Fly to the Moon (France, 7 mins)

Living in the forest, little spider Temi dreams of catching the Moon. For that, she will do anything. (No dialogue)

The Girl With the Red Beret (Canada, 6 mins)

A girl encounters an array of colourful, extravagant characters during a wild ride on the Montreal metro. As she travels from station to station, and winter turns into spring, her increasingly strange and surprising journey includes random appearances by furniture movers, mounted police, a pickpocket, some singing nuns, a clown, several famous Montreal personalities, and much more. (No dialogue)

The Goose (France, 13 mins)

A boy fantasizes about becoming a famous soccer player, playing in big stadiums. But first, he has to win a match in his small backyard — against a goose. (No dialogue)

Little Big Bang (Newfoundland and Labrador, 1 min)

Printed manually on a vintage tabletop press using hand-carved linoleum blocks, this very short animation by local artist Duncan Major is about a new parent who learns about free expression and the power of letting go. Inspired by the filmmaker’s new baby boy and found sound. (No dialogue)

Frida in the Sky (Canada, 6 mins)

Frida, an 8-year-old engineering prodigy, builds an airplane behind her mother’s back in the hopes of following in her Abuela’s legacy. (No dialogue)

Harvey (Canada, 8 mins)

A short film that poetically examines coping with the loss of a parent as Harvey candidly recalls the spring day when his world turned upside down. Filled with original little touches and told through the eyes of a child with an overflowing imagination, this brilliant work by Janice Nadeau is suprisingly peaceful and lovely. (English version)

A Lynx in the Town (France, 6 mins)

A curious lynx leaves its forest, attracted by the lights of the nearby town. It has great fun there until it falls asleep in the middle of a parking lot. In the early morning, locals are astonished to find this strange animal covered in snow. (No dialogue)

Transmission (Newfoundland and Labrador, 1 min)

Originally created for the Nickel’s DIY Sci-Fi Challenge, animator and musician Shan Pomeroy explores the idea of communication and miscommunication using scraps and cutouts from past projects.

The Flying Sailor (Canada, 7 mins)

Two ships collide in a harbour, an explosion shatters a city, and a sailor is thrown, nude, through the sky. With ears ringing, blood pulsing and guts heaving, he soars high above the mayhem and towards the great unknown. A bold blend of comedy, suspense and philosophy, The Flying Sailor is an exhilarating contemplation of the wonder and fragility of existence. (No dialogue)

Little Bird (Canada, 15 mins)

Little Bird tells the semi-autobiographical story of Jonah, a young man who flees his late mother's wake as he attempts to come to terms with his new reality. Upon meeting a kind stranger at a roadside diner, he is reminded of the importance of not bearing the weight of grief alone.

Eat Your Carrots (Canada, 3 mins)

Carrots are good for your eyes — maybe too good. A short stop motion animation about a girl who finds an eyeball growing on her arm because carrots.

Big Drive (Canada, 9 mins)

Four children have to come up with ideas to entertain themselves on a long trip throughout Canada in the 1970s.

Beauty: Beyond Binary (Canada, 23 mins)

Beauty explores the lives of five gender-creative kids, each uniquely engaged in shaping their own sense of what it means to be fully human. Whether it’s dealing with bullies, explaining themselves to their parents, or navigating the uncharted waters of relationships, Bex, Lili, Fox, Tru and Milo talk about their experiences and struggle to live in authenticity.

Mystery of the Secret Room (Newfoundland & Labrador, 5 mins)

This gorgeous short film introduces us to Grace, a 10-year-old girl who uses her creative superpowers to navigate the emotional landscape of her mother's depression. It's an inspiring portrait of family, adversity, and resilience. A collaboration between director Wanda Nolan and animator Claire Blanchet.

All tickets are pay-what-you-can. Select your price at the links above.

Do or do not, there is no try!

Our challenge to you: You have just one weekend — from June 10th to 12th — to write, shoot and edit a short film of five minutes or less, and your film can fall in any genre of sci-fi or fantasy.

All tickets are pay-what-you-can. Select your price at the links above.

