TIFF Announces 'Pink Panther' 50th Anniversary Showcase

The Pink Panther 50^th Anniversary
First appearing in the animated title sequence of the classic Peter Sellers comedy, the Pink Panther became a star in his own right when his first solo short, The Pink Phink won an Academy Award in 1964. Come celebrate the 50th anniversary of the original cool cat with this collection of newly restored shorts, back on the big screen where they belong!

We Give Pink Stamps, dirs. Friz Freleng and Hawley Pratt, USA
The Pink Panther hides out in a department store and spends the night trying to avoid the janitor.

The Pink Phink, dirs. Friz Freleng and Hawley Pratt, USA
A painter tries to coat a house in blue, but a certain panther prefers a pinkish hue.

The Hand is Pinker Than the Eye, dir. Hawley Pratt, USA
The Pink Panther seeks shelter from a winter storm in the house of a magician, whose mischievous rabbit sidekick makes things difficult for the frigid feline.

Sink Pink, dir. Friz Freleng, USA
A would-be Noah has collected every animal he needs for his ark, except a Pink Panther—but this final specimen proves difficult to catch.

Pinkfinger, dirs. Friz Freleng and Hawley Pratt, USA
The Pink Panther turns secret agent to foil the dastardly plot of a group of enemy spies.

Pink Plunk Plink, dir. Hawley Pratt, USA
The Pink Panther interrupts a performance of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony with multi-instrumental variations on his inimitable theme song.

Pink Ice, dirs. Friz Freleng and Hawley Pratt, USA
The Pink Panther must defend his South African diamond mine from a pair of unscrupulous rival mine owners.

Dial 'P' For Pink, dir. Friz Freleng and Hawley Pratt, USA
A burglar gets more than he bargained for when he tries to crack open a safe that happens to be home to the Pink Panther.

Reel Rascals: Animal Animania
This assortment of animated short films was carefully selected from all around the world for our youngest audiences. Join us as we make new friends, sing, dance, and learn in this collection of animal-themed shorts sure to delight and enthral! Recommended for ages 3 to 6.

New World, dir. Oliver Sin, United Kingdom. No dialogue.
From the twinkling infinity of the cosmos comes the creation and evolution of the Earth, as visualized in this vibrant short set to the music of acclaimed Canadian musician Jim Guthrie.

Maccupation, dir. Jackie Marion, USA. English.
Canadian Premiere
When a squirrel finds the most enormous acorn in the forest, he selfishly hides it from all the other squirrels. With only his acorn to keep him company, he soon gets lonely and bored, and comes to learn the true value of friendship.

Little Ruddy (Sartulis), dir. Dace Riduze, Latvia. No dialogue.
North American Premiere
Ruddy the coloured pencil is having a splendid morning until an annoying fly sends him rolling out the open window and into the garden, where adventures and fantastical new friends await.

Someone Who Gets You, dir. Tony Dusko, USA.
Toronto Premiere
There's someone for everyone, no matter how totally weird everyone else thinks you might be!

LAMI, dirs. Christophe Defaye and Olivier Defaye, France/Japan. English.
Canadian Premiere
Little La strikes a chord with the lonely Mi, and together they discover the sweet melodies and harmonies of friendship.

Twins in Bakery, dir. Mari Miyazawa, Japan. English.
Canadian Premiere
Once a bakery closes for the evening, a pair of creative twins helps bring the delicious baked goods to life.

Hula Hoop, dir. Tess Martin, USA.
A mesmerizing world of sand swirls around a girl with a hula hoop, shape-shifting and morphing through myriad forms in this celebration of the circle of life.

Grounded, dir. Monica Stefanelli, USA. English.
Canadian Premiere
Elephants can’t jump, but this little calf isn’t going to let that stop him from learning to leap, no matter who or what tries to keep him down!

The Smortlybacks, dirs. Ted Sieger and Wouter Dierickx, China/Switzerland. No dialogue.
Toronto Premiere
A mahout manoeuvres his herd of trumpet-snouted pink pachyderms on a colourful journey across a fantastical, never- ending mountain range.

