2023 San Diego International Kids Film Festival--Short Films

Aero Orange Canada | 11:00 Short | Animation Director:Marcus Benny Feher Captain H’Orange leads a reconnaissance mission over hostile coordinates with his fruit aeronauts when suddenly he and his team come under fire and their newest member; Airman Apple is taken hostage by the evil General Onion     AIKANE United States | 13:54 Short | Animation Director: Daniel Sousa, Dean Hamer, Joe Wilson A mysterious youth uses his shapeshifting powers to rescue a valiant warrior wounded in battle against foreign invaders. The real adventure begins when they fall in love   À LA VIE À L'AMOR Canada | 15:17 Short | Drama Director: Emilie Mannering Following a hard break up, Cesar feels nothing. On the day of his 30th birthday, he asks one thing and one thing only, from the people he meets: their testimonial on unconditional love in front of his camera. Throughout his interviews the young artist tries to understand a question that haunts him: how to love?   0 Amazing Petunia's Adventures United States | 27:30 Short | Animation Amelia (the Twin) United States | 13:03 Short | Comedy Director: Luke Montgomery, Ethan Montgomery When 5th-grader Amelia gets an assignment to write one thing unique about her, she sets out to make herself different from her identical twin sister, Jane. .   Anna United States | 7:10 Short | Drama Director:Yue Gu In a poor rural village, Henry, a father, tries to protect his young daughter, Anna, by warning her not to leave the house after midnight. However, Anna is tempted by a delicious cupcake offered by a witch, and she takes a bite.   A Recipe Full of Memories |USA|4:23 Short | Animation Director: André Vaz, Isa Vaal, Armando Colussi When Sara sees Nonna holding a picture of herself in Italy, she believes that Nonna is going to leave! Now it's up to her and the sisters to find a way to keep their Granny home. How about baking Nonna's favorite Italian pizza? But in order to complete their yummy mission, the sisters go to learn to work together as a team.     At 7 United States | 8:47 Short | Documentary Director: Tatum Sailors At 7 follows the everyday life of a 7-year-old boy named Harrison as he reflects on his experience with Type One diabetes. Through hyper-active verité footage and intimate interviews, we are introduced to his unique personality and all his charming quirks. Harrison expresses himself with a wonderful carefree attitude one can only have At 7 years old.    Bootees United States | 4:07 Short | Experimental Director: Shreya Jayamohan A short musical film that shows the eventful journey of a couple, starting from their wedlock. Painted with a brush of love, happiness, expectations, loss, and pain, this piece raises the question - what is the actual worth of things we dearly love? This film conveys its message through the expressive hands of talented actors and a simple story.    Buckets City United States | 7:00 Short | Animation Director:Dave Quion The tribulations of two lifelong friends playing streetball against neighborhood bullies. Caterpillars House Canada | 12:51 Short | Drama Director: Juliette Balthazard Lou will be moving soon. With her friends, she creates a plan in order not to leave her small town, but soon enough reality catches the group up. The 12 years old girl is then forced to face her first friendship heartbreak.     Dwarfs! United States | 9:40 Short | Comedy Director: Matt Pierce Imprisoned by the elves of Grimdell forest, three dwarves take it upon themselves to exonerate themselves.. or just escape. HAM United States | 8:00 Short | Animation Director:Rudy Martinez The year is 1961 and Ham, a chimpanzee, has been chosen to represent earth as the first ape in space, but a malfunction aboard his ship threatens his return home. Based on true events.     Hana Meets Hana Korea, Republic of | 24:00 Short | Animation Director: Jeong-Byeon-Ji KIM Due to fear of the stage a young violinist struggles.She falls into a world without music. This movie presents the young girl's passion for her dream. Will she find her melody again??   Heat Spell Canada | 13:49 Short | Drama Director: Marie-Pier Dupuis As the afternoon heat sets in, Maxime feels the weight of each passing moment.     Hello, My Name Is Dong-ping Taiwan | 16:00 Short | Animation Director:I-li Lo The main character, Jiang Dong-ping, is a boy with high-functioning autism who talks like a robot, with a slow, monotone voice, and walks like a steam train charging forward. Because of this, his classmates see him as a weirdo who doesn't fit in! But, in fact, Dong-ping, like other teenagers, is eager to make real friends. I am Kanaka United Kingdom | 15:00 Short | Documentary Director: Genevieve Sulway With a dark history, 5% speaking the native language and 10% living in poverty, Hawaii is in danger of losing its traditions forever. “I am Kanaka” gives a glimpse into the future with Ex-schoolteacher Kaina Makua’s non-profit program teaching Hawaiian language, sustainability and life skills to disadvantaged kids aged 5-20.   