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April 26, 2025 at 10:00 AM PT
Premier Theater at One Letterman
Calendar SFFILM Festival

Shorts 6: Family Films

TRT: 66 min

Through genre-defying celebrations of culture, heartfelt stories that amplify resilience, and inventive animations that dramatically push the boundaries of the…
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The Girl with the Occupied Eyes
Directed by André Carrilho Portugal | Short Films | 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.

The Girl with the Occupied Eyes

Have I Swallowed Your Dreams
Directed by Clara Chan Canada | Short Films | 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.

Have I Swallowed Your Dreams

Hoofs on Skates
Directed by Ignas Meilūnas Lithuania | Short Films | 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.

Hoofs on Skates

Livestreams with GrandmaPuzzles
Directed by Emily Sheskin USA | Short Films | 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.

Livestreams with GrandmaPuzzles

On a Sunday at Eleven
Directed by Alicia K. Harris Canada | Short Films | 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.

On a Sunday at Eleven

Snow Bear
Directed by Aaron Blaise USA | Short Films | 11 min
A lonely polar bear traverses the increasingly harsh environment of the Arctic by land and sea to save a new friend.

Snow Bear

Swimming with Butterflies
Directed by Karl Stelter USA | Short Films | 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.

Swimming with Butterflies

Tule
Directed by Jocelyn Garcia USA | Short Films | 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.

Tule

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