To the Brink

A violent stop motion cabaret for the cynical and depraved. Guilt, alcoholic apathy and the inevitable, looming apocalypse threaten to push a young man to the brink.

Trust Me

Animated short documentary following a young woman's diagnosis of bipolar: a journey of self-acceptance to challenge everyday stigma. In "Trust Me", a genre-bending short documentary, a young woman uses humour and compassion to share her moving and deeply personal story of coming to terms with her mental health condition. When she starts exhibiting atypical and extreme behaviour, her loved ones trick her into hospitalisation against her will. She is diagnosed with bipolar disorder which starts her challenging journey of self-acceptance, confronting internalised and societal stigma, and learning to trust herself and others again.

Mr. Finley's Feelings

Our animated hero questions his sanity after blowing his top and driving his car into a police station.

Gravedad

Animated short about the meaning of life.

Bug Therapy

Citronella, a mosquito who faints at the sight of blood, nervously waits outside her first group therapy session, while the Pill Bug therapist, Dr. Pill tries to calm a neurotic group of bugs, each suffering from a mental-health issue: An OCD germaphobic Fly freaks when he runs out of hand sanitizer. A Dragonfly couple struggle with co-dependency; she's literally on top of him. A Grasshopper, addicted to coffee, is so jumpy, he launches himself in mid-sentence. A Praying Mantis who doesn't pray because she thinks she is God. A terrified Spider is deathly afraid of -- spiders. And, a perfectly-camouflaged Stick Bug complains that no one ever "sees" him. Throughout all this, Citronella battles her urge to flee - while Dr. Pill implores her to share her "embarrassing" problem.

When Will It All End

"Beginnings are rare and fleeting. All we are left with in life is a long and unavoidable journey to the end. Describe the burdens you carry with you on this journey." I sent the above prompt to friends and colleagues and asked for any artistic response. I received numerous poems, songs, short stories, etc. I took all of the responses and stitched together the verses, stories, and emotions into a narrative following the protagonist through a day in his life. My goal was to give a snapshot of the mental health of those around me and remind everyone that they are not alone in their sadness.

Vacht

A girl pursues a connection with her sister, who is covered by a strange grey fur. It is soft and uncanny at the same time. It grows between them, and they drift further apart from each other.

LES MIKAILS

My Depression (The Up and Down and Up of It)

Based on Elizabeth Swados’ picture book of the same name, this animated short film charts one woman's struggle with depression.

Diary of a Head Injury

A bleed on the brain and concussion inspire a crash victim to confront the heartbreak, trauma and confusion of losing connection with the only person they ever really knew.

Last Day of Freedom

When Bill Babbitt realizes his brother Manny has committed a crime he agonizes over his decision to call the police.

Hole

Mo is an adult with autism spectrum disorder who spends a lot of time in their brain. Today, a hole started following them.

Small Hours

An animated short film about alcohol addiction, starring Robert Bathurst and Edward Franklin.

Scars

Alex Anna’s body is a canvas: her scars come to life to tell a new story of self-harming.

A Spot for Frog

Locked out of the school art room, a creative non-binary teen named Frog grapples with anxiety as they seek a new place to eat lunch. Imagination blurs with reality in this hybrid work of live action and animation about finding a place to belong.

Tiger

“I want to be a tiger. I am an atheist from Iraq and I am seeking asylum. About my hallucinations… It’s difficult. Horrible monsters. I hope I can help those who need help.” An episode of the animation series Mental images by Antonia Ringbom. The aim of these animated documentary short films is to reduce the stigma toward mental health problems and psychological disorders.

Health

A girl tries to get an online prescription.

Of All the Things

Ava remembers her childhood home as a place full of amazing treasures and adventures. The day she returns home from university, however, everything changes: what used to be a place for adventures has become an oppressive box, and her mother's things and fear of letting go overwhelm their home and their relationship. By dipping into memories and sharing a moment in time, can mother and daughter reach an understanding?

Grumbles

"Video by Bill Etra, early to mid 1970s, perhaps at the WNET TV Lab?"

Apocalypse YASSS: Two Girls, One Rapture