This delightfully Dutch stop-motion-animated feature is the story of Babs, a nine-year-old steadfast vegetarian who desperately wants a pet puppy. Instead, her long-lost grandfather Tuitjes arrives unexpectedly from America (sporting a hilarious cowboy-western twang of an accent) and gifts her a piglet, whom she names Oink.

This year’s collection of peer-reviewed, youth-produced short films showcases an international cohort of storytellers working in animation, documentary, comedy, horror, and drama.

More than anything, Erin’s Guide to Kissing Girls is a tender, insightful, and refreshingly witty ode to Gen Z.

Puppies, babies, and bears, oh my! We’ve once again scoured the globe for the best collection of animated short films for audiences of every age to enjoy.

More than anything, Erin’s Guide to Kissing Girls is a tender, insightful, and refreshingly witty ode to Gen Z.

A determined group of teenagers from the Uruguayan countryside tackles math, science, and the physics of friendship as they conquer the world of robotics.

A determined group of teenagers from the Uruguayan countryside tackles math, science, and the physics of friendship as they conquer the world of robotics.

This delightfully Dutch stop-motion-animated feature is the story of Babs, a nine-year-old steadfast vegetarian who desperately wants a pet puppy. Instead, her long-lost grandfather Tuitjes arrives unexpectedly from America (sporting a hilarious cowboy-western twang of an accent) and gifts her a piglet, whom she names Oink.

Black Girls Film Camp is a nonprofit organization that provides a free, annual, virtual 12-week filmmaking experience for high-school-age Black girls across the country.

This year’s collection of peer-reviewed, youth-produced short films showcases an international cohort of storytellers working in animation, documentary, comedy, horror, and drama.

A determined group of teenagers from the Uruguayan countryside tackles math, science, and the physics of friendship as they conquer the world of robotics.

Puppies, babies, and bears, oh my! We’ve once again scoured the globe for the best collection of animated short films for audiences of every age to enjoy.

We all can feel a little awkward or insecure sometimes, but the inspiring young people featured in this international selection of short films set fine and admirable examples of how to believe in yourself—regardless of what others might think or say. I

This year’s collection of peer-reviewed, youth-produced short films showcases an international cohort of storytellers whose work spans genres. After a long, locked-down year, it’s unsurprising that some of these young filmmakers have leaned toward darker themes, with a fair amount of murder, death, and dystopia—balanced by a dose of social justice, a dash of fairy dust, and a bit of scatological humor. It’s a wild but worthwhile ride!

Toss a moody teen delinquent into a secret society of magicians, step into her perspective with clever dark humor and fun fantasy scenes, and blaze through an uplifting coming-of-age story that’s both unique and universal. Kate Tsang’s debut feature pairs the perfectly cast Miya Cech (Always Be My Maybe), as angry and rebellious 13-year-old Sammy, and Rhea Perlman (Cheers), as Margot the Marvelous, a children’s party magician giving off grumpy-but-wise grandma vibes.

We can all feel a little out of place sometimes. But as demonstrated by this delightful collection of animated shorts from around the world, the journey to find where you fit in can be fun and inspiring.

Forty years ago, one of the greatest movie heroes of all time made his debut in one of the greatest movies of all time. Returning to the Bay Area where some of it was filmed, Raiders of the Lost Ark comes to MVFF for a special anniversary screening sponsored by Lucasfilm.

In this grab bag of narrative, documentary, and animated shorts, meet a captivating group of real and fictional young characters who are finding their voices, their purpose, their values—and their wings. Get ready for take-off!

This visually spellbinding feature from Dutch director Eché Janga brims with a sense of wonder that occasionally recalls Benh Zeitlin’s magical-realist drama Beasts of the Southern Wild as tragedy and heartache lurk beneath folklore and fantasy. On the Dutch Caribeean island of Curaçao, otherworldly beliefs permeate the solitary life of fiery 11-year-old Kenza (the sublimely spunky Tiara Richards), who plays hooky from school and tries to sell lizards in her free time.

In this Bangladeshi drama, feisty young painter Naima (a riveting Novera Rahman) sets out on a quest to save her ailing father. Her artistic gift has blossomed with his encouragement but hasn’t yet proven financially rewarding.

In his feature debut, celebrated Italian illustrator Lorenzo Mattotti crafts a mesmerizing, visually stunning fairy tale about an epic clash between two worlds: those of bears and humans. Based on a classic 1945 Italian children’s book, the story inhabits a timeless mythic terrain, as the bear king Léonce leads his clan into the “valley of men” in search of his lost son.

A 15-year-old girl’s life upends overnight when she discovers she’s not only heir to a tiny European principality but must take the throne immediately.