The Shadows of Magellan (Germany, 5 mins)

The connection between digitalisation, globalisation, and changing climate is explored using footage of a performative dance art installation in Hamburg, Germany, itself based on the discovery of the Strait of Magellan. Its five segments: Preparation of the Expedition, Transatlantic Caravel Voyage, Romantic Interlude on the Rio Bravo, Increasing Aggression, and Triumph of the Explorers. Director: Per Pegelow

Identibye (Iran, 15 mins)

Our protagonist faces the dilemma of choosing between sense and sensibility regarding their innermost feelings. From the very beginning, fear brought on by the judgements of the ones closest to them, fuels persistent doubt and indecision. They must work against the clock, knowing that one's true identity is what matters most. Director: Sajjad Shahhatami

The Missus Downstairs: The Long Road Home (Newfoundland and Labrador, 8 mins)

Episode one of this comedy series by local comedy greats Mary Walsh and Dave Sullivan! John, down on his luck, finds his dream home. However, he quickly learns that the house comes with strings attached. An oddball friendship hatched between one man and his nosy, yet loveable, neighbour. Director: Mary Walsh • Writers: Dave Sullivan and Mary Walsh • Producers: Mary Walsh and Ruth Lawrence

Close to the Bone (Newfoundland and Labrador, 22 mins)

A woman looks back on her life as a series of rooms. A gorgeous visual album from St. John’s singer-songwriter Ian Foster and starring Alison Moira Kelly, Bridget Wareham, Darryl Hopkins, and Des Walsh. Director: Ian Foster • Producers: Justin Simms, Michael Ciuffini

Unnecessary Things (Ukraine, 14 mins)

Could a robot adopt a pet in the near future? Could this pet be a human? Could they become friends? …And what would become of the robot afterwards? Ukranian animator Dmytro Lisenbart expertly crafts an adaptation of Robert Sheckley’s short story “The Old Curiosity Shop” in a film noir style that also recalls mid-20th Century science fiction. This clever homage extends as far as depicting the central figure as a version of the author in his younger days. Director: Dmytro Lisenbart

House, Car & Cottage (Newfoundland and Labrador, 6 mins)

Suspecting that her husband has been unfaithful, Abbie meets him at a restaurant, where she launches a plan to take him for what he's worth. Director: Jeff Lewis

Lydia Emily's Last Mural (USA, 21 mins)

Lydia Emily, a mural artist living with progressive multiple sclerosis, paints her last mural in downtown LA. Director: Christoph Johannes Superstar Green

Shelter (Australia, 6 mins)

During the height of the COVID-19 lock-downs, performance artists from around the world were invited to express the emotion of isolation through dance. Originally planned as an “armchair project”, featuring a dozen or so participants, it grew into something much more. We’re extremely fortunate that it did. Director: Martin Ponferrada

All tickets are pay-what-you-can. Select your price at the links above.

Gay, Asian, Immigrant (USA, 10 mins)

With a nod to the tropes of American situational comedies, a privileged gay Asian immigrant lands a job by perpetuating a harmful stereotype. It comes home to roost when his boss shows up at his doorstep, and he keeps up the pretence in front of his lover. Ultimately, he must make a choice to maintain the illusion or reveal the truth. Director: Ushmey Chakraborty

Coin Slot (Nova Scotia, 16 mins)

A young man tries not to unravel as the anniversary of a traumatic attack looms closer. Coin Slot captures the many shades of trauma and healing through fragmented moments of honesty and vulnerability. Director/Writer: Scott Jones • Producer: Aly Kelly

Look (Newfoundland and Labrador, 9 mins)

Love is grand. Love hurts. Sometimes, love is a battlefield. Finally — although events might suggest otherwise — love is all around. So if you’re searching for love, it might be a good idea to get out of the house and take a look. Director: Lorne Warr • Producer: Bruce Brenton

I Want To Love You In Analogue (New Zealand, 3 mins)

A poem by Paula Harris exploring romantic passion within the context of yearning is brought to life with a nod to melancholic longing — where one desires something more than what currently is. Director: April Lampre • Writer: Paula Harris

