Archives

Below is an archive of past animations and animators featured at the Detroit International Festival of Animation.  Click the links to view the films online, where available.  You may also watch a few of them on the DIFA Vimeo Film Channel.


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2024 DIFA Animations & Animators

“SCREAMING SPACE” – MCR/ELECTRIC OTTO
(2023 Michigan 0:00:49)
Bad Energy will make you Want to Rip your Face Off!

“A Fable” – Ky Burr, David Castellano-Miller, Brendan Connell, John D Martin
(2023 Michigan 0:01:52)
A short tale about a kingdom that desires an immortal king. Made in 48 hours by students at College for Creative Studies.

“Coleslaw Crisis” – Cam Whipple
(2023 Georgia 0:02:30)
When a celestial star demands coleslaw, only one man is brave enough to serve this disgusting side dish.

“Froghoppers” – Sophie Osinski, Louie Corrons
(2023 United Kingdom 0:01:52)
Two kids bond on a rainy day after missing the bus to school.

“Leaf Control” – Tom Eaton
(2023 New York 0:02:34)
Two city neighbors engage in a yard-care rivalry.

“Dying to Defrost” – Heather Ann Abeyasekera
(2022 Singapore 0:03:53)
This poor vampire has lived through the centuries, freezing down to the marrow! She’s at the end of her tether and she’s had enough. She’s gonna do whatever it takes to feel the warmth on her skin, or it’ll be the death of her, AGAIN!!

“Dracula’s Super Scary Halloween” – Kevin Maher, Joe Dator
(2023 New York 0:05:24)
A new take on the Dracula story, combining horror and comedy. Rendered in pen and ink, in a crosshatched style reminiscent of Edward Gorey and Charles Addams. This Halloween tale delivers laughs and chills for monster kids of all ages.

“Broomsticks on Broadway” – Gordon Howie
(2024 United Kingdom 0:05:12)
In this whimsical short animated musical, Fellinda Cauldron is inspired by the moon to make a magical dancing potion. Can she over come her doubts and complete her bubbling brew? Broomsticks on Broadway celebrates the joyful aspects of the creative process; paying homage to MGM musicals and old Hollywood glamour with a spooky twist.

“ODDBODY” – Amber Wolf
(2023 New York 0:03:55)
Oddbody the clown begins a new relationship, but fears what could happen if Gowy gets too close and sees what they truly are

“SLEEP MODE” – Emmet Zabor
(2023 Michigan 0:04:12)
A little robot must arrive at his destination before his timer runs out.

“White Noise” – TJ LaLonde
(2023 Vermont 0:01:14)
“White Noise” is a student animated short which follows an excerpt of a personal poem about insomnia, rain, and baby birds. It is animated in a white-on-black, hand-drawn style.

“Missing or Incomplete” – Tamara Anna Finlay
(2024 Michigan 0:00:34)
A stop motion short that depicts what it feels like to be an undiagnosed ADHD girl on report card day in the 80s. Meant to highlight the chronic criticism experienced and internalized by neurodivergent women

“Exposed” – Chloe Dauchez
(2023 Canada 0:01:29)
For the first time, the poise of a live model is shaken by laughs that induce a feeling of deep anxiety. Alone and vulnerable on stage, she feels like fleeing is the only way to escape her fears. This short movie approaches the topics of self-confidence and the way people look at and judge the aging body.

“moonset crow cry” – huifu ling
(2023 China 0:02:49)
On the rivers in the east, accompanied by a large number of crows, a Western boat drifted in with a girl with golden hair inside

“Tough Love” – Anastasiya Stoeva, Elena Vasileva
(2023 Bulgaria 0:01:00)
The tension between two characters goes in an unexpected direction. Sometimes we learn the hard way that opposites really do attract.

“Head in the Clouds” – Kamilla Julia Kostrubiec
(2023 Michigan 0:03:31)
Young girl Cira has a love for clouds wants to get up close with one to get back at her enemy, Timothy.

“Horsegirl” – AP “Pinkie” Davis
(2023 Colorado 0:01:00)
Animated comedy short “Horsegirl” by AP “Pinkie” Davis (best known for contributions to SpongeBob Squarepants) puts you in the saddle of a kid’s TV show focus group!

“Fire Flower” – Stephan Leeper
(2019 Michigan 0:06:00)
A nun, four orphans and a glitchy robot on a quest for beauty. . . what could possibly go wrong?

— Intermission with Wurlitzer Pipe Organ —

“The West Warren Chicken Sandwich Monster” – MCR/ELECTRIC OTTO
(2023 Michigan 0:00:51)
A Detroit Fried Chicken Sammich will change your life Forever. Really.

“WHITE PHONE CALL” – Hakhyun KIM
(2023 Korea, Republic of 0:02:49)
The man waited patiently in the darkness. When the long-awaited white phone began to ring loudly, he hurried to pick up the receiver. However, answering the phone was not so simple, as the gatekeeper vehemently refused to let the man through.

“The Boy and the Crow” – Tudor Om
(2023 Romania 0:02:49)
The crow swallows the boy’s blood of its beak. The boy has only one choice: run or face his fears.

