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A machine comes to life in a 3D animation short inspired by Charlie Chaplin.
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Watch today’s Festival: https://www.wildsound.ca/events/diversity-festival-shorts-showcase
ZAKI, 15min., Pakistan
Directed by Hassaan Imtiaz
Suffocated in traditions and unethical business practices, Zaki decides to make a bold move in the name of individuality against the will of his family.
https://instagram.com/iamhassaanimtiaz
Shut Up & Make Me…, 12min,. USA
Directed by Claudine Pierre-Louis
We witness the search for answers amongst depression through the eyes of the main character, Soul.
https://www.instagram.com/claudinelove1214/
Shear Disturbance, 8min., USA
Directed by Nate Reynolds
A timid young man deeply struggles with generalized anxiety while getting a haircut.
Like this, it seems easier!, 2min., Portugal
Directed by 4ºB EB1PE Câmara de Lobos
Two brothers show us how to be more supportive in different everyday situations.
Francelho’s Flight, 3min., Portugal
Directed by EBS Calheta TV / CAD
In a corner of the island lives a blue francelho in the place where Zarco (the sailor) lived in peace and harmony. Calheta is our home. All together we form a pleasant space to live.
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“Peace in my Night” is a compelling documentary that follows the extraordinary life of Elsie Mascher, a woman whose unwavering faith in God guided her through the darkest chapters of World War II.
As a young child, Elsie witnessed the horrors of war firsthand, enduring the unimaginable as her family were forced into labor on their own farm. Eventually taking the chance to flee, Elsie and her family embarked on a frightening journey to freedom.
Their arrival in Canada brought new opportunities and it was there that Elsie found love, meeting her husband and embarking on a new chapter of life to East Africa.
Featuring intimate interviews, archival footage, and glimpses of who she is today, “Peace in my Night” offers a deeply personal and moving portrait of a woman whose faith carried her through the darkest of times. As Elsie Mascher reflects on her experiences and shares the wisdom gained from a life lived with purpose and determination, her story serves as a testament to the enduring power of faith, resilience, and peace.
Directed by Abigail Mascher
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Watch today’s Festival: https://www.wildsound.ca/events/animation-shorts-festival-part-2
Praying for Love, 2min., USA
Directed by Sofia Tonin
Female praying mantis struggles with cannibalistic tendencies while
looking for love.
https://www.instagram.com/sofiatonin_art
Right Hand Man, 3min,. USA
Directed by Emma Greenman, Yaumara Carrion
Lucas tries to navigate his first date with Cristine at a fancy
restaurant; however, his conjoined hand puppet brother, Cade, also wants in on the fun.
https://www.instagram.com/egg.animations/
Striking Gold, 2min., USA
Directed by Marin Francis
When gold miners Alonzo and Rufus come across a stuck nugget of
gold, their disagreement on how to get it unstuck leads to chaos.
https://www.instagram.com/mairinart
The Legend of King Nibbles, 3min,. USA
Directed by Alison Chang, Selin Bekiroglu
A hamster king is a victim of his own demise when he refuses to
share his excessive wealth with the rest of his kingdom.
https://www.instagram.com/alisonrchang/
Total Opposites, 2min., USA
Directed by Afek Felix Eyal
Two beings, Dark and Light, fight to impose control of the world in order to achieve peace- only to realize peace can only come through co-existence.
https://www.instagram.com/felixeyal
Wall unit, 10min,. Poland
Directed by Joanna Polak
A ramshackle wall unit is a symbol of the monotonous life of a certain 40-year-old man living in a grey, dirty post-communist block of flats district. Right after his birthday, suffering from the midlife crisis, the man decides to change his dull and routine-based existence. Alas, his wife stands in the way.
Alyssum, 6min,. USA
Directed by Alex King
Alyssum follows Alyson, a young woman who’s struggling with perfectionism as she attempts to craft the perfect bouquet for her wife, Lilith. Overwhelmed by anxiety and self-doubt, she battles her inner critic, represented by corrupting vines. As she spirals deeper into self-doubt, she must decide: will she push forward and embrace imperfection, or will her fears consume her?
https://www.instagram.com/alyssum_film/
If I Were a Carpenter, 3min., Canada
Directed by Elizabeth Lewis
This hand drawn animated film is based on the classic song If I Were a Carpenter and sung by the great Bobby Darin. How can love conquer the social divide? This film is a tender slightly tongue in cheek story of how love can transform us and ultimately bridge our differences.
