Official Selections: 8th 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.
The Farmers Daughter
Animation (Animated Short)
West Coast Premiere
An eco-conscious stop-motion animated short film about a daughter who strives to save her father’s failing conventional farm using regenerative farming practices.
Director: Melissa Bloom
Producer: Melissa Bloom
Writer: Melissa Bloom
Cinematographer: Kier Atherton
Editor: Melissa Bloom
The Farmer’s Daughter is the first short film from eco-conscious stop-motion animation studio, The Sisters Bloom, whose mission is to create in alignment with Nature. The film is made entirely from non-toxic, eco-friendly, and natural materials and methods. Even the score was tuned to 432Hz, the sound at which we hear Nature, rather than the industry standard 440Hz.
The film has won Best Stop-Motion at the New York Short Animation Festival (Winter 2026) and Best Animation at the Sustain Film Festival 2026. It is an Official Selection at the Westland Impact Festival 2026, with more Official Selection festival announcements coming this Summer.
Website: https://thesistersbloom.com/
The Gift
Animation, Shorts
World Premiere
My piece is a 2d animated short, written and created by me, animated with the assistance of a group of fellow artists and friends. This is a sweet story, a type of story that is often overlooked for more provocative themes. It’s about a woman in her twilight years whose life has settled into a couch-TV existence, where she is suddenly confronted by a magical journey that calls to her.
It is an entirely independent, inspirational project, on a small scale but made with a lot of dedication.
Director: Su Jen Buchheim
Producer: Su Jen Buchheim
Writer: Su Jen Buchheim
Editor: Su Jen Buchheim
Cast: Nathalie Buce
My gratitude to Tammy Manis, Yvette Molina, Peter Paul Bautista and for assisting with the animation, and to Karl Gnass for consultation.
Yokaitopia
Animated Short
Los Angeles Premiere
Yokaitopia is the story of a boy who crosses over into the supernatural world of Japanese Yokai, mysterious spirits that inhabit people, objects, and places.
Director: Glenna Burmer
Producer: Glenna Burmer
Writer: Glenna Burmer
Cinematographer: Animation by Deep Sky Studios and Imaginary Planet
Awards for Best Animation: Mannheim Arts and Film Festival, Paris Film Awards, New York Movie Awards, Beyond the Screen Festival
Award for Best Director Animation Film: Tokyo Film & Screenplay Awards
You are not Alone
Animation / Music Video
Festival Premiere
What if the strongest connections are the ones we cannot see?
You Are Not Alone is an animated music film based on an original song written and performed by Ellen Ray.
Set in a cinematic winter world, the film explores love, hope, memory, and the emotional bonds that remain strong despite distance and time. Through original music and animation, the story follows a journey of separation, longing, and reunion.
Combining music and visual storytelling, the film conveys the universal experience of missing someone who remains deeply important in our lives. Through its atmosphere, imagery, and song, You Are Not Alone celebrates the power of connection, resilience, and hope.
Created from an original musical work and brought to life through animation, the film is a personal and emotional story about the people who stay in our hearts no matter where life takes us.
Director: Ellen Ray
Producer: Ellen Ray
Writer: Ellen Ray
Original Music & Lyrics: Ellen Ray
Animation by: Pavel Terentyev
Original music, lyrics, and vocals performed by Ellen Ray.
The project combines original music and animation to create a cinematic story about love, hope, and emotional connection.
Instagram: @ellenrayofficial