Infinity Uganda | 32:00 Short | Drama Director: Matege "Pest" Rogers A stunning musical and visual experience, set in the birthplace of humanity, Uganda, INFINITY reminds us that the universe works in mysterious ways to reveal what is most important.   Initiating Program: Wonderment ~ Sirius AI: A Post-Apocalyptic Musical United States | 13:00 Short | Animation Director: ? Follow Sirius A.I. and H.O.P.E. in this up-and-coming cartoon series following artificial intelligence as it traverses a downtrodden future, searching for humanity. Combining the genres of Broadway and Tragicomedy, Sirius AI: A Post-Apocalyptic Musical is a story of hope, the search for meaning, and the attempt to answer life’s most perplexing questions.   JOMON Japan | 19:58 Short | Drama Director:Fumie Nishikawa Chihiro, an 11-year-old girl finds a palm-sized ancient female statue in a rice paddy. The statue transforms into a woman and begins to dance, expressing the way of life of ancient women. Chihiro finds a signpost for life in this figure.   Kafka’s Doll |Spain| 10:40 Director: Bruno Simoes Inspired by an unproven myth, Kafka's Doll is an animated short film that blends factual research, fiction, fantasy and myth into a single heart-warming story about loss.   Kris The Cat United States | 13:25 Short | Animation Director:Aimee Todoroff A short-animated film inspired by an old Icelandic folktale, Kris the Cat tells the story of the beloved and pampered Queen's male cat, who is a skilled mouse catcher. The cat has everything he could want except a mate. One day, while hunting a mouse, he becomes lost and lonely for the first time in the countryside, where his adventure begins... Little Luna United Kingdom | 5:00 Short | Animation Director: Tara Strickland, Lincoln Durham As society races faster and louder towards modernity, Gorjuss is a nostalgic reminder of the human psyche; a gentle nod to our childhood courage, hidden insecurities and innermost thoughts. ‘Little Luna’ is the very first Gorjuss girl to be brought to life. She manifests an inspiring narrative for us all, encouraging girls everywhere to defy expectations.   Master Class: Taiwan's Folk Performance Taiwan | 23:15 Short | Documentary Director: Po-fu Chiang Din Tao is a form of Taiwanese folk performance. It resembles the carnival celebrated in various countries worldwide, with lively traditional music performances and acrobatic dance movements. One of the most well-known groups that performs the Din Tao tradition is Chio-Tian Folk Drums & Art Troupe.    Master of Hide and Seek Taiwan | 2:48 Short | Animation Director:Hsing-Fang Lin Mao Mao is a long-haired dog in Grandpa's house. Mao Mao loves to play hide-and-seek with everyone. We thought we would find Mao Mao quickly, but unexpectedly, we found things that looked like Mao Mao, such as a mop, a colored pencil, and a scarf, but we couldn't find the real Mao Mao. Can you guess where Mao Mao is hiding?      Maybe Next Time Taiwan | 17:13 Short | Drama Director:Shang-jen Wu A-Ling, a single mother who works in a convenience store, was unable to watch her son Xiao-Yu's game because of her busy livelihood. Xiao-yu hopes that A-Ling will come to see him in the championship game tomorrow. A-Ling asked her boss for leave, but the boss refused. When the game ended with Xiao-Yu's failure, he looked to the sidelines in frustration, and finally saw A-Ling. Next time, is there a chance?    Milo The Mechanic Poland | 13:00 Short | Animation Director: Marcin Małek Milo the Mechanic animated series is a story about a clever mechanic which, with a hint of humor, will take every child on an educational journey, giving knowledge about the world in which they live. The film is based on respect and sensitivity to others. It is characterized by a calm and completely safe story for children with numerous educational threads.      Mr. Purr's Magical Suitcase Germany | 15:00 Short | Drama Director: Niklas Bauer Leyla’s family situation becomes tense after her grandmother returns from the hospital in a wheelchair. While her mother tries to be the responsible one, her grandmother dreads a life stuck in her room. Leyla sets out for an adventure, trying to find a solution, discovering her cat’s magical secret in the process.    Namaste Yoga Australia | 22:45 Short | Drama Director:Ravi Chand When Shiv, a 10-year-old boy who is ashamed of being Indian, gets into a fight at school, the only way to avoid suspension is by doing mandatory lunchtime yoga classes.      Newbie United Kingdom | 8:00 Short | Drama Director: James Robert Skinner Novice teacher Mike is worried his new class won't be able to see past his disability but soon realizes that he too has lessons to learn. No Place Is Home United States | 19:57 Short | Drama Director: Giulia Aguiar, Gabi Faye A chance encounter between a homeless woman and a homeschooled teen sheds new light on the meaning of home.   