Evan’s Drum (Newfoundland and Labrador, 14 mins)

What a joyful visit to a loving home and an uplifting story of cultural pride. After generations of silence, the rhythm of the traditional Inuit drum has returned to Labrador, and seven-year-old Evan is part of the new generation that will keep its heartbeat strong. Director: Ossie Michelin • Producers: Kat Baulu, Rohan Fernando, Latonia Hartery

The White Whale (Iran, 10 mins)

A young soldier loses his friends in an air attack on a river. Thirty years later, he still searches for their remains with a white whale as the only sign. Director: Amir Mehran

Mudder’s Hands (Newfoundland and Labrador, 15 mins)

With a dash of youth, a pinch of age, and an unrecorded recipe, this charming love letter to a mother — disguised as a superb documentary film —  lifts our hearts like a pan-full of dough. Centred around baking raisin bread, “Mudder's Hands” shines a light on arthritis, while blending laughter, loss, and memories into baking tips. Director: Clint Butler • Producers: Clint Butler, Karen Shopsowitz

The Savior (Iran, 15 mins)

Following the death of her mother, a girl’s only companions are her pet turtle, and the fish in the nearby river. She begins to behave in a manner that justifiably upsets her father, who understands her motivation, but is unable to condone it. Loss, grief, compassion, and kindness are brilliantly woven together with imagination, sensitivity, and a sense of wonder, into a film that is sure to remain with us long after the end credits. Director: Soheila Pourmohammadi

All funds raised will be donated to the Cultural Artists Plan for Emergencies (CAPE Fund)

Screening:

Secret Nation &
Stone’s Cove

A screening to celebrate the legacy of Paul Pope — one of the key builders of the film and TV industry in Newfoundland and Labrador.

For more than 40 years, Paul Pope led with kindness and passion. As a producer, Pope worked on hundreds of films and shows, and owned Pope Productions, the company behind productions like Hudson & Rex, Grown Up Movie Star, Rare Birds, and Life with Derek. He was a passionate advocate for independent Canadian media, and served as a founding member of NIFCO (Newfoundland Independent Filmmakers Cooperative) as well as a board member of the Canadian Media Producers Association and vice-chair of the Canadian Media Fund. 

Paul passed away in April of 2022 after a short illness.

All tickets are pay-what-you-can. Select your price at the links above.

Unboxed (USA, 4 mins)

From crib to coffin, we live our lives in boxes. With a masterful blend of live action and stop-motion animation, Unboxed poses the question, “but what if you’re not into squares?” Director: Sara Caldwell

The Southern Wind (Quebec, 16 mins)

In the face of rural exodus, life seems to be dissolving in the village of Val Gagné, Ontario. The future is uncertain, but these Franco-Ontarian villagers are soon blessed with a wind of hope and renewal. Director: Aucéane Roux

Hen (USA, 5 mins)

It’s a ritual we all know well: We return from the grocery store, put away the results of our modern hunting and gathering, and begin preparing our next meal. Our protagonist’s routine is suddenly disrupted, however, when his package of chicken presents him with an unexpected surprise. Director: Sathya Miele

Honk (USA, 47 mins)

Amidst lockdowns and physical distancing, a bizarre encounter leads to an unusual but heartwarming relationship. Their story eventually attracts widespread media attention, and to people around the globe they become symbols of hope, love, and friendship during a time of overwhelming isolation and loss. We’re honoured to introduce acclaimed filmmaker and performer Cheryl Allison and Honk, celebrity goose. Director: Cheryl Allison

The Borer and the Basket (New Brunswick, 7 mins)

The ash trees of the Wabanaki Forest bear spiritual, ceremonial, and economic importance to Indigenous people in the area, but an invasive beetle species is currently decimating these trees and threatening a way of life. This film weaves personal stories with hard science, following the basket makers and scientists who are trying to preserve the forest before it’s too late. Director: Desmond Simon

Dribble (Iran, 15 mins )

A mutual passion for soccer threatens to drive a wedge between two brothers — unless they can find a way to for it to bring them closer together. Directors: Ali Lavarimonfared, Nazafarin Hassanpour