Goose Trouble (Tarapaty), dir. Monika Dovnar, Germany/Poland. No dialogue.
Toronto Premiere
Like Little Red Riding Hood, this carefree little goose is trying to find its way through the dark forest, ignoring the dange r of the malicious wolf.

Bird Doggin'!, dir. Bram Cayne, Canada. English.
Canadian Premiere
Music meets mayhem when a songwriter's dog fights a stray bird amongst an apartment full of musical instruments. While the unsuspecting writer tries to find the perfect sound, the warring animals create a cacophony of music. Will these animals destroy this man's life, or will they be his artistic salvation?

The Night of the Elephant (Die Nacht des Elefanten), dir. Sandra Schiessl, Germany. German w/ English subtitles.
Toronto Premiere
Afraid of the dark and the strange noises in the night, an easily spooked young elephant must learn to be strong and trample over his fears if he (and everyone around him!) wants to finally get a good night's rest.

Relax, dir. Tony Dusko, USA.
World Premiere
Long lines can be stressful, so you may as well just relax and pass the time telling jokes!

Sarah & Duck: Lots of Shallots, dir. Tim O'Sullivan, United Kingdom. English.
Canadian Premiere
Sarah and her adorable best friend Duck find some free seeds in the newspaper, and spend the rest of the day in the yard planting them to discover what grows.

Better Together
Whether facing a challenge, playing a game or dreaming up a new invention, two heads are always better than one! This collection of short films shows how cooperation, creativity and fun are the keys to successful teamwork. Recommended for ages 6 to 8.

A Purrfect Pair, dir. Gwyneth Christoffel, Canada. No dialogue.
A dog and cat meet at the vet's office and fall in love, but are separated by their owners. Later, they each imagine what their life together would be like.

Slowly but Surely, dir. Eli Balser, USA. English.
Canadian Premiere
A snail and a dragonfly learn a thing or two about each other as they’re forced to spend some time together. The snail teaches the dragonfly to slow down and experience the moment. The dragonfly teaches the snail to take a fresh, optimistic approach to life, as sometimes you need to move fast. In the end they realize they make a pretty good team.

The Magic Ferret, dir. Alison Parker, Canada. English.
Toronto Premiere
A young orphan named Sam yearns to find a forever home, so he and his pet ferret Booger conjure up a little magic.

Twins in Bakery, dir. Mari Miyazawa, Japan. English.
Canadian Premiere
Once a bakery closes for the evening, a pair of creative twins helps bring the delicious baked goods to life.

Lemonade in Winter, dirs. Paul Gagne, Melissa Ellard and David Trexler, USA. English.
Canadian Premiere
In this adaptation of the popular children's book, Pauline and her little brother John-John work together to make their unseasonable lemonade stand into a success.

The Numberlys, dirs. William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg, USA. English.
International Premiere
The Numberlys is an epic homage to Fritz Lang's Metropolis, but for kids. Friends 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 live in a world where there is no alphabet — only numbers. One day, they decide they want something different from their orderly, black-and-whiteworld. Through a series of experiments and mishaps, they begin to create a whole new way to communicate through the letters of the alphabet. Finally, their world will have colour, creativity, and even jellybeans.

Snail's Pace (Il Passo Della Lumaca), dir. Daniele Suraci, Italy. No dialogue.
Canadian Premiere
While playing with a snail that slowly moves along a hat shop's window display, seven-year-old Jaime sees eight-year-old Matilda on the street outside, and devises a series of silly antics to make her smile.

Loot Bag Jr.: Brave New Worlds
Embark on an international animated adventure in this programme carefully chosen to inspire and delight. Through imaginative tales filled with laughter, music, and a whole new world of letters and numbers, this eclectic collection shines a light on the power of creative thinking, being yourself, and overcoming obstacles. Recommended for ages 7 to 11.

Caminandes: Llama Drama, dir. Pablo Vazquez, Netherlands. No dialogue.
In the majestic Southern Patagonian mountains, a quirky llama finds a way to cross an impossible road.

