The Smalls Film Festival 2025

Highlight on Animation

• The Smalls Film Festival, set for September 2025, plans to brag its commitment to animation as cool as a cucumber, promising two dedicated animation screenings.
• The Curzon Hoxton in London will be the fairground for this animation extravaganza.
• This expanded offering is not just some walk-in-the park adaptation. It reflects the strength, innovation, and Oscar-worthy emotional impact animated short films today have, and the festival’s mission to elevate the most exciting talent.
• It’s not just about the innovation, it’s about showcasing this exciting talent to the world, stomping their huge glowing sign in the world of animation.

Skwigly Animation Magazine announcement

These screenings were announced in a ‘Look, Ma, I’m on TV’ moment by Skwigly Animation Magazine, bringing the total number of mom’s fridges they’ll likely end up on to a giddying height.

A Cheeky Take on the Animation News

Apparently, The Smalls Film Festival decided that two is better than one when they set out their calendar this year – they’re doubling down with two Animation shindigs (Yeah, like having two trips to Disneyland in one day!). The excitement is as palpable as the smell of popcorn in a theatre. London’s Curzon Hoxton will be turned into a virtual Disneyland for animation fans, with a hoopla that reflects the strength of animated shorts and a tip of the hat to the talent behind them. I mean, who needs caped superheroes when you can have animated characters that don’t wait for their costumes from the dry cleaners! Now, all we have to do is to wait for an exhilarating September to arrive, and brace ourselves for the inevitable truth – animation will never be the same again (cue dramatic hamster-gazing-off-into-the-distance look).

Experience the Magic of Animation at The Smalls Film Festival 2025. Set to happen at Curzon Hoxton, London this September, these curated Animation programmes showcase the incredible talents, creativity and ground-breaking techniques in animated shorts today.

From psychedelic voyages and pulsating techno beats to desolate motels and quaint coastal villages, relish in the power, humor and originality of modern animated storytelling.

Now celebrating its 18th year, The Smalls Film Festival is a noteworthy platform for both emerging and renowned filmmakers across all genres. With a lineup featuring Nicolas Keppens’ OSCAR-nominated BEAUTIFUL MEN and Sundance award-winner COMO SI LA TIERRA SE LAS HUBIERA TRAGADO by Natalia León, it’s an event fan of film and animation shouldn’t miss.

Animation—the true bastion of limitless creativity in film. Transcend boundaries, bend time, reshape perspectives, and delve into the inner worlds of unique characters. Witness surreal transformations, symbolic visuals, narrative experiments, and the constant evolution of visual storytelling.

Coveted tickets are now available for just £5. Check out the complete lineup and secure your tickets at thesmallsfilmfestival.com.

Glimpse the 2025 Official Selection:

Animation 1 (Saturday, 20th September, 2.30pm)

Natalia León’s COMO SI LA TIERRA SE LAS HUBIERA TRAGADO explores Olivia’s quest to reconnect with her past in her hometown in Mexico.
KAMINHU by Marie Vieillevie follows Joanna, a young European traveler sketching her way through Cape Verde.
SANS VOIX by Samuel Patthey takes a peek at Dan’s life of solitude and music in his flat.
Sydney Agans’s THIS IS NOT AN EMERGENCY delves into the mysterious disappearance of a baby brother.
Uncle Shortbread’s PETER HAIR humorously portrays Peter’s life on the balding head of Tim.
Nicolas Gebbe’s THE SUNSET SPECIAL 2 unveils the odd reality of luxury cruising.
In LUZ DIABLA, directors Paula Boffo, Gervasio Canda & Patricio Plaza share a strange car accident story of flamboyant Martín.

Animation 2 (Sunday, 21st September, 12.30pm)

Nicolas Keppens’ BEAUTIFUL MEN follows three balding brothers on a trip to Istanbul for hair transplants.
S THE WOLF by Sameh Alaa explores a man’s inner thoughts as he sits in his childhood bedroom.
In LARVAL, Alice Bloomfield shows us a young girl’s desire for beauty and love.
SOLEIL GRIS reveals teenagers surviving a heatwave at a motel and the arrival of an ecological disaster.
SISOWATH QUAY tells the story of Nakry and Sothear’s nightmarish romance when the former turns into a strange creature.
CRAB DIANE by Ryan McCown is about a young woman who seeks help from cosmic forces in a seaside diner.
HURIKÁN by Jan Saska is an exciting rush to save a favorite beer stand from closure.

Original article: https://www.skwigly.co.uk/smalls-film-festival-2025-animation/