“Onward Ye Costumed Souls” – Patrick Smith
(2024 New York 0:05:00)
Thy back shall be broken, thy soul shall be enslaved, and thou shall assume, nay inherit, the role of tyrant.

“End of the Line” – Marc Salvatore Lajoie
(2023 Canada 0:04:50)
Taylor is faced with her anxiety in a larger than life way; will she overcome it or reach the end of the line?

“SymBionic” – Jack Tenbusch
(2021 Illinois 0:06:02)
After clipping her wing on a robotic facility antenna, a Songbird forms an unlikely symbiotic relationship with the robot she inadvertently creates.

“Lonely” – Filipe Consoni
(2023 Brazil 0:04:04)
Lonely follows the story of a nameless character struggling through her day-to-day feelings of loneliness and isolation with a dreamlike solitude that draws one in. As she’s on the edge of giving up, something unexpected happens.

“Whale Fall” – Bronte Higgs
(2023 United Kingdom 0:05:22)
Whale Fall is a 2D animated short about the strange creatures that inhabit the bones of a whale, deep in the ocean. It explores the narrative of life from death through this mysterious ecosystem.

“Cornucopia” – Ani Antonova, Dimiter Ovtcharov
(2022 Austria 0:07:49)
A man wanders in constant search and pursuit, driven by the longing for a magical cornucopia. His vicissitudes are brought to life on an ancient vase’s surface.

“FORAGE” – Carolyn Gair
(2023 California 0:07:29)
Zip is an intrepid “rustbot” in a world of found-objects come-to-life. Zip explores the vast expanses of a cluttered and long-abandoned attic, foraging for treasures to decorate their home and hopefully make a friend along the way. When a thieving mouse steals a particularly rare find, Zip drops everything to go on the chase and retrieve it, facing unexpected dangers along the way.

“The Mini-Adventures of Mega Pup: Fire!” – Nick Fulfaro
(2024 California 0:02:30)
Mega Pup, a super-powered puppy, must save his little sister Baby Cat from certain, fiery doom. He’s the only dog for the job – and he’ll look cute doing it!

DIFA 9 Posters

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2023 DIFA Animations & Animators

“Zombies of Harper Ave – MCR/Electric Otto” (2022 Michigan 00:59)
High Gas Prices make us catch the Bus but another Monster is catching Us!

“The Vase” – Am Stevens (2022 Michigan 01:50)
When roommate Ryder brings home a strange looking vase from an antique store, Dallas comes face to face with what has been sleeping within.

“Making Art In America, 2020-2021” – Angie Wang (2022 California 01:22)
A surreal depiction of life during the pandemic for an artist.

“WAVEE” – Sooah Kang (2022 Republic of Korea 03:22)
Although getting enough sleep is crucial for day-to-day life, It’s often neglected.

“Curiosa” – Tessa Moult-Milewska (2022 United Kingdom 09:30)
An overly curious Mary visits her boyfriend’s flat for the first time and discovers it’s been stripped bare of all personal belongings.

“A Love Story Between Two Hands” – Qinru Zhang (2020 Rhode Island 00:56)
When two hands fall in love, they find each other inseparate yet incompatible.

“Mixed Signals” – Thomas van Kampen (2022 Canada 10:23)
A little robot comes to find out it’s very different from all the other kids.

“The Spark” – Artem Shcherbakov, Otar Berov (2022 Georgia 02:48)
An opponent, pressure from stands and feelings of fear make a young boxer doubt his abilities.

“Rest In Piece” – Antoine Antabi (2022 France 09:35)
Midyan decides to run away from his war-torn home and packs his bag with objects that remind him of his loved ones to embark on a journey into the unknown.

“The RatRodFormers” – Aliaksandr Sasha Kanavalau, Maciej Żuk (2022 Poland 02:20)
Three friends from the junkyard, transformed into humanoid figures, try to lead a normal life in a “human” reality.

“Mourning Routine” – Rey Tabandeh (2022 Canada 02:40)
Two undead halves of a once-human whole: an uncoordinated zombie and a methodical ghost fumble their way through a domestic routine.

“The Space Between Us” – Julianne Martin (2023 California 02:43)
A lonely spaceman’s desire for company may be about to come true when a mysterious ship arrives at his space station.

— Intermission with Wurlitzer Pipe Organ —

“The Gift” – Julian Tapprich (2022 Austria 00:41)
A portrait of a man who gets surprised with a gift.

“I AM DUCK” – Nick Zweig (2021 New York 12:26)
Dumped out into a desert, a sardonic and oblivious duck plunges headlong into a quest for bread.

“Pour Generation” – Patrick Smith (2022 New York 03:41)
A winsome mutation is shunned by a homogeneous tribe of siblings.

“Balloonman” – Jin Liu (2020 Germany 07:14)
Take part in the daily routines of an average Balloon family: the pursuit of dreams, striving for higher ideals and drifting to an unknown future.

“Horns” – Luke Bouwhuis (2022 Netherlands 05:14)
An antelope remembers why he became a trucker.

