Valley of White Birds

Polycephaly in D(en)

Informed by an underlying sense of anxiety and anguish, Michael Robinson’s Polycephaly in D nestles fragments of narrative within a collage of sound, image, and text that oscillates between the elegant and the discordant.

MUTE(en)

MUTE is an animated short about a world populated by people born without a mouth. When a gory accident leads to the discovery they are able to create their own mouth by cutting themselves, this releases an enthusiastic chain reaction among the population…

Arabesque(fr)

The film’s visual structure is principally composed of variations on the arabesque: arcs of light, water spouts, spider webs, burgeoning trees, flowers and foliage, a woman’s smile, arms stretching, an arm giving rhythm to a rocking chair. It uses natural elements (light, mirrors, water, and wind) and photographic techniques (multiple exposures and lenses) to distort the various elements, or to intensify their design.

Nee, Koko ni Iru.(ja)

The dead are transformed into photographs and loved by people. If you touch their cheeks in the photo, they are certainly there.

Jake and the Never Land Pirates: Cubby's Goldfish(en)

Captain Hook steals Cubby's pet goldfish, Gilly. Screened as a 4-minute short film in front of international prints of Winnie the Pooh (2011).

Spin(en)

A complex choreography of re-animated miniature soldiers moving to the exquisitely synchronised command of a master manipulator. Toy soldiers against toy soldiers in the satirical animated short Spin

People Person(en)

Desperate to escape her reality, a young woman discovers a program that immerses her in her own subconscious through a myriad of virtual personas.

The Creepy Pegman and The Upsidedown Woman(nl)

Short film in which a group of children get to know the Enge Knijperman (the Grisly Pincher Man) who falls madly in love with the Onderstebovenvrouw (Upside-down Woman). However the 220-Volt-Witch and the Toilet Slave set out to spoil things. Experimental short by Aryan Kaganof, made under his birth name Ian Kerkhof.

Once Upon a Time(en)

We are first presented a cobweb castle, filled with the haunting doubts of the young protagonist. Spirits appear on the screen and are heard on the soundtrack. Gradually a female guide emerges and escorts the young man into an antechamber to another (and possibly higher) world.

Wolfman vs. Baragon(ja)

Wolfman instantly appears from behind some trees where he is reputedly abused by armed Japanese army tanks, he allegedly flees and later battles Baragon at a burning construction site.

Listen To Me Sing(en)

In a bleak hillside hotel, strange events are afoot, as something surprising drifts in on the mist… In this gorgeously made stop motion Animator, a lonely performer falls in love with a walrus. But her dreams of singing success may prove hopeless, as the audience has other plans. A deeply surreal but profoundly heartfelt film about finding your inner voice.

The Pocket Man(fr)

A little man lives in an old suitcase. One day he finds a new friend - an old blind man. The little man jumps into the blind man's pocket. With music, the pocket man helps the blind man walk and see things in the street. Both are very happy together.

Oumpah-Pah the Red Skin(fr)

A short animation film about knights.

Ballerina(en)

Short animated film by Steven Subotnick based on childhood drawings of Hannah and Naomi Subotnick

Mehua(fr)

Two young women are about to receive the great honor of being sacrificed to their Mexica gods; but the cruel and bloody ritual does not go as expected.

Ayny(ar)

Two young boys run away from their mother’s protection and slack line on the danger of war to play music with the instrument they always dreamt to have.

Little Boy(en)

Reese meets with his sister Shelley reluctant to reveal his greatest secret. Shelley reassures him that fear is not a sign a weakness.

Tales of the Black Freighter(en)

A mariner survives an attack from the dreaded pirates of the Black Freighter, but his struggle to return home to warn it has a horrific cost.

Big Words From A Small Man(he)

our short stories interlaced to create a surreal world of absurdity, in which characters try to find connections in the mundane.

The King and the Goblin(cs)

Wealthy but alone, a king spends his days obsessively polishing shiny objects throughout his opulent castle. After a visit from a puckish forest wizard, the king earns a blessing – or curse – that turns anything he touches to gold.

A Tale of the Stolen Peach(zh)

A lifeless old mansion hosts the liveliest birthday banquet. Guests enjoy the food and music while the birthday star remains silent. Only a peach seems to stir her soul. Adapting a story from Qing-era writer Pu Sonling’s zhiguai collection “Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio”, A TALE OF THE STOLEN PEACH narrates the traditional Chinese cultural sympathy for the deceased, “finding rest in the blessed kingdom for spectral spirits.”

Launder Run(en)

Launder Run tells the story of Jake, a man returning to his gritty hometown after years away, carrying the weight of a troubled past. The film opens on a rainy Saturday afternoon as Jake trudges through a bleak estate, visibly exhausted and clutching a plastic bag. Arriving at his sister Sue’s chaotic, unkempt flat, he confronts the ruins of his old life—a dirty fridge, a cluttered bedroom reduced to storage, and the ghosts of a once-close family. Seeking solace, he revisits his old pub, a place teeming with memories. As he steps inside, the bartender recognizes him with shock, hinting at Jake’s mysterious past and the reasons for his long absence. “Lounder Run” explores themes of homecoming, redemption, and the unshakable grip of one’s origins.

NJPW G1 Climax 33: Day 16(ja)

The sixteenth night of the tournament took place on August 8th, 2023 at Act City Hamamatsu in Naka-ku, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan.