My Mom is an Airplane, dir. Yulia Aronova, Russia/United States of America. English.
Canadian Premiere
Different people have different mothers, but in this storybook-like film, one boy's mother flies above the rest!

Super Duper Super Hero: Supervillain, dir. Mike Geiger, Canada. English.
Toronto Premiere
The heroic Super Duper Super Hero takes on his evil nemesis... The Supervillain!

Komaneko, Home Alone, dir. Tsuneo Goda, Japan. No dialogue.
Toronto Premiere
An adorable kitten who lives with her grandfather is instructed to behave herself the whole day, and things are going great— until the lights go out in a rainstorm!

The Clockmakers, dir. Renaud Hallée, Canada. No dialogue.
This experimental animation reveals a kaleidoscopic world of revolving geometric forms populated by scores of tiny gymnasts, whose hypnotic bounding and bouncing create a mesmerizing musical rhythm.

A Tin Can (Banka), dir. Tatiana Kiseleva, Russia. No dialogue.
International Premiere
A tin can is passed playfully from one person to another through the hustle and bustle of a busy Russian cityscape, in this musical celebration of the simple joys in life.

Soup of the Day, dir. Lynn Smith, Canada. English.
Toronto Premiere
A deliciously funny, musical animated short about the dilemma a husband and wife face every time they go out to eat. Will love prevail? With its energetic rhythm, repetition of lyrics, and subject matter guaranteed to promote lively discussion, Soup of the Day was designed to serve an additional educational purpose: to help teach English as a second language.

The Odd Sound Out, dirs. Ida Andreasen and Pernille Sihm, Denmark. No dialogue.
In a world where cute invisible creatures embody the musical tunes of people's personalities and moods, the trumpeting of overly eager Trootpout heralds discontent amongst his band, forcing him to go in search of harmony elsewhere.

The New Species (Novy Druh), dir. Katerina Karhánková, Czech Republic. Czech w/ English subtitles.
Toronto Premiere
Stumbling across a mysterious bone sparks the imaginations of three kids, who decide to seek scholarly wisdom from a palaeontologist and see what clues they can dig up.

5 Mètres 80, dir. Nicolas Deveaux, France. No dialogue.
Toronto Premiere
A fun-loving herd of giraffes line up to take the leap of a lifetime.

Mushroom Monster, dir. Aleksander Leines Nordaas, Norway. No dialogue.
Toronto Premiere
If you were a little, hairy Mushroom Monster, how far would you go to get your paws on the biggest mushroom ever?

Caminandes: Gran Dillama, dir. Pablo Vazquez, Netherlands. No dialogue.
A young llama named Koro discovers that the grass is always greener on the other side (of the fence). Getting there turns out to be harder than expected.

The Numberlys, dirs. William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg, USA. English.
International Premiere
The Numberlys is an epic homage to Fritz Lang's Metropolis, but for kids. Friends 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 live in a world where there is no alphabet — only numbers. One day, they decide they want something different from their orderly, black-and-white world. Through a series of experiments and mishaps, they begin to create a whole new way to communicate through the letters of the alphabet. Finally, their world will have colour, creativity, and even jellybeans.

Courageous Dreamers
In the face of adversity young people can actually be role models to adults, showing strength, leadership and empathy well beyond their years. The courageous protagonists in this collection of shorts offer a stirring reminder that hope can make a difference. Recommended for ages 8 to 9.

Bahar in Wonderland (Bahar im Wunderland), dir. Behrooz Karamizade, Germany. Kurdish w/ English subtitles.
Toronto Premiere
Young Bahar is surrounded by danger as she and her father try to make their way from Syria to Germany, but she believes she has found her own unique way to defend herself and fight her fears.

Fatima, dir. Naima Mohamud, Finland. Finnish w/ English subtitles.
Canadian Premiere
Nine-year-old Fatima overhears her mother and father talking about divorce. When Milla, her best friend, finds out about Fatima's fears, she comes up with a great idea to get Fatima's parents to fall in love again, by any means necessary. Fatima is a film about a friendship that conquers all fears.