“Violet Noise” – Stefania Balzarotti, Leonor Lavradio, Matthew Joyce (2022 Spain 05:18)
For young Violet it is the moment to face her worst fear: the fear of invariably creating something wrong, in front of the eyes of others.

“Self In Progress” – Kayla Lehman (2022 Georgia 04:01)
A young woman’s experience with anxiety and mental illness and her journey of healing through acceptance and self-compassion.

“Achroma” – Sarah Steidle (2022 New Jersey 03:55)
Amidst a colorful world, a young woman living in shades of gray keeps to herself in fear of spreading it to others, until she finds a persistent companion.

“Spoon” – Arthur Chays (2022 France 03:00)
To escape from everyday life, it’s very simple: you need a ladder and a spoon. But is it really that easy?

“Something Special” – Jisoo Kim (2022 Canada 02:47)
A painter who is ambitious to make a masterpiece gets in a slump because his eagerness became an obsession.


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2022 DIFA Animations & Animators

“Souls of Ukraine” – Volunteer Video, Olexandr Gudenko, Anastasiia Delibalt, Yevheniia Braslavets, Yevhen Spirivak (2022 Ukraine 1:35)
Ukrainian innocents who didn’t live to see tomorrow.

“A Daffodil Under Close Inspection” – Kathryn L. Darnell (2021 Michigan 1:15)
The poet, looking closely at a flower, finds a metaphorical language for what she sees.

“There is exactly enough time” – Oskar Salomonowitz (2021 Austria 2:00)
Oskar Salomonowitz, the 12-year-old son of filmmakers Anja Salomonowitz and Virgil Widrich, had drawn 206 frames of a flip book when he died in an accident. Using the remaining blank sheets, his father continued drawing the film.

“Mr. Birdington” – Benjamin Kieda (2021 California 5:09)
A man goes to work and realizes that his coworker has been replaced with a bird.

“Grace” – Peter Kimball (2020 Washington DC 1:00)
A troubled man seeks forgiveness for his sins but finds things are far worse than he could have imagined.

“The Turnip” – Piret Sigus, Silja Saarepuu (2022 Estonia 7:12)
Based on the Slavic folktale, the story is shown from an underground view of what really happened while peasants were engaged in the cultivation of vegetables.

“Place to Place” – Natasha Cánepa (2021 Puerto Rico 1:37)
A text from a lonely traveler pushes a group of friends from faraway places to reunite

“Toddler Talks” – Diana Reichenbach (2021 Georgia 3:33)
A documentary animated short based on audio recordings of a toddler-aged boy named Henry. The film is animated in a way that mimics the development of language and emotions—which aren’t always clear and articulated at first.

“John Henry” – David Donar (2021 South Carolina 1:30)
John Henry is most recognized as an African American Man who worked on driving spikes into the rails or building the rail tunnels in West Virginia during the late 1800’s.

“Lake Erie” – John Vassallo (2021 Canada 7:52)
When two bullies pressure a shy kid to vandalize an old lighthouse on the shores of Lake Erie, they are confronted by Captain Wiley, the subject of many local ghost stories.

“Pimento!” – Caleb Carl Nelson (2021 Michigan 5:50)
A tiny goblin is sent out on a special errand: to steal from the sprawling human-populated metropolis Ballyhoo!

“9’th Circle” – Mark Dagondon (2021 Canada 1:05)
A short drop and a sudden stop.

“Memento Mori” – Paul O’Flanagan (2021 Ireland 8:46)
In Victorian Dublin, a post-mortem photographer receives his latest subject, a recently deceased young woman, late one stormy night.

— INTERMISSION —

“Black Foodie Freedom Fighters” – MCR/Electric Otto(2021 Michigan 1:00)
The Revolution is in our Stomachs! An Apple a Day keeps Foolishness Away!

“A Is For Apple” – Adam Mick Laughlin (2021 Indiana 1:37)
A worm finds a city inside an apple, but must escape the fascist government drones inside.

“The Dalang’s Tale” – Irwan Junaidy, Maizura Abas, ‘Atiqah Mohd Abu Bakar (2021 Malaysia 6:10)
A short film about domestic violence with visuals inspired by Malaysian traditional wayang kulit or shadowpuppets where two stories intertwine.

“CYMK (Colors You May Know)” – David Chai (2021 California 2:40)
A friendly reminder from your besties at House of Chai to please love one another and celebrate our differences.

“Nestling” – Marat Valerievich Narimanov (2020 Russian Federation 6:35)
The story of a friendship between a lonely old man and an helpless nestling, confronted by a group of ignorant boys.

“Sleeping Bear” – Johanna Oswald (2022 Michigan 6:29)
A mother bear and her two cubs escape one threat, only to be thrown into another. This retelling of an Odawa legend shows the love a mother has for her babies, at any cost.

“Oyasumi~Lullaby of Flame~” – Arisa Wakami (2021 Japan 6:46)
Even in the midst of turbulent times, it is okay. Life goes on. A new world has already begun.

“Embrace” – Latesha Merkel (2022 Indiana 5:18)
A short film about asexuality that explores the common experience of feeling different than most of the population and also emphasizes self-love and joy that can come from recognition of one’s asexuality.

