2021 San Diego International Kids Film Festival--Short Films

Are You Okay?” United States | 29min Short | Drama Director: Ryan Cannon Synopsis: This bystander story is told through the perspective of a 15-year-old girl, Raquelle, who witnesses her classmate Noah being bullied. When doing the right thing transforms Raquelle from bystander to victim, she finds herself trapped in the same emotional quicksand of her peers.     A Letter To My Friend In France Egypt | 13min Short | Drama Director: Alexander Amelines Synopsis: When imagination and freedom of speech are hindered by pre-determined boundaries, only a higher power can provide a breakthrough. Rami's encounter with "his friend in France" proves this thesis, and with a little impulsivity and imagination, the young protagonist learns a bit about himself.   Aldonza de la Mancha Belgium | 7min Short | Drama Director: Arjan Gebraad, Roel Swanenberg Synopsis: In a forest an adventurous man and his loyal friend go on a quest. A beautiful hiker becomes part of their clan and follows them deeper and deeper into the woods. Their journey brings them to the brim of giving up when they are confronted with a barrier they cannot seem to cross. Then, bravery is found in an unsuspected place.     Bane of the Beasts United States | 5min Short | Drama Director: Jo Meuris Synopsis: A young creature unlike any other is shunned by all the herds of the land. But little do they know, that the pup is meant for a far greater destiny. Biff & Me United States | 14min Short | Drama Director: Shayna Connelly Synopsis: Charlotte, 14, is a genius — hotheaded, nerdy, and brilliant. But what she secretly wants, deep down, is to be a beauty queen. Biff, 14, is the school bully — big, burly and (seemingly) brainless. But what he secretly wants, deep down, is to be a beauty queen. ​ When Charlotte is forced to tutor Biff in math, the pair discover their shared secret, and Biff eagerly helps Charlotte prepare for the upcoming Princess Teen Queen Pageant.   BING – Nicky United Kingdom| 8min Short | Animation Director: Declan Doyle Synopsis: Bing is a groundbreaking new television series. Celebrating the noisy, joyful, messy reality of life when you’re a pre-schooler, Bing stories are small but full of drama; everyday micro-dramas that all young children and the grown-ups in their lives will recognise    Calf Rope United States | 29min Short | Drama Director: Raphael Kolacz Synopsis: During the summer of '66, a former rodeo champion and cattle auctioneer from Oklahoma bonds tightly with his young grandson from suburban Pennsylvania while teaching him a few tricks from his previous trades. Shot entirely in rural Pennsylvania, Calf Rope captures the intense love that grandparents often share with their grandchildren and the legacy that lives on long after they have gone.     Coming Back United States | 5min Short | Animation Director: Yuxin Zhao Synopsis: A five-minute 2D animation about how a child's lonely world transforms into a colorful adventure through the friendship of newly awakened friends in a museum. This animation explores the idea that loneliness does not mean that life is full of sorrow. Imagination and one's attitude towards life can help them deal with it.   Cross Your Heart Denmark | 15min Short | Drama Director: Nikolaj Storgaard Mortensen Synopsis: Hanna's big brother Ivan is her best friend, but now he's all grown up and wants to move to the big city. Hanna knows that their older brother Jens died of an overdose in the city, and is scared that she is about to lose another brother to the dangerous city. With a mother still grief stricken from losing her child, Hanna has to navigate this difficult time on her own and be brave, because sometimes that's all you can do.      Errand Korea | 16min Short | Drama Director: Youngwoong LEE Synopsis: Younger siblings Joo-hee and Sung-joon go on errands at the request of their mother. But it's a list of errands that look weird. Will Joo-hee and Sung-joon be able to finish their errands well?   Everyday Ghosts United States | 29min Short | Drama Director: Sunwoo Bak Synopsis: What would your three days without parents and 3C products be like? Three kids that are addicted to 3C products to various extents are staying at a B&B in Yi-lan for three days. They have to feed themselves and make schedules on their own.     