Anouar and the Moon (De maan van Anouar) dir. Michiel van Jaarsveld, Netherlands. Dutch w/ English subtitles.
TIFF Kids Festival Favourite!
When his mother retreats to her bedroom after receiving terrible news, Anouar tries to keep his younger sister Sahar distracted with stories about the stars and the moon. When Sahar gets very upset upon learning that the moon has to stay in the sky, Anouar realizes that the only way to comfort her is to grab the moon out of the sky and deliver it to her. Against all odds, he succeeds — but he could never have predicted what happens next.

Beyond My Years
Sometimes, it’s the kids who know best. For various reasons, the protagonists in these shorts are forced to step in and deal with serious situations, and in the process they teach their elders some valuable lessons in understanding, communication and courage. Recommended for ages 8 to 10.

Helium, dir. Anders Walter and Kim Magnusson, Denmark. Danish w/ English subtitles.
2014 Academy Award Winner – Best Live Action Short Film
A critically ill young boy finds comfort in the hospital janitor's tales of a magical land called Helium.

Fatima, dir. Naima Mohamud, Finland. Finnish w/ English subtitles.
Canadian Premiere
Nine-year-old Fatima overhears her mother and father talking about divorce. When Milla, her best friend, finds out about Fatima's fears, she comes up with a great idea to get Fatima's parents to fall in love again, by any means necessary. Fatima is a film about a friendship that conquers all fears.

The Hero Pose, dir. Mischa Jakupcak, USA. English.
Toronto Premiere
Stuck at her dad's house while he tries to sell a car that doesn't run, Mia asks questions that her dad simply doesn't have the answers to. As frustrations mount, Mia and her dad find a new and unique way to communicate.

I'm Going to Mum's, dir. Lauren Jackson, New Zealand. English.
Canadian Premiere
Tired of being told what he can and cannot wear to each of his divorced parents' respective houses, Jacob takes matters into his own hands, making a memorable fashion statement while also teaching his parents a lesson about communication.

I Am Me
Celebrating differences among friends and family can teach us about new cultures, traditions and ways of life, but unfortunately there are some who are reluctant to accept the unfamiliar. In this collection of short films, the protagonists demonstrate that even in the face of bullying or inequity, accepting yourself is the most important thing. Recommended ages 8 to 10.

The Orphan and the Polar Bear, dir. Neil Christopher, Canada. English.
Canadian Premiere
According to Inuit oral history, long ago animals had the power of speech, could shift their appearances, and could even assume human form. In The Orphan and the Polar Bear, a neglected orphan is adopted by a polar bear elder. Under the bear's guidance, the little orphan learns the skills he will need to survive and provide for himself.

Shame and Glasses, dir. Alessandro Riconda, Italy. No dialogue.
Toronto Premiere
In order to pass a school test, Mirko has to face his worst fear: wearing glasses. But what will happen if the young girl he is secretly in love with sees him?

It Matters: The Name Game, dir. Daniel Bourré, Canada. English.
In this episode from the TVOKids series It Matters—which uses a cast of animated fruits to re-enact kids’ real-life stories of bullying—Banafsha talks about how she was bullied because of her name.

A Different Tree, dir. Steven Caple Jr., USA. English.
Canadian Premiere
The story of an eight-year-old girl’s journey to build a relationship with her absent father, through a class assigned family- tree.

It Matters: Gossip and Lies, dir. Daniel Bourré, Canada. English.
In this episode of It Matters, Atshani shares how she was affected by bullies spreading lies about her at school.

Ravi & Jane, dir. Stuart O'Rourke, Australia. English, Tamil w/ English subtitles.
Canadian Premiere
Ravi, a shy ten-year-old, has just moved to Australia from his native land of Sri Lanka. On his first day at a new school he is befriended by Jane. They become inseparable until events beyond their control attempt to divide them.

It Matters: The Lonely Bully, dir. Daniel Bourré, Canada. English. Mina tells the true story of how she turned a bully into a friend.

