The Week of Fantasy and Horror Cinema (Semana de Cine Fantástico y de Terror) in San Sebastián not only has time for short films, but also for animation short films, arguably my favourite category in a film festival.
I feel like there are three levels of crazy in every festival. First, the fact that most films are independent gives you a high chance of being mind blown. Second, short films tend to be way more unexpected and intense because they cram a whole story into a short amount of time, which usually ensures that there is no irrelevant material in the piece. Third and last, animation provides you with an unlimited budget to do things you might not be able to afford to do in real life.
As such, yours truly was more than excited to see what this eccentric festival had in store for its audience with this programme. Needless to say, for better or worse, my mind was broken, and my day was made.
Without further ado, here are the reviews of said shorts:
Canard
- Year of production: 2023
- Directed by: Elie Chapuis.
- Screenplay by: Elie Chapuis and Germano Zullo.
- Producers: Clémence Pun and Annemie Degryse.
- Cinematography by: Nadine Buss.
- Music by: Zonderwerk.
Synopsis
A couple who raises chickens also wants a kid. Both concepts begin to merge into an increasingly unnerving narrative.
Review
Canard is the zoo-erotic short film nobody asked for, but viewers still had to endure. What begins like a Starve Acre (2024) version of grief exploration, soon turns into a weirdly erotic relationship between a duck and a woman who hasn’t been able to have children with her husband.
It is hard to decide which part of the film is more nauseating, although the breast-feeding scene is a strong contender. The discomfort of the narrative could be great if its presence had a purpose, but the story doesn’t really offer anything. There are no great themes or interesting explorations, or even a simple metaphor/moral. If there was any intention of message at all, it is so buried beneath the creator’s desire to shock that it gets completely lost.
It is always disappointing when films hit and miss, but as long as there are still daring creators out there, there will always be great, innovative stories to look forward to. Sadly, this is not one of them.
Dagon
- Year of production: 2024
- Directed by: Paolo Gaudio.
- Screenplay by: Paolo Gaudio.
- Producer: Daniele Esposito.
- Cinematography by: Andrea Gabriele.
- Music by: Lorenzo Tomio.
Synopsis
A man has a traumatic encounter with a huge beast, leading him to the ledge of a building.
Review
Full disclosure, as a spectator who knew nothing about the film nor the Lovecraft tale it’s based on, it is hard to understand what is going on. In fact, until one reads the official synopsis, it is entirely possible for you to understand a completely different story from the one it is intended. Whether that is a pro or a con is your decision entirely.
Allowing for different readings is a great quality to have on a story, at least as far as yours truly is concerned, but if you are looking for a straightforward narrative, you might want to move along. However, if you want to watch a beautiful animation that is equal parts fantastic and weird, do stay for a while longer!
The main attraction of the short is undoubtedly the aesthetics. The characters are very similar to ParaNorman (2012), so not much innovation there, but the settings are incredibly detailed. Furthermore, the illumination throughout the story makes a significant difference on how it is perceived, serving as conductor and attraction at the same time. The greens and orange hues create the perfect contrast for this gloomy story.
Regrettably, while the convoluted storytelling can be seen as a pro, the sound editing is most definitely a con. What’s with this fashion of inserting a loud noise during the title card? Sure, Longlegs (2024) did it, and it was perfect, but it needs to make sense within the film. Utilising loud noises for the sake of getting some cheap, audio jump scares in is way beneath the talent displayed in all the other aspects of the work.
Overall, Dagon is really engaging beginning to end. The story is interesting, the visuals hypnotising and, had the audio not been so catastrophic, the experience would have been pretty close to perfect.
Etorriko da (eta zure begiak izango ditu)
- Year of production: 2024
- Directed by: Izibene Oñederra.
- Screenplay by: Izibene Oñederra.
- Producers: Diego Herguera and Izibene Oñederra.
- Cinematography by: Eduardo Elosegui.
- Music by: Javier Ucar.
Synopsis
Pollution fills the streets in this dystopic future where people struggle to survive the toxic fumes as best as they can.
Review
Etorriko da (eta zure begiak izango ditu) roughly translates as It will come (and it will have your eyes), an ominous title indeed. Unfortunately, the story has little to do with it. Granted, it does talk about Earth becoming a wasteland. So, in that sense, it will, indeed, come. But what do your eyes have to do with it? Well, do write it in the comment section below if you know. I, for one, am dying to know.
