AFI Fest

"FOREVERGREEN captivates with its beautifully realized visual world and profound emotional resonance. Through the touching relationship between an orphaned bear cub and a father-figure tree, the film intertwines themes of friendship and sacrifice with incisive commentary on greed and climate change. It is a work that both enchants and challenges us, reminding us of the fragile interdependence between nature, compassion, and survival."

"For having the intuition to know this local character deserves the spotlight and the skillful economic storytelling that lets her story shine, we award the Grand Jury Prize - Documentary to SHANTI RIDES SHOTGUN. We enjoyed learning how to drive through the jam-packed streets of New York with Shanti. The candor, enthusiasm, and commitment she brings to her job as a driving instructor for three decades left us wanting to go on a joy ride with her."

Sue-Ellen Chitunya: "Coyotes receives a special mention for its bravery in storytelling, with its humanely challenging look at what choices one might make in order to survive in war-torn regions."

Katherine Propper: "With its top-tier "animagic" style, THE FISHERMAN lures us into the haunting Biblical story of Job. The poetry of speech and skilled craftsmanship on display here is astounding."

Sue-Ellen Chitunya: "It's no easy feat directing oneself in a deeply personal family story where you're the central character. We were moved by how Huiju delicately balances capturing images and telling an introspective story of unresolved conflicts from her childhood, through difficult conversations with her parents and family members."

Sue-Ellen Chitunya: "A vibrant and melodious stop motion animation with no dialogue, that deftly portrays an unlikely friendship between a mantis shrimp and a blind fish. 9 MILLION COLORS is joyous to watch, it gives us a new way to see the magical world that lives under the sea."

Katherine Propper: "A vibrant, apocalyptic vision by a filmmaker having so much fun with composition and form. WATER SPORTS pulses to the beat of its fiery drum."