Hear This! (Moet je horen!), dir. Soulaima El Khaldi, Netherlands. Dutch w/ English subtitles.
Canadian Premiere
Tristan’s father is a great soccer player and wants to coach his son’s team. But when the league says that his hearing impairment will prevent him from being a good coach, Tristan must fight to make sure that his father gets a fair chance

Creativity Unleashed
This international collection of vibrant animated shorts shows how curiosity, imagination and ingenuity can lead to wonderful discoveries. Recommended for ages 8 to 13.

Inspector Street (Rue de l'inspecteur), dir. Emmanuelle Loslier, Canada. No dialogue.
Toronto Premiere
A Montreal intersection undergoes a curious transformation when a gust of wind brings the pages of a newspaper to life.

In the Shadow (U sjeni), dir. Manuel Sumberac, Croatia. No dialogue.
Canadian Premiere
A squirrel declares war on the large poster that is mounted in front of her home.

TransFolding, dir. Marissa Wedenig, Austria. No dialogue.
North American Premiere
Dozens of pieces of coloured paper combine, break apart and recombine to form a series of intricate patterns in this dazzling stop-motion music video.

Mr. Hublot, dirs. Laurent Witz and Alexandre Espigares, Luxembourg/France. No dialogue.
2014 Academy Award Winner – Best Animated Short Film
Mr. Hublot is a withdrawn, idiosyncratic character suffering from OCD, scared of change and the outside world. Robot Pet's arrival turns his life upside down: he has to share his home with this very invasive companion...

The Gallant Captain, dirs. Katrina Mathers and Graeme Base, Australia. No dialogue.
Canadian Premiere
An imaginative young boy and his faithful cat set sail for adventure on the high seas, in this heartwarming and exquisitely animated short film inspired by Graeme Base's picture book The Legend of the Golden Snail.

Wallpaper, dir. Elaine Chen, Canada. No dialogue.
Toronto Premiere
A man discovers the history of his newly bought home through layers of wallpaper.

Kicking Rocks (Ishikiri), dir. Kubo Yutaro, Japan. Japanese w/ English subtitles.
Toronto Premiere
A boy begins to play a game of hopscotch, but his self-made rules soon start turning against him.

Unimagined Friends, dir. Sascha Altschuler, Denmark. English.
Carl knows that he'd be a great imaginary friend — the problem is that no one's imagined him yet. Is he destined to be alone forever?

The Numberlys, dirs. William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg, USA. English.
International Premiere
The Numberlys is an epic homage to Fritz Lang's Metropolis, but for kids. Friends 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 live in a world where there is no alphabet — only numbers. One day, they decide they want something different from their orderly, black-and-white world. Through a series of experiments and mishaps, they begin to create a whole new way to communicate through the letters of the alphabet. Finally, their world will have colour, creativity, and even jellybeans.

Strength Through Struggle
Battling adversity as they strive to achieve their goals and make their families proud, the young subjects of these documentaries are linked by their resilience under trying circumstances. Recommended for ages 8 to 10.

Chikara – The Sumo Wrestler's Son (Chikara - Sumobryderens søn), dir. Simon Lereng Wilmont, Denmark. Japanese w/ English subtitles.
North American Premiere
Chikara wants nothing more than to be a successful sumo wrestler like his famous father — but as he begins to fall victim to self-doubt and frustration on the eve of an important match, will he be able to retain his focus and make his dad proud?

Layla's Melody (Laylas melodi), dir. Jens Pedersen, Denmark. Pashto w/ English subtitles.
North American Premiere
Layla is thrilled when her mother comes to visit her in the orphanage where she has lived for the last four years — but she also fears what the visit will mean for her future.

Hear This! (Moet je horen!), dir. Soulaima El Khaldi, Netherlands. Dutch w/ English subtitles.
Canadian Premiere
Tristan’s father is a great soccer player and wants to coach his son’s team. But when the league says that his hearing impairment will prevent him from being a good coach, Tristan must fight to make sure that his father gets a fair chance.