Flit United Kingdom | 11min Short | Drama Director: Jack Allen Synopsis: A world-renowned, professional fly killer, named Carl, is on the cusp of finalising his latest and most powerful invention; a machine that, with a single pulse, will annihilate every single fly on this world. Whilst testing its efficacy within the limited range of his workshop, a single fly miraculously survives the death pulse.   Happy Birthday Norway | 10min Short | Drama Director: Mads Eriksen Synopsis: HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Is a short, brutal and merciless snapshot from a reality far too many has experienced. Drugs destroy not only the addict, but whole families disintegrate from the inside. In this stress both the drug addict and their families can do and say things they would never dream of under normal circumstances.     Harriet: The Black Swan In the Year of COVID-19 United States | 34min Short | Drama Director: Klair Ethridge Synopsis: Four seasons of the life of Harriet Tubman are told through ballet. Spring Harriet: An enslaved girl. Summer Harriet: A young woman reaching for freedom. Autumn Harriet: A woman leading enslaved people to freedom. Winter Harriet: A mature woman reminisces about her purposeful life   H.E.N.R.I. Canada |7 min | Drama Director: Katarzyna Kochany Synopsis: After the tragic loss of his father, 7-year-old Simon turns to his home Artificial Intelligence communicator, to seek answers while his mother Mary-Anne and twin sister Simone try to readjust to their new reality.     High Jump United States | 23min Short | Drama Director: CHUNG Su-jin Synopsis: In 1988, fifth-grade elementary school student Han Jin-joo tries to prepare expensive gifts to make up with a Atheletic Teacher who is angry with her because of a minor misunderstanding in a high jump class.   Interface United States | 7min Short | Animation Director: Alex Gordillo Synopsis: A virtual reality obsessed loner must come to grips with the sudden intrusion of a live but illusive being in his otherwise orderly world.      Irritable Boy Taiwan | 26min Short | Drama Director: Hao wei Chen, Wei chiao Wang Synopsis: An irritable boy with a girly heart, how does he overcome the anxiety of not being able to poop properly?Kai, a ten-year-old boy with irritable bowel syndrome, in order to send the love letter to his crush, Jenny on Moon Festival. Kai must find a way to comfort his disobedient stomach.    Junga the Dancing Yeti Meets Heidi United States | 18min Short | Adventure Director: Stephen Tako Synopsis: Second installment in the series: Junga the Dancing Yeti meets a new friend during his first winter on the mountain where he and Grandma Yeti have traveled. Junga and his friend Heidi are bullied by Groth, a young Bigfoot boy. But instead of shunning Groth, they devise a plan to help the young Bigfoot overcome a stressful problem. Children learn a valuable lesson about not judging those who are acting out poorly, but to understand there are usually underlying reasons when children bully another child.      Justin and the Werloobee Brazil| 11min Short | Drama Director: Ken Yoffe & Ellen Weisberg, John Vo Synopsis: Based on the published book, FRUIT OF THE VINE (Weisberg and Yoffe, Waldorf Publishing, 2018). In JUSTIN AND THE WERLOOBEE, we meet Justin, a sensitive, introspective boy whose physical features and personality make him a convenient target for many of his cruel peers.   Kenni Koala United States | 6min Short | Animation Director: Julisse Tinoco Synopsis: "Kenni Koala" is a short film that follows a young, imaginative child and her Grandma after an argument. Kenni in a huff decides to leave to her imaginary world, where she is all by herself and can do whatever she wants. We follow her emotional journey but also her journey around the world.       Light in the Dark Brazil| 15min Short | Drama Director: Vinícius Lopes Lopes, Luciana Mazeto Synopsis: With paper, wax chalk and scissors, Julia decided to create a new world, where she could escape the rules of her mother and the silliness of her younger sister, Laura. But this world is still under construction, not everything goes as planned.    Living with the Ocean Taiwan | 30min Short | Drama Director: Joan Sung Synopsis: The program serves as a letter to nature and a message in a bottle for our future generations. We’ve recorded eight dying traditional fishing methods to show our young audience the beautiful marine culture and coastline, the spirit of our fishermen, and what our fishing villages look like.      