This year’s Cartoons Underground selection brings together 28 films from 17 countries, across three unique programmes. It showcases a eclectic range of themes and animation techniques - from stop-motion, hand-drawn 2D to more experimental work. Many of this year’s films explore the pressures of living in one's own head. A people-pleaser collapses and faces a dark being, a mouse dreads going outside, and a rabbit is consumed by the choice he lost. Anxiety, guilt and fear of judgement are met with humour, unease and a dose of the surreal. Others look outward and bear witness to an unstable world: an animated diary kept through years of war, and a group of children walking in a ditch as protest rises around them.
Memory, loss and mortality remain fertile ground for animation. A man with a hole in his neck cannot remember how it got there, and a sculptor looks back on his life after death. An ageing shop owner faces his own end with the help of a moth. These are strange, unexpected yet tender films about what we carry and what we leave behind.
Closer to home, we have seven films from emerging Singapore student filmmakers. Their films reach past the local and familiar for the universal: the guilt of sending a dog away, visions of death on a dark road, the awkward search for closeness, a wooden doll trapped in a loop of time. A dark story of secrets and betrayal, told from behind a kitchen’s closed doors, served up in a daring mix of stop-motion, live-action and 2D. Intimate in scale and bold in ambition, these films hold their own beside the international selection.
For the first time in our festival's history, we are introducing a new programme "Playground" for younger audiences. These films look at the world through a child’s eyes, with curiosity, wonder and a sense of difference. A curious child gathers experiences, a deaf child imagines the sound of a concert, and a girl sees snow differently from everyone in her art class. Made by first-time directors and student collectives, these films trust young audiences to feel and wonder at once.
OFFICIAL SELECTIOn - PROGRAMME A
HELD BREATH
7 International Animated Shorts + 3 Singapore Student Animated Shorts
75 mins | Rating TBC (Expected to be NC16)
The Panic Inside
Matthias Strasser (Germany/Switzerland)
- International Competition -
Synopsis:
Biography:
Matthias Strasser is a Swiss animator with a passion for telling emotionally touching stories through raw, expressive visuals.
After graduating from school, he studied film before returning to his main focus: animation. In 2020, he began studying Animation at the Animationsinstitut at Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, specializing in directing, where he created the Student Academy Award-winning short film The Panic Inside.
When he’s not animating, he can reportedly be found somewhere in the Swiss Alps.
Home Mouse (宅鼠了)
Chia Hui Lei (Estonia)
- International Competition -
Synopsis:
An introverted little mouse lives a cozy, solitary life until “that day” arrives, when he must face the moment of going outside.
Biography:
Born in Taiwan, with a master’s degree in Animation from the Estonian Academy of Arts. Loves making teeny tiny things, crafting handmade worlds, and staying home to make animation.
Each, All and Every
Nikoletta Veress (Hungary)
- International Competition -
Synopsis:
Trapped by endless possibilities, Mr. Rabbit loses one choice — and with it, his freedom. Soon, he becomes consumed by the choice he lost.
Biography:
Nikoletta Veress is a Hungarian animation film director born in 1996. She has graduated at Moholy-Nagy University of Art as a master of arts. In the past she has directed several short films, published a comic book and has participated in video game development and video mapping. She loves to visualize everyday dilemmas and paint them in an otherworldly environment.
I AM FINE
Osi Wald (Israel)
- International Competition -
Synopsis:
Animated diary from years of war, capturing the tension between domestic bubbles of sanity and the horrors of the world outside.
Biography:
Osi Wald is an animation artist and senior lecturer at the Bezalel Academy, Jerusalem. Her work is deeply rooted in the study of movement, bridging a lifelong background in dance with a formal education in the exact sciences. Her extensive portfolio includes the award-winning animated documentary Holy Holocaust (2021, The New Yorker), Reflection (Locarno Film Festival), and Re-organization (Israel Museum), among other projects. She was also a key animator for Ari Folman’s Waltz with Bashir and The Congress.
SCREAM! IT'S GROWING!
Anna Murie (France)
- International Competition -
Synopsis:
Social media lies to us. No, we can’t all become, overnight, an imposing muscle machine, sexy and topped with abundant hair.
Biography:
In my work, both in illustration and animation, storytelling plays a central role. I enjoy telling
strange, sometimes absurd stories, inspired by a reality that is just as strange.
My graduation film reflects this approach: it takes place in the mysterious world of
bodybuilding and draws on my own experiences. The sets are painted, and the images are conceived as animated illustrations.
A PINT OF BITTER.
Conor Kehelly (Ireland)
- International Competition -
Synopsis:
You are trying to enjoy a quiet pint in the pub but a patron and his son seemingly have a problem with your demeanour.
