BIFF Shorts: Saturday Morning Cartoons

Fun, family friendly cartoons from WNY’s leading animation programs and global creators. 61 minutes.

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"Starchild"

Eternity Shorter (Dir), 3 minutes, USA, World Premiere

Director Eternity Shorter in attendance.

A woman catches a star from the sky and makes an unexpected connection.

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"Kindled"

Julia Ruch (Dir), 4 minutes, USA, World Premiere

Director Julia Ruch in attendance.

This short film explores grief, self sacrifice, and companionship through the relationship between an isolated woodsman and his spritely companion.

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"Reaper 4 Wage"

Diamon Williams (Dir), 2 minutes, USA, World Premiere

Director Diamon Williams in attendance.

The young reaper for hire, Lula, is tasked to collect one soul or else lose her job. Luckily, a mysterious figure is involved in an accident right in front of her. maybe she'll be lucky enough to catch them too.

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"Little Vermin"

Simone Victoria Collini (Dir), 2 minutes, USA, World Premiere

Director Simone Victoria Collini in attendance.

A farmer on a distant planet starts his day just like any other, he steps outside, takes in the view, and walks toward his crop. He's alarmed when the corn stalks begin to rustle, and it becomes clear that a creature has been eating his corn.

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"Little Latte"

Caitlin Cummings (Dir), 3 minutes, USA, World Premiere

Director Caitlin Cummings in attendance.

A small steam creature wants to be taken home by someone to prove he is loved. After observing other creatures, he performs multiple tricks to attract the attention of customers.

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"Lights Out"

Marielena Cruz (Dir), 3 minutes, USA, World Premiere

Director Marielena Cruz in attendance.

A child trying to sleep through a thunderstorm loses his beloved teddy bear and must fight to get it back.

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"Sketch"

Taylor Anne Huntsberger (Dir), 4 minutes, USA, World Premiere

Director Taylor Anne Huntsberger in attendance.

Lexi is afraid to make new friends. When her imaginary friend, "Sketchy", comes to life from her drawing, will she build up the courage to play with the other children?

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"Buggin'"

Samuel Fesmire (Dir), 3 minutes, USA, World Premiere

Director Samuel Fesmire in attendance.

A peaceful evening is interrupted by a volcanic eruption.

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"Journey Across the Bridge"

Stefie Gan (Dir), 3 minutes, USA, Western New York Premiere

A Malaysian Chinese immigrant mother and daughter journey across the bridge and reconnect across generations and cultural divides in New York City.

During a train ride home, a mother compares her daughter to the “successful” children of her friends. The daughter doesn’t say anything, and the mother continues to talk about her homeland. At the end, they find a connection of love and understanding.

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"Pizza Party Panic"

Timothy Lawrence Clavier (Dir), 7 minutes, USA, World Premiere

Director Timothy Lawrence Clavier in attendance.

Four friends engage in a friendly bowling competition. Magical hijinks ensue.

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"Mr. Vaxt's Venture"

Nina Berionni (Dir), 2 minutes, France/Canada, Western New York Premiere

Mr.Vaxt is taking a nap when he is woken up by the ringing of his pie in the oven. But suddenly his peaceful little life will be interrupted by a small technical problem...

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"Marisol"

Aubrey Alcoy (Dir) 6 minutes, USA, Western New York Premiere

English, and Spanish and Tagalog w/ English subtitles.

What happens when two languages, two cultures, and two worlds collide? One would assume tragedy. But “Marisol” proves that despite differences, love manages to bloom anywhere - no matter the distance, no matter the circumstance.

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"Not So Ordinary"

Jessica Millace Fisher (Dir), 2 minutes, USA, World Premiere

Director Jessica Millace Fisher in attendance.

This stop motion short is about a ramen dumpling boy and his adventures outside his bowl. From cereal to pasta, the dumpling's taste for adventure is not satisfied until he realizes that his ramen bowl was the perfect place.

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"Aero Orange"

Marcus Fehér (Dir,) 11 minutes, Canada, New York State Premiere

Director Marcus Fehér in attendance.

Captain H’Orange leads a reconnaissance mission over hostile coordinates with his fruit aeronauts when suddenly he and his team come under fire and their newest member; Airman Apple is taken hostage by the evil General Onion.

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"Sugar Freed"

Sarah Gaygen (Dir), 6 minutes, USA, World Premiere

Director Sarah Gaygen in attendance.

Fed up with her dentist mother, a little girl finds herself in a world made of candy run by gummy bears. When she discovers that they harvest the rotten teeth of children, she must overpower them by the power of dental hygiene.