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Fifteen documentary and animation projects from the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) will be highlighted at the 2025 Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF), scheduled for September 24–28. Complete festival details can be found on the official website.

The lineup showcases works from animators across Canada, including four films competing in the festival. These films are created by Alex Boya, Matea Radic, Abbey Collings, and the duo of Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski. Additionally, there will be a special screening of Donald McWilliams’ feature documentary, A Return to Memory, which highlights the contributions of women who played a crucial role in shaping Canadian cinema.

The NFB’s slate at OIAF 2025 includes:

• Shorts Competition: Bread Will Walk by Alex Boya – This darkly comedic short follows a devoted sister racing to save her brother, who has turned into a bread zombie, while being pursued by a mob of hungry living beings. The film, featuring the voice of actor Jay Baruchel, was selected for the Directors’ Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival.
• The Girl Who Cried Pearls by Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski – This latest stop-motion project is narrated by Colm Feore and features music by Patrick Watson. It tells a haunting tale of a girl overwhelmed by sorrow and the boy who loves her, exploring how greed can lead to wicked actions. The film is in Official Competition at the Toronto International Film Festival.
• Welcome by Matea Radic – In her short-film debut, Radic uses absurdist animation and family photos to depict her memories of the war-torn city of Sarajevo, where she fled as a child in the ’90s.

Young Audiences 7-12 Competition:

• Get a Grip by Abbey Collings – This short film explores self-discovery and the importance of staying true to oneself, produced as part of the NFB’s Hothouse mentorship program.

Canadian Panorama:

• Hypersensitive by Martine Frossard – Selected for the Official Competition at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, this film follows a young woman on a surreal journey to rebuild herself against societal expectations.
• Imprint – A heartfelt animated short about the lasting bond between two creative spirits.
• Panoptic – A kinetic experience told from the perspective of an unfeeling computer system, also produced as part of the NFB’s Hothouse mentorship program.

Special Screenings:

• Universe Room – A Tribute to Clyde Henry – This retrospective screening showcases the works of the stop-motion and illustration studio of Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski, including Madame Tutli Putli, Higglety Pigglety Pop! or There Must Be More to Life, and their VR project Gymnasia.
• A Return to Memory – This feature documentary by Donald McWilliams explores the vital role women played in the creation of Canadian cinema during World War II. A companion screening will feature animated shorts by Alma Duncan, Evelyn Lambart, and Gretta Ekman.

NFB Gems:

• Miserable Miracle by Ryo Orikasa – This short, which won the OIAF 2023 Grand Prize, will be part of the program “New Way, New World: Connecting Japanese Animators to the World.”
• Mindscape by Jacques Drouin – This landmark 1976 pinscreen animated short will be featured in “Touch Frame,” presented by 24 Memes Per Second.

Industry Event:

Industry Connect: Animation Community Roundtable – The NFB’s distribution and production teams will participate in a networking session focused on community development and collaboration within the animation industry.

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