Milk France | 5min Short | Adventure Director: Celia Jaspers Synopsis: When she sees an old man unable to pay for his milk, a young girl has a change of heart.    Mysterious Seeds (episode 4 of Super Meow) Russian Federation | 7min Short | Animation Director: Tatyana Moshkova Synopsis: Together, we’re superpowered!      PeaceTime: A Royal Frog United States | 4min Short | Drama Director: Stephen Moore Synopsis: A meditation exercise for kids age 3 to 99 and then some.   Red Junior and the Wolf United States | min Short | Animation Director: Winnie Wu Synopsis: In a fairytale world, Red Riding Hood’s granddaughter is best friends with Wolfie, a young wolf. Granny Red doesn’t like wolves because of her past experience, but Wolfie is nothing like the infamous Big Bad Wolf.      Saving Amelia United States | 27min Short | Drama Director: Matthew Fridg Synopsis: When two contentious sisters stumble upon an old two-way radio as they explore their attic while stuck at home, they realize it can mysteriously communicate with the past. As they start playing with the radio, they realize they are speaking with Amelia Earhart moments before the final transmission of her ill-fated flight.    Simon 3 " Hop On Your Bike ” France | 5min Short | Animation Director: Julien CAYOT Synopsis: Simon is an adorable little rabbit who exudes all the vitality of childhood.He is at an age when little rabbits (and indeed children!) are starting to come into their own - challenging relationships with parents, embarking upon school life, learning about the world in general.     Space Bears - The Movie United States | 37min Short | Animation Director: Mike Schleif Synopsis: Becca and Zoe help their newest friend Sam save the galaxy from a mean King.   Spotty Wants To Fly Taiwan | 5min Short | Drama Director: Guo Jun-ming Synopsis: “Once upon a time, in North Sea far, far away lived a very big fish. One day, the fish suddenly jumped out of the water and spread its huge wings to fly into the bigger sky further away.” When he hears the story, Spotty dreams of flying into the sky like the big fish did. However, all his friends discourage him to leave the water. But Spotty never gives up. After lots of practice, will he succeed eventually?     Stand By Me Korea |28min Short | Drama Director: PARK Chan-woo Synopsis: un-ho visits his mother's house to see Ji-min, his first son. He comes with So-yeong, his second wife and Chan-mi, who was born between Jun-ho and So-yeong.    Sweet Home Korea |19min Short | Drama Director: Kyujin KIM Synopsis: In my house, which I believed was the safest, my child disappeared.      The Awakeover United States | 12min Short | Drama Director: Stephen Burhoe Synopsis: A sleepover movie night turns sinister, as the contents of the scary movies become not-so-imaginary.    The Big Day on Planet M.E.A.T United States | 14min Short | Drama Director: Stevie Ray Dallimore Synopsis: Mr. Chin and Mr. Mustache are in a war - who will win and what is it really about? Based on an original short play by 10-year-old playwright Muhammed Hussein, staged and performed by The Muse of Fire Project, this conflict tells us everything we need to know about war and power. Very funny and profound - in the way only a kid could tackle such big subjects.      The Boy With Wonder Ears Korea | 30min Short | Drama Director: Sang Beom KOO Synopsis: Sion is a 5th grader who moved from Seoul to Sejong city. He is streaming live with a mobile phone, introducing his new elementary school, capturing flowers near the playground. And then…   The Danger in Front Canada | 17min Short | Drama Director: Alexis Chartrand Synopsis: While observing life outside his shop, a barber thinks he sees someone who is after his life and his family. Confronted with imminent danger, the barber decides to react.     The Flyman India | 10min Short | Drama Director: Roopal Kewalya Synopsis: An 8-year-old boy wants to become The Flyman because he wants to escape Bull Boy, the boy who hits him in school but the one thing stopping him from flying is Gravity.   The Horse Room United States | 6min Short | Animation Director: Danielle Windram Synopsis: “The Horse Room” follows A spunky kid and their reserved aunt as they travel through different dimensions to find what seems to be the 7th wonder of the world, a very special group of small horses. As time ticks away the pair is put to the test to see if they can reach their goal in time… but Aunt is hiding a dangerous secret.     