“Koyote Kevin Teaches Respect” – Matt Ley (2021 United Kingdom 4:11)
Two kids in detention are made to watch an old-school PSA about an important aspect of everyday life.

“Geo Metro” – Troy Taroy (2018 California 1:51)
A musical tribute to a classic American car

“Bigfoot Took my Photo!” – Sasha Espinosa (2021 California 5:42)
Johanna has photographic proof that Bigfoot is real! That is, until Bigfoot himself steals it.


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2021 DIFA Animations & Animators

“Essential Workers” – MCR/Electric Otto (2020 Michigan 0:34)
On the Front Line with a Mask getting Burgers and Fries for your @$$!

“Anxty” – Antoinette Marshall (2020 United Kingdom 1:20)
A short 2D conceptual style experimental animation film exploring the effects of anxiety.

“We Can Still Be Friends” – Ewa Sztefka (2020 Poland 5:14)
An unrequited love for a friend grows out of control. An intimate look into processing emotions through the lens of BPD.

“The Beakmann Incident” – Jared D. Weiss (2020 California 3:42)
Three housemates recount an unspeakable event that took place in their home.

“Bisogno” – Matteo Zallocco (2020 Italy 1:12)
Lockdown. A slow vertical tracking shot that spying on a small building, at night, reveals contrasting situations and emotions, even in the same apartment, between people and animals, to end up on the roof of the building where two pigeons reveal their “need”.

“Charlie Brontoson in: Bus Stop” – Christian E. Rosado (2019 Puerto Rico 2:25)
Charlie Brontoson is a middle-age long neck dinosaur that missed his bus ride to work, resulting on him waiting for the next one at the Bus Stop. As the day passes and the bus still hasn’t arrived, Charlie’s frustration gets to a boiling point.

“The Dessert” – Yury Tomilov (2019 Russian Federation 4:45)
The pear, the orange and the banana show off in front of the beautiful cherry. They fight for her attention, bother each other. But boasting and aggression usually lead to sad consequences.

“Exceptional Minds Promo – Mitsubishi Electric” – Howie Hoffman, Scott Sackett (2020 California 5:24)
Animated promo video for Exceptional Minds – a non profit visual effects and animation school and studio for young adults on the autism spectrum. Sponsored by Mitsubishi Electric of America.

“He Flies By His Own Wings” – McKena Boos (Michigan 2:48)
Falling through a dream, a man longs for flight with wings he does not have.

“In Red” – 贺天 (2020 China 8:01)
A two-dimensional animated short film that combines music, dance and animation and focuses on the transmission of emotions. The short film tells the story of the war in the stream of consciousness, all the lives are suffering, even the perpetrators themselves… It advocates for peace and for equal rights.

“My Tagalong” – Jerry Wang (2020 Canada 6:40)
A story about two brothers’ journey on the earth. The Older brother wants to enjoy the trip himself, but his younger brother always follows him and makes a lot of troubles.

“Mime Your Manners” – Kate Namowicz, Skyler Porras (2020 Florida 3:20)
An arrogant man berates a mime. As a consequence, he is transformed into a mime until he learns to treat others how he would like to be treated.

— INTERMISSION —

“The Moon and Me” – Alejandro Mavarez (2020 Florida 3:38)
A young man has fallen in love with the moon, and he will do anything to be with “her”.

“Psychophonic” – Aline Romero (2019 Spain 5:42)
During a full moon night, a cat is trapped inside a spooky house where a gramophone is playing, the cat will discover a secret while trying to escape and run for his life.

“Melted” – Nikki Chapman (2020 Indiana 1:45)
A macabre girl laments about the inevitability of death after being given a melting cartoon character popsicle.

“Ways of Keeping” – Miles Aijala, Anna-Ester Volozh (2020 United Kingdom 2:47)
In this stop-motion animated short film, a gardener lives a quiet life, tending to their little home. When the mysterious locked door in their house starts leaking a dark substance that threatens to taint everything it touches, they struggle to face what they’ve locked in the closet.

“A Family That Steals Dogs” – John C Kelley (2020 Tennessee 7:30)
Strange experiences and realizations lead a grieving artist to reconsider his identity and beliefs in this meditation on grief, family and mental illness.

“Stache and the Inner Walk” – Joanne Fisher (2020 Canada 3:30)
Salvador Dali’s mustache rises in the crypt and journeys into the world of its subconscious.

“SALT” – (2020 California 2:41)
An irritated little brother and his bossy older sister come to learn that saying “I love you” doesn’t always mean saying “I love you”.

“In Shape” – Nolan J Downs (2020 Illinois 1:52)

“The Organized Life” – Patrick Yu Wang, Nguyet Nghi Duong (2020 New York 2:29)
A 3D animated short film that presents the relationship between mother and son through the son solving the issue of not being able to control himself from organizing everything in life.

“Yikásdáhí – Awaits the Dawn” – Gabriela Clar (2019 Argentina 7:35)
When the time comes to create the sky chart, the Black God takes his blueprints and a sack filled with stars to set about creating the constellations. But things get complicated when his actions catch the eye of Coyote, a troublemaker who thinks any excuse is good enough to make some mischief. Based on a Navajo legend.

