Official Selections: 5th LA Animated Film Festival
Congratulations to our accepted filmmakers!
Films are listed in alphabetical order, index to the left.
Scroll Down to learn more about each film.
Nymphaea
West Coast Premiere
Short Short
Nymphaea is a 2D animated short film that follows an unexpected and magical turn of events at a summer camp, when a lifeguard discovers a mysterious and beautiful creature in the lake while rescuing a camper.
Created, Directed, and Animated by Jenna Heil
Score by Richard Diego
Website: https://jennaheil.com
Twitter and Instagram: @jennaheil_ on
Peculiar and Strange
Short
PECULIAR AND STRANGE is the playful but profound story of two eccentric girls who discover the power of finding a friend as peculiar as you. As they embrace their strange, they let it truly and magically transform them—changing into unexpected forms while somehow becoming more and more themselves.
Director: Hanna Kim
Producer: Danielle Davis
Writer: Danielle Davis
Cast: Jenny Yokobori
Editor: Hanna Kim
Instagram: @peculiar.and.strange.film
Spanish Jasmine
Los Angeles Premiere
Music Video
A narrative-driven music video for Brent Windler’s song of the same name, Spanish Jasmine is set in Alcalá de Henares, a Spanish riverside city, where the first days of autumn signal the end of a long-term relationship. Inspired by 1970s Sesame Street animations and E.T., the main character traverses a landscape of magical realism, exploring and confronting grief and past regret.
Director: Jonny Ulasien
Story Concept: Jenny Molberg
Music: Brent Windler
Additional Info: Spanish Jasmine is the first fully-animated short from director Jonny Ulasien. It was an official selection for the 3rd annual Halfway to Everywhere Music Video Festival and the winner of the Audience Choice Award at Kansas City's Birdwatching Film Festival in June of 2023.
Website: jonnyulasien.com
Instagram: @jonnyulasien
Trailer: instagram.com/p/Cxgl5qZp1it
Superstitious
Los Angeles Premiere
Student Short
A fairy tries her best to avoid bad luck when a black cat stumbles into her store. When chaos ensues, will she be able to face her fears head-on?
Director: Melany Di Pietro Cecere, Carolina Rapp
Writer: Melany Di Pietro Cecere, Estephany Padilla, Chi Pham, Carolina Rapp
Cast: Jacob Walker (Blobby), Donqing "Sunny" Zheng (Ailbhe)
Cinematographer (if applicable): Carolina Rapp
Editor:Melany Di Pietro Cecere, Linda Rosa
- Honorable Mention at Various Artists Independent Film Festival, 6th LA Student Film Festival
Website: superstitiousfilm.wixsite.com/website
Instagram: @superstitiousfilm
Twitter: @superst_thefilm
Facebook: Superstitious Film
Pacemaker
Animated Short
An animated musical about a lonely widower awaiting a Pacemaker to save his life who gets his real second chance at true love by opening his heart and accepting his grandson's identity.
Director: Briant Vincent Rhodes and Christopher Lennertz
Producer: Magdiela Hermida Duhamel, Darlene Caamano Loquet, Alex Bedford, Ben Parkin
Writer: Christopher Lennertz
Cast: Alex Newell, Philip Lawrence
Instagram: @pacemakermusical
Twitter: @Pacemakershort
Facebook: Pacemaker Musical
Robie
Short Short
A robot student starts his school life in the robot school to learn the skills of a robot assistant. He feels inferior to his classmates at the beginning because he looks different from them and fails to do well in class. He tries to blend in and learn to do better but finally realizes that his talents are not those repetitive movements but the comprehension of knowledge and emotions.
Director: Pei-Lun Hsieh
Producer: Pei-Lun Hsieh
Writer: Pei-Lun Hsieh
Editor: Pei-Lun Hsieh
Instagram: @project.mooler
Facebook: fb.com/project.mooler
She's My Best Friend (And I Hate Her)
USA Premiere
Short Short
Old friends Milly and June wait impatiently for each other outside a coffee shop. The longer they wait, the more annoyed they get, causing old resentments and hurts to play on their minds.
Director: Candy Guard
Producer: Tracy Shaw
Writer: Candy Guard
Cast: Elizabeth Rider, Tonia Daley-Campbell
Editor: Richard Overall
Instagram: @candyguard
Twitter: candy_guard
Facebook: candyguard
Speedman
Short Film
For centuries, war has raged between the inhabitants of Planet Platypus and the Octo Empire. Two intergalactic worlds locked in a never ending battle for supremacy. In the midst of this conflict, Planet Platypus' greatest scientist, Dr. Hubone Rubella and his crack team of assistants have created the ultimate weapon- a god-like individual known as Speedman.
Director: Joe Bowers
Writers: Joe Bowers, Howard Milligan Cast: Mick Lauer, Hans Van Harken, Howard Milligan
Editor: Joe Bowers
Music / Sound Desgin: Luke Thomas
Color Design: Shannon Hallstein
Speedman was a true independent effort, with limited resources and a modest budget it took 6 years to complete.
Website: platypus.world
Twitter: @joe_bowz