Level up! Shorts in this program are for Tots graduates—and everyone else. Recommended ages: 5 to 10. Purchase tickets here.
CANARY
Dir. Benoit Therriault & Pierre-Hugues Dallaire | Animation | Canada | 2022 | 12 min
1922. Young Sonny works in a coal mine, dreaming of the warmth of the sunlight above the surface. When a clever prank goes awry, he’ll learn the hard way not to be the boy who cries canary.
PAPIROLA
Dir. Fabián Molinaro | Animation | Spain | 2022 | 7 min
As he prepares for a life-changing voyage, Nico can’t help but pack up everything he loves in his house.
THE GOOSE
Dir. Jan Mika | Animation | Czech Republic, France | 2023 | 13 min
It’s a football tale as old as time: boy vs. goose…?
RACHEL
Dir. Toko Shiiki | Documentary | United States | 2022 | 3 min
Animator Rachel Reid exudes joy as she talks about being an animator, encouraging others to follow in her footsteps.
PAOLO’S HAPPINESS
Dir. Thorsten Drößler & Manuel Schroeder | Animation | Czech Republic, Germany, Switzerland | 2022 | 14 min
Paolo is an unassuming man who loves to cry—good for him! One day, his tears make him a local celebrity.
SLEEPY
Dir. Rich Webber | Animation | United Kingdom | 2022 | 1 min
Snoring, silly, and hilarious things can happen when sleep catches up with you.
SWING TO THE MOON
Dir. Marie Bordessoule, Adriana Bouissie, Nadine De Boer, Elisa Drique, Chloé Lauzu, Vincent Levrero, & Solenne Moreau | Animation | France | 2022 | 7 min
Deep in the forest, wide-eyed spider Temi dreams of catching the Moon. For that, she will do anything.
A WHISPER IN THE ISLAND OF THE HEART
Dir. Xiaowen Wang | Live Action | United States | 2022 | 13 min
Love communicates across the Tibetan mountains, against a warm coat of fur, and through sound waves and vibrations, proving silence can speak volumes.
Presented as part of the New York International Children’s Film Festival.