Animalis Fabula Official Selections

Seals and Sea Lions: Scoundrels or Scapegoats? - Short Documentary - USA

8/14/2021

Seals and sea lions have been blamed for causing fish population collapses and for keeping fish populations for recovering. Is the blame justified, or are they being scapegoated?

Mike has been a filmmaker for over 30 years. He'sdDirected "Beneath the Plains: The Minuteman Missile on Alert," produced for the National Park Service. Worked as Senior Editor for Boston Productions for 19 years, making documentary films and immersive experiences for many American museums. Graduate of Emerson College, Boston and currently pursuing M.S. in Film and Media Studies at Arizona State University.

Director Mike Sullivan

#AniFab judge's aggregate score for Seals & Sea Lions is 6.1 out of 10 with this judge writing, "Interesting and meaningful presentation by an NGO. Lot's of "Experts". I do think it's important to hear all sides if possible in this type of presentation. Or, at least make a diligent attempt. It is not always possible - we understand."

The Legacy - Short Documentary - Mexico

8/13/2021

Watch The Lagacy right here, right now below

"The Legacy", narrated by Gerardo del Villar, shares his concern and proposal to conserve marine ecosystems and sharks, a passion inherited by his grandfather and his parents.

To Gerardo it is very important that his children and future generations enjoy healthy oceans and he knows that the best way to do this is by raising awareness and learning to love the species that live in them; who better than the whale shark to be the great teacher.

Directors: Gerardo del Villar & Alex Luke

#AniFab judge's aggregate score for The Legacy is 6.6 out of 10, with one judge remarking, "The Legacy is a love letter from a father to his children."

Director Gerardo del Villar

BUZZKILL - Short Documentary - USA

8/1/2021

German pharmaceutical giant Bayer AG installs a mural about bees in the small Oakhurst section of Decatur, Georgia. What they hadn't bargained on was the community’s offshoot conversation and response about bees, murals, messages, ecology and angry allegations of `greenwashing.’

Director Statement
I made this film in hopes that it will narrow the conversation about ecology, corporate messaging and community. Co-existence is possible.

Director Ron Harris

AniFab judge's aggregate score for BUZZKILL is 6.4 out of 10 with one judge noting, "An important perspective on the buying of perception to deceive. More stories about Bee's need to be made. Nice job, Ron."

A Snail's Pace - Short Documentary - UK

8/1/2021

A Snail's Pace', Ian's first wildlife doc! But no commentary. No music. No explanations. Nothing to explain. Just observe. An observational wildlife doc! Presenting 'a snail's pace', my first film shot and edited on a smartphone. Filmed handheld. No tripod or gimbal. No additional lens. No external microphone. Edited on iphone's imovie app. Simple shots. Straight cuts. Capturing a moment, a movement, a journey. From Trivandrum in Kerala, South India during lockdown (May 2021). When my world shrunk to a house and garden. When time detached itself from the days. When the unnoticed became noticeable. When life calmed down. Like its main protagonist, 'a snail's pace' moves at a snail's pace. Presenting a challenge to the audience to keep pace with the intrepid snail. To slow down.

Director Ian McDonald

Director Statement
I had always been skeptical of the smartphone as a device for 'proper' documentary making. But being gifted an iPhone and languishing under lockdown in India (without my video camera) led to enforced experimentations in filming with the smartphone! I spend every morning on the verandah of my wife's family house in South India drinking coffee, reading the newspaper, and observing life around me: stray cats coming and going, crows excitedly crowing, ants marching, and if it has rained, snails, snails, snails. On one such morning, I saw a beautiful snail and decided impromptu to film it's journey. Without the smartphone, the journey would have been observed but not filmed. But the process of filming concentrated my mind on the snail and I saw my lockdown life mirrored in the snail's journey. Life had become solitary, slowed, methodical, precarious. I am also charmed by the fact that I can shoot, edit and upload the film to vimeo all from the phone itself. But is this 'proper' documentary filmmaking?

AniFab judge's aggregated score is 7.2 out of 10 with one judge sharing the following, "Thank you for experimenting Ian. Silver linings are everywhere, so hard to see sometimes. Thank you for taking time to spend time with a snail and friends. Keep experimenting.

Wild Winds: Spirit of the Bison - Short Documentary - USA

7/26/2021

A buffalo preserve in northern Indiana is home to over 250 wild bison (also known as "buffalo"). Their human caretakers share their passion for the United States' national animal, and its importance to the nation's history and future.

Sawyer states on his LinkedIn that, he considers himself a well-rounded filmmaker that specializes in directing and editing. I love telling people's stories and creating something that both my team and I are proud of.

#AniFab judge's aggregate score for Sawyer Pasma's Wild Winds: Spirit Of The Bison is 7.4 out of 10 with one judge writing, " Thoroughly enjoyed learning about the origins of Wild Winds in Indiana. It makes me want to go there. Nicely done, Sawyer.