Fragments

The People

A film about human interaction and attachment, The People explores the mark people leave on each other and the space they occupy. The watercolor’s fluidity and transparency are the tools used to communicate the emotional tone of the film.

Three Trees

Homework

There is exactly enough time

Oskar Salomonowitz, the 12-year-old son of filmmakers Anja Salomonowitz and Virgil Widrich, had drawn 206 pictures in a flip book when he died in an accident. His father continued to draw the film with the remaining 482 sheets.

Vergot

Two brothers, an exuberant father and an invisible mother. A family of farmers from an Alpine valley where life is rude, as well as manners. The younger son, Gim, is discovering his homosexuality, but the world around him, especially his father, just can't accept that. So the elder son Alex is stuck in the middle, on one hand encouraging Gim to overcome all his fears, on the other trying to continue the tradition of the fathers. In such an exasperated context is hard to recognize the love hidden behind. Will they be able to keep on living together?

The Phoenix

The ancient myth of the phoenix, the legendary bird with the amazing power of self-regeneration, is reborn with a modern twist. In this animated adaptation of a story by Sylvia Townsend Warner, we follow Lord Strawberry's search for the fabled bird. He finds it in the deserts of Arabia and brings it home to his aviary. Upon Lord Stawberry's death, however, the phoenix ends up as a sideshow in a fairground. This spirited satire of human foibles, with its timely message about our treatment of nature's creatures, will appeal to young people and adults alike.

Functional Block Diagrams

A synthesis of sound and movement; colourful characters dance and move in repetitive patterns to percussive and melodic elements. A combination of motion and music that is hypnotic and beautiful. At first it feels structured and orderly but as more elements are added becomes quixotically expressive.

Interview

A freewheeling cinematic experience, this film is the work of two filmmakers who relate their perceptions of each other through their respective animation techniques. Images and words are paired in startling associations. Each does a visual portrait of the other, based on characteristic gestures and impressions. A combination of techniques and materials produces a film of rich visual texture shaped by the hands and heads of two very different people.

Canada Vignettes: Countdown

This vignette illustrates the variety of professions, people and technical procedures required by the filmmaking process.

Smart Talk with Raisin

Raisin, her brother Malcom and her orphan dog Hamilton host a magic show. This animated short was made for MTV's Liquid Television.

Lord of the Sky

In this animated environmental parable, we find a people living in harmony with nature, until carelessness leads to the ravens' revenge. We follow a boy's courageous journey to the spirit world to find the only one who can save his village from the resulting darkness--the Lord of the sky. An artistic unity of form and content, Lord of the Sky is a dazzling combination of 3-D models, puppets, special effects and cut-out paper animation. Its intricate, beautifully rendered drawings reflect the natural environment and cultural heritage of the Pacific Northwest. The film speaks strongly of the need for ecological balance in the world.

Rosie

The film profiles artist and choreographer Rosie Herrera, and features excerpts from her solo show Cookie’s Kid. It's one of ten short films that make up the Miami artist documentary compilation project titled I’ve Never Not Been From Miami, commissioned by WPBT2 South Florida PBS, with support from Knight Arts and the David & Francie Horvitz Family Foundation.

Bobs

While everyone seems to find their way into the adult world, Bob is somehow trapped in childhood. Terrified of being left behind, he'll do anything in his power to force his way into this new life phase. But little does he know that the adult world is nothing like he expected.

VII. Thou You Shalt Not Steal

Norbert, the protagonist of the film, is a priest. But also a father and a criminal convicted of bank robbery. His future is uncertain, as is his family's.

The Old Mill

Night in an old mill is dramatically depicted in this Oscar-winning short in which the frightened occupants, including birds, timid mice, owls, and other creatures try to stay safe and dry as a storm approaches. As the thunderstorm worsens, the mill wheel begins to turn and the whole mill threatens to blow apart until at last the storm subsides.

Azureus Rising

Azureus Rising is a proof of concept for a science fiction action adventure feature film saga and next-gen video game. The 6 minute proof of concept short film has been featured on hundreds of blogs & websites around the world. Since its premier on youtube.com on May 17th, 2010, Azureus has received more than half a million hits and counting. Azureus Rising has also won 8 awards to date, including: Best Animated Film, Best Director, Best Visuals, Best Sound FXs and Best Original Score. Currently, Azureus is in development as a major motion picture and AAA video game title.

Glassy Ocean

On what apparently is a parallel world, time flows in a much slower pace than normal. The ocean remains on a solid state of matter as the eccentric individuals who inhabit this land casually wander over it.

ARK

An unknown virus has destroyed almost the entire human population. Oblivious to the true nature of the disease, the only remaining survivors escape to the sea. In great ships, they set off in search of uninhabited land. So begins the exodus, led by one man ...