“Just For The Record” – Vojin Vasovic (2020 Serbia 7:01)
In an abandoned attic, dictaphone robot REC desperately tries to connect to a bird that stops on its window. Using his play button to say something, he finds himself shocked by the content and scares the bird away. He rushes to make her come back, to record over his “own voice” before his battery leaks.


Jump to: 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016


2020 DIFA Animation Schedule

“La Pesadilla” – MCR/Electric Otto (2019 Michigan 0:32)
Lema: “¡Sueños malos!”

“Frog Dog Log” – Jared D. Weiss (2018 California 2:34)
A film about a film about a frog, a dog, and a log.

“Blue Note” – David Donar (2018 South Carolina 2:40)
A guitarist finds inspiration from above.

“Hungry” – Yaou Chen (2019 California 2:39)
A T-rex is starving in the desert and looking for food.

“Dump and Restore” – Oded Hesseg (2019 Israel 2:33)
While a creature built out of junk comes to life, the child must decide whether to listen to him or follow the advice of his former friend.

“Lumens” – Manuel Moreno Lee (2019 New York 5:30)
In a land where the sun has disappeared, a young woman embarks on a quest.

“A Dog By Your Side” – Selina Wagner (2019 United Kingdom 1:58)
A montage of a woman’s life with a dog always by her side.

“Waiting By The Phone” – Olivia Jensen (2019 Illinois 3:35)
As one woman living in an apartment for two, Dani struggles to live while coping with the tragic truth about her sister

“The Flat” – Lev Voloshin (2019 Moldova, Republic of 1:00)
The journey of trash on the planet and the final destination of garbage.

“Criss Cross” – Caroline Hamann, Fritz Penzlin (2020 Germany 7:30)
An unfortunate chain of events motivates a couple in love to try and defy the obstacles between them.

“The Insignificant Fantasies in the Cracks of Daily Life” – Yumeng Xi (2019 United Kingdom 2:09)
A boy jumps into the exit of the tunnel in order to escape from people. ‘Cured’ by a kiss, things begin to change…

“Boxes for Rox” – Chelsey Raegen Knapp (2019 Michigan 4:54)
Awareness is the first step.

“Calls for Archie” – Zach Christy (2019 California 4:35)
A man gets mysterious calls for years and tries to understand why.

– – – INTERMISSION – – –

“The Glowing Wrath (Shortcut to Heck)” – Isaias Zai Gallardo (2019 USA 0:39)
On Halloween night, a candy corn takes a shortcut on its way home through a forest, and encounters an evil, glowing entity.

“Frog Dog Log: Live à Laval” – Jared D. Weiss (2019 California 2:46)
Dog attempts to sleep in the hills of Laval, Québec, Canada.

“Going Home” – Tom Denney (2019 United Kingdom 5:47)
A mother leaves hospital with her newborn baby to discover the world is about to end.

“Inhale/Exhale” – Neely Goniodsky (2018 Washington 1:00)
An attempt to follow a breathing exercise which turns into a nightmare.

“Winter’s Blight” – Claire Campbell (2019 New Zealand 13:55)
An elderly man lives alone in an isolated hut in New Zealand. Spring should have arrived but winter will not relent and he must cut down the one remaining tree.

“Wind” – Dana Sink (2019 Pennsylvania 1:53)
An exploration of movement and meaning.

“Critical Update” – Brogan Jones (2019 United Kingdom 5:50)
In a future where everyone is constantly plugged in, the lines between what is real and important in life and what is not have become blurred.

“Streets of Fury” – Aidan McAteer (2019 Ireland 5:00)
Max Punchface is only interested in two things – punching and kicking. His life takes a strange twist when he opens a portal to the peaceful world of Sheepland.

“Go! Go!” – Patradol Kitcharoen (2019 California 4:39)
Aaron the alligator, who lives his entire life in a tank in an animal theme park, is fascinated by the fireworks that are displayed in the park every night and dreams to see the fireworks up close.


Jump to: 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016


2019 DIFA Animation Schedule

“Black Forehead Fatface” – MCR/ELECTRIC OTTO (2018 Michigan 0:45)
Mind Power Black Forehead! Shut Up to the Fatfaces!

“Purrsonnel” – Shayla Stokes (2018 Canada 2:08)
A cat lands an interview at Corp Corp, the most coveted company in the city.

“In an Empty Wood” – Chia-Hsin Lee (2018 California 2:36)
A poetic animation on the jealousy of seeing someone succeed in a path you once considered.

“Limbo” – Jennifer Stachovic (2018 Illinois 5:21)
A lonely ghost girl, longing to cross over, befriends a mysterious phantom limb.

“Apple of My Eye” – Davide Benvenuti (2018 Singapore 5:50)
In a strange land, two creatures fight over the last scrap of food.

“I-Occupy” – Lorenzo Lodovichi (2018 Italy 2:25)
A political manifestation is unfolding.

“The Pushover” – Hailey Marshall (2016 California 2:55)
A woman’s attempts to say “no” are thwarted by some colorful fuzzy companions.

