Event Type : Animation

This exclusive Fisheye selection is an online-only event and consists of the following three feature films:

EÎDÒN (Simone Bardi | Italy)

From the depths of memory, a mysterious voice recounts the triumphs and growing shadows of the Po Delta, where a balance has been broken, perhaps forever. Amidst the mists of the past and the uncertainties of the present, the ecological resilience of a family of fishermen from the Sacca di Scardovari is revealed. The voice confesses to a decades-long deafness to the cries of the earth, and now the home is at risk of collapse. In the limbo of this cruel time, is it possible to rediscover harmony? The film invites viewers to lose themselves in the gaze of the Delta, to decipher its mysteries, and to question humanity’s fragile place in this treasure trove of life.

BIG CITY PIZZA (Dusty Saunders | USA)

As tension rises in the big city for the Omniball Championship, Boney, a skeleton pizza delivery man starts his shift. Animated entirely from Boney’s POV in one continuous, unbroken take, we follow his delivery route where every stop is weirder than the last.

PANTRUM (Nadie Wasalamudaliarachchi | Sri Lanka)

In a nation scarred by war and silence, a former child soldier reunites with his estranged, PTSD-ridden father. As they confront their shared trauma, the voices of the forgotten rise against a corrupt.

The actions of an unknown hero in WWII enable families to reclaim the ashes of lost loved ones.

The film is part of a screening entitled A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS.

POPEL: Ashes : Oier Plaza: 2025 : Czechia, France, Spain

Driven by a passion for history and the weight of an absence, a professor, and the relative of a deportee who disappeared during World War II begin an investigation across Europe to uncover his fate. From the Basque Country to Prague, what begins as a personal quest soon leads to an extraordinary discovery: the story of František Suchý and his son, who, defying the Nazi regime and risking their own lives, managed to preserve the names and ashes of more than 2,200 victims. Among them, the long lost remains of that deportee, whose trace was erased eighty years ago.

Prior to the feature film, we have chosen LE GOÛT DU CIEL an entrancing short musical animation in which a curious firefly invites us to join a mysterious figure in the clouds and embark on an imaginary celestial journey.

Exploring the spoken and the unspoken. A documentary about a visually-impaired artist; an animation without words, followed by the feature drama film, VOICES.

VOICES (2024) (François Szabowski | France)

Paris, 2022. In the middle of the presidential election campaign, a class of first-year students at a Belleville high school sees their lives disrupted by the appearance of two students with strange behavior, who have the power to confiscate speech. While the presidential candidates battle for votes in the media, each of these young adults will have to learn to make his voice heard.

ALL THE COLOURS OF THE VOID (Ragnar Griffiths | UK)

A visually impaired professional artist specializing in braille shares his unique perspectives on the world, artistry, and how his legacy will impact both realms.

LES ÉGARÉS (Alexanne Dicaire Fry | Canada)

Searching for a place to lay their heads for the night, two buddies wander into a clearing at night and stumble upon a magical sundial. After some trials, some errors and some shenanigans, the friends get to rest comfortably surrounded by the beautiful forest.

Are things as they seem in life and art? THE WHEELBARROW may have something to say.

THE WHEELBARROW (Kai Ephron | Italy, Sweden, UK, USA)

When a mute recluse is revealed to not be what he appears, can he depend on his only companion, a wheelbarrow? Oscar, a mute loner living on Köpstadsö, is searching for something buried on the island. But when a visitor to the island appears to recognize him, his life spirals out of control. His only companion with whom he can confide is his wheelbarrow, and as the world closes in on him, this new formed relationship between a man and his wheelbarrow is the only thing that Oscar can depend on. This film addresses questions surrounding entities that are non-human, realities that may or may not be true, and the manufacturing of truth.

RUNNING LATE (Alistair Nicholls | UK)

A stop-motion animated film about one mans surreal morning routine.

Choice or destiny? Finding ourselves in the chaos before it’s too late. Two tales where circumstances and decisions influence our fate. A short animation THE ROAD TO VALHALLA followed by our feature film, THE JOY OF FALLING.

THE JOY OF FALLING (Edward Tramaseur | UK)

When Amelia falls for Joseph, she’s pulled into his messy life, and together they try to keep things from falling apart. The Joy of Falling explores the delicate and destructive connection between two people lost in the modern world.

The Joy of Falling was inspired by the overwhelming chaos of modern life, where “everything is noise”, a theme that shapes the film both visually and emotionally. The film explores how love, once a refuge from this cacophony, can itself become entangled in It.

THE ROAD TO VALHALLA (Thomas Salvage | UK)

Einar is a Viking warrior, but for how long? As he looks back on his past, his faith in Odin (the Viking king of the gods) begins to tear, leaving Einar to choose between the road to Valhalla or his desires.

When events hang in the balance. Comedy, drama and animated shorts.

BULB (Guy Taylor | UK)

An abstract comedy about a family that only owns one lightbulb.