Moving past the issue of having a great title for an average short film, let’s focus on the animation. If the goal was to make everything look disgusting, which it probably was, what a huge success! Everywhere you look, there is grime and filth, or sooty, messy people. Honestly, at a certain point both background and characters sort of merge into this dirty green stew that is so unpleasant to look at.
If the story said anything, the discomfort or nausea one feels during the screening would be absolutely fine, but that’s where this short goes wrong. Had it been just a vision of a possible future created solely with the purpose of putting you off polluting for a little while, this would be great. However, it is not just that, it is also supposed to be a commentary on class inequality.
Noble as this idea is, said commentary gets completely lost in the aforementioned grime. The supposedly rich people look like individuals who have decided to give up, people who are just trying to live their best life before the toxic fumes kill them. Why would the rich people put up with living on the deadly outside while poor people stay safe in their homes? In hindsight, you might be able to discern the intended commentary, but no promises.
Felina
- Year of production: 2024
- Directed by: María Lorenzo.
- Screenplay by: María Lorenzo.
- Producer: Enrique Millán.
- Animation by: Alberto Sanz, Marta Gil, Gael García, Carla Moliner and María Lorenzo.
- Music by: Armando Bernabeu Lorenzo.
Synopsis
A panther/woman falls in love with a blind man who knows nothing of her animal persona. Everything changes when she realises she’s pregnant.
Review
Felina is a gorgeous piece about love, prejudice, and trust. From the very beginning, the film hooks you with its noir aesthetics and smooth movements. The introduction of the protagonist is swift, beautiful, and really effective. Despite the lack of dialogue and the brand new world that is presented, the narrative is so clear that one never feels confused or lost.
The themes presented are carefully developed. While the inexplicable, human need to profit from anyone different is pretty straight-forward, the main topic, love, is explored in a deeper level. This portrayal of love not only includes care, but also brings up the delicate line between fantasy and truth that must inevidably be crossed in any relationship. The moment when you are exposed to your loved one, not physically, but mentally, which is a lot more daunting.
This metaphor is told through a predictable, but wholesome, tale where music, images and text work together perfectly. It is not the type of story one expects to encounter in a programme like this, but it is still delightful to experience it.
Free the Chickens
- Year of production: 2024
- Directed by: Vizár Matúš.
- Screenplay by: Vizár Matúš.
- Producer: Tomáš Hrubý and Jakub Viktorín.
- Animation by: Vizár Matúš, Adrián Hnát, Daniel Kunst, Viktor Svoboda, Peter Martinka, Studio Kouzelná.
- Music by: Adam Matej.
Synopsis
A group of animal liberationists steal some chicken from a farm with the intention of giving them a better life. It doesn’t go quite as planned.
Review
What a ride! This short is spot-on beginning to end. The first few minutes, until the dog incident, could have been a short film on their own. However, Matúš pushes the story further, making it more surreal and hilarious with every turn.
Statements like “Nature is not safe for animals” reflect the spirit of the story to perfection. Utilising contradictions to make comedy and comment on the hypocrisy of people who care just enough to do something, but not enough to do it properly.
If you like dark humour and laughing at how ridiculous humans can be, this is definitely a film for you. Great times guaranteed!
The Grapes of War / Vihan hedelmät
- Year of production: 2024
- Directed by: Malakias.
- Screenplay by: Malakias.
- Producer: Malakias.
- Animation by: Malakias.
Synopsis
Fruits, sex, and bodily fluids. Do with it as you please.
Review
This is what comes to mind when you think “experimental”. The short is definitely a love-it-or-hate-it kind of deal. It talks about war, how screens keep us separated, and the fact that nobody seems to be capable of listening any more.
How does it do that? Well, the path is obvious: porn and chopping off toes. Yes, you read that right. Personally, it is hard to see the connection with just the one view, but you might get luckier. If anything, you will discover a new way to talk about isolation.
Mereneläviä
- Year of production: 2024
- Directed by: Veera Lamminpää.
- Screenplay by: Veera Lamminpää.
- Producers: J. J. Vanhanen and Veera Lamminpää.
- Cinematography by: Arttu Liimatta.
- Music by: Iiti Yli-Harja.
Synopsis
An impromptu musical number in a closing fish market.