Biography:
Conor Kehelly is an Irish animator, illustrator and music producer known for films that blend playful textures with darker, introspective themes. He writes, directs, animates, scores and voices his entirely self-funded work, including the award-winning The Final Nail In The Coffin (2023) and his latest film A Pint Of Bitter (2026).
Five Orphans
Sarina Nihei (France)
- International Competition -
Synopsis:
Five orphans walk along a ditch in a society where protests against the government are on the rise.
Biography:
Sarina Nihei is a freelance animation director from Japan. Obsessed with Estonian animation, she decided to pursue a career in the field. She graduated from the Royal College of Art in London with an MA in animation. Her graduation film "Small\People with Hats" won prizes at festivals around the world, including the Ottawa International Animation Festival, Holland Animation Film Festival, Animest, and British Animation Awards. Specialising in a hand-drawn style, she makes surreal and enigmatic stories.
Nook & Cranny
Tan Grace, Kim Jinsol (Singapore)
- Singapore Student Competition -
Synopsis:
Through sequences traced by different body parts, complexities of seeking connection are explored—the quest for intimacy is a bittersweet pursuit.
Biography:
Tan Grace is a writer and multi-disciplinary artist. With a background in literature and linguistics as well as training in photography, animation and film, she is particularly interested in exploring the intersection between image-making and the written word. She is most moved, challenged and inspired by the poetry woven into ordinary things. Grace hopes to bring together her practice in diverse art forms to further develop her craft in the field of creative writing, using her passion for storytelling to empower and bring light to others.
Kim Jinsol is an animation and visual media artist whose multicultural background inspires her creative practice. Navigating the space between digital and analog, she enjoys translating personal experiences through moving textures, colors and little lives. Throughout her practice, she aims to be an artist who notices and captures the subtle warmth hidden in everyday life.
What to Do with Snarling Dogs
Jessica Hendrawan Putri (Singapore)
- Singapore Student Competition -
Synopsis:
After being bitten by his dog, a boy bears the guilt of sending it away. Through memories and imagined future, he tackles the question of its fate.
Biography:
Jessica Hendrawan Putri is an Indonesian animation filmmaker and director who graduated from Nanyang Technological University. Her works explore human stories that resonate on an intimate level, with a particular interest in the human struggle, people’s relationships, and the quiet beauty found in the mundane. Her filmography includes Rangda, which was part of Paris-Lyon-Singapour 2024 at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, and How I Met My Mutual, which was part of Paris-Lyon-Singapour 2025 at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival.
I Hit A Deer
Melody Yu Jia Le, Leow May Gwen Veronica, Riqqa Binte Faizal (Singapore)
- Singapore Student Competition -
Synopsis:
While driving home, a girl's father hits a deer. Horrified, the girl begins to see visions of death all around her.
Biography:
Melody (Yu Jia Le) is a Director, 2D animator and illustrator based in Singapore. Graduated from University of Arts Singapore, studying a Bachelors in Animation arts. She co-directed "I Hit a Deer" for her final short film as a student. In various projects, she takes inspiration from the art and trinket collection she surrounds herself with. Her main goal is to continue her journey in filmmaking and explore the possibilities of illustration.
Veronica is an animator, visual development artist and storyboard artist. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in animation art at LASALLE College of the Arts in Singapore and has been shortlisted several times for illustration competitions. She is currently based in Singapore.
Riqqa is an animator and illustrator, and a recent graduate of LASALLE College of the Arts in Singapore specialising in 2D character animation and visual storytelling. Exploring new techniques and embracing creative challenges to bring compelling characters and narratives to life, she’s passionate about creating meaningful connections with audiences.
OFFICIAL SELECTIOn - PROGRAMME B
RIP TIDES
7 International Animated Shorts + 3 Singapore Student Animated Shorts
86 mins | Rating TBC (Expected to be NC16)
Drive On, Mr Otter!
Fong Chun Kit (Singapore)
- International Competition -
Synopsis:
Timid Mr Otter is given one final chance to evict an elderly couple from their rural village home — or risk losing his own company-issued housing.
Biography:
Chun Kit is a Singaporean animator and recent graduate from the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) with a BFA in Character Animation.
What We Leave Behind
(Ce qu’on laisse derrière)
Jean-Sébastien Hamel, Alexandra Myotte (Canada)
- International Competition -
Synopsis:
Dan has a gaping hole in his neck that won't heal. Why? He can't remember, nor talk about it.
Biography:
Jean-Sébastien Hamel and Alexandra Myotte are a writer-director duo based in Montreal. Their award-winning animated short films have been showcased at hundreds of festivals around the world. Un trou dans la poitrine (A Crab in the Pool) has won over 30 awards, including at SXSW and the Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia, and was shortlisted for the 2025 Academy Awards.
