French Shorts at the BAMkids Film Festival 2024

With work by over 50 filmmakers, one of Brooklyn’s favorite BAMkids traditions returns for the 26th year with the latest and greatest animated