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).
‘The Tender Wife’ (Anne Larricq, 2011)
Along with the bad weather, this woman changes her partners as often as she does her shirts in this musical adaptation of a Chekhov tale.
France, 8’33
‘The Back Room’ (Michael Kren & Mirjam Baker, 2011)
A door opens, the decision to enter is a mistake. No way out and the only view is that of a single sparse tree in front of a desolate city.
Austria, 5’30
‘The Women’s Day Gift / Podarok’ (Mihail Dvorjankin, 2010)
Little Misha draws a card for his favourite girlfriend at school, but the hardest task is still ahead of him – to reveal his true feelings for her.
Russia, 8’35
‘Resale Right / Le droit de suite’ (Pierre Emmanuel Lyet, 2011)
The art dealer finds sharing very hard with the artist. A witty and elegant look at the art market in a typographic style.
France, 2’20
‘Tram / Villamos’ (Rozi Bekes, 2010)
A series of random encounters slips past a passenger on a tram in a sumptuous, abstracted line composition.
Hungary, 5’45
‘A to B’ (Malcolm Sutherland, 2011)
What’s the quickest way from A to B? Let’s find out.
Canada, 2’47
‘Some Actions Which haven’t Been Defined Yet in the Revolution / Yi Chang Ge Ming Zhong Hai Wei Lai De Ji Ding Yi De Xing Wei’ (Sun Xun, 2011)
It’s a strange day. An unidentified figure is living in an alien environment full of surreal politics and ideological colours.
China, 12’22
‘The Maker’ (Christopher Kezelos, 2011)
A strange creature races against time to make the most important and beautiful creation of his life.
Australia, 5’17
‘About Killing The Pig / Dell’ Ammazzare Il Maiale’ (Simone Massi, 2011)
Rural life is often full of harsh, simple, beautiful truths – the most natural of realities.
Italy, 6’20
‘Night Sounds’ (Jacob Stalhammar, 2011)
Everyone should be sleeping. But what’s that under the bed? A spooky short with nods to Saul Bass and John Carpenter.
Sweden, 5’50
‘Seven Minutes in the Warsaw Ghetto’ (Johan Oettinger, 2012)
The Warsaw Ghetto, 1942. An 8 year-old boy peeks through a hole in the ghetto wall unaware that two SS men are following his every move.
Denmark, 7’48
‘I Saw Mice burying a Cat / Ya videl kak mishy kota horonili’ (Dmitry Geller, 2011)
This story begins romantically, continues as a farce, turning into a thriller, but ends up as a high tragedy.
China, 5’30