DEATH CLOSES THE EYES (Afshin Soufian | Iran)

Maryam, a 55-year-old painter, is forced to leave Iran after the harsh crackdown on the Woman, Life, Freedom movement. Years later, she returns to her childhood home and faces memories of her younger self and those difficult days. As past and present collide, Maryam feels the pain of that time once again.

DOBRINA (Barak Stern | Germany)

Lotte Reiniger meets Sergio Leone in this animated short, where desire burns as bright as the desert sun.

MAGGIE & TED (Erin Major | UK)

Ted, a young caregiver and a no-nonsense woman forge an unexpected friendship through candid conversations about life and loss during a care visit.

PLEASE MAKE MY WISH COME TRUE (Başak Kırıcıi | Netherlands)

A visual poem about hopes and unfulfilled wishes.

ROSE (Amirhossein Hashtroodi | Iran)

The film is a humanistic tale set in the snowy mountains, where poverty and harsh cold prevail. A man and his pregnant wife, who work with a group of porters to make a living, face an unexpected crisis on their journey. meanwhile, at a border post, a young guard is caught between obeying his commander and following the call of his conscience.

SIX FEET (Sarah Nicholls | Australia)

When Cassie, a woman struggling with her sexuality, is unexpectedly pulled back from the edge of a bridge by her openly gay ex-boyfriend, the pair are forced to confront past trauma, their sexualities, and worst of all… the truth. IN-PERSON ONLY

SUBWAY CRUSH (Oriana Ng | USA)

An influencer films a handsome stranger on the subway without his consent.

THERE IS NO SENSE (Kara Sariyeva | Kazakhstan)

Through five senses, the film portrays the inner suffering of women. Each chapter explores a different perception—sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell— through symbolic references to iconic works of art. A poetic and emotional journey, questioning what remains after all senses fade away.

TICK  (Colin Hubbard | UK)

How well do you know your dinner dates? A group of twenty-somethings meet for a catch-up over shakshuka and cheap red wine. With harmless games ticking over, conversation flows, laughter feels easy – but with every tick, every sip, something shifts. Are they just playing, or is the truth about to spill?

A medley of light and dark stories; insights and commentary on life in our time.

AN EXCESS BAGGAGE (Myriam Garcia Marienstras | France)

Sophie hides her unease within the intense bond she shares with her daughter, Lila. When Lila leaves for summer camp, Sophie finds herself alone for the first time, overwhelmed by separation and emotional dependency. As the day unfolds, she drifts through encounters and small gestures, trying awkwardly to fill the void. An Excess Baggage portrays a woman whose love, though sincere, becomes too heavy to carry.

ANGEL KISS (Will Thomas Freeman | UK)

Chuck is a lonely American studying abroad in London who finds his peace at the bottom of pint glasses. Wealthy and desperate for connection, he soon finds himself the target of a potential predator, a girl who has an eye on his wallet. Angel Kiss is a story of two different worlds colliding and unconventional connections being made.

BIRD ON A WIRE (Greg Roensch | USA)

“Bird on a Wire” is a surreal rumination on memory, imagination, love, and the state of the world. The audio for this short film is included on Greg Roensch’s 2026 album “Down at the Polystereophonic Dive Bar.”

DARKPOOL NO. 0036 (Josiah Newbolt | UK)

Darkpool follows Freddie, a violin player with Tourettes who is suffering from the cost of living crisis and the rising rents in London. He takes it upon himself to rid the world of his greedy landlord, Mike Simmons. Freddie is a confused loner in an unforgiving world trying his best to fight back. His Tourettes making him scary to people but he’s only truly looking to be understood and have his voice heard.

ENDOLIFE (Lisanne Van Ingen | UK)

Endolife is a short, hybrid documentary that combines the experiences of over 120 people with endometriosis into a single, scripted narrative. Instead of focusing on the medical aspects of the disease, the film illustrates how it affects daily life. Isolation, depression, and grief, but also transformation and hope, are key themes.

GAN CANNY (Lou Burns, Aaron Burns | UK)

A darkly comic, working class, North Eastern family comedy/ drama. Siblings Tyler and Paige don’t agree with the way their estranged mam has arranged their Nana’s funeral, and impulsively take matters into their own hands. What follows is a clumsy grand theft hearse as the siblings decide to take Nana on one last road trip before saying their final goodbyes. What could possibly go wrong? Gan Canny is a dead funny tale of grief, grudges and Geordie culture. It’s heartfelt, it’s hilarious, and it’s deeply disrespectful in the most joyful of ways. What’s not to love?

HEATHEN LAND (George Turvey | UK)

It’s the day of the King’s coronation and Mrs Grinstead’s party plans are in fully swing, but when Slap, an eccentric young man, begins performing his latest sonic masterpiece it threatens to derail the entire day.

LAY ME DOWN (HMLTD) (Emmanuelle Mohnblatt, Sébastien Kirszenblat, Marie Deboissy | France)

Henry meanders through Wyrmlands, the remains of England consumed by the giant worm of capitalism. Amidst his despair, he recalls an act of kindness. As a child, innocent and loving, he saved an injured worm. Perhaps salvation is possible if he can reconnect with his inner child.

