'The Flying Sailor', 'Ice Merchants' the animated short films of TIFF

TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) announced this year Shortcuts lineup, presented by TikTok, which showcases 39 narrative, documentary and live animated short films by a revolutionary group of filmmakers representing 18 countries.

The varied lineup of short films includes 21 world premieres and 15 North American premieres presented in 20 different languages, with a wide range of new and unique perspectives. Among this group of storytellers are 21 filmmakers from countries such as Portugal, China, Colombia, Mongolia, Kenya, Ukraine, the United States and the United Kingdom, as well as 18 filmmaking teams from across Canada.

“We are thrilled to be back with one of our best selection of short films from directors from around the world,” says Jason Anderson, international programmer for shortcuts. “We are always amazed by the breadth, depth and diversity of the talents working in short-form cinema, whether they are directors we have already had the privilege of presenting at TIFF or emerging storytellers we can't wait to introduce to our audiences. And as diverse as these new works may be, what they share is an incredible sense of clarity and economy: they are films that never waste a second, no matter what they want to achieve. "

Among the prominent animations in this year's shortcuts are  The Flying Sailor a National Film Board of Canada production of the Oscar-nominated team of Wendy Tilby and Amanda Forbis, and Ice Merchants by João Gonzalez, recent winner of the Leitz Cine Discovery Award for Best Short Film at the Semaine de la Critique in Cannes.

Films scheduled in this year's Short Cuts selection are eligible for three IMDbPro Short Cuts Awards selected by the jury (Best Film, Best Canadian Film and Share Her Journey Award for Best Film by a Woman) and the Shawn Mendes Foundation Changemaker Award.

In addition to the films included in the Short Cuts lineup, which you can find , here, there are 11 films in the previously announced Wavelengths short film program. TIFF22 will also project a special presentation of the new animated film by Henry Selick Wendell & Wild (Netflix) and the adaptation of Haruki Murakami by Pierre Földes Blind willow, sleeping woman in the Contemporary World Cinema section.

TIFF22 animated short film selections:

Against Reality
Olivia Pace | United States | 2022
In this surreal and wonderful animated autobiography, artist and director Olivia Peace uses AI art-generation tools and engaging sound design to bring viewers into a borderline between dreams and waking life.

backflip
Nikita Diakur | Germany, France | 2022
In her efforts to teach her digital avatar how to master a complicated move, animator Nikita Diakur creates something totally unique: an ingenious demonstration of the potentials and pitfalls of machine learning that doubles as a hilarious slapstick comedy.

CANARY extension
Pierre-Hugues Dallaire, Benoit Therriault | Canada | 2022
The delightful handiwork of directors Benoit Therriault and Pierre-Hugues Dallaire with the Montreal Rodeo FX team, this animation enchants viewers with the story of a boy and a bird who find hope and connection in the deepest and darkest places.

The Flying Sailor
Wendy Tilby, Amanda Forbis | Canada | 2022
One of Canada's most celebrated animation teams, Wendy Tilby and Amanda Forbis return with a spectacular synthesis of sound and image, inspired by the incredible but true story of a man's unexpected journey on the morning of the Halifax explosion in 1917.

The Garbage Man (O Homem do Lixo) (the garbage man)
Laura Goncalves | Portugal | 2022
Drawn from interviews with family members talking about a beloved patriarch, Laura Gonçalves' latest animation is an irresistibly warm and whimsical celebration of generosity, community, and the value of the things others can throw away.

Ice Merchants
João Gonzalez | Portugal, France, United Kingdom | 2022
Awarded this year at Cannes' Semaine de la Critique, João Gonzalez's visually stunning and emotionally touching animation tells the story of a father and son whose tender bond will be tested by their increasingly precarious place in the world.

Shadow of the Butterflies (خيال الفراشات)
Sofia El Khyari | France, Qatar, Portugal | 2022
This exquisite animation by Moroccan Sofia El Khyari draws viewers into a mysterious forest where the emotions, memories and desires of a young woman mix with the delicate movements of the butterflies that surround her.