Mahou Shoujo Sonico Magica(ja)

This is an April Fool's joke by Nitroplus. On 01.04.2011, an official website for Mahou Shoujo Sonico Magika, a parody of SoniComi (a game by Nitroplus), was opened with the announcement of it being a TV anime. On the same day, the opening video for the so called TV anime was released on YouTube by NitroPlusChannel. This opening is essentially the entire anime. The title is a clear reference to Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magika, a TV anime which screenplay was written by a Nitroplus staffer Urobuchi Gen, who also got credited for screenplay for this anime on the official page. No screenplay was ever written, of course.

Britannica's Beauty and the Beast(en)

Britannica's Fairy Tales from Around the World presents "Beauty and the Beast & Other Animated Tales." A bevy of beasts all come together in this dazzling assortment of fairy tale classics. Produced by Encyclopedia Beirtannica, this collection of colorful cartoons tell the stories of fretful maidens, cursed princes, and helpful animals both big and small. Includes 4 Animated Tales- 1) Beauty and the Beast, 2) Sedna, 3) The Chinese Parrot, 4) The Scarecrow

Psycho Hannibal(ja)

A series of bizarre murders. Psychometer Rinko cooperates with detectives in the investigation. The investigation is a difficult one, and the only clues are Rinko's visions when she is in ecstasy, and the crazy smile of a creepy man that appears vaguely.

Ragat(ne)

Ragat (Blood) is a powerful Nepali film that highlights caste discrimination and social injustice. The story follows Krishna, a young man from a lower-caste family, who bravely fights against the oppression of the rich and upper-caste elites. Hemant Kaji, a wealthy and influential man, strongly believes in caste superiority and looks down on the poor. Amidst this division, Laxmi, a girl from a rich family, falls in love with Gopal, a lower-caste boy. Defying societal norms and family pressure, they marry against their parents' wishes, challenging the rigid caste system. Their love becomes a symbol of change, but their struggle is met with resistance. In the end, Radha, Laxmi's caring aunt, tragically loses her life, leaving behind a message that all human blood is the same-hot and red. Directed with a strong social message, Ragat questions why caste discrimination still exists in Nepali culture and calls for equality and justice.

Joint(en)

When two best friends, Matt and Alan, smoke weed-laced cigarettes, things take a bizarre turn. Alan, high out of his mind, runs off in the streets of suburban Arizona. Left behind and still dazed, the anxious and reluctant Matt is forced to search for his missing friend.

Sonic the Hedgehog: Freedom Fighters Unite(en)

Sonic Conversion: the Freedom Fighters develop a De-Robotisizer and try it out on Bunnie. Dulcy: After Dulcy exhibits strange behavior, Sally discovers she's going through a rites of passage state of her adolescence. The Void: After Sonic is almost sucked inside the Void, he finds a huge ring which Sally believes is an ancient relic but which turns out to be a trick of Nagus. Spyhog: After Antoine saves Sally's life during a raid, Sonic can't stand his bragging and zips in to see Uncle Chuck, who finds out his bug in Robotnik's hardware is malfunctioning.

Twitches Too(en)

Reunited witch twins Camryn and Alex adjust to their new life as supernatural beings while at the same time trying to maintain a normal existence in this sequel to the magical Disney Channel original movie Twitches. But they soon find themselves going head to head with the forces of darkness that threaten to destroy their world. Luckily, their birth mother, the powerful Miranda, is on hand to help out.

John(en)

A day in the life of John Lennon, alive and well in modern-day New York City. The former Beatle squabbles with a security guard, commiserates with his best friend over lunch, and upsets a bully.

The Gift(ru)

Tolya Sidorov is a simple worker of early retirement age from some remote place in Russia. Unexpectedly he discovers his artistic talent and becomes a sensation in the world of modern art. And all this because the creation of his masterpieces happens at a very intimate moment... The fame of the unusual artist spreads across the Internet, and even experts from Moscow come to visit an exhibition of Anatoly’s urinary painting. And like in the Russian fairy tale, the hero is miraculously showered with recognition and money. But Tolya prefers to stay incognito, trying to understand whether his work is real art. And the men from the factory would laugh at him if they found out.

Schizophasia(ru)

Verona(en)

The story of two young lovers...

64: Part 2(ja)

1989: 64th and last year of the Showa era. A girl is kidnapped and killed. The unsolved case is called Case 64 ('rokuyon'). 2002: Yoshinobu Mikami, who was the detective in charge of the Case 64, moves as a Public Relations Officer in the Police Affairs Department. His relation with the reporters is conflicted and his own daughter is missing. The statute of limitations for the Case 64 will expire in one year. Then a kidnapping case, similar to the Case 64, takes place. The rift between the criminal investigation department and police administration department deepens. Mikami challenges the case as a public relations secretary.

Bamboo Doll of Echizen(ja)

Kisuke, a young bamboo worker marries Tomoe, a geisha who was once involved with Kisuke's late father.

Wolf Dog(en)

A paroled convict tries to start life anew by moving with his family to a ranch, where his young son finds a puppy that is half wolf and half dog.

Earth Summit Mission: Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Team(zh)

"Earth Summit Mission" is the first 4K documentary recording a scientific expedition. The 60-minute Earth Summit Mission documentary is a record of the second Chinese scientific expedition to Mount Qomolangma which took place in the summer of 2022. It involved around 200 scientists, led by Yao Tandong from the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. In the course of the expedition, the scientists set a number of records, from collecting ice and snow samples from the highest point on Earth and setting up the world’s highest weather station, to sending up an observation aerostat to an altitude of over 9,000 meters.