.
Independent animation remains a dynamic and evolving art form, showcasing a stunning array of styles, materials, and techniques—from hand-drawn and paint-on-glass to collage, sculpture, cut-outs, puppetry, abstract forms, and innovative CGI. This year’s LIAF highlights the most diverse and exciting developments within this vibrant medium.
After sorting through a huge pile of 2,400 entries, we’ve curated a selection of 77 outstanding new films from 30 countries. These films range from humorous and dramatic to bizarre, subtle, frightening, and autobiographical. What they all share is our belief that they represent the best of the best. These 8 international competition programmes showcase a variety of techniques, genres, and styles. This is your annual glimpse into the vibrant world of international indie animation.
Several filmmakers will be in attendance to introduce their films at the start of the screening.
HUGE SAVINGS WITH OUR ONLINE CURATOR AND VIP PASSES!
Our online CURATOR PASS grants you EIGHT tickets for just £39. You can browse them all here.
Our online VIP PASS grants you 1 ticket for all TWENTY-FOUR online programmes for only £79!
I’m Not Sure – Luisa Zürcher, Switzerland
An insight into the filmmaker’s stay in a hospital, where she repeatedly experiences absurd, funny moments between pain, homesickness, and disgust over her body.
2025 10’05 min
The Pool or Death of a Goldfish – Daria Kopiec, Poland
A daughter, through unexpressed anger and rebellion against her mother, transforms into a goldfish. Her repressed childhood emotions are manifested in her harshness towards herself and others.
2025 13’50 min
Hypersensitive – Martine Frossard, Canada
The turbulent, surrealistic journey of a young woman struggling to rebuild herself, in defiance of social norms that tell us to repress our emotions.
2025 6’40 min
Pear Garden – Shadab Shayegan, Germany / Iran
Six-year-old Lily visits her grandmother after she has a mastectomy. At night, Lily finds out that the shadow of grandma has breasts. Lily follows her and tries to get the breasts back for her grandma.
2024 7’00 min
Because Today is Saturday – Alice Eça Guimarães, Portugal / France / Spain
It’s Saturday, and a woman struggles with the difficulty of reconciling her home life and her need to escape to unleash her creative side.
2025 12’25 min
This film is not included in our online programme
Wish You Were Ear – Mirjana Balogh, Hungary
After breakups, exes must exchange body parts. One person spots their old ear on another, sparking a quest for identity and acceptance in a bizarre society where physical pieces of ourselves live on in others.
2025 10’15 min
Lost Touch – Justine Klaiber, Switzerland
Amelia is the sole survivor on a damaged space ship. Trapped in the gravitational pull of a planet, she struggles with grief and isolation. When a mysterious presence appears, she is torn between the past and the future.
2025 12’25 min
This film is not included in our online programme
Stone of Destiny – Julie Cerna, Czech Republic
The Stone of Destiny longs for freedom and wants to overcome its self-doubt. So it embarks on a journey and meets strange creatures in strange places.
2025 10’20 min
Our Funding Partners
With Special Thanks to The Elf Factory, official sponsor of LIAF 2025.
Event supported by Film Hub London, managed by Film London. Proud to be a partner of the BFI Film Audience Network, funded by the National Lottery.
Venue
Opened in March 2022, The Garden Cinema screens repertory seasons and new releases from around the world. Being truly independent, they choose films that are worth seeing, films you’d be happy to see more than once. Films of all genres that are true to life, well made, that left us feeling better or wiser for having seen them. For more information about The Garden Cinema and how to get there, find out more.
Online, The Garden Cinema