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Watch today’s Festival: https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/best-of-animation-shorts-festival-september
The Happy Balloon, 4min., Iraq
Directed by Ahmed Najm
The film talks about the dreams and ambitions of young people that mix illusion and reality, so the hero discovers the way to reach the truth he wants to achieve his dreams.
https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?gdpr=0&us_privacy=1—&gdpr_consent=tcunavailable&tcfe=3&client=ca-pub-5211787463723129&output=html&h=600&slotname=2877544770&adk=3393101472&adf=3127517956&pi=t.ma~as.2877544770&w=300&fwrn=4&fwrnh=100&lmt=1757940560&rafmt=1&plas=308x510_l%7C308x510_r&format=300×600&url=https%3A%2F%2Ffestivalreviews.org%2F2025%2F09%2F14%2Fwatch-todays-free-festival-best-of-animation-shorts-festival%2F&host=ca-host-pub-5038568878849053&h_ch=5598771027&fwr=0&fwrattr=true&rpe=1&resp_fmts=4&wgl=1&uach=WyJXaW5kb3dzIiwiMTkuMC4wIiwieDg2IiwiIiwiMTQwLjAuNzMzOS44MSIsbnVsbCwwLG51bGwsIjY0IixbWyJDaHJvbWl1bSIsIjE0MC4wLjczMzkuODEiXSxbIk5vdD1BP0JyYW5kIiwiMjQuMC4wLjAiXSxbIkdvb2dsZSBDaHJvbWUiLCIxNDAuMC43MzM5LjgxIl1dLDBd&abgtt=6&dt=1757940482133&bpp=15&bdt=121280&idt=15&shv=r20250910&mjsv=m202509090201&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3Df71e7748ecad129b%3AT%3D1743533455%3ART%3D1757940208%3AS%3DALNI_MZ8-QViSAjoWxcfOltqtmMnBroAqQ&gpic=UID%3D00001085ab287da6%3AT%3D1743533455%3ART%3D1757940208%3AS%3DALNI_MbxHkwUkWtKY3P81tsVRWZ7JVER5Q&eo_id_str=ID%3D03625cb1cee726ef%3AT%3D1756692766%3ART%3D1757940208%3AS%3DAA-AfjaGQmmvQG4s11BHMk_IBCMW&prev_fmts=0x0%2C728x90%2C728x90&nras=1&correlator=3332698082734&pv_h_ch=5598771027&frm=20&pv=1&u_tz=-240&u_his=19&u_h=1080&u_w=1920&u_ah=1032&u_aw=1920&u_cd=24&u_sd=1&dmc=8&adx=411&ady=2049&biw=1905&bih=911&scr_x=0&scr_y=400&eid=31094533%2C31094571%2C31094653%2C42531705%2C95370519%2C95370776%2C95344789%2C95371231%2C95371687&oid=2&psts=AOrYGslQhA6JvrHBZElTNRUL5rx_qrzY2h8GH1iBApyi2LHtnDaRKRwUXsZZ9-QGYoenhG0D-IejCwCrfEVNB0m0QBinRn0JB2D8eg%2CAOrYGsnE-xfZFCMELfYfWUh2U9lXNcTdTcw2–_apb2Jyt53i-LeP1kfPXOJJs6hiwb-_gfsjYPASn4ZtVABYge56OyKlB_jOfMCNsxr&pvsid=5218187277034957&tmod=2038050464&uas=0&nvt=1&ref=https%3A%2F%2Ffestivalreviews.org%2F%3Fs%3Dwatch%2Btoday%2527s%2Bfree%2Bfestival%253A%2Banimation%2Bfilm%2Bfestival&fc=1920&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C1920%2C0%2C1920%2C1032%2C1920%2C911&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7CaoevEbr%7C&abl=CA&pfx=0&fu=128&bc=31&bz=1&td=1&tdf=2&psd=W251bGwsbnVsbCxudWxsLDNd&nt=1&pgls=CAA.&ifi=4&uci=a!4&btvi=1&fsb=1&dtd=78144
Self-Shot Film, 13min., Kazakhstan
Directed by Marat Narimanov
The pre-life, life and after-life of a human, featuring problems that we meet and decisions that we take. A surrealist film told in a non-narrative form: in non-concrete images, emotions and associations. A journey, a meditation, a disturbing experience.
Beautify, 1min,. Russia
Directed by Elizaveta Makarenko
Beautify follows a young woman’s surreal journey to self-acceptance as she confronts society’s beauty standards and embraces her true identity.
https://www.instagram.com/chelikot/
Beetle Summer, 3min,. USA
Directed by Jian Yuan, Anyue Chen
A young girl, Rika, who lives in the countryside of Japan, is raising a rhino beetle for beetle fights in order to gain friends. But before then, she needs to train and nurture it.
