Straight from France, these two eclectic programs bring together films from established filmmakers as well as emerging talent. Each one opens up a unique world and speaks to the rich diversity of animation in France today.
Vote for the best short! Audience members, in person and online, are encouraged to vote for their favorite new French short. The winner will receive a prize provided by TitraFilm.
The winner will be announced during a live online awards ceremony on Saturday, February 19 at 2pm ET. The award ceremony is free and open to all — RSVP here.
7 shorts, 74 min
Self Scratch (Je me Gratte)
Dir. Chenghua Yang, France, 2020, 9 min, color
In French with English subtitles
NY Premiere
Illy Prize – Directors’ Fortnight – Cannes Film Festival 2021
Toronto International Film Festival 2021
Drawn from the director’s personal experience, Je me gratte is about breaking up and the long process to heal. Although dealing with melancholy through depression, this film is deeply optimistic.
What Resonates in Silence (Ce qui résonne dans le silence)
Dir. Marine Blin, France, 2020, 8 min, color
In French with English subtitles
NY Premiere
Hiding death doesn’t make it disappear. A young girl suffers from the adults’ silence and feels unable to mourn. As an adult, she finds her way to recover. A very subtle story with fine drawings.
Swallow the Universe
Dir. Luis Nieto, France, 2021, 12 min, color
In Japanese with English subtitles
NY Premiere
The grandiloquent blood-and-thunder saga of a young child lost in Manchuria’s deep jungle. His sudden presence creates anarchy in the fauna’s primitive world.
Boobs (Lolos)
Dir. Marie Valade, Canada, 2020, 7 min, color
Without dialogue or commentary
US Premiere
This is both a comic and dark journey that explores a woman’s love-hate relationship with her body and her femininity.
Maalbeek
Dir. Ismaël Joffroy Chandoutis, France, 2020, 16 min, color
In French with English subtitles
US Premiere
Nominated for Best Animated Short Subject – Annie Awards 2022
Sabine survives but has amnesia from the attack at Maalbeek metro station on March 22, 2016 in Brussels. She is looking for the missing image of an over-mediatized event of which she has no memory.
Blue Fear (Filles bleues, peur blanche)
Dir. Marie Jacotey & Lola Halifa-Legrand, France, 2020, 10 min, Color and black & white
In French with English subtitles
NY Premiere
Official Selection – Cannes Film Festival 2021
On the roads of Provence, Nils is driving Flora to meet his parents for the first time when they get ambushed. Whilst she’s made prisoner, he flees. During a night in the pinewood, she has to face her doubts.
Voiced by Clémence Boisnard, Esther Garrel, and Pauline Chalamet
Night Watch (Ronde de Nuit)
Dir. Julien Regnard, France, Belgium, 2020, 12 min, black & white
Without dialogue or commentary
US Premiere
Christina and George, her husband, leave a party in an old country manor. On their way home, an argument between them leads to a brutal car accident. After regaining consciousness Georges finds that Christina has disappeared…