International Competition Program #7: Darker Visions

The International Competition Programs are the backbone of the entire MIAF mission. Drawn from more than 2,450 submissions they showcase the best, most imaginative animating talent on the planet. For Programs 1 to 5 the only rule is diversity: you’ll get a bit of everything! For Programs 6 to 10 we take the opportunity to highlight interesting themes and styles that felt prominent in the year’s submissions.

Animation is a powerful tool to capture an imagination, and there are a kaleidoscopic range of uses that that powerful tool can be put to. This program slides us toward the darker ends of that scale, showcasing films that express the ideas that live their best lives in the shadows. The screening particularly focuses on films that have mastered this dark art; in some cases using the special powers of animation to multiply the intensity of the idea in the middle of the story; in others using it as a cloak to spirit in ideas which exist beyond the realm of ready narrative description; and in some as a visual salve (of sorts) to soften an otherwise heavier blow to the senses.

Dog Alone
Marta Reis Andrade
Portugal, 13’10, 2025
After the death of its owner and companions, a dog is left alone in its house, howling day and night and disturbing the neighbourhood.

Fried
Lizzie Watts
UK, 9’54, 2025
On driving home from a mysterious, ageing nuclear facility, Dev gets stranded at an isolated emu farm run by old mystic lesbians.

Nissa Scrim
Marcel Tigchelaar
Netherlands, 9’40, 2025
When a boy follows in his father’s footsteps and enters a fantasy world, it turns out to be an all too painful trap from which he may not be able to escape.

You Are Not Part Of The Cake
Ting-Jui Chen
Taiwan, 4’33, 2025
A drastic response to homophobia played out with cake!

The Song Of The Sheep
Jules Marcel, Anaïs Castro de Angel, Juliette Bigo, Evan Lambert, Alex Le Ruyet, Jeanne Bigo, Anaïs Ledoux
France, 7’48, 2024
At dawn, in the Alps, Frank wakes up hungover. There’s only one cure for that kind of headache: another drink. But misfortune strikes! His cellar has been emptied overnight.

Echoing White
Kha-Anh Le
France, 8’09, 2025
A mysterious wounded knight finds a crescent moon in the forest; entranced by its light, she cannot look away.

Life With An Idiot
Theodor Ushev
France, 18’06, 2025
Accused by the authorities of not working hard enough, Vladimir is forced to live with an idiot as punishment. He chooses Vova, an idiot capable of pronouncing only a single syllable.

This session is classified: Unclassified (M) Mature, not recommended for viewers under 15 years.
Please note that Backlot is NOT fully accessible. There are stairs with handrails, but no lift to the second floor where the cinema is located.