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This year’s selection of Oscar-nominated animated short films (Animated Short Film category) is a journey through diverse worlds – intimate, fairytale-like, and emotional – united by a reflection on memory, relationships, and the consequences of human choices.

The selection allows viewers to experience diverse, original stories and a wide range of emotions in a single viewing.

PROGRAMME:

Butterfly / directed by: Florence Miailhe / France / 2024 / 15’
A man swims in the sea, bringing with him a lifetime of memories, all intertwined with water—from childhood to adulthood, both happy and painful, from children’s swimming pools to Olympic stadiums, from North Africa to the shores of the Mediterranean, from the nightmare of war to the dream of freedom.
This hand-painted animation (oil and pastel on glass) is inspired by the story of Alfred Nakache, a French Olympic swimmer whose life was marked by both athletic glory and the experience of a concentration camp. It is a moving, visually stunning story of memory, resilience, and the power of survival.

Forevergreen / directed by: Nathan Engelhardt, Jeremy Spears / USA / 2025 / 13’
An orphaned bear cub finds shelter in a mighty evergreen tree, which becomes his home and protector. However, when curiosity and hunger lead him to the human world, his carefree nature gives way to danger. The film marks the directorial debut of the animation veterans, who previously worked on numerous acclaimed Disney productions, including “Wreck-It Ralph,” “Zootopia,” “Big Hero 6,” “The Encanto,” “Winnie the Pooh,” “The Princess and the Frog,” and “Moana.”
Fun fact: “Evergreen tree” refers to coniferous species (including pine, spruce, fir, and yew) and some deciduous trees (such as cherry laurel and holly) that retain their foliage year-round, providing structure and natural cover for gardens.

The Girl Who Cried Pearls / directed by: Chris Lavis, Maciek Szczerbowski / Canada / 2025 / 17’
A Polish accent in this year’s award season. One of the film’s creators is director and animator Maciek Szczerbowski, previously nominated for an Oscar for his short film “Madame Tutli-Putli” (2007). This time, he tells the story of a girl whose sadness gives birth to pearls, and the greed that can lead even the purest hearts astray.
Montreal, early 20th century. A poor boy discovers his beloved’s extraordinary gift and begins selling her tears to a ruthless pawnbroker. When the temptation of wealth poisons his mind, he faces a choice that could forever change his fate.

Retirement Plan / directed by: John Kelly / Ireland / 2024 / 7’
Trapped in the exhausting daily grind of middle age, Ray increasingly finds himself daydreaming about retirement. He mentally plans everything he’ll finally find time for “someday”—when life slows down and his responsibilities no longer overwhelm him. Ra’s voice is provided by the widely acclaimed Irish actor Domhnall Gleeson (“About Time,” “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”).

Note: This year, the film “The Three Sisters” (directed by Konstantin Bronzit; production countries: Russia, Israel, Cyprus) is also nominated in this category. Due to the current geopolitical context, the distributor has made the autonomous programming decision not to include it. A card with relevant information will be included in the program.

Running time: 52 min