Aug 24, 2022

Seven Films Selected for TIFF Short Film Competition

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has selected 39 short films for its Main Short Competition. Included among them are seven animated films, including both live action and documentaries.

Two animated films were selected for the Feature Length Competition. The first animated feature presented was the world premiere of "Wendell & Wild," a stop-motion feature by Henry Selick (Coraline) in collaboration with Jordan Peele (Get Out, Us). The second animated film in the festival's Contemporary World Cinema section is Pierre Ferdes' "Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman," a European co-production adapted from a short story by Haruki Murakami.

Below is a detailed list of the animated short films that will be screened at TIFF 2022, which will be held in Toronto, Canada from September 8 to 18.

Director Olivia Pease Country USA

This University of Southern California graduation project is an autobiographical short film by multidisciplinary artist, filmmaker, and now programmer Olivia Pease, created using AI art generation tools. joins the battle of AI generation as an independent short film.

Director Nikita Diacourt Country Germany, France

The latest short from Russian-born German animator Nikita Diacourt ("Fest") is an expressionless, experimental slapstick comedy in which the director's CG avatar performs unpredictable moves learning to do backflips.

Directed by Pierre-Hugues Dallaire and Benoit Therriault Country: Canada

"Canary" is the story of a boy and a bird who find hope and connection in the deepest, darkest places. Directed by Pierre-Hugues Dallaire and Benoit Therriault with the team of Rodeo Fx in Montreal, the film will make its official debut at the Tokyo International Film Festival.

Directed by Wendy Tilby and Amanda Forbis Country: Canada

The latest film from Canadian animation duo Wendy Tilby and Amanda Forbis.

Director Laura Gonçalves Country: Portugal

Director Laura Gonçalves tells the story of her uncle Botao, a garbage collector in France for 30 years, through the voices of the family who knew him best.

Director João Gonzalez Country of Origin Portugal, France, UK

Winner of the Lights Cine Discovery Award at Cannes Critics' Week, Ice Merchants is the first independent short film by João Gonzalez. The short follows a pair of isolated ice sellers, a father and his young son, who perform superhuman feats on a daily basis in order to stay afloat.

Director Sofia El Khyari Country France, Qatar, Portugal

In a lush, hidden forest, a woman surrounded by delicate butterflies connects her past choices with her present emotions Shadow is a film by Casablanca native and Royal College of Art graduate Sofia El Chiari's fourth short film.

Pictured above: "Canary," "The Ice Merchant," and "Backflip"

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