The Way To A Man's Heart (Germany) by Jule Körperich, Karin Demuth

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Synopsis: The animated puppet film "The way to a man's heart" tells the story of a dog who falls in love with a single gentleman. As a sign of his love, he leaves a dog turd in front of the man's door every morning. The story unfolds about misunderstandings and the failure of gestures where there is no match. The film's cute aesthetics stands in strong contrast to the drama of the conflict in which both protagonists become entangled. Running time: 0:10:27.

Selections/awards: Bamberger Kurzfilmtage, Indie FF Berlin (Best Animation), Atlanta Underground FF (Best Animation).

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The Little Matchsticks Girl (Netherlands) by Mickey Cohen

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Synopsis: This modern version of The Little Matchstick Girl shows that the story in this old fairytale still applies to this day. A group of seven children from 5th grade from different neighborhoods in Amsterdam formed the illustration team. In the animation you see different versions of the girl and the different visions the girl has. The children have drawn their dreams of warmth, food and gifts causing the viewer to get an insight in the desires of a current 10 to 11 year old. The animation is an interplay between professional artists and children to create a contemporary version of a universal fairytale that shows how poverty knows many faces. Running time: 00:03:23.

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Invisible Eyes (South Korea) by Jung Seung-hee

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Synopsis: Three children chasing after squirrels encounter invisible eyes in the deep forest and suffer from a strange sense of guilt. Running time: 0:08:13.

Selections/awards: Clermont-Ferrand International Short FF, Bucheon International Animation FF, Neuchatel International Fantastic FF.

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During The Day (Belgium) by Jacques Tshisuku Muela Kabeya​

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Synopsis: Outside, Jacques goes in search of some passengers lows and how others keep their heads above the water. Running time: 00:01:47.

About the director: Jacques Muela Kabeya (1999, Oostende), is an animation film student in LUCA school of ARTS.

Kind of Fishy (Norway) by Aleksander Leines Nordaas

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Trailer

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Synopsis: A unique fishtale - made with driftwood. Dive in with the fun, fast and furious fish in this animated children's short film! There's life in everything - if you just imagine. Just like Danny Driftwood does, as he creates his own underwater world in a bucket; with rocks, sand, leaves - and driftwood. And down here, magic dwells! New friendships, exploration - and an angry halibut. Can Danny and his two friends trick it and escape? Running time: 0:05:00.

Selections/awards: Tromsø IFF Junior, Cinekid Amsterdam.

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Inertia (Belgium) by Julie Verstraten

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Synopsis: “Inertia” is the story of a young woman who refuses to accept change in her life. Instead of facing facts, she chooses to look the other way and continue her life as it were. However, the change itself won’t let her. Running time: 0:10:56.

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Elevator Alone (Greece) by Anastasia Papadopoulou

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Trailer

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Synopsis: Four people and the time they spend in an elevator. Inspired by everyday life and by the difference in people's behavior when they are alone, in contrast to the socially acceptable behavior that individuals adopt when in public space and especially in the confined and always awkward setting of an elevator. Running time: 0:03:38.

Selections/awards: JEF festival (Best Short), Cannes World FF, Βam Kids FF NY (Audience Award Best Animation) Childrens FF Seattl, Budapest Independent FF (Best Animation), LA Greek FF, and more.

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Estuary (USA) by Warren Bass

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Synopsis: A sparse, meditational animation with some of the values and attributes of a visual haiku. Its images are loosely based on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the James River. As an experimental work expressed through forms in motion, “Estuary” treats hand-drawn animation as an analog to dance and poetry. Concept, animation, and graphics by Warren Bass. Running time: 00:03:20.

Selections/awards: Roma Shorts FF (Best Experimental Film), Environmental FF LA (Best Short-Form Film), and more.

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About the director: Bass is an independent filmmaker and former chair of Film and Media Arts at Temple University where he teaches cinematography, screen directing, animation, and advanced documentary and fiction workshops. He was trained at the Yale School of Drama with Honors in directing, the Yale School of Art in graphics, and at Columbia University in film as their School of the Arts Scholar.

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A Winter's Tail (Portugal) by Joana Vieira da Costa, Rui Gomes

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Synopsis: A silly little tale about Dingo Dog finding his way of coping with the expectations and disillusions of life. Running time: 0:03:25.

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La bride (Belgium) by Nicolas Piret​

Synopsis: The bell tower rings and the birds fly away. In the countryside on the outskirts of a small village, a dog tied to a very long rope, watches them disappear in the horizon. It’s time for him to go; Prance across fields; How far will his rope allow him to go? Running time: 00:03:48.

Selections/awards: Student Academy Awards (Oscars), Animafest Zagreb, Animasyros International Animation Festival (Best Student Film), and more.

About the director: After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in drawing at The Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Brussels, and a stint at The school of graphic research (ERG) in Comics / Videos. Nicolas Piret continued his studies with a Master’s Degree in animation cinema at ENSAV La Cambre, where he directed his first short animated movie, La bride.

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10:35 (Mexico) by Alan Sánchez

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Trailer

Synopsis: "10:35" uses Motion Capture technology (Vicon & Faceware) and tells a touching story that makes us reflect about life. Running time: 0:12:57.

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