Shoes (구두)
Joohee Kim (South Korea)
- International Competition -
Synopsis:
A character who avoids change and adventure enters a shoe repair shop and borrows the silver shoes. From that moment, their ordinary life twists.
Biography:
Joohee Kim is an independent animator and filmmaker from South Korea. She created her first animated film, Clay's Ideal and Reality (2023), followed by her second film, Shoes (2025). Her work explores human emotions and relationships through simple and imaginative storytelling.
Lethe
Liang-Hsin Huang (France/Taiwan)
- International Competition -
Synopsis:
A sculptor with Alzheimer’s goes on a self-healing voyage on the river Lethe after his death, experiencing a cycle of remembering and forgetting as he seeks the memories of himself and his daughter.
Biography:
Liang-Hsin Huang was born in Taiwan in 1995. She began her career as an animator after studying experimental animation at the Royal College of Art in 2019. Fond of atmospheric scenes and hand-drawn artistic styles, his short films often depict the intimacy of relationships between people and explore places, poetry and rhythm.
Eri
Honami Yano (France/Japan)
- International Competition -
Synopsis:
In a world where dairy cows must bear calves to survive, Eri, a Holstein, falls in love with another cow. Her sighs linger through sleepless nights — will they find their way to the one she loves?
Biography:
Honami YANO is a Japanese animation filmmaker born on a small island in Japan. Her short film A Bite of Bone (2021) won the Grand Prize for Short Animation at the 45th Ottawa International Animation Festival. Alongside her filmmaking practice, she researches sexuality and gender in animation and curates screenings dedicated to queer animation.
LIL GIBBOS | Hot Drop
Arius Ziaee (United States)
- International Competition -
Synopsis:
In Hot Drop, Gibby tries out Hot Yoga & the Gibbos experience the marvels of sweat!
Biography:
Arius Ziaee is a multidisciplinary artist and filmmaker based in LA. Arius received their BFA at CalArts studying Experimental Animation. Arius has since made work for companies such as Adult Swim & GIPHY and has had their work featured in multiple domestic and international film festivals. LIL GIBBOS | Hot Drop was made with the funding of the Silver Lake Shorts Fellowship Grant.
Ploo
Jon Frickey (Germany)
- International Competition -
Synopsis:
As sine waves cycle endlessly, an aging vector tech store owner confronts mortality with help from a moth.
Biography:
Jon was born 1979 in Stade, Germany to American parents. After being awarded his Diploma in Communications Design from the HAW Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, he worked as Art Director with Scholz und Friends Berlin. Since 2006, he has been a freelance animation director. His short film CAT DAYS/NEKO NO HI premiered at the 2018 Berlinale, was internationally acclaimed and qualified for the Academy Awards.He writes and animates for the political satire show “extra3” (ARD) and acts as showrunner for the WDR production “OhneTitel3000”.
The Mask (戏罗刹)
Christina Fu, Mingwei Ma, Mengyao Zhao (Singapore)
- Singapore Student Competition -
Synopsis:
After his first performance turns into a flop, the only human boy, Ji needs to learn the secret to win his unusual audience.
Biography:
Christina Fu, is an independent filmmaker who focused on character-driven animations. She hopes to make more wonderful and fun films.
Ma Mingwei is an animation director and producer, holding a BFA in animation from NTU and currently pursuing Master at NUS. She is passionate about using media art to bring meaningful stories to life.
Zhao Mengyao is a graduate of NTU's School of Art, Design and Media, with a passion of storytelling and experimental animation.
Everything's Peachy
Nah Yee Chern (Indonesia/Singapore)
- Singapore Student Competition -
Synopsis:
A prep cook’s utopic dream working in a prestigious kitchen unravels after stumbling into a secret affair by the revered Head Chef.
Biography:
Nah Yee Chern is an animator based in Singapore. Involved in the DIY community, Yee Chern took interest in stop-motion, directing his first stop-motion film ‘Everything’s Peachy’, based on the themes of religious abuse. He graduated from Ba(Hons) Animation Art at LASALLE College of the Arts with first-class honours. Yee Chern also created original comic zines, spanning action and horror genres. He aims to pursue a career as a creative producer and a story artist, as well as a PhD in comic studies in the future.
White Carousel
Nadya Neo (Singapore)
- Singapore Student Competition -
Synopsis:
When the hands of a cuckoo clock strike, a wooden doll awakens to yet another cycle, only for time to rewind before freedom can be reached.
Biography:
Nadya Neo is an artist and animation graduate from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. Inspired by vintage aesthetics and retro charm, her work blends intricacy with a surreal touch, using style and colour to evoke imagination. White Carousel is her first short film, created as her final-year university project.
OFFICIAL SELECTION - PROGRAMME C
PLAYGROUND
8 International Animated Shorts
43 mins | Rating TBC (Expected to be G)
Recommended for ages 7 and above.