Loot Bag Sr.: Destination Imagination
Featuring several of the year’s best animated shorts across a variety of styles, this international collection of films is a perfect chance to explore new worlds of creation and imagination. Join us for a programme packed with laughs, thrills and spills as we venture from the frigid far north to the tropical high seas, an abstract operatic overture to a bustling kitchen, and even through the barriers of reality into a mysterious new dimension. Recommended for ages 9 to 13.

The Gallant Captain, dirs. Katrina Mathers and Graeme Base, Australia. No dialogue.
Canadian Premiere
An imaginative young boy and his faithful cat set sail for adventure on the high seas, in this heartwarming and exquisitely animated short film inspired by Graeme Base's picture book The Legend of the Golden Snail.

Stewpot Rhapsody (Rhapsodie pour un Pot-au-feu), dirs. Charlotte Cambon, Stéphanie Mercier, Soizic Mouton andMarion Roussel, France. French w/ English subtitles.
Canadian Premiere
Three generations live under the same roof in a rhythmic hustle and bustle. The mother, the pillar of the family, tries to gather everyone together around a pot-au-feu at dinnertime.

The Flan (Le Flan), dir. Raoul Olou, Canada. French w/ English subtitles.
Toronto Premiere
One boy's unabashed love of flan makes him the prime suspect when the last piece goes missing.

The Orphan and the Polar Bear, dir. Neil Christopher, Canada. English.
Canadian Premiere
According to Inuit oral history, long ago animals had the power of speech, could shift their appearances, and could even assume human form. In The Orphan and the Polar Bear, a neglected orphan is adopted by a polar bear elder. Under the bear's guidance, the little orphan learns the skills he will need to survive and provide for himself.

Virtuoso Virtual (Virtuos Virtuell), dirs. Thomas Stellmach and Maja Oschmann, Germany. No dialogue.
Toronto Premiere
Handcrafted abstract ink drawings take on a life of their own as a stroke of ink responds to an operatic overture by twisting, turning and then surging upwards off the page to soar and swoop majestically through the air.

The Dam Keeper, dirs. Dice Tsutsumi and Robert Kondo, USA. English.
Canadian Premiere
In a desolate future, one town has survived because of a windmill dam that keeps out poisonous clouds. The dam's operator, Pig, works tirelessly to keep the sails spinning and protect the town, despite bullying from classmates and an indifferent public. When a new student, Fox, joins Pig's class, everything begins to change.

Bitseller, dir. Juanma Sánchez, Spain. No dialogue.
Canadian Premiere
What happens when a traditional writer has to change his old typewriter for a computer? Bitseller is an animated short film with no dialogue that chronicles the fight between a writer and a “bit” of digital information inside his computer, set to a soundtrack of Vivaldi’s La Follia.

The Beauty of Mathematics, dirs. Yann Pineill and Nicolas Lefaucheux, France. English.
An ingenious and revealing illustration of how the many forces at play in the world around us can be distilled into mathematical expressions.

Rabbit and Deer (Nyuszi és Őz), dir. Péter Vácz, Hungary. No dialogue.
Toronto Premiere
Rabbit and Deer live together happily in their two-dimensional world, until their friendship is put to the test by Deer's quest to find the formula for the mysterious third dimension.

Turning Points
It takes confidence, inner strength, and sensitivity to create change. Exploring the theme of social justice from multiple perspectives, these short films show empowered young people taking action in times of hardship. Recommended for ages 10 and 11.

The Dam Keeper, dirs. Dice Tsutsumi and Robert Kondo, USA. English.
Canadian Premiere
In a desolate future, one town has survived because of a windmill dam that keeps out poisonous clouds. The dam's operator, Pig, works tirelessly to keep the sails spinning and protect the town, despite bullying from classmates and an indifferent public. When a new student, Fox, joins Pig's class, everything begins to change.

Layla's Melody (Laylas melodi), dir. Jens Pedersen, Denmark. Pashto w/ English subtitles.
North American Premiere
Layla is thrilled when her mother comes to visit her in the orphanage where she has lived for the last four years — but she also fears what the visit will mean for her future.

