SHADOWS: Saving the Rain Forest is a contemporary tale of magical realism about preserving the world’s forests. The animated short is inspired by the fantasy of ancient legends and shadow puppets, particularly the wayang kulit Javanese and Balinese performances. The short also highlights the positive role that traditional legends and active communities can have in preserving the world’s natural resources. The story features no dialog, cutout villagers and a gang of invaders, and a computer-generated rain forest and fantastical creatures.
Directed by Isaac Kerlow
Visual Development, Background Design and Compositing by Nguyen Thi Nam Phuong
Produced by Earth Observatory of Singapore
Awards
SHADOWS has won Best Animation at the Williamsburg International Film Festival, Best Animation at the Tenerife International Film Festival, Best Animation at the Albany FilmFest, and Best Animated Short Film at the Martinique International Film Festival. It was also awarded a Special Jury Award at Worldfest Houston, an Award of Merit at the Best Shorts Competition, and a Best Director Honorable Mention at the Los Angeles Film Review Independent Film Awards.
Screening
March 2018
Globe International Silent Film Festival, Tehran, Iran
Globe International Silent Film Festival, Tehran, Iran
March 2017
Speechless Film Festival, Mankato, Minnesota
Speechless Film Festival, Mankato, Minnesota
November 2016
Singapore Eco Film Festival, Singapore
Karelian International Film For Youth Festival, Petrozavodsk, Russian Federation
Singapore Eco Film Festival, Singapore
Karelian International Film For Youth Festival, Petrozavodsk, Russian Federation
October
Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Festival, Finalist BEST ANIMATION, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Awareness Film Festival, Los Angeles, California
Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Festival, Finalist BEST ANIMATION, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Awareness Film Festival, Los Angeles, California
August
Borneo Rhythms of Rimba Wildlife Festival, Borneo, Indonesia
Hawaii International Short Film Festival
Montreal International Animation Film Festival ANIMAZE, Montreal, Canada
IndiEarth Animation Film Festival, Madras, India
Borneo Rhythms of Rimba Wildlife Festival, Borneo, Indonesia
Hawaii International Short Film Festival
Montreal International Animation Film Festival ANIMAZE, Montreal, Canada
IndiEarth Animation Film Festival, Madras, India
June
To Save and Preserve International Ecological TV Festival, Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia
To Save and Preserve International Ecological TV Festival, Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia
May
Ecozine, Internacional Film Festival, Zaragoza, Spain
Ecozine, Internacional Film Festival, Zaragoza, Spain
April
The Earth Day Film Festival, San Francisco, USA
Ukrainian International Short Film Festival, Kiev, Ukraine
Earth Port Film Festival, Newburyport, MA, USA
Best Shorts Competition, AWARD OF MERIT, La Jolla, California
The Earth Day Film Festival, San Francisco, USA
Ukrainian International Short Film Festival, Kiev, Ukraine
Earth Port Film Festival, Newburyport, MA, USA
Best Shorts Competition, AWARD OF MERIT, La Jolla, California
March
ANIM8FEST International Animation Film Festival, Los Angeles, USA
Richmond International Film Festival, Virginia, USA
Albany FilmFest, BEST ANIMATION, Albany, California, USA
Montana International Children’s Film Festival, Missoula, MT, USA
Best Shorts Competition, Award of Merit, La Jolla, USA
ANIM8FEST International Animation Film Festival, Los Angeles, USA
Richmond International Film Festival, Virginia, USA
Albany FilmFest, BEST ANIMATION, Albany, California, USA
Montana International Children’s Film Festival, Missoula, MT, USA
Best Shorts Competition, Award of Merit, La Jolla, USA
January
Ulaanbaatar International Film Festival, Mongolia
Malaysia International Film Festival, Malaysia
Ulaanbaatar International Film Festival, Mongolia
Malaysia International Film Festival, Malaysia
2015 Screening Schedule
December
Martinique International Film Festival, BEST ANIMATED SHORT, Martinique, France
Martinique International Film Festival, BEST ANIMATED SHORT, Martinique, France
November
International Environmental Film Festival (FICMA), Barcelona, Spain
International Environmental Film Festival (FICMA), Barcelona, Spain
October
SF Shorts: The San Francisco International Festival of Short Films
Planet in Focus, Environmental Film Festival, Toronto, Canada
SPARK Animation 2015, Vancouver, Canada
Phnom Phen International Film Festival, Cambodia
Cambodia International Film Festival, Cambodia
SF Shorts: The San Francisco International Festival of Short Films
Planet in Focus, Environmental Film Festival, Toronto, Canada
SPARK Animation 2015, Vancouver, Canada
Phnom Phen International Film Festival, Cambodia
Cambodia International Film Festival, Cambodia
September
KROK International Animated Film Festival, Ukraine
Williamsburg International Film Festival, BEST ANIMATION, Brooklyn, USA
KROK International Animated Film Festival, Ukraine
Williamsburg International Film Festival, BEST ANIMATION, Brooklyn, USA
August
Rural Film Fest, Valle de Alcudia y Sierra Madrona, Spain
Rural Film Fest, Valle de Alcudia y Sierra Madrona, Spain
July
Madrid International Film Festival, Madrid, Spain
Tenerife International Film Festival, BEST ANIMATION, Tenerife, Spain
Sopot International Film Festival, Sopot, Poland
Woods Hole Film Festival, Woods Hole, USA
Madrid International Film Festival, Madrid, Spain
Tenerife International Film Festival, BEST ANIMATION, Tenerife, Spain
Sopot International Film Festival, Sopot, Poland
Woods Hole Film Festival, Woods Hole, USA
April
Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival, Minnesota, USA
WorldFest Houston International Film Festival, SPECIAL JURY AWARD,
Environment and Conservation, Houston, Texas, USA
Sunscreen Film Festival, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
Madeira Film Festival, Madeira, Portugal
Los Angeles Film Review, BEST DIRECTOR Honorable Mention, Los Angeles, USA
Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival, Minnesota, USA
WorldFest Houston International Film Festival, SPECIAL JURY AWARD,
Environment and Conservation, Houston, Texas, USA
Sunscreen Film Festival, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
Madeira Film Festival, Madeira, Portugal
Los Angeles Film Review, BEST DIRECTOR Honorable Mention, Los Angeles, USA
March
Durango Film: An Independent Film Festival, Colorado, USA
Durango Film: An Independent Film Festival, Colorado, USA
January
Flickerfest International Short Film Festival, Green Flicks Competition, Sydney, Australia
Flickerfest International Short Film Festival, Green Flicks Competition, Sydney, Australia
2014 Screening Schedule
December
Mica Film Festival, Mostra Internacional de Cinema da Amazonia, Brazil
Mica Film Festival, Mostra Internacional de Cinema da Amazonia, Brazil
November
Santa Cruz Film Festival, Santa Cruz, California, USA
Santa Cruz Film Festival, Santa Cruz, California, USA
October
Oaxaca FilmFest, Oaxaca, Mexico (World Premiere)
Bali International Film Festival, Indonesia (Southeast Asian Premiere)
Oaxaca FilmFest, Oaxaca, Mexico (World Premiere)
Bali International Film Festival, Indonesia (Southeast Asian Premiere)
