Starter, main course and dessert all in one: Kaboom's International Short Film Competition.
Remember that time when cinema was not a thing yet? When animation only existed within faraway dreams? Dreadful. And then Kaboom came along. Dreams became reality, and animation was king of kings. Okay okay, perhaps our story is missing a few beats, but here’s the gist: after more than a century of cinema, it all comes down to this: a showdown between animators from all over the world, dubbed the Kaboom International Short Film Competition. Whoever comes out on top, know that the one true winner is already known: the art of animation.
What if you could break free from reality and do anything you want—what would you do? In a suffocating era marked by anxiety and crises of self-identity, Chinese director Qi Duan explores a series of environments where accumulated pressure finds an outlet. This bold student film is characterized by a variety of styles and textures, in the spirit of Masaaki Yuasa.
My Good Boy follows a day in the life of a woman busy caring for her obese dog. Her affectionate attention is suddenly interrupted by the arrival of her partner, whose need for her attention disrupts the cozy atmosphere of the house. A witty and colorful short by Sara Priorelli.
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In a world that demands community participation, individual desires inevitably collide. A group of neighbours, each absorbed in their own goals, must learn to communicate and consider one another. But when small, everyday actions trigger unexpected consequences, they are forced into interactions that challenge their independence.
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Red Meat is a short animated film that explores pain, discomfort, and vulnerability through a poetic visual language based on a poem by Anne Carson. Created by Eleni Aerts, a graduate of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts (KASK) in Ghent, the film has been recognized with awards at Anima Festival Brussels and the Turku Animated Film Festival.
When hoping to shape their future home in a furniture store, Jeanne and Jean Jean find themselves in a heated debate. Will they choose a minimalist, industrial style, or go for something bohemian and maximalist? After a much-needed bathroom break, Jean Jean proposes a compromise. Jeanne, however, becomes distracted by the unsettling ballet of the other couples in the store and leaves without even listening. A fun and highly relatable short film by Thanis Martin.
Mr. Ham decides to have his heart removed in order to be relieved of his complicated feelings. The doctor assures him that this is no longer a problem in this day and age. However, Ham keeps his heart for a while after the removal, hoping to understand it better after all. Tako Tsubo is an animated, surreal reflection on dealing with feelings in a meritocracy.
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In the 1990s, 8-year-old Agata leaves Poland for Belgium to live with her mother. Anxious about her journey, she writes a letter to her father, but her pencil falls and is lost on the bus. Crawling between seats to retrieve it, she plunges into a fantastic world of strange half-human, half-animal passengers, turning the reality of migration into an initiatory experience through her eyes.
Afraid of ghosts? Don’t be—because in Arguments in Favor of Love, you’ll discover that they aren’t so different from us after all. Though they inhabit a desolate world of fire and floods, they engage in heated debates about genetic testing, grief, and lost love. Director Gabriel Abrantes blends absurd twists with sharp insights into contemporary social dynamics and relationships.
Did you know you can grow a new pineapple from the top of a pineapple—again and again, forever? Ananasi follows three animal friends who do exactly this, dancing as they go. A bright and colorful reflection on the infinity of nature, the film is a hand-drawn musical short by Anna Bawa, inspired by her lifelong curiosity about non-human life.
Kaboom Animation Festival is the one-stop-shop for the latest and greatest in all things animated. Ranging from cutting-edge experimental arthouse to colorful stories for families and kids, Kaboom will cater to the animation needs of all. Yes, even yours, my amazing weirdo friend!
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