LIAR’S DEBT (Molly Gazay | USA)

A fixer to the political elite seeks revenge on a corrupt senator who wronged him.

Screening of a medley of short films with a hot pink red-carpet reception, award announcements and celebrations.

ALL THE COLOURS OF THE VOID  (Ragnar Griffiths | UK)

A visually impaired professional artist specialising in braille shares his unique perspectives on the world, artistry, and how his legacy will impact both realms.

MERLYN’S BEARD! (Almudena Zúñiga | UK)

It is a funny light hearted story filled with magic and wonder, it’s a story about self-acceptance. It follows Merlyn, a transgender wizard who really wants a beard to fit in and match his idols. With his trusty companion, a Main coon Merp, he is trying new and creative ways to make beards. As they go wrong and he startsto lose hope, Merp breaks him out of his spiral and helps him realise he is awesome just the way he is.

HOLY DEATH (Mahdi Hadizadeh | Iran)

Holy Death is a modern adaptation of Dante’s Divine Comedy. When Death appears before a man, he offers him one final chance: answer three profound questions about life, and return to the world of the living. To earn his redemption, the man must journey through the afterlife—facing the Devil in Hell, Death in Purgatory, and the Angel in Heaven. As each realm tests his soul, he is forced to confront the essence of sin, morality, and the true meaning of existence.

LIPSTICK (Éilis O’Neill | Ireland)

‘Lipstick’ explores the lives of three generations of women within one family as they deal with ageing, sickness and interdependence.

MIA, ALEX & DEAN MAKE A MOVIE (Declan Smith | UK)

When three best friends accidentally hijack their own movie, they sprint through shifting genres, fourth wall breaks, and emotional chaos to answer one question: who’s the real main character, and does it even matter?

OUR CIRCLE IN THE STORM (Ray Jacobs | UK)

A group of climate refugees, most of whom have disabilities, have made a home of an abandoned house. They live, cook, laugh, cry, eat, dance and work the land together, feeling like a family while feeling vulnerable to the hostile outside climate. A wild storm arrives and one of the group has to leave.

PORTRAIT  (Farzam Tabibi | France)

In a photography studio, a woman and a photographer struggle to capture an innocent portrait of the woman. As tension rises between them, new photographs reveal ambiguous truths about the woman, blurring the line between reality and perception.

RED THREAD CAST AGAINST THE STONE (Radomir Jordanovic | USA)

A dance film shot at Stoney Point Park, Los Angeles, featuring ballet-inspired choreography set to cinematic electronic music. Viktoria injects a pulse to the landscape using her ballet moves.

SILENCE  (Juan David Yépez | Ecuador)

On Ecuador’s Andean highlands, a quiet boy searches for his missing father. Guided only by listening to the hiss of páramo grass, distant bird calls, the path of water, he lets the landscape lead him. A restrained, sensory tale about kinship and belonging, Silencio explores how paying attention to nature can become a lifeline back home.

SWAN SONGS (David Arthur | UK)

In the ruins of a forgotten park, an estranged father and daughter reunite, but together they must also face the devastating truth that has torn them apart.

THE COUNTRY CALLS YOU (Yosra Abu Kaf | Israel)

A Bedouin father, Abdullah, loses his son fighting in the IDF. But, the Bedouins are Palestinian, and his community shuns his dead son for his choice. Abdullah visits the mosque, pleading with the sheik for the traditional funeral traditions for his son, but is gently refused. Alone by his son’s grave, he finds no comfort. As night falls, Abdullah gazes at the sky, praying for his son’s soul to be allowed to enter heaven.

This exclusive Fisheye selection is an online-only event and consists of the following three feature films:

EÎDÒN (Simone Bardi | Italy)

From the depths of memory, a mysterious voice recounts the triumphs and growing shadows of the Po Delta, where a balance has been broken, perhaps forever. Amidst the mists of the past and the uncertainties of the present, the ecological resilience of a family of fishermen from the Sacca di Scardovari is revealed. The voice confesses to a decades-long deafness to the cries of the earth, and now the home is at risk of collapse. In the limbo of this cruel time, is it possible to rediscover harmony? The film invites viewers to lose themselves in the gaze of the Delta, to decipher its mysteries, and to question humanity’s fragile place in this treasure trove of life.

BIG CITY PIZZA (Dusty Saunders | USA)

As tension rises in the big city for the Omniball Championship, Boney, a skeleton pizza delivery man starts his shift. Animated entirely from Boney’s POV in one continuous, unbroken take, we follow his delivery route where every stop is weirder than the last.

PANTRUM (Nadie Wasalamudaliarachchi | Sri Lanka)

In a nation scarred by war and silence, a former child soldier reunites with his estranged, PTSD-ridden father. As they confront their shared trauma, the voices of the forgotten rise against a corrupt.