For the first time in our festival's history, we are introducing a programme, specially for younger audiences. These films look at the world through a child’s eyes, with curiosity, wonder and a sense of difference. A curious child gathers experiences, a deaf child imagines the sound of a concert, and a girl sees snow differently from everyone in her art class. Made by first-time directors and student collectives, these films trust young audiences to feel and wonder at once.
Experiences and learning. And parenting.
Malgorzata Rybak (Poland)
- International Competition -
Synopsis:
A lively kid named "O” is very curious and busy discovering the world. Despite all the obstacles O manages to gather some personal experiences.
Biography:
Polish director, scriptwriter and animator. Graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow (MA) and the Pedagogical University in Cracow (MA). Although she never studied animation, but as a self-taught artist she currently creates independent, artistic animations that are presented at numerous festivals. Still looking for a Producer. Apart from that she’s been working as a Visual Designer.
Over Yonder
Rachel James Carrière (Canada)
- International Competition -
Synopsis:
Over Yonder is a short film that traces a quiet longing to fly and belong. It drifts through an enchanting dreamscape shaped by interconnection.
Biography:
Rachel James Carrière is a neurodivergent artist who grew up in farmlands outside a small town. This early connection to the living world continues to shape their artistic practice.
From a young age, Rachel was drawn to capturing their environment through montage. Their passion for storytelling expanded when they moved to Montreal for university, where they explored animation and deepened their practice.
With a foundation in traditional painting and drawing, Rachel blends somatic sensibilities with digital experimentation. Their work reflects devotion to curiosity and creative evolution.
Bear Appétit
Arianna Tan (United States)
- International Competition -
Synopsis:
A young bear embarks on a culinary journey to create the most extravagant dish to impress a new customer.
Biography:
Hi! My name is Arianna (she/her), and I’m currently a fourth-year student majoring in 2D animation at Chapman University in Orange, CA. Bear Appétit is my directorial debut and was created with 20 other animation students during our third year. My personal interests are in storyboarding and comics. I was previously a publishing production intern at DC Comics and am currently a content intern at WEBTOON.
Silence
Yoona Hwang (South Korea/United States)
- International Competition -
Synopsis:
A child born deaf enjoys a musical concert through vibrations and a hearing aid, imagining visuals based on what he hears.
Biography:
Yoona Hwang is a Storyboard Artist, 3D Generalist, and MFA graduate in Animation from the Savannah College of Art and Design. Originally from South Korea, her passion for visual storytelling began at Gyeonggi Arts High School and continued through her studies in Media Contents & Technology at the Catholic University of Korea. As an animation director, she creates stories that illuminate overlooked perspectives and foster understanding through animation.
I am Akiko
Damir Romanov (Serbia)
- International Competition -
Synopsis:
Akiko is an unusual girl whose different view on the snow gets her into trouble during the art class.
Biography:
Damir Romanov is a film director based in Serbia. He finished film and tv directing and then continued his PhD studies at Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade. He is one of the founders of the NGO Edukativno-Naucna Filmska Mreza. Damir directed several short live action films and documentaries. His film “Pulse” was in selection of numerous film festivals in Serbia and abroad and got the award for best story at Festival of Serbian Fantastic Film.
City in the Fox
Mikael Lindskov Jacobsen (Germany)
- International Competition -
Synopsis:
A curious fox discovers a children’s book about planet Earth and becomes fascinated by the human world of knowledge. But as it devours more books and its imagination expands, the fox finds itself overwhelmed by thoughts it cannot fully understand.
Biography:
Mikael Lindskov Jacobsen is a Greenlandic-Danish animation director with a background in live-action filmmaking. Before pursuing animation, he worked as a freelance cameraman and editor, primarily within the documentary genre. In 2025 he graduated from the Animationsinstitut of Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg and is currently based in Berlin.
Kiki and Bouba - A Peachy Story
Leon Bugajski, Kinga Chłodek, Adrian Krzych, Basia Szczerbanowska, Julia Wiereńko (Poland/Portugal)
- International Competition -
Synopsis:
In “Peachy Story”, we witness the meeting of two farmers, who have different ideas of what it means to grow the perfect peach.
Biography:
We met through our University students club. Not long after that, we got an amazing opportunity to create our first project for internship in COLA Animation; " Kiki&Bouba a Peachy Story ". We weren’t expecting how far this journey would take us. Our group decided to keep working together, as a collective called Studio Mufka to take on new challenges and projects.
Grandpa in the Drawer
Axel Wehbeh, Ludmilla Cheklit (France)
- International Competition -
Synopsis:
A grandfather tells his grandson the secret story of the garden's insects, a magical memory that will be forgotten in a drawer...
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