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113 WORDS FOR YOU TODAY (TAIWAN / CHINA / USA)
SYNOPSIS: On a frozen planet where every word costs energy, a worker endures silence, storms, and solitude, saving his words for the one that matters most.
RATINGS GUIDE: All Audiences
DIRECTOR: Bo Qing Tan & Lan Zeng
GENRE: Sci-Fi
PREMIERE STATUS: North American Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Virtual Block #2 – Sci-Fi & Beyond Shorts
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Bo Qing and Lan are an animation director and screenwriter duo who have collaborated for over 20 years. They have led creative teams on a wide range of animated projects. After their personal animated short Entrance Exam received wide recognition from both industry professionals and audiences, they moved from Chengdu, China to Los Angeles to continue pursuing their animation dreams—now working on animated feature films with a dedicated creative team.
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ALMOST TEN (USA)
SYNOPSIS: When a innocent looking fish tricks a robber into thinking she’s younger than she is..
RATINGS GUIDE: Violence, Language, Adult Content, Intense & Scary Imagery
GENRE: Comedy
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Thursday, Oct. 30th @ 11:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Daniel Quinn is a writer/director based in Providence, Rhode Island. He has over 10 years of experience and specializes in comedy and animation. He was awarded Best Animated Short at The Lower Eastside Film Festival in 2021.
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ANIMAL MATH (USA)
SYNOPSIS: In this hand drawn fantasia, a young girl explores her internal world as she encounters a book of secret paintings, a mysterious mountain, and the animal gods imprisoned within.
RATINGS GUIDE: Violence, Nudity
DIRECTORS: Robbie Ward
GENRE: Fantasy, The Beyond/Fantastic
PREMIERE STATUS:Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Wednesday, Oct. 29th @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Robbie Ward is an illustrator, filmmaker, composer, and author from the mountain forests of Colorado. His stop motion animations have been screened at film festivals around the world, garnering attention for their meticulously hand drawn technique. A firm believer in the alchemical nature of physical art materials, he aims to split the difference between the classic monster movies and cartoons of his childhood, and the ecstatic mysticism of visionary poets like William Blake.
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COSMIC CRASH (GERMANY)
SYNOPSIS: When an otherworldly being crashes near a lab, chaos is unleashed.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence
DIRECTOR: James Smith
GENRE: Horror, Sci-Fi, Comedy
PREMIERE STATUS: Utah Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Thursday, Oct. 30th @ 11:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: James Smith, born on March 20th 1996, is a filmmaker with a passion for stop motion animated films. He’s been creating stop motion films for over ten years. His award-winning short films Monster Encounters (2020) and Demons in the Closet (2023) have been screened at over 100 international film festivals. Festival screenings for his films include festivals like Slamdance, Fantastic Fest, Tampere Film Festival and many more. His dedicated passion for genre films continues with his 2025 stop motion film “Cosmic Crash”.
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CRIMSON HARBOR (SPAIN)
SYNOPSIS: Hattie Duvall, a mysterious clairvoyant, is asked by the Crimson Harbor Police Department to help them solve a serial murder case that has shadowed the city for the past few months. Her interviewer, an experienced detective, is reluctant to Ms. Duvall’s unorthodox techniques, but both will be forced to cooperate and unravel the mystery surrounding these woods.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence, Intense & Scary Imagery
DIRECTOR: Victor Bonafonte
GENRE: Horror, The Beyond/Fantastic
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Friday, Oct. 24th @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Former Architect, Victor is the CEO of one of the most international architectural communication companies, Beauty and The Bit. At a certain point he made the leap to the world of VFX first, then to Art Direction, the world of video games and cinematic direction, in which he has been both Director and also Production Designer. Among Victor’s best-known pieces is “”REBIRTH””, a landmark in photorealistic animation made with Unreal Engine in real time, a piece for which he was Art Director. Later he has collaborated in cinematic direction of projects for artists such as David Guetta, Snoop Dogg, Akon, etc. Crimson Harbor is his last short film to date. FILMOGRAPHY Landmark (Director, Writer, Art Director) 2018 Rebirth (Art Director) 2019 SPACE X CINEMATIC (Confidential, Co-Director, Art Director) 2021 Institute Francais de la Mode: Paris Fashion Week cinematic (Director, Art Director) 2021 David Guetta Experience Teaser Stage 11 (Director, Art Director) 2022 CRIMSON HARBOR (Director, Writer, Art Director) 2024
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DAGON (ITALY)
SYNOPSIS: DAGON is a stop motion animation short film freely inspired by the story of the same name by cult author H.P. Lovecraft. In 1919 San Francisco, a man is standing on the ledge of a building ready to jump. Desperate, he relives in his memories the absurd and shocking episode that led him to the brink of suicide: the encounter with the monstrous and mythological Great Old One, DAGON.