Review
A combination of silly and fun you’ll want to watch over and over again. Not a fan of musicals? No problem, the lyrics is so much fun you won’t even care.
Have you ever wondered what the fish at the market are thinking? Wonder no more! From that one ugly fish to the ignored sardine, all the fish will tell you what it is like to live in the shop, waiting to be chosen by the clients. The overall comedic tone of their musical number balanced beautifully with the tragedy of the tune and that one lost mini fish.
If you thought Emilia Pérez (2024) was the craziest musical of the year, you might want to think again.
Playing God
- Year of production: 2024
- Directed by: Matteo Burani.
- Screenplay by: Gianmarco Valentino and Matteo Burani.
- Producers: Studio Croma Animation and Autour de Minuit.
- Cinematography by: Guglielmo Trautvetter.
- Music by: Pier Danio Forni.
Synopsis
A clay sculpture comes to life and tries to understand its own existence and surroundings.
Review
Despite having a bit of a rocky beginning, Playing God is a really fantastic short film. The narrative is so well-written you will find yourself incredibly invested in the future of the protagonist almost instantly.
Teetering between freaky and downright horrifying, the story is simple but great at creating emotional connections with the audience. This is not only due to a maginficent story, but also to an awe-inspiring animation that is as detailed as can be.
If you are into thrillers with horrifying discoveries, this will definitely be your jam. The chills will remain in your body hours after the short film has finished.
Sclera
- Year of production: 2023
- Directed by: Némo Piccoli.
- Screenplay by: Némo Piccoli.
- Producer: Stéphane Piera.
- Music by: Némo Piccoli.
Synopsis
An eye-themed, neon-bathed nightmare.
Review
The first thing that comes to mind when watching this is: what in the LoFi background is this? Nevertheless, all thoughts of how beautiful the pink, blue, purple and indigo colour palette is go out the window pretty early on. Don’t worry, the aesthetics will remain on fleek the whole duration of the piece, but the story gets so insane that they become almost an afterthought.
As the title suggests, this story is all about eyes. Eyes getting out of your face and… fighting? It’s all a bit blurry, really. You’ve got people bleeding blood Le Chiffre style (Casino Royal, 2006), and strange trips involving body parts like you are in Dr Strange’s interdimensional journey (Dr Strange, 2016). Not to mention the zombies with lightbulbs for eyes, those kinda take the cake at times.
Overall, Sclera is an absolute masterpiece of gore and futuristic storytelling. Will it confuse you at every turn? Yes. Will you enjoy every minute of it? Hell yes!
Stuffed
- Year of production: 2024
- Directed by: Louise Labrousse.
- Screenplay by: Cloë Coutel and Louise Labrousse.
- Producers: Matthieu Liégeois, Barbara Vougnon and Arnauld Boulard.
- Cinematography by: Fabrice Richard.
- Music by: Lucas Verreman.
Synopsis
A woman is about to have a bath while eating ramen when strange things start happening.
Review
Don’t let the cutesy pastel colours confuse you, this film is NOT nice and cosy. What begins as a slightly strange way to wind down after a hard day, soon becomes an absolute nightmare, incredibly disgusting to see for some, but apparently quite funny for others, mostly men, which is unsurprising.
Revolting as the story is, the animation flows gracefully and no major issues can be seen. This provides a wondereful viewing experience regardless of the content itself. Sadly, the text does have a few issues. Namely, that normal people don’t pull things out of their body with chopsticks, but with their hands, and other questionable decisions that take place solely for the purpose of making the audience more uncomfortable, sacrificing logic in the process.
In order to take the nausea up a notch, the sound effects are sickeningly accurate and loud. This ensures that you don’t miss any slurping, chewing or other squishy sounding actions. God forbid you don’t experience the whole extent of the stomach-churning events.
Overall, Stuffed is not a film you want to watch while eating, at least as a woman. It might be funny for some and really repulsive for others, but presumably all can agree it is one hell of an animation short film.
Advice to take from these short films:
- Sometimes you need to appreciate what you have instead of going insane about what you lack.
- If you love someone, tell them the truth.
- If you try to help from an ignorant position, chances are, you’re not helping.
- Don’t bring noodles to your baths.
What’s your take? Have you watched any of these short films? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, in my contact page or through my Instagram! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀
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