The Jungle Tale - "An Ordinary Life Until..." (Pilot Animation) United States | 2min Short | Animation Director: Henry Zhinin Synopsis: This is a proof of concept for children's series. A group of kids are raised in the heart of the jungle called Paranata, by wild animals that adopt and look after them. The jungle kids learn the valuable lessons and laws of the jungle. Overall, they learn that nature is the beauty of life to balance harmony. The kids manage to survive and adapt to the land of the wild.   The Lion Star United States | 6min Short | Animation Director: Bengly Anderson Synopsis: A celestial lion and her newborn cub visit Earth to rest from their travels. All is pleasant until it catches the eye of a certain hunter…     The Marching Dream Denmark | 28min Short | Drama Director: Anne Svejgård Lund Synopsis: The majorettes of Brovst have, for more than half a decade, been deeply woven into local girls' lives. Silk ties, velvet gloves and shiny instruments are the accessories of young women dreaming of becoming the majorette and leading the march. The film tells the story of 11-year-old Isabella who dreams of becoming the front figure in this unique community.   The Memory Trade United States | 8min Short | Drama Director: Jon Riddleberger Synopsis: "The Memory Trade" is a colorful parable about reconciling our happy memories with the the damage they may have unknowingly caused. Our story follows a Monster whose preparation for his Mother's favorite soup is interrupted by the sudden realization that he has been trading a community of sentient creatures to acquire the ingredients. Is the soup worth it?     The Transfer Students Taiwan | 27min Short | Drama Director: Tzu Hao Wang Synopsis: A-Chih dreams of having a new bicycle. A chance encounter leads him to become friends with transfer student I-Chen, who rides a new bicycle. The two become close, and A-Chih takes I-Chen out often to play. Once, I-Chen’s bicycle was stolen by a group of junior high school students because of A-Chih’s negligence, but the two manage to outwit the students.    The Wolf Pack Germany | 13min Short | Drama Director: Hasan Serin Synopsis: Esma and Serpil are two little girls who are at the age of eight-nine, living in a village of Bingöl, a province in Eastern Anatolia. Serpil likes to read books and Esma is very much keen on drawing pictures while listening to the stories in the books that Serpil reads to her. They buy the book of Jules Verne “Five Weeks with The Balloon”.      Two Different Kinds of Love United States | 4min Short | Drama Director: Joe Petrucelli, Mark Simon: Synopsis: Petronia, a young, musical, anthropomorphic sparrow in the big city, dreams and sings about being an eagle. From soaring over the majestic mountains to flying through the streets of New York, we fly with her and experience the freedom and fame of being an eagle until she wakes from her glorious dream.  Waking Life United States / 19min 27 secs Short / Drama Director: Valerie Finkel Synopsis: A grieving dad seeks to repair a broken relationship with his teenage daughter after a family crisis rips them apart.      What on Earth Is Law? Taiwan | 12min Short | Animation Director: Yen-Ju Lai Synopsis: Through animations, we’ve adapted some well-known cases in Taiwan that many people online don’t understand, trying to infuse the law and legal logic into young people’s mind and help them to speculate. In the episode, the police officer, Lin Zhi-cheng, got a call saying someone tried to wreck and steal a car in the suburbs. However, when he arrived at the scene, the drunk perpetrator began to throw stones at him and some passers-by and even attempted to run away in the patrol car.     YuanYuan China | 16min Short | Drama Director: Shiyue Xu Synopsis: A young girl named Yuanyuan once lived in a happy family with loving parents. But when her mother found out that she is pregnant, her unborn brother brought upon a tense atmosphere into the family. At the same time, Yuanyuan found out about her father’s “affair” and in order to protect her home, Yuanyuan launches her “master plan”      Goodnight Spa. Spain | 13min Short | Drama Director: Emilio Gallego and Jesus Gallego Goodnight Spa is a very special and unique spa. All the pillows in the world visit daily to relax in warm baths, get dry and perfumed in top-of-the range dryers and, above all, to download the dreams they’ve absorbed during the night.