RATINGS GUIDE: Intense & Scary Imagery
DIRECTOR: Paolo Gaudio
GENRE: Horror, Fantasy
PREMIERE STATUS: Utah Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Friday, Oct. 31st @ 6:30 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Paolo Gaudio is a director, screenwriter, and animator specializing in techniques such as stop motion and cut out. He debuted with Fantasticherie di un Passeggiatore Solitario, winner of 14 international awards, and received acclaim for shorts like Looney Foodz! and The Black reCat. In 2024 he directed Dagon and joined the organizing committee of Fantafestival.
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DINO DOKI MAGISAURS (USA)
SYNOPSIS: When young paleontologists discover the mysterious magistones, the world of dinosaurs comes crashing into a new reality of science and magic!
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence, All Audiences
DIRECTOR: Rachel Mangan & Hannah Mangan
GENRE: Horror, Comedy
PREMIERE STATUS: International Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Tuesday, Oct. 28th @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Twins Rachel and Hannah Mangan grew up across the East Coast, inspired by their childhood travels to tell character-driven stories. With a Masters in Screenwriting and Bachelors in Animation, their synergy creates an indie animation powerhouse.
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DREAMWALKER (UK)
SYNOPSIS: Dreamwalker is a sci-fi drama about a shaman who embarks on a quest to save his village from certain extinction. Through an altered state of consciousness, he connects with the mind of a scientist from another time who is conducting research to save her civilization.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence, Brief Nudity, Adult Content
DIRECTOR: Luca Schenato & Sinem Vardarli
GENRE: Sci-Fi, Fantasy
PREMIERE STATUS: North America Premiere
SCREENING DATE:Saturday, Nov. 1st @ 2:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Luca Schenato (Italy) and Sinem Vardarli (Istanbul), based in London, are an award-winning directing duo specializing in animated films. They have directed commercial and short-format films for notable production companies and contributed to acclaimed series, including Cartoon Network’s The Amazing World of Gumball and the BAFTA-winning Floogals. Since 2010, they have written and directed numerous awarded short films, including Fingers Tale (2014), A Pistol Against My Head (2016), and The Brave Heart (2018), all of which have screened at festivals worldwide, earning international acclaim.
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EMERSION (AUSTRIA / UK)
SYNOPSIS: A competitive surfer makes a compelling discovery when he is dragged under the waves.
RATINGS GUIDE: All Audiences
DIRECTOR: Howard Wimshurst
GENRE: Fantasy
PREMIERE STATUS: World Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Virtual Block #3 – Fantasy Shorts
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Howard Wimshurst is a filmmaker and artist who specializes in hand-drawn animation. He studied at Portsmouth University for a Bachelor of Arts degree in Animation and is now living in Vienna, Austria.
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FLOCKY (SPAIN / USA)
SYNOPSIS: FLOCKY is an animated allegory that captures the essence of love and the poignant nature of loss.
RATINGS GUIDE: All Audiences
DIRECTOR: Esther Casas Roura
GENRE: The Beyond/Fantastic
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Wednesday, Oct. 29th @ 2:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Esther Casas Roura is an award-winning filmmaker recognized for seamlessly blending metaphorical storytelling with animation, establishing a distinctive cinematic style. With expertise in stop-motion, traditional animation, and motion graphics, Esther established ECR FILMS, producing three acclaimed short films and various commercials. Currently, Esther is developing her latest short “The Melody Within”, exploring the healing power of music, and her first feature, “TAO”, a metaphorical story that merges her scientific background with her passion for storytelling.
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FRANKEN STUCK (USA)
SYNOPSIS: A reckless hand, a lethal play, a love so pure now ripped away. Forged hot from rage and shocking light, the Creature’s love must set things right.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence
GENRE: Horror, The Beyond/Fantastic
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Thursday, Oct. 30th @ 5:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Ever since she first laid eyes on a screen, Sommar has been twisting and breaking the natural order through her pencil, her mouse and keyboard. She’s a character animator who hopes to continue her practice in the world of animation whenever she gets her chance. As a comic book fan, Sommar hopes to push her work to the limits of 3D, creating a graphic and rhythmic style to her work
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HELP ME TOM (CHINA)
SYNOPSIS: Set in a small town in the future, a military robot is transformed into a human service robot Tom. But the war is still coming, and the robot Tom must make a choice.
