The best of recently released short animated films from all over the world, carefully chosen from 2000-plus entries. They come in from every corner, they use every technique, they can be funny, dramatic, eye-popping, subdued, documentary or autobiographical. The one thing they have in common is that we think they’re the pick of the crop. We also have competition programmes focusing purely on: Recent Japanese Animation (Programme 4); Dark Animation (Programme 7); Long Shorts (Programme 8); and Abstract Animation (Programme 9).
‘Luminaris’ (Juan Pablo Zaramella, 2011)
In a world controlled and timed by light, an ordinary man has a plan that could change the natural order of things.
Argentina, 6’20
‘Kali The Little Vampire’ (Regina Pessoa, 2012)
A poetic and beautiful tale and a reminder that there is a place for every one of us under the sun. Even the creatures of the night.
Canada/France/Switzerland/Portugal, 9’25
‘My Brother Greg / Mein Bruder Franz’ (Philipp Enders, 2011)
Greg struggles with his nightmares of flies in this delightfully animated tribute to Kafka.
Germany, 3’00
‘Nightingales in December’ (Theodore Ushev, 2011)
What would the world be like if nightingales no longer migrated south? A plethora of painterly images of birdmen at work and war evoke a world in disarray
Canada, 3’00
‘Out On A Limb / Ast Mit Last’ (Falk Schuster, 2011)
An elegant look into the simple, competitive world of birds and the resting places they try and share.
Germany, 5’03
‘Big House / Suur Maja’ (Kristjan Holm, 2011)
The Estonians do it again! Every house has a rhythm but this film brings it out into the front yard and pumps up the volume.
Estonia, 10’24
‘September’ (Thibault Chollet, 2011)
An extravaganza of reconstruction starting with ships awash in the deep blue and ending in a solitary exit.
France, 2’51
‘Tchaikovsky – an Elegy’ (Barry Purves, 2011)
Thrust into an empty room, Tchaikovsky is forced to revisit the traumas and successes of his life.
UK/Russia, 13’00
‘A Tax on Bunny Rabbits’ (Nathaniel Akin, 2011)
Rabbits are calm, birds are calm, robots are not. Sometimes bigger isn’t better.
Canada, 2’15
‘The Sparrow who kept his word’ (Dmitry Geller, 2010)
An honest little sparrow braves the cold, wind and rain in order to hold true to his noble and kindhearted promise.
Russia, 6’40
‘The House / Das Haus’ (David Buob, 2011)
Four dimensions and multiple gravities help and hinder one little girl’s attempt to help her grandmother.
Germany, 6’48
‘Muybridge’s Strings / Les Cordes de Muybridge’ (Koji Yamamura, 2011)
Yamamura animates the story of one of the first, and most famous, pieces of animation ever created – Muybridge’s horses.
Japan, 12’39
