MADAME TUTLI-PUTLI by Chris Lavis & Maciek Szczerbowski, (18′)

This stop-motion animated film takes viewers on an exhilarating existential journey into the fully imagined, tactile world of Madame Tutli-Putli. As she travels alone on the night train, weighed down with all her earthly possessions and the ghosts of her past, she faces both the kindness and menace of strangers. Finding herself caught up in a desperate metaphysical adventure, adrift between real and imagined worlds, Madame Tutli-Putli confronts her demons.

CHEZ MADAME POULE / AT HOME WITH MRS HEN by Tali, (8′)

This animated short is a comical tale that pokes fun at motherhood. It depicts the temper tantrums of a child and the efforts a mother makes to set her son on the right path. You don’t need to be a chicken to relate.

ISABELLE AU BOIS DORMANT / SLEEPING BETTY by Claude Cloutier, (10′)

In this animated short, Sleeping Betty is stuck in bed, victim to a strange bout of narcolepsy. The King calls on his subjects to rescue her and they all respond to the call: Uncle Henry VIII, Aunt Victoria, an oddly emotional alien, a funky witch and a handsome prince. But will a kiss really be enough to wake the sleeping princess? The film, drawn in ink, is a classic example of the anachronistic and playful world of Claude Cloutier.

LE CHANDAIL / THE SWEATER by Sheldon Cohen, (11′)

In this classic Quebec animated film, Roch Carrier recounts the most mortifying moment of his childhood. At a time when all his friends worshipped Maurice “Rocket” Richard and wore his number 9 Canadiens hockey jersey, the boy was mistakenly sent a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey from Eaton’s. Unable to convince his mother to send it back, he must face his friends wearing the colours of the opposing team. This short film, based on the book The Hockey Sweater, is an NFB classic that appeals to hockey lovers of all ages.

ICI PAR ICI / HERE AND THERE by Diane Obomsawin, (10′)

In this animated short, filmmaker Diane Obomsawin shows how childhood can be a chaotic time, especially if you’re bouncing back and forth between two continents. With engaging candour and gentle humour, Obomsawin fleshes out an uncertain identity and takes control of her life. Using drawings on paper and digitized snippets of fabric, she creates a whimsical world of simple lines and pastel tones.

MA MOULTON ET MOI / ME AND MY MOULTON by Torill Kove, (14′)

This animated short by Torill Kove marks the NFB’s 73rd Oscar® nomination! With a bright palette and witty dialogue, the film tells the charming story of a seven-year-old girl and her sisters, who ask for a bicycle knowing full well that their loving yet unconventional parents will likely disappoint them. Torill Kove’s previous films, My Grandmother Ironed the King’s Shirts (1999) and The Danish Poet (2006), also received Oscar nominations, with the latter taking home the prize in the Short Film (Animated) category in 2007.

HISTOIRE D’AUTOBUS / BUS STORY by Tali, (11′)

This funny short animation was written and created by Tali (At Home with Mrs. Hen) and is inspired by the filmmaker’s misadventures as a school bus driver in the Eastern Townships. Our protagonist dreams of becoming a bus driver in order to cruise down quiet country lanes and connect with nature, her young charges and their parents. But her idyllic view of her new job is sorely tested after she meets her surly boss, named Killer, and discovers that winding roads can prove treacherous in winter, especially with a faulty clutch. Through her cheeky humour and oblique look at the reality of people living in the Quebec countryside, Tali delivers a film that is unique, witty and touching.

ROSE & VIOLET by Claude Grosch & Luc Otter, (27′)

The animated short film Rose & Violet tells the story of two Conjoined twin sisters who are recruited as star acrobats in the world’s biggest circus. They seem bound for glory, but when a new strongman joins the troupe, a conflict turns tragic. Filmmakers Luc Otter and Claude Grosch employ a clever combination of 2D and digital cut-outs and clay animation in their exploration of the circus realm.

LE NOEUD CRAVAT / THE NECKTIE by Jean-François Lévesque, (13′)

A mixture of puppet and hand-drawn animation, The Necktie is the story of Valentin and his quest to find meaning in his life. Stuck in a dead-end job, he has forgotten all about the things that used to bring him joy. Years pass, and boredom replaces all his aspirations and hope for the future. It is only on his 40th birthday, when he rediscovers an old accordion hidden in the depths of his closet, that he regains his lust for life.

Papeterie / Stationery by Monica Rho, (6′)“A woman must find paper clips for a report due in the morning.” With this apparently simple description, director Monica Rho begins to explore the complexities and paradoxes of modern life; the isolation within today’s crowded cities; and inner, emotional insecurities. Genie Award-winning Canadian actor Sandra Oh (Grey’s Anatomy) voices the woman in quest of paper clips with a nuanced blend of assuredness and vulnerability. The film is stylish and crisp, with a bold graphic style and lively, witty animation.

In partnership with the Consulate General of Canada