IWFF Shorts Block 8: Born to Be Wild: From salmon dancers to playful hedgehogs, young adventurers will enjoy this shorts block as they explore the wilderness and meet animal friends along the way.


Aldo's Bug Extravaganza
Producers: Aldo Losin, Neil Losin

Armed with a camera and boundless curiosity, five-year-old Aldo embarks on a bug-hunting escapade, narrating his discoveries with adorable wit and charm. As the week unfolds, Aldo’s wide-eyed explorations not only capture the audience’s imagination, but also subtly echo the timeless wisdom of Aldo Leopold, making for a delightful ode to the joy of nature’s smallest marvels.


Blossom
Director: Laura Zoon

“Blossom” is a colorful tribute to the tiniest beings around us. Without these hard-working creatures, our world wouldn’t be the same. Every single one contributes, so let’s be thankful for the small blessings!


Metamorphosis
Director: Bryn Wright

“Metamorphosis” is a metaphor for the challenges everyone experiences during adolescence…Frog wants to be stronger, Axolotl doesn’t want to grow up, Ladybug is going through “phases” and Caterpillar wants things to move more quickly. Written and animated by 12-year-old Bryn Wright, Metamorphosis is an upbeat and encouraging film for all ages – especially for youth in transition. 


The Hedgehog (Jezek)
Director: Daniela Hybnerova

A child’s imagination knows no bounds, and those who get too carried away—whether while drawing or just looking at a picture—might end up completely soaked. After all, a hedgehog may not seem like much, but while it might not be the best swimmer, it more than makes up for it with its incredible strength.


Three Trees
Directors: M.R. Horhager, Aaron Hong
Producers: M.R. Horhager, Emily Paige

In a great big forest, the three trees live together on top of a mountain. As the seasons change, the trees discover surprising things in themselves. With help of forest friends, each tree overcomes growing pains and learns about themselves, friendship and their place in the forest and the world.


Yuba Salmon Dance
Director: Michael Wier

“Yuba Salmon Dance” is a captivating short film that follows the incredible journey of Chinook salmon as they return to the Yuba River to spawn. The film captures the resilience and determination of these majestic fish who have navigated obstacles, both natural and man-made, to reach the place of their birth. Through breathtaking drone and underwater footage, we get an intimate and up-close-up look.


Pufferfish
Director: Julia Ocker
Producer: Thomas Meyer-Hermann

In an ocean full of big, bad fish, the pufferfish tries to seem as big and strong as possible.


Tule
Director: Jocelyn Estrella Garcia
Producer: Rie Peredo

Tule is a poetic 2D animated mixed media short film championing awareness and hope. A young Pomo girl's contemplations ring true with convictions shared by her community at Clear Lake, California. She revels in the local nature’s glory, but dread strikes when she faces today’s careless pollution damage that impedes cultural practices.


Damji
Director: Nazanin Chitsaz
Producer: Hasan Habibzadeh

Unbeknownst to their friends, a child collects drops of wastewater and carries them to a distant location…


Portrait of a Ranger: Connie
Producer: Fathima Gaston

Constance "Connie" Mwandaa became one of the first female rangers at the Kasigau Corridor REDD+ Project in Kenya after following her childhood passion for conservation. Connie has broken gender barriers, inspiring a new generation of young women in her community to pursue careers in wildlife protection.


Polar Bear Country
Director: Andrew Ackerman
Producer: Andrew Ackerman, Worth Baker

Home to fewer than 1000 year-round residents, Churchill, Manitoba is unique: human residents are outnumbered by polar bears. Polar Bear Country explores this interaction, learning how Churchillians have learned to co-exist with, protect, and share their love of these apex predators.


Friends of the Frogpool Lane
Directors: Jeremy Monroe, David Herasimtschuk
Producer: Jeremy Monroe

Follow a group of vigilante crossing guards as they help frogs and salamanders navigate a busy road during a rainy spring night, so that these driven amphibians can arrive safely to the unique wetland that is critical for their life cycle.