Program Description

Through genre-defying celebrations of culture, heartfelt stories that amplify resilience, and inventive animations that dramatically push the boundaries of the medium, Family Films celebrates the wonder, whimsy, and wisdom of short films that appeal to people of all ages and backgrounds. These films celebrate and explore connection, courage, and the boundless spirit of discovery through a variety of subjects: Indigenous traditions, our seemingly limitless digital world, climate-impacted Arctic landscapes, circus-filled daydreams, and powerful individuals redefining resilience. This year’s collection brims with unwavering and inspiring works from internationally renowned filmmakers, including famed former Disney animator and director Aaron Blaise (Brother Bear, Beauty and the Beast) and Sony VFX Supervisor and director Clara Chan (Spider-man: Across the Spider-verse). Perfect for kids, parents, and anyone who believes in the power of storytelling, these films promise to educate, inspire, uplift, and change the many ways in which we see our world. —Chris Lawrence

Recommended for ages 6 and up. All of the films below are in competition. Films are in alphabetical order rather than order of play. Total runtime 66 min.

Filmmakers from Have I Swallowed Your Dreams, Livestreams with GrandmaPuzzles, Snow Bear, and Tule are expected to attend for a post-screening Q&A.

The Girl with the Occupied Eyes
California Premiere
André Carrilho (Portugal 2024, 8 min)
With her eyes constantly glued to her screen, a little girl misses vibrant landscapes, splashy group of circus animals, a mysterious UFO, and all else that passes before her.

Have I Swallowed Your Dreams
San Francisco Bay Area Premiere
Clara Chan (Canada 2024, 6 min)
A Chinese immigrant mother and daughter share an enlightening conversation about lost dreams and sacrifice in this hand-drawn tale where poetic imagery leads to a liberatory discovery.

Hoofs on Skates
San Francisco Bay Area Premiere
Ignas Meilūnas (Lithuania 2024, 13 min)
While skating together in a colorful winter wonderland, two barnyard friends struggle with preconceived notions when they stumble upon a strange and unfamiliar world.

Livestreams with GrandmaPuzzles
California Premiere
Emily Sheskin (USA 2024, 6 min)
Senior citizen and jigsaw puzzle expert Adele finds a sense of community through an online network of enthusiastic fans and learns you’re never too old to rediscover your passions.

On a Sunday at Eleven
San Francisco Bay Area Premiere
Alicia K. Harris (Canada 2024, 9 min)
A young Black girl navigates exclusion in her white-dominant ballet class, reclaiming her beauty, identity, and power in an ethereal and unapologetic celebration of Blackness.

Snow Bear
California Premiere
Aaron Blaise (USA 2024, 11 min)
A lonely polar bear traverses the increasingly harsh environment of the Arctic by land and sea to save a new friend.

Swimming with Butterflies
California Premiere
Karl Stelter (USA 2024, 8 min)
After missing the bronze by 1/100ths of a second at the 2016 Paralympics, swimmer Lizzi Smith shares the inspiring story of how changing her self-perception allowed her to reclaim the pool.

Tule
Jocelyn Garcia (USA 2024, 4 min)
In Clear Lake, California, a young Pomo girl shares the cultural importance of the Tule plant and the urgency of indigenous stewards to return it to its natural glory.

Short Film Print Sources

Accessibility Information

Closed Captions are not currently confirmed for this program
Audio Descriptions are not currently confirmed for this program
American Sign Language Interpretation is not currently scheduled for this program