Date Knight, 3min., USA
Directed by Amber Schmoyer, Kareena Bhatia
A knight catfishes a dragon on a date in an attempt to slay her.
https://www.instagram.com/dateknight_film/
Dogs of Bishkek, 2min,. USA
Directed by Viktor Niksdorf
Set in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, a young boy named Sasha has to evade a ravenous dog on his way home from the market.
https://www.instagram.com/vikniksdorf.art
Harmonia, 3min., USA
Directed by Alex Rodarte, Victoria Sjostedt
In a magical forest, a reckless young knight discovers a music box but unleashes an ancient wrath upon winding it and must run to safety.
Jurassic Ward, 2min., USA
Directed by Max “Amber” Bellomio
A troubled employee for the “Wishes Come True Foundation” needs
to bring a dangerous dinosaur through the hospital to fulfill a child’s only wish.
https://www.instagram.com/Max_Bellomio
Loud & Proud, 2min. USA
Directed by Eliana Anselmo
A young volleyball player tells her story of how it’s not the tough conditions that make volleyball hard… “It’s her mom”, embarrassed by her overbearing mother putting strain on their relationship and her relationship with volleyball.
https://www.instagram.com/anselmo.3d
Watch the festival FOR FREE by signing up for the FREE 3-DAY trial using the link, or go to http://www.wildsound.ca
Watch today’s Festival: https://www.wildsound.ca/events/best-of-animation-shorts-festival
The Happy Balloon, 4min., Iraq
Directed by Ahmed Najm
The film talks about the dreams and ambitions of young people that mix illusion and reality, so the hero discovers the way to reach the truth he wants to achieve his dreams.
https://www.instagram.com/a7med.njm/
Self-Shot Film, 13min., Kazakhstan
Directed by Marat Narimanov
The pre-life, life and after-life of a human, featuring problems that we meet and decisions that we take. A surrealist film told in a non-narrative form: in non-concrete images, emotions and associations. A journey, a meditation, a disturbing experience.
Beautify, 1min,. Russia
Directed by Elizaveta Makarenko
Beautify follows a young woman’s surreal journey to self-acceptance as she confronts society’s beauty standards and embraces her true identity.
https://www.instagram.com/chelikot/
Beetle Summer, 3min,. USA
Directed by Jian Yuan, Anyue Chen
A young girl, Rika, who lives in the countryside of Japan, is raising a rhino beetle for beetle fights in order to gain friends. But before then, she needs to train and nurture it.
Date Knight, 3min., USA
Directed by Amber Schmoyer, Kareena Bhatia
A knight catfishes a dragon on a date in an attempt to slay her.
https://www.instagram.com/dateknight_film/
Dogs of Bishkek, 2min,. USA
Directed by Viktor Niksdorf
Set in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, a young boy named Sasha has to evade a ravenous dog on his way home from the market.
https://www.instagram.com/vikniksdorf.art
Harmonia, 3min., USA
Directed by Alex Rodarte, Victoria Sjostedt
In a magical forest, a reckless young knight discovers a music box but unleashes an ancient wrath upon winding it and must run to safety.
Jurassic Ward, 2min., USA
Directed by Max “Amber” Bellomio
A troubled employee for the “Wishes Come True Foundation” needs
to bring a dangerous dinosaur through the hospital to fulfill a child’s only wish.
https://www.instagram.com/Max_Bellomio
Loud & Proud, 2min. USA
Directed by Eliana Anselmo
A young volleyball player tells her story of how it’s not the tough conditions that make volleyball hard… “It’s her mom”, embarrassed by her overbearing mother putting strain on their relationship and her relationship with volleyball.
https://www.instagram.com/anselmo.3d
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Watch today’s Festival: https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/winning-lgbtq-human-interest-festival
Close to Home, 32min., USA
Directed by Whitney Skauge
Through the exploration of their personal and shared experiences, four young advocates imagine a world where access to safe, affordable, and reliable housing is not a privilege but an undeniable human right.
https://www.instagram.com/whitneyskauge/
https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-feedback-close-to-home
Revenge, 19min., Brazil
Directed by Mari Penteado, Eduardo Campos
Virginia is a 43-year-old transgender woman who works as a community health agent in Guarulhos, Brazil. The film follows a day in her life, marked by the exhaustion of work, but also by meaningful encounters, dreams, and, above all, the need to live – and resist.
