Cycles of Hope: Visually striking films exploring love and renewal

Another Day

Director: Amery Sandford, Jing Xia • NL • 4 minutes

Another Day is composed of stunning, otherworldly 3D visuals by Montreal-based animator and illustrator Amery Sandford, in concert with an original instrumental work by St. John's, NL-based XIA-3.

 

Tennis, Oranges

Director: Sean Pecknold • USA • 11 minutes

A robotic vacuum suffering from burnout quits its job at a hospital and sets out to find community and a greater purpose on a quiet street where two lonely rabbits are stuck in a perpetual loop.

 

Transmission

Director: Shan Leigh Pomeroy • NL • 2 minutes

Made for Nickel's DIY SCIFI challenge, Transmission uses year-old scraps and cutouts from abandoned school projects to explore interdimensional (mis)communication, paranoia, xenophobia, and love.

 

Pan & Syrinx

Director: A. Laurel Lawrence • Nova Scotia • 16 minutes

Two lovers are told the tale of the great god Pan’s violent pursuit of the forest nymph Syrinx in a film that refracts the myth through layers of song, identity, and performance: at once a ballet, trans fantasy, and exploration of love and power.

 

Secret Handshakes

Director: Jenna Marks • Nova Scotia • 3 minutes

A beautifully animated short about finding a love that lets you truly feel free to play; to be kids together, no matter how old you are. Brought to life through claymation/stop motion, this video by Nova Scotian musicians Moira & Claire and directed by animator Jenna Marks blends heartfelt storytelling with nostalgic charm.

 

Somber Tides

Director: Chantal Caron • Quebec • 12 minutes

A dance portraying a cry from the species, startled into survival against the elements. One last breath before being trampled by the Earth or waging a battle against winds and tides before extinction.

 

Ba Baa Shangri La

Director: Nicola Hawkins • NL • 8 minutes

Each spring on the southern shore of Newfoundland, farmers take their sheep by open boat to a predator-free island to graze on lush grass, drink from freshwater springs, and thrive without human intervention in a joyful and sustainable tradition that has been practiced for generations.

 

Romchyk

Director: Alexis Bicât • UK • 12 minutes

Following a deadly missile attack, Romchyk pursues his dream of ballroom dancing despite severe burns and having to wear a medical mask. Romchyk embodies resilience, hope, and the enduring human spirit amidst tragedy.

 

The Beat of Two Cultures

Director: Matt LeMay • Ontario • 24 minutes

Ten talented Métis fiddlers from across Canada converge at The Tragically Hip's renowned recording studio, The Bathhouse, in Kingston, Ontario to record a timeless album of traditional Métis fiddle music, bridging generations and preserving their rich cultural heritage.

 

Runtime: 1h34