“Hoan Alone: Personal Stories from the Bridge” – Aaron Johnson (2018 United States 8:30)
An animated documentary exploring the issues of Milwaukee’s Hoan Bridge and suicide through three intimate interviews.

“Hunter or Gatherer” – Fausto Montanari (2018 Italy 0:49)
Every day, by choice or by fate, each human being has to be a hunter or a gatherer.

“The Rougaroux” – Ana Vincent (2018 Michigan 2:10)
Take a midnight drive down the surreal streets of a haunted highway to discover a southern werewolf: a Rougaroux.

“The Long & Short” – Benjamin Windsor (2018 Colorado 4:41)
A lone sheriff wanders the vast western frontier in search of an outlaw.

“Filmesque” – Vincenzo De Sio and Walton Zed (Davide Capasso) (2018 Italy 2:46)
In this tribute to the cinema, the great film director Federico Fellini is in trouble with his camera and Totò ‘The Clown’ will help.

“Love Me, Fear Me” – Veronica Solomon (2018 Germany 6:06)
What would you be willing to do for them to love you?

“Pete the Peacock” – Amanda Low (2018 Canada 2:53)
Pete is a party loving peacock who parties hard as a way of escaping deep feelings of inadequacy and anxiety.

– – – INTERMISSION – – –

“Meat Wrapped In Dough” – Tracy Park (2018 California 2:00)
A light-hearted animated homage to delicious meat wrapped in tasty dough.

“The Land of the 3-Drink Minimum” – Jeremy Speed Schwartz (2018 New York 4:22)
Citizens desperately try to connect with each other, but are unable to see past their own desires or alcohol-soaked heads.

“L’Aria del Moscerino – Death of a Fruit Fly” – Lukas von Berg (2017 Germany 4:30)
A tiny fruit fly defies its impending death with physical strength and vocal power.

“FlyTrap” – Connor Bland (2018 California 6:55)
Charles falls into a germaphobic hysteria living under the unsanitary habits of his roommate.

“All the Things” – Chris Guyot and Paul McMahon (2017 Ireland 1:29)
A collection of individual narratives, unified by a cohesive style.

“Medium Rare” – Luca Cioci (2018 Italy 4:35)
Functional and aesthetic values in recurrent, yet questionable domestic scenarios.

“Unsighted” – Ruby Pettigrew (2018 Australia 3:30)
A young girl copes with the recent loss of her vision by connecting with the world in new ways.

“The Witch’s Mask” – Laura N-Tamara (2017 United Kingdom 4:31)
A story drawing on Indonesian folklore, themes of fatality and the ambivalence one can feel towards family.

“Linnae” – Celina Garrido Villafañe (2017 Puerto Rico 2:49)
After spending much time apart, Linnae and Sycamore rejoice once again till it is time to part ways.

“Sunup” – Elizabeth ‘Lizzie’ Hopwood (2018 Arizona 4:33)
In a lush tropical forest, a wacky firebird is pursued by a hermit with an intense hunting habit.

“Negative Spaces” – Michaela Wadzinski (2018 Nebraska 6:00)
What if your sketchbook drawings came to life?


Jump to: 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016


2018 DIFA Animation Schedule

The Perm” – MCR/ELECTRIC OTTO (2017 Michigan 1min)
No longer Natural, this Monster is a Cold Wave of Destruction (and that’s No Lye)!

Why We Want a Dog” – Alison Locricchio (2017 Gorgia 2mins)
Max and Paulie are siblings yearning for one thing only: a pet dog, and decide to make a home video to show their parents that they do, indeed, deserve a dog.

“The End of the Line” – William Côgo (2016 Brazil 3mins)
Based on an awarded picture book, the story is about Brazilian animals standing in line. What is at the end of the line?

“Obah-chan” – Paul Thurwachter (2018 California 1min)
The daily life of Obah-chan, a Japanese grandma. (Ep 1)

“Rose on the Moon” – Panna Horvath-Molnar (2017 Hungary 2mins)
Hidden by the depth of night, small creatures roam the forest.

“As The Light Fades” – Justin Simonetti (2017 California 3mins)
An animation exploring death, the pain of loss, and the fear of meeting nothingness on the other side.

Outside” – Laura Norris (2017 California 5mins)
When a lonely little boy finds a strange creature in the woods, he must keep it a secret from his mom.

Stroke” – Jiani zhao , Emanuele Romano (2017 United Kingdom 5mins)
An old man recalls his experience of having a stroke with peculiar visions regarding himself and the reality around him.

“Stuck” – Whitney Walters (2017 Pennsylvania 6mins)
A blob tries to get a job in its respected, creative field.

“When Comes the Rain” – Brian Giovanni (2017 California 2mins)
The local birdbath is empty and the hot sun won’t let up, so one ambitious bird decides to tamper in God’s domain.

“TIS” – Chloë Lesueur (2016 France 9mins)
Here is our hero, TIS, as he struggles to free himself from the sheet of paper.

