AWESOME ANIMATION Program #1 — DCIFF 2026 (SUN 2/15)

Dobrina directed by Hannes Rall (Germany/2025/5mins) Lotte Reiniger meets Sergio Leone as desire burns as bright as the desert sun.

A Guest from Elsewhere directed by Ethan Anderson (USA/2025/8.40mins) A monster that yearns to be a part of civilized human society. After an unfortunate mishap, the monster’s hopes of being one with the humans is put on trial.

Cast Out directed by Kayla Wimer (USA/2025/19.32mins) Young Rita Stargrove, abandoned by humanity in a deserted city, builds a robot to keep herself company.

Dubious Garden: On The Beauty of Things directed by Noée Butz, Léonie Minh Xuân Codet, Manoa Tetuanui, Candice Bègue, Manon Aprin. (France/2025/5.09mins). Strange gardens are being grown in a strange space; and their gardener will have to fight for their beauty.

A Grieving Heart directed by Wendy Cong Zhao (USA/2025/12.17mins) An immigrant woman examines her past in the wake of her American ex-boyfriend’s death.

jaderabbitjaderabbit directed by Lily Xie (USA/2025/4.30mins) Jade Rabbit, symbol of immortality, discovered a past version of herself. A time-warping chase ensues.

Reset directed by Sara Caldwell (USA/2025/4.10mins) When a tech-obsessed woman’s world goes dark during a blackout, she’s forced to face the silence... and discovers the warmth she’s been scrolling past all along.

April Departing directed by Tan Tunçağ (Turkey/2025/7.18mins) An artificially intelligent tour guide leads passengers on what should have been a routine journey above the oceanic world of Mesonia.

Theft in the Shadows directed by Anna Oleksandrivn (Poland/2025/ 3.17mins) The mysterious disappearance of the "Mona Lisa" paintings, from an exhibition four hours before its opening.

Misophonia directed by Michelle Gruppetta (Malta / 2025 / 2.50mins) Even the most innocuous sounds can have an effect on people, more than we might ever realize.

Where Love Lied directed by Chalmet Giselle, Guinet-Elmi Evan, Hatef Sizi, Saksham Kumar, Leriche Olivia, Léo Maestracci, Joel Kidangan, Việt Hà Nguyễn, Marcel Vanderweyen (France/ 2025/8.07mins) Following the M**der of his spouse, Don Sorrentino hosts a dinner with his henchman Alberto and his wife Mirabella.

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Host or Publisher DC Independent Film Festival (DCIFF)