• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

SFFILM

The Bay Area's home for the world's finest films and filmmakers.

  • Calendar
  • Festival
  • 2024 Festival
    • Festival Program
      • Calendar
    • Explore
      • Sections + Spotlights
      • Awards + Competition
      • Schools at the Festival
      • About the Festival
      • Dining + Travel
    • How-To
      • Tickets
      • FAQ
      • Press Center
      • PDF of Program
      • Volunteer
  • Join + Give
    • Join UsSFFILM is a community of film lovers and filmmakers dedicated to the art of cinema.
      • Become a Member
      • Become a Patron
      • Make a Gift
      • Volunteer
    • PartnerReach film fans through a customized partnership of the Festival and our many year-round programs!
      • Get Involved
      • Corporate Partners
      • Government + Foundations
      • Community Partners
  • Filmmakers + Education
    • Artist Development
      • Fund Your Film
      • FilmHouse Residency
      • Filmmaker Programming
      • SFFILM Supported
    • Education
      • Schools at the Festival
      • Family Programming
      • Teaching Tools
      • Video Library
      • See All
  • SIGN IN
Schools at the Festival > Elementary School: 2nd Runner-Up – Dahlia Silva

Elementary School: 2nd Runner-Up – Dahlia Silva

Part of: 2025 Nellie Wong Magic of Movies Essay Contest

Pets

There are two things I truly love in this world: short films and pets. So this film truly stood out amongst the eight other films we watched for the SFFILM festival that my class and I watched. I truly felt connected to and touched by the characters. I also loved how it showed how pets can help everyone, anytime. Lastly, I enjoyed that the film showed that you can find your purrfect pet in the most unexpected places.

I personally really connected with this film because I truly love pets, but I’m always afraid that something will happen to them. I felt that I was not alone in my love for pets, so when the interviewed kids started talking about the pets they had lost, I felt seen! Because nobody talks about that kind of thing. Who am I kidding, I may as well say it. I cried. I cried a tiny bit at the end. It was so bittersweet, I couldn’t help it! That’s how much I connected with this film.

Another thing I enjoyed about the film “Pets” was that it demonstrated that you find your soulmate pet in the oddest places. One example is an Italian kayaker, who was featured in Pets. He found a dog in the middle of the street, but he still loved it. They bonded, and inevitably, filled the something that the other was missing. One last example is two farmers.They adopted, not a dog… but a pig! They thought he was going to be a mini pig… but he got big. And even though Ziggy got huge, smelly and chaotic, he was still loved. When Ziggy passed away, the farmers made an animal sanctuary in his honor.

Lastly, I loved that the film “Pets” shows that everyone needs pets. The film featured an elderly japanese woman, she had recently lost her husband, and was having an extremely hard time. And I’ll have you know, that shelters in japan don’t let people over 60 adopt. Except for one. Once she adopted two dogs, she found herself, she…she finally felt like her old self again, in other words. Pets may have saved her life.

So, in conclusion, “Pets” is a wonderful film. I enjoyed it because of how I connected with it (and may or may not have cried), what it taught me, and . If you have not seen “Pets” yet, I highly recommend it.

Filed Under: Schools at the Festival

Visit

  • Tickets
  • Merch Store
  • FAQ
  • Accessibility

Films

  • Year-Round
  • Doc Stories
  • Festival

Press

  • Press Center
  • Accreditation
  • Press Releases
  • Press Materials

About

  • Contact
  • About SFFILM
  • Careers
  • Blog

Stay in Touch

© 2025 SFFILM  | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy  | Code of Conduct  

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Manage SFFILM Account
  • Tickets
  • My Membership
  • Help
  • Sign Out
  • Upcoming Events
  • Manage SFFILM Account
  • Cart
My Account
  • Contact Info
  • Password
  • Upcoming Events
  • My Membership
  • Order History
  • Sign OUT