Wondrous and whimsical shorts from near and far corners of the world grace our festival screen for the enjoyment of the entire family. The latest from Tonko House, Pixar, and independent filmmakers share central themes of innovation and curiosity. A wooden puppet embarks on a journey of self-discovery as she questions whether or not she fits in, while a mother-daughter rodeo duo connects to their roots and legacy. Explore where ideas and inspiration come from in thought-provoking found footage and experience the charming, and maybe a little gross, feelings of a first kiss. These enchanting stories — true, not-so-true, and animated — are sure to inspire laughter, curiosity, tears, and awe in both the youngest and most seasoned filmgoers.

Total Runtime 68

Recommended for ages 5 and up.

A Little Beetle Returns
Elene Sebiskveradze (Georgia, Norway 2023, 4 min)
Through elaborate and colorful designs, a beetle goes on a wondrous journey to get to the outdoors.

Self
Searit Kahsay Huluf (USA 2023, 7 min)
A wooden woman desperate to fit into the shiny world embarks on a journey of self-love in this latest Pixar short.

Where Do Ideas Come From?
Joysi Olijhoek (Netherlands 2023, 5 min)
Let your ideas run wild as this exploration of found footage and spoken word helps us to make creative connections and playful discoveries.

Yuck!
Loïc Espuche (France 2024, 13 min)
Yuck! Ew! Kissing on the mouth is gross but during a summer camping trip, little Léo secretly wants to try.

Dynasty and Destiny
Travis Lee Ratcliff (USA 2024, 7 min)
Their shared passion for rodeo and the weight of their family’s legacy in the sport bind together mother-daughter duo Kanesha and Kortnee.

Bottle George
Daisuke 'Dice' Tsutsumi (Japan, USA 2024, 13 min)
A mischievous cat and a young girl facing family troubles meet an unusual creature in this latest short from Chimney Town, dwarf studios, and the award-winning studio Tonko House.

Coach Pancake
Gabriel Olson (USA 2024, 6 min)
Former soccer star Andres, lovingly named “Coach Pancake” by his students, finds his calling training six-year-olds to find their superpowers on and off the field.

Battery Mommy
Seungbae Jeon (South Korea 2023, 8 min)
Mommy charges in to save the day in this so-cute-I-could-die follow-up to Jeon Seung-bae’s electrifyingly entertaining Battery Daddy, the 2023 Festival’s Shorts: Family Film Golden Gate Award winner.

Little Fan
Sveta Yuferova and Shad Lee Bradbury (Germany 2023, 5 min)
In this charming animation, a small and curious fan has an unexpected encounter that grows into a meaningful friendship.