Octopus News: Sophia and Her War Taiwan | 39:50 Short | Television Director: Xian-zhong Qiu When the Ukraine War began in 2022, Sophia, a 15-year-old girl living in Mariupol, Ukraine, who lived separately with her parents, sent out a distress signal which was accidentally received by five young people in Taiwan. Via a communication software, the five young people, Sophia, and her family communicated and would have to face difficult choices. Would Sohpia and her family get over this war?    Out of Water United States | 12:44 Short | Comedy Director: Madi Stine When a disenchanted mermaid-for-hire is mistaken for a real one, she plays along to disastrous consequences.      Our Tight House Hungary | 9:14 Short | Animation Director: Gyopár Orsolya Búzási Dear Viewers, Life in a big family is not easy. Let’s take a look inside its adventures. Out with the rubbish. Or not? It’s hard to let go… Or should it all stay? Stay tuned... I think.    Boom South Korea | 22:04 Short | Drama Director: Myeonglyun Lee San, Seoyeon, and Minjun, three 13-year-olds, live in a small mountain village. San has feelings for Seoyeon, but she will be move to the city, and they all hang out before then. This leaves San depressed, getting worse after he steps on the wooden box mine.     Oren's Way United States | 16:39 Short | Animation Director:Keika Lee A clever princess must capture a magical Golden Fox in order to save her kingdom from eternal sadness but on her journey, she conquers obstacles - the last of which reveals a hidden truth about herself.          Pinto the Mean Bean United States | 4:54 Short | Animation Director:R.J. Sullivan Pinto is a bean who lives in a crowded, noisy place called Legumeopolis. The way Pinto sees it, there's a lot to be upset about. Will he figure out how to get along with his fellow beans? Hmm… I sure hope so. PLAY Netherlands | 16:20 Short | Drama Director:Marcel Roijaards A group of children gather at the dunes to re-enact life, in a play without words, from birth to the inevitable end   Please In Spanish United States | 9:22 Short | Drama Director: Patricia Seely Feeling disconnected from her Dominican heritage, a young woman warms to her cultural identity after meeting a lively neighbor. POND Switzerland | 8:30 Short | Animation Director: Lena von Döhren, Eva Rust A shoal of herrings, adopting fantastic formations, roams the vast ocean. When seagulls suddenly attack, one small herring finds itself stranded in a tidal pool. As it searches desperately for a way out, it discovers many other sea creatures here. And now there is no time for fear: only by joining forces can they hope to defend themselves against the hungry seagull.   Queen Bea United States | 39:14 Short | Drama Director: Christina Stroeh 8-year-old Beatrice, a budding journalist, and her mother Maren, a writer, travel to an artist retreat in Scotland. As her irritable mother digs deep for inspiration to write her book, Bea is left to her own devices and wanders into the forest to find the most magical of things. After finally convincing Maren to experience Bea's expanded world, they all learn lessons about mothering, believing, and love. Robots Don't Tell Jokes United States | 3:19 Short | Animation Director:Kelli Caldwell Robot thinks he has a wonderful joke, so he keeps trying to tell it, but none of the other robots ever laugh. They tell him "Robots don't tell jokes..." Will Robot give up on his awesome joke or will he find his tribe? Stop-motion using mainly wood scraps and metal pieces.   RUBBER BAND PLANE Korea, Republic of | 11:58 Short | Drama Director: Kinam LEE A boy throws a rubber band plane every day in the playground. Run Away United States | 9:50 Short | Comedy Director: Matt Pierce Three kids decide to simultaneously leave their homes and live off the land, which would go great if there wasn’t a HORRIBLE CREATURE lurking in the woods   Running by the Riverside Korea, Republic of | 24:14 Short | Drama Director: Bit-Areum JUNG Yeong-ju hates her stepbrother Hyun-dong. Yeong-ju pushes Hyun-dong down the stream.    Saint Nick United States | 19:00 Short | Drama Director:Ho Chung Tang Desperate to repay his loan, a dishonest man runs a scam on an orphan girl who escaped to find Santa Claus but soon questions his own action.     Shimajiro: A World of WOW! The WOW of Biodiversity! Japan | 23:00 Short | Animation Director: Isamu Hirabayashi, Takamitsu Kawamura, Teppei Eriguchi We introduce biodiversity and its significance to nature and humans through animation and live-action examples showing living creatures endemic to Japan such as the salamander. Children learn about the importance of protecting them and creating an environment where everyone can live together. Shhh! France | 9:22 Short | Experimental Director:Virginie Kahn Between fairy tale and children's comedy, Shhh! is freely adapted from a live performance. In the 1920s, an inhibited young boy and a girl discover a marvelous book in which live three tiny beings – living letters – that only they can see and hear.   Steel Forest China | 7:39 Short | Drama Director: Anlan Tao Chen Zixuan, a 10-year-old boy, living in a poor small town with his grandmother, can only meet his successful poet father in winter. So, this summer, he united with his friends and used a phone call to cheat his father back. He secretly packs his package and follows his father into the big city. Along the way, he encounters many fantastic sights depicted in his father's poems, but these sights are somewhat different from what he imagined.    