Aspen Shortsfest

""With warmth and tenderness, this film masterfully mixes disparate animation styles to explore the meaning of home and the nature of identity. The director's choice to move between 2-D and stop-motion crafts a world in which memory isn't fixed but fluid and everlasting."

"The jury was struck by its wryly funny script, romantic tension and the engaging, convincing performances by Justin H. Min and Michael Hsu Rosen - as well as the complex look the film takes at unresolved hierarchies within relationships."

"While we are living in particularly tumultuous times, when the news can feel like an endless cycle of darkness, it feels especially important to shed light on the joyful moments of humanity. The jury was taken for an exciting and moving ride by this film's celebration of a resilient, hardworking subject who united a community with her generous spirit."

"This film impressed the jury with its visceral depiction of shame, love and loyalty, as well as the nuanced performances between father and son and a stunningly complicated family dynamic. It took us on an emotional ride that evoked tragedy without exploiting it, leaving us hopeful and moved. It's a lesson about publicly claiming someone as your own, without preaching."

"In the aftermath of the devastating Eaton Fire, this probing documentary focused on the thousands whose houses didn't burn, but who are now living in an environment contaminated with dangerous toxins," according to the jury statement. "The film offers a compelling, unsettling and eye-opening look at the aftermath of one of California's worst disasters."

"This film navigates complex societal and familial expectations with a sense of humor, horror and imagination. The jury was struck by how the director portrayed these tensions with playfulness and honesty."

"This year, we selected a poignant, unconventional and beautifully crafted film. A topically relevant piece that uses clever humor to illustrate the cost that pervasive technology can have on the human spirit," according to the jury statement. "This hilarious short shows us how effective it can be when people band together to make a change."

2nd Place