“Obah-chan” – Paul Thurwachter (2018 California 1min)
The daily life of Obah-chan, a Japanese grandma. (Ep 2)

Clay vs Animation” – Alako Myles (2017 Australia 5mins)
A group of four friends accidentally unleash an unwanted creation…

– – – INTERMISSION – – –

“Obah-chan” – Paul Thurwachter (2018 California 1min)
The daily life of Obah-chan, a Japanese grandma. (Ep 3)

Eggs With Legs” – Harrison Schaeffer (2017 Michigan 3mins)
An egg, a leg, another egg, another leg, a man, a dream, and an egg.

Glorious Victory” – Will Kim (2017 California 2mins)
A watercolor animated short about two beetles intensely fighting over a fig fruit.

Cocoon, Cocoon” – Ori Goldberg, Ilai Margulies (2018 Israel 7mins)
A fat, smug caterpillar doesn’t want to become a butterfly. In song and rhyme, the horrors of metamorphosis are revealed.

“Obah-chan” – Paul Thurwachter (2018 California 1min)
The daily life of Obah-chan, a Japanese grandma. (Ep 4)

“Framed” – Marco Jemolo (2017 Italy 7mins)
A noir animated short-film which explores the sensitive subject of alienation in society.

“KOMØD” – Annick Buhr, Janina Schmidt, Annika Saum (2017 Germany 4mins)
Ole the Hotdog has bought a new commode but after assembling something is not as expected.

“Eon” – Nick Zweig (2017 New Jersey 6mins)
Rise and fall.

Ready to Fight” – Natasha Cánepa (2017 Georgia 2mins)
A princess’s desperate call for help is soon answered by a hero who is not prepared to defeat the enemy.

Pokey Pokey” – Junjie “Jake” Zhang (2016 United States/China 7mins)
A father attempts to figure out the best way to protect his son from seeing filthiness of the crime-ridden city.

Obah-chan” – Paul Thurwachter (2018 California 1min)
The daily life of Obah-chan, a Japanese grandma. (Ep 5)

Duel ” – Alex Morgan (2017 United Kingdom 3mins)
A duel-crazed nobleman strives to uphold his honor by taking on the ultimate opponent – a starving orphan child.

Blow Job” – Robert Hemlich (2017 Michigan 4mins)
An inflatable tube man vies for the attention of his lady love.


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2017 DIFA Animation Schedule

“Detroit Quattropus” – MCR/ELECTRIC OTTO (2015 Michigan 0:57)
Detroit Extraterrestrial in a Alien World.

“Living With Dog” – Johanna Oswald (2016 Michigan 2:01)
A film about a dog, two cats, and life together.

Inside Job” – Qi DENG (2016 New York 1:30)
Machines have taken over so many human jobs. Every occupation, however, has its hazards.

Icky” – Parastoo Cardgar (2017 Iran 5:55)
In the world of people with Rubik’s cube head, there is a kid who is different from the others…

Extrapolate” – Johan Rijpma (2016 Netherlands / Japan 2:00)
A straight ahead animation beyond observation.

Scary Story” – Joseph Paone, Midrell Fitzgerald (2016 Texas 1:00)
A little girl tells us her idea of a scary story.

“Panic Attack!” – Eileen O’Meara (2016 Florida 3:20)
A hand-drawn animation exploring anxiety, obsession, and one woman’s slippery hold on reality.

The Moment” – Karis Oh (2016 New York 2:29)
An artist learns about the importance of things unseen as she gets to draw a stranger’s portrait.

“Projection” – Beryl Allee (2016 Oregon 5:40)
Everyone projects their biases onto others. Danny just does it literally.

Cube” – Jun Yang (2016 New York 1:48)
A story of a little boy try to finish his drawing assignment.

Satellite ” – Sungwon Moon (2016 New York 2:59)
An astronaut named Ema struggles between the harshness of reality and the emptiness of a virtual world.

Treasure Nest” – Joy (Meng-Chwen) Tien, Allison Botkin, Mike Bourbeau (2014 New Jersey 5:09)
The adventures of Blue and Peanut in search of hidden riches.

BAMF” – Carmine LaMorte,Daniel Scheg,Francisco Dias (2016 New York 4:02)
Having finally come of age, a young adventurer sets off to conquer the Dungeon of Doom.

“Papa Pasquale” – JC Little (2015 Canada 4:23)
A young man dreaming of adventure, Pasquale leaves his family in the olive groves of southern Italy, and heads to Canada to build a new life.

Say What!: A Geriatric Proposal” – Aaron Weinstein / Rescue Dog Films (2016 New York 5:31)
At a post-concert reception, a young jazz musician tries to survive aggressive grannies and other terrifying beasts.

=== INTERMISSION ===

PUSH IT 4000!” – Yugo Limbo, Omar Romolino (2016 Michigan 3:38)
16 CARTOON DANCERS! 16 ANIMATORS! ONE MUSICAL JIGGLYMAN! PUSH IT 4000!, A FUNKY FLOWIN’ DANCE ANIMATION JAM!

Monk of Milkweed” – Harrison Schaeffer (2017 Michigan 3:24)
Milky monk makes meek marks in muck.