RATINGS GUIDE: Strong Violence, Intense & Scary Imagery
DIRECTOR: Jiahang Yang
GENRE: Sci-Fi
PREMIERE STATUS: Utah Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Virtual Block #2 – Sci-Fi & Beyond Shorts
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Born in Shenyang, graduated from Fine Arts College of Shenyang University
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I BEG YOUR PARDON (USA)
SYNOPSIS: A man commits a terrible crime and the consequences are not what you’d expect.
RATINGS GUIDE: Violence, Intense & Scary Imagery
DIRECTOR: John W. Lustig
GENRE: Horror, Comedy, The Beyond/Fantastic
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Tuesday, Oct. 28th @ 8:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: John W. Lustig is a filmmaker and animator based in Queens, NY. After studying film at NYU Tisch School of the Arts, he began making independent animated short films that have screened at dozens of film festivals across the world and won multiple awards. He is currently writing his next animated short film.
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IN HALF (SPAIN)
SYNOPSIS: Through a child’s imagination it tells the journey of a man who after falling prey to his fears, he must cross a strange world, a universe full of magic, where he will be confronted with his own fears and conflicts from the past and where he must find solutions for the future to discover his self-identity.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence, Mild Language
DIRECTORS: Jorge Morais
GENRE: Fantasy
PREMIERE STATUS: Utah Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Virtual Block #3 – Fantasy Shorts
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Jorge Morais is an innovative independent filmmaker and artist from Vigo, Spain, renowned for his dynamic blend of visual storytelling and creative expression. With roots in graffiti, mural art, and stage design, he brings a vibrant, urban flair to his projects. As a co-founder of New Order Productions, he seamlessly integrates fine arts, scenography, and illustration, honing his expertise in production design and animation through a variety of international collaborations. His extensive experience working in studios across Portugal, India, England, Italy, and Germany underscores his versatility, global perspective, and commitment to pushing artistic boundaries.
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MONITOR (USA)
SYNOPSIS: A story of early parenthood that preys on the fears of new parents. Someone is always watching…
RATINGS GUIDE: Intense & Scary Imagery
DIRECTOR: Michael Berardini
GENRE: Horror
PREMIERE STATUS: World Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Friday, Oct. 31st @ 6:30 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Michael Berardini is an animator and director with 15 years of experience in the industry. He’s animated on a number of big feature films, directed for television and streaming for studios like Disney, Warner Bros. Animation and Dreamworks. He loves making passion projects on the side. ‘Monitor’ is his latest.
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NEXT SHOW IN 90 MINUTES (USA)
SYNOPSIS: A routine both natural and unnatural unfolds in the heart of one of America’s most cherished landscapes.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence, Adult Content, Intense & Scary Imagery
DIRECTOR: John Hill
GENRE: Horror, Sci-Fi
PREMIERE STATUS: None
SCREENING DATE: Sunday, Oct. 26th @ 1:30 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: John Hill is a veteran of television and new media animation. He has credits in several television, video game, and online productions. Currently he is an Assistant Professor of Animation at The University of South Alabama and lives and works in Mobile, Alabama, with his wife and son.
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OBSERVER (USA)
SYNOPSIS: When contact is lost with Samuel Harth, the Algan Space Corporation looks into his memories to see what unfolded during a mission to Planet COR-73, unraveling a cosmic mystery in the process.
RATINGS GUIDE: Intense & Scary Imagery
DIRECTOR: Dylan Powers
GENRE: Horror, Sci-Fi
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Friday, Oct. 24th @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Dylan Powers is a writer and director from Asheboro, North Carolina. His works often feel like a blend of video games and film, inspired by his career in game trailers and cinematics. Dylan’s films are most known for their distinct atmosphere and strange stories that keep the audience thinking after their viewing experience.
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Poppa (USA)
SYNOPSIS: An unlucky dude encounters a sticky situation, after accidentally swallowing bubblegum.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence, Intense & Scary Imagery
DIRECTORS: Peter Ahern
GENRE: Horror, Comedy, The Beyond/Fantastic
PREMIERE STATUS: None
SCREENING DATE: Thursday, Oct. 30th @ 11:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Peter Ahern is an award winning artist based in Brooklyn, New York. He currently works as a 2D animator, director and designer on a wide variety of commercial, music video and television projects. Additionally, his short films and illustrations have reached audiences across the world via prestigious festivals, exhibitions and publications.
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SHRINE OF ABOMINATIONS (USA)
SYNOPSIS: A new horror is on the horizon, and terror is alive on the cursed planet ORBUS KAAL! The Wizard GAR-GNARGORATH has a gnawing desire to dominate this world through any means necessary, and all demons and lesser sorcerers tremble in fear at his psychotic ambitions! There is nothing that can stop the dread power of the arch wizard… or is there?
