March 25, 2025 – Montreal – National Film Board of Canada (NFB)

The NFB’s creative vitality will be front and centre at the 23rd Sommets du cinéma d’animation, taking place from May 26 to 31 in Montreal, with six short films selected. These works, all of which will be in the Canadian Competition, are by talented filmmakers from diverse backgrounds living and working all across Canada. Diversity is also a hallmark of the films’ subject matter, ranging from original depictions of personal quests to explorations of social issues.

The films are part of the 56 works selected for this year’s Sommets in all competition categories. 

Canadian Competition, professional category 

• Le bruit des choses qui brûlent (The Sounds of Things Ablaze) by Hayat Najm (NFB, 6 min 35 s)
  Press kit: mediaspace.nfb.ca/epk/the-sounds-of-things-ablazeTold through animated charcoal drawings, this is a story of resilience about a woman still haunted by the horrors of war. Award-winning pianist Jean-Michel Blais composed and performed the original score, and Sylvain Bellemare (an Oscar winner for Denis Villeneuve’s Arrival) was the sound designer.

• Hypersensible (Hypersensitive) by Martine Frossard (NFB, 6 min 44 s)
  Press kit: mediaspace.nfb.ca/epk/hypersensitiveHypersensitive recounts the turbulent, surrealistic journey of a young woman struggling to rebuild herself, in defiance of social norms that tell us to repress our emotions. The film is a heartfelt plea for us all to take greater heed of our emotions, even the most painful ones. The film was edited by filmmaker and editor Oana Suteu Khintirian (Beyond Paper).

• Inkwo for When the Starving Return (Inkwo à la défense des vivants) by Amanda Strong (Spotted Fawn Productions/NFB, 18 min 27 s)
  Press kit: mediaspace.nfb.ca/epk/inkwo-for-when-the-starving-returnThe film, a call to action to fight and protect against the forces of greed around us, is an animated adaptation of an original short story by award-winning Tlicho Dene storyteller Richard Van Camp, “Wheetago War.” Featuring the voice of Tantoo Cardinal (Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon), among others, Inkwo is coming off an extensive tour of Canadian festivals, including the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), and was also a selection at Sundance.

• Imprint (Encrage) by Duncan Major (NFB, 5 min)
  Press kit: mediaspace.nfb.ca/epk/imprintAt 13, Duncan Major met artist Tara Bryan and discovered a shared passion for letterpress printing that shaped his life. In her memory, years later, Duncan created this poetic animated film, with a beautifully designed soundscape, that serves as a heartfelt tribute of gratitude.

• Hairy Legs (Poil aux jambes) by Andrea Dorfman (NFB, 16 min 56 s)
  Press kit: mediaspace.nfb.ca/epk/hairy-legsDeciding not to shave her legs at 13 led a young Andrea Dorfman to question and ultimately defy society’s expectations. The film captures with charm, warmth and humour the universality of girls exploring gender, curiosity and freedom.

• Samaa by Ehsan Gharib (NFB, 2 min 27 s)
  Press kit: mediaspace.nfb.ca/epk/samaaA caged bird flutters and flails in a struggle for freedom. Revelling in the magic and mechanics of cinema, Ehsan Gharib crafts a striking film. In Iranian culture, samaa is the meditative practice of achieving a spiritual awakening through rhythm and movement.

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French version here | Version française ici.