Nothing Happens

Inspired by Picasso's Guernica (1937), this film is fundamentally about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Simply put, 6 eclectic and diverse animation styles present some surprisingly adult little vignettes that, in theory, add up to a film. An apparent festival favorite.

In this evocative film about the eternal human search for home, Berta and Solomon arrive in a land that promises respite from their many journeys. But have they found utopia... or just another stop on their long journey?

Ranger Megan Patel loses her brother, Daniel, under mysterious circumstances. Struggling to understand how he died, she finds herself alone, venturing into the vast pine forest. However, as she follows the trail of her brother into the woods, the trees begin to change and shift around her. Soon Megan arrives in places without any recollection of how she got there. Almost as if something is pulling her deeper into the woods. Something dark and dangerous, that Megan might not be able to escape.

"What does the hangman think about when he goes home at night from work?" ​ The Hangman at Home is an animated film exploring themes surrounding acknowledgement and the awkward intimacy of humanness. Told in five interwoven stories; each situation presents a person, or persons in a delicate moment: fragile, playful, terrified, contemplated, confused, curious… We are all very much alike in these moments - alerting us to question our own responsibility and responses. Inspired by Carl Sandburg’s chilling poem of the same name.

Black Tape explores the theme of domination. In an entangled tango, the victim and victimizer dance, occupying the frame and space between brushstrokes.

A lonely, one-winged creature is constantly harassed by a flock of demonic crows. One day after an attack he decides to escape from the forest.

In a town of ever-smiling porcelain children, Ginger is created with a fatal flaw: a frown is painted on his face by accident. Upon realizing, the Fire God, his creator, stops his song in horror: Ginger needs to be corrected.

Summer is a time of endless potential, but when a rabbit’s fears start getting in the way of having fun with his friends, Beanboy pops in and does his thing.

The story follows Oskar and his two brothers, Jonathan and Lukas, during the 90s, in the outskirts of the Swedish city of Gothenburg. Their father is the local priest of a quiet church and he brings his kids there every Sunday. On this particular Sunday, Oskar doesn’t like what his father says about faith. He and his brothers sneak out to play games in the forest instead. Oskar wants to play a game that has nothing to do with religion, where he has powers of his own. They launch into an anime schoolgirl fantasy frenzy of killing imaginary monsters with laser beams when some older kids find them near the edge of a tall cliff. They bully the brothers, forcing them to confront how weak their faith actually is. Oskar is conflicted: should he stick up for his faith or admit it’s not real?

NEF Animation (nefanimation.fr) and Fontevraud Abbey are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Fontevraud International Writing Residency for Animated Film in October 2017. A book and DVD set is being released for the occasion, featuring fifteen animated short films written during residencies at Fontevraud Abbey. Fifteen films, fifteen perspectives, fifteen worlds, presented in a video medley lasting a few minutes.