RATINGS GUIDE: Violence, Intense & Scary Imagery
DIRECTOR: Skinner Kennedy & Ross Kennedy
GENRE: Horror, Fantasy
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Thursday, Oct. 30th @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Skinner & Ross Kennedy are renowned artists based in Northern California whose clients include Warner Bros, Adult Swim, Vans, Apple, Quentin Tarantino, Fender guitars, and Juxtapoz.
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TERROR IN THE VALLEY (USA)
SYNOPSIS: On a cold desert night, a drifter and his dog make camp — but, eerie sounds stir the dark, and ancient creatures crawl from the shadows.
RATINGS GUIDE: Violence, Intense & Scary Imagery
GENRE: Horror
PREMIERE STATUS: USA Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Friday, Oct. 24th @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: A filmmaker and an Illustrator, who sometimes animates.
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THE OTTOMAN (USA)
SYNOPSIS: A hotshot gladiator seeks to prove himself in combat against a massive mechanical Scorpion, until his insecurities endanger the lives of his wife and son.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence, All Audiences
GENRE: Sci-Fi
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Monday, Oct. 27th @ 2:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Director Mike Stamm has worked in both live-action and animation, as well as comics, game design and online multimedia. His films often employ the conventions of genre films to explore themes of alienation and social hierarchy. He lives and works in Brooklyn, NYC.
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THE SYNTHETIC AGE (GREECE)
SYNOPSIS: In a city where people consume cartoons, a dog reconciles with its old friends, and together, they try to escape from humans.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence, Intense & Scary Imagery
GENRE: Horror, The Beyond/Fantastic
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Monday, Oct. 27th @ 2:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Dimitris Armenakis is an animation director based in Athens, Greece. In 2017 he graduated from Audiovisual Arts in Corfu and in 2019 he graduated from MA Animation at the Royal College of Art. Since then, he has been working as a freelance animation director for commercials, music videos, short films and documentaries.
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THE TRASHMEN (USA)
SYNOPSIS: A horror story about the inevitable outcome of late stage capitalism.
RATINGS GUIDE: All Audiences
GENRE: Horror, Comedy
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Friday, Oct. 24th @ 5:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: A feeble last gasp attempt to leave a mark after toiling in the art department for 30 years.
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TORTURED ARTIST
SYNOPSIS: Some artists just never get a break… until they break themselves! An aspiring creative struggles with negative self-talk and unfair comparisons with his peers. Can his only fan save him from himself? It’s Art Attack gone very wrong in this crude comedy short.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence, Mild Language, Brief Nudity, Adult Content
GENRE: The Beyond, Comedy
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Thursday, Oct. 30th @ 11:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Thomas Laurance is an award-winning writer/director of documentary and fiction. Feature documentaries include intimate family portrait ‘William Laurance & Sons Marine Engineers’ and humanitarian epic ‘On Our Doorstep’. Thomas is also one of the co-founders of London-based ‘Another Motion Picture Company’ who specialise in comedy and horror shorts.
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TRIAL OF THE CONCUBINE (AUSTRIA / USA)
SYNOPSIS: A warlock risks his soul for a chance to become the concubine of the demon who lives in the eye of the hurricane.
RATINGS GUIDE: Violence, Intense & Scary Imagery
GENRE: Horror
PREMIERE STATUS: Utah Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Friday, Oct. 24th @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Simon Young hails from the corn fields and now defunct video stores of rural Ohio. His love of horror led him to Pittsburgh, PA where he studied special effects make-up and monster building. He would later attend and graduate from Vancouver Film School’s animation dept. He currently lives in Vienna, Austria and spends every spare moment creating trash horror animation.
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WRACU (USA)
SYNOPSIS: A knight awakens in a carriage driven by Death, tormented by the memory of his execution. Consumed by a thirst for vengeance, nothing will stand between his iron will and retribution.
RATINGS GUIDE: Strong Violence
GENRE: Fantasy
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Friday, Oct. 24th @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Chase McGill is a filmmaker based in Los Angeles & New Jersey and a recent graduate of USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. Recognizing the substantial resources demanded by live-action filmmaking, Chase sought a more adaptable and cost-effective approach. Driven by his passion for storytelling and visual impact, he dedicated himself to 3D artistry. This shift enabled him to bring his creative visions to life with the flexibility and precision of digital tools, allowing him to achieve the cinematic quality of big-budget productions using just a single computer.
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