Schirkoa” – Ishan Shukla (2016 India 13:31)
In the city of bag-heads, a senate member faces a tough choice between political career, brothels and love for a mysterious woman.

Oh, Those Kittens!” – Joel Benjamin (2015 Illinios 2:46)
A close examination of life as a cat.

Luscious” – Xuecheng Xu (2016 New York 1:30)
A look at human nature, human instinct and the power of imagination.

Unmasked” – Alice Gavish, Christina Faraj (2016 New York 4:47)
A young boy who embarks on a journey after the sudden loss of his father.

Adam” – Evelyn Jane Ross (2016 New Mexico 2:27)
In the beginning of them, She created us.

Raising A Nuisance” – Stevie Quigley, Jason McCullough, Justin Hoffman, Danielle Raymond (2016 Michigan 2:16)
A Necromancer tries to raise an army of the undead, but unwittingly only revives one campy skeleton.

“Poochini” – Max Colson (2016 New York 3:40)
A man has a mental breakdown in the shower when his deepest fear confronts him.

Hum” – Tom Teller (2015 California 8:30)
A solitary dish washing robot living out his life in the back room of a restaurant is enlightened to the world that exists beyond his four walls.


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2016 DIFA Animations Schedule

$5 – MCR/ELECTRIC OTTO (2015 Michigan 1min)
$5!? $5!? YOU MFKN Right!!

Neighbourhood Yokai – Fuyuka Kato (2016 Japan 1min)
A short animation of some Yokai in my neighborhood. Yokai are Japanese monsters born from folk beliefs. 

Haiku 9:TRADE – Lyle Pisio (2016 Canada 4min)
In a twist on the old “sell your soul to the devil” gag, Andrew is offered his heart’s desire for a bit of his youth.

One Too Many – Sinead Stoddart (2015 United Kingdom 2min)
When a drunken night out gets the better of him, Joe’s inner self steps in to set him on the road to recovery where a killer hangover awaits.

The Big The Bad and The Bunny – Minji Sohn, Laura Talaway (2015 New York 3min)
The dispute between Gangster Rhino and Penguin Squad come to climax when the Penguins kidnap the Rhino’s pet Bunny.

Le Pain de l’Amour – Christine Barron (2016 California 2min)
A homicidal baguette seeks revenge and is really on a roll with bread puns.

Look the Other Way – Karl Jahnke (2016 Tennessee 2min)
A bird is content with its life until it is forced to abandon its home due to rising water levels and journeys from sanctuary to sanctuary. 

The Orchestra – Mikey Hill (2015 Australia 15min)
In a word filled with beautiful harmonious music, Vernon always seems to strike the wrong note. 

Party Fowl – Harrison Schaeffer (2015 Michigan 1min)
Bird dad provides for his family. 

Si Lunchai – Hannes Rall (2014 Singapore 9min)
The poor yet smart trickster Si Lunchai triumphs over the cruel king in an adaptation of an Indonesian legend inspired by the style of the Asian shadow puppet play.

The Shipwreck Interview – Joe Uebie (2015 Michigan 1min)
Interview with the captain who saved a shipwrecked man. 

Que Asco – Robert Curtis Randolph, Robert Charlie Daugherty (2015 United States 3min)
Two expertly sophisticated gourmands extol upon the intricate subtleties of their gustatory prepossessions, all in easy-to-digest Spanish.

=== INTERMISSION ===

Fruit – Gerhard Funk (2015 Germany 7min)
A play of shapes illustrating the dialog between vibrating entities of black and white constantly being split apart and reconciled by red in a choreography of forms and figures. 

DISPATCH – Min Hwa Jung, John Seppala (2015 New York 3min)
The story of a man racing against time to rescue the one he loves.

Stand Still – Jongwoo Choi (2015 South Korea 3min)
A girl with a robotic arm fights against the dystopian society of her time, even if it often means having to take the harder way. 

Silence of the Siren – Liz McQuaid Martin (2015 Pennsylvania 3min)
Dr. Bertram details his conflict with a captive mermaid he holds in his basement as his attempts to control the creature are met with intense but passive resistance.

Chinese Princess – Tomas Bases (2015 Spain 6min)
The wheel of reincarnation transforms us through time into all kinds of living beings. To be born and to die to be born again.

Creatures – Tessa Moult-Milewska (2015 Poland 10min)
A grotesque love story about two caricatures of people, trying to face social ostracism.

Mijndert – Janneke Swinkels, Tim Frijsinger (2015 Netherlands 5min)
A young man from the South of the Netherlands is about to begin his first working day in the mines.

The Idea Thief – Dani P Alava, Juan Lozano (2016 Spain 6min)
A burglar has some special googles that allows him to see other’s people ideas floating in their heads and take them for his own selfish benefit.

Military Men: Seize The Snow Mountain Castle – Philip Helander, Gottfrid Helander (2016 Sweden 5min)
A group of American soldiers are on a special mission to stop the Nazis from getting nuclear weapons.

The Misadventures of Chubzilla – Dominik Koscinski, Elizabeth Lee (2015 New York 4min)
A story about an insatiable monster that devours everything in sight until a three-headed nemesis comes between him and his candy-land paradise.


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