To the Bone, dir. Erin Li, USA. English and Spanish w/ English subtitles.
Working alongside her father and brother as migrant farmworkers, Valencia becomes more and more angered by her family’s exploitative treatment at the hands of their employer—so when a government inspector visits the farm, she decides to take matters into her own hands.

Anything Goes (Alles Mag), dir. Steven Wouterlood, Netherlands. Dutch w/ English subtitles.
International Premiere
After moving to Amsterdam, 11-year-old Tygo from Brabant gives a class talk about carnival. What starts as a general explanation of the festival turns into a personal and poignant account.

What Now?
When life is no longer just about playing and hanging out with your friends, the pressure can be overwhelming. Whether due to school, familial circumstance, political climate or societal prejudice, the subjects of these short documentaries must contend with significant challenges in order to achieve their goals. Recommended for ages 11 to 13.

Jamey's Fight (Jamey's Gevecht), dir. Denise Janzée, Netherlands. Dutch w/ English subtitles.
North American Premiere
Jamey is a talented soccer player, but his stammer affects his self-confidence — and as he prepares for a tryout for the school's phys-ed program, he is afraid that his affliction may cause him to fail.

Youssef please say NO! (Youssef, zeg eens NEE!), dir. Marjolijn Heijnen, Netherlands. Dutch w/ English subtitles.
International Premiere
Fourteen-year-old Youssef is always busy. He dashes from one appointment to the next. Will Youssef manage to delete something from his chock-full diary? And can he say “No” to something?

Push & Pull, dir. Dorothy Pranolo, Australia. Mandarin w/ English subtitles.
Canadian Premiere
Lisa, a young Asian-American girl, feels forever pressured by her mother to be the perfect violinist. When tensions collide at Lisa's anticipated violin audition, which path will she follow? The life she wants, or the one her mother has paved for her?

Until I Know (Bis ich es weiss), dir. Peter Baranowski, Germany. German w/ English subtitles.
North American Premiere
After a young boy tampers with his classmate's bicycle as a prank, he becomes concerned for her safety and sets out to find her, leading to a very unexpected journey.

Who’da Thunk  It?
We’ve all heard the saying “You don’t know unless you try.” Whether it’s discovering a hidden talent, a new technology, a fresh approach to animation, or even an entirely different dimension, this collection of shorts shows how the subjects — and the filmmakers themselves — strive to overcome challenges with innovative thinking and creative problem-solving. Recommended for ages 11 to 13.

Rabbit and Deer (Nyuszi és Őz), dir. Péter Vácz, Hungary. No dialogue.
Toronto Premiere
Rabbit and Deer live together happily in their two-dimensional world, until their friendship is put to the test by Deer's quest to find the formula for the mysterious third dimension.

Mercy's Rain (Geshem Shel Rahamim), dir. Dita Guery, Israel. Arabic w/ English subtitles.
International Premiere
Fascinated by Hollywood and the Oscars, two teenage friends use their imaginations and a series of photographs to create their own short film.

In the Shadow (U sjeni), dir. Manuel Sumberac, Croatia. No dialogue.
Canadian Premiere
A squirrel declares war on the large poster that is mounted in front of her home.

Bitseller, dir. Juanma Sánchez, Spain. No dialogue.
Canadian Premiere
What happens when a traditional writer has to change his old typewriter for a computer? Bitseller is an animated short film with no dialogue that chronicles the fight between a writer and a “bit” of digital information inside his computer, set to a soundtrack of Vivaldi’s La Follia.

Origami, dirs. Hugo Bailly-Desmarchelier, Eric de Melo Bueno, Michael Moreno, Joanne Smithies and Camille Turon, France. No dialogue.
A world of fantastic possibilities opens up for a young boy when he learns to fight his frustrations and persevere.

Inspector Street (Rue de l'inspecteur), dir. Emmanuelle Loslier, Canada. No dialogue.
Toronto Premiere
A Montreal intersection undergoes a curious transformation when a gust of wind brings the pages of a newspaper to life.