https://www.instagram.com/vinganca_curta
https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-feedback-revenge
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Watch today’s Festival: https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/winning-lgbtq-festival-shorts
AT ARM’S LENGTH, 5min. USA
Directed by August Broussard
When a neurotic teen asks his best friend to break his arm for prescription meds, what starts as a twisted favor spirals into an absurd test of loyalty — with consequences neither of them is quite prepared for.
https://instagram.com/augustvbroussard
https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-feedback-at-arm-s-length
JIMBO: BIG TOP, 3min., USA
Directed by Brad Hammer
https://www.instagram.com/jimbothedragclown
https://www.instagram.com/jimbothedragclown
https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-feedback-jimbo-big-top
STEALING ASH, 13min., USA
Directed by Frances Capel
After their best friend dies, four best friends plan a heist to steal their ashes and take them on a final joyride for the send off they deserve.
https://instagram.com/campyatc
https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-feeedback-stealing-ash
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Watch the festival here: https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/watch-the-last-christmas
A mischievous 8-year-old girl unleashes a twisted Christmas nightmare, when her plans to capture Santa Claus go horribly wrong.
Summary: ‘Tis the night before Christmas and all is peaceful. That is until High School Cheerleader, Kirsten, is awoken in the middle of the night by her mischievous 8-year-old sister, Alice. Teased at school for still believing in Santa, Alice’s plan to capture the mythical gift giver and prove his existence has gone horribly wrong. The living room is trashed and Santa lies dead amidst a gruesome Christmas crime scene! The girls argue over their predicament, but Alice has a plan and convinces her older sister they must work together to get rid of the evidence and bury the body before anyone finds out they killed Christmas! As the girls struggle to drag Saint Nick’s carcass across the back yard, they are pleasantly surprised to find he is still alive! But just as things are starting to look up for the trouble-making sisters, they soon discover that Santa Claus isn’t quite the beloved character we’ve all grown up to believe.
http://www.thelastchristmasfilm.com/
https://www.instagram.com/thelastxmasfilm
Director Statement
Growing up in England during the 80s and 90s, I was very much a product of the American Pop Culture invasion of the time. With a particular affinity for Hollywood Cinema, as a young lad, I dreamt of emulating my heroes, such as Marty McFly, Ray Stantz, Fievel and The Goonies. When one fateful night, at just 8 years of age, two friends introduced me to a whole new world of cinematic wonders with horror classics, such as The Lost Boys (1987) The Monster Squad (1987) and A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984). I was instantly drawn to the conflicting allure of the horror genre and thus my passion for film-making and the desire to tell my own stories of the macabre was confirmed.
With such romantic beginnings I wanted my short film debut to be a love letter to the very 80s and 90s horror and adventure movies that inspired me as an artist and as an individual. I’m sure, like all writer/directors, I was eager for an original idea that would be appealing and entertaining for a wide audience, while also allowing me to showcase my own style of visual storytelling with emphasis on character, performance, dialogue, theme and expressive lighting. Fortunately, the concept for The Last Christmas hit me like that of the Flux Capacitor to Doctor Emmett Brown, and despite no prior affinity for the festive season, I was immediately drawn to the darker themes of Christmas, such as greed, jealousy and vanity; commonly suppressed or sugar-coated during the festivities, studying these themes, along with the opportunity to explore preconceived notions and characters in unique ways would help ensure The Last Christmas is not only an original and appealing entry into a sub-genre starving of horror content, but an original and appealing entry into the horror genre as a whole.
Watch the festival at 8PM EST FOR FREE by signing up for the FREE 3-DAY trial using the link, or go to http://www.wildsound.ca
Watch today’s Festival: https://www.wildsound.ca/events/winning-lgbtq-festival-shorts
AT ARM’S LENGTH, 5min. USA
Directed by August Broussard
When a neurotic teen asks his best friend to break his arm for prescription meds, what starts as a twisted favor spirals into an absurd test of loyalty — with consequences neither of them is quite prepared for.
https://instagram.com/augustvbroussard
https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-feedback-at-arm-s-length
JIMBO: BIG TOP, 3min., USA
Directed by Brad Hammer
https://www.instagram.com/jimbothedragclown
https://www.instagram.com/jimbothedragclown
https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-feedback-jimbo-big-top
STEALING ASH, 13min., USA
Directed by Frances Capel
After their best friend dies, four best friends plan a heist to steal their ashes and take them on a final joyride for the send off they deserve.
https://instagram.com/campyatc
https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-feeedback-stealing-ash
Festival Reviews 