Short Films: Animation
A showcase of some of the most visionary animated short films from Israel, America, and around the world featuring films from established filmmakers and new emerging talent.
A HEAD SHORTER
Florida Premiere | Directed by Sasha Sivan Bortnik
USA | 23 minutes | 2020
This 2D animated documentary short narrated by Naftali Deutsch begins in the spring of 1944 when Naftali and his entire family were forced to leave their home in Kimyat, a village in the Carpatho-Ukraine region, and sent to Auschwitz. Naftali recounts his harrowing journey as a 12-year-old boy in the Holocaust and how he survived multiple concentration camps.
FATA MORGANA
Florida Premiere | Directed by Daniella Bokor & Leanna Berkovitch
Israel | 11 minutes | 2020
For Cristina, Anna, and Rachel, the stability of motherhood/home and the yearning to wander are in constant conflict. Beautiful animation and personal stories bring the lives and desires of these three wandering women into focus.
HOMEWARD
Southeast US Premiere | Directed by Shirley Neeman
Israel | 5 minutes | 2020
A woman leaves her home with only a suitcase in her hand. Exile is a lonely place, a search of a lost feeling of belonging, of identity, and security.
RUTH: A LITTLE GIRL'S BIG JOURNEY
Florida Premiere | Directed by Eyal Resh
USA | 16 minutes | 2020
This USC Shoah Foundation animated film brings to life the remarkable childhood journey of Dr. Ruth Westheimer (aka Dr. Ruth) as she escapes Nazi Germany, facing choices that made her who she is today.
SHADOW OF THE SUN
Florida Premiere | Directed by Ido Hartmann
Israel | 8 minutes | 2020
This animated Israeli film tracks the disappearance of Boaz, taking viewers along in a surreal journey through the memories he left with his family.
SOPHIE AND JACOB
Florida Premiere | Directed by Max Shoham
Canada | 9 minutes | 2020
This animated film is inspired by the true story of a Jewish family, and about finding home, no matter where it is.
ST. MORITZ
Southeast US Premiere | Directed by Joseph Balaclav & Raz Sonnenfeld
Israel | 6 minutes | 2020
The relations between a mother and son are tested during preparations for the Passover cleaning ritual.
STOLEN MEMORY
Florida Premiere | Directed by Toby Mory & Leo Rey
Germany | 10 minutes | 2020
This three-part animated film centers on the search for relatives of former concentration camp survivors with the aim of returning personal items to their families.
TRUDIE'S GOOSE
Florida Premiere | Directed by C. Lily Ericsson, Cheri Gaulke, Samara Hutman, Liran Kapel
USA | 5 minutes | 2020
When a young girl preparing for her Bat Mitzvah befriends a Holocaust survivor, both their lives are changed forever as they journey from darkness to healing through the power of art.
THE VIOLIN UPSTAIRS
East Coast Premiere | Directed by Asali Echols
USA | 3 minutes | 2020
An animated documentary that tells the story of the previous owners of the filmmaker’s violin.