Suzie Hicks the Climate Chick United States | 30:00 Short | Documentary Director: Susannah Eidmann-Hicks An environmental educator and her anxious puppet co-host travel the world to learn about climate science, all while working together with local communities to inspire action.      Tactical Action Gauntlet United States | 7:44 Short | Drama Director: Sarah Gaudoin They’ve all gotta survive; too many are gone now. But is sticking together really the wisest choice?    The Dead Kid United States | 27:00 Short | Drama Director: Gregory Durand Goyins The Dead Kid is the story of Annie Baxter who, at the height of the Atlanta Child Murders in 1980, witnesses a young boy's torment and eventual disappearance as suspicions surround a pair of bullies and the reclusive proprietor of the city's dump.      The Foursquare Movie United States | 9:30 Short | Comedy Director: Matt Pierce When TONY BALONEY and her rude crew take over the four square court, there's only one thing the kids can do. MAKE A TEAM!    The Lizza Show Episode 2 United States | 13:11 Short | Television Director: Lizza Obremski Join Lizza and her puppets friends as they find the magic in every day. In episode two, we mail a letter!      The Magic Hour United States | 5:00 Short | Animation Director:Nath Milburn Two brothers’ mission to fix their mom’s broken tablet, before she comes home, is met with a series of challenges    The Norm United States | 8:21 Short | Comedy Director: Sarah Gaudoin Ordinary blue-collar dad Paul Pillon wants to make a change. After a long and depressing day working in the fields, he has decided to pay a visit to the doctor and wax poetic about his woes. He describes scenes of his boss yelling at him for seemingly no reason, and his wife and children lost in their own worlds instead of conversing at dinnertime, and finding no joy in beautiful nature hikes. But, the doctor might not be qualified to help him      The Sound Collector - Panning for Sound United Kingdom | 5:05 Short | Animation Director: Chris Tichborne When the Sound Collector discovers a discarded soda can at a nearby stream, he repurposes the litter into something Mole absolutely loves! The Squo USA| 18:11 Short | Drama Director: Mike Bothe A beautiful kingdom. An eerie howling in the woods. The hunter Frederick is sent to catch the mysterious Squonk once and for all...   The Sun in My Heart China | 12:30 Short | Drama Director:Yao Ge The daughter's tumor had spread; a craniotomy is a must. Yunpeng Zheng, the speech-impaired father, learned from the doctor that the surgery might cause vision loss. After a tormenting night, old Zheng decided to take his daughter up the mountain to watch the sunrise. The two did not see it in the end, but the daughter's words relieved Zheng's burden. The Sun Room United States | 9:03 Short | Documentary Director: Chloe Shafer The Sun Room is a vérité-based documentary that fits a rowdy day of preschool into just 9 minutes. At this school in Tucson, Arizona, there is a buzzing classroom of seventeen four-year-olds who never seem to stop moving, but in the chaos, there is solace. A collage of adorable moments is captured from the kid-sized perspective of The Sun Room.   The Surprise Birthday Story Brazil | 4:37 Short | Animation Director: André Vaz, Isa Vaal, Armando Colussi Jose's birthday has arrived and he wants to make a tasty fruitcake to celebrate. But he finds his friends, Obi and Boo, picking up all the berries for them! Jose is sad, but he doesn't imagine that it's all part of a birthday surprise made by the animals! THE WORLD HAS EN DEAD India | 14:02 Short | Drama Director: Mudasir Zafar Batt Story revolves around a 7-year-old girl, who wakes up only to find out that her family is missing and later onwhen she tried to look out for them, she gets a shock of her life hearing that the world has ended and she is the only survivor along with a 10-year-old boy.   WAWAWA: Cheng Pao’s Farm Taiwan | 12:00 Short | Documentary Director:Shih Hui Hsu Cheng Pao's family farm is home to many animals and grows various delicious fruits and vegetables. There are plenty of fun activities to do on the farm. Cheng Pao catches cricketsto feed the chickens, collects eggs and picks tomatoes, sohe can make a tasty pizza. He even chops wood himself, using the firewood to bake. Cheng Pao feels proud when he shares the pizza he made with his grandmother Where Rabbits Come From Canada | 15:00 Short | Animation Director: Colin Ludvic Racicot In a cold dystopian world, a widowed father defies the authorities trying to instill a sense of wonder into his daughter’s life.   Wompy United States | 20:31 Short | Animation Director:Thomas Trask A delivery drone and a trouble-making truck accidentally solve the mystery of why all the stars are disappearing in their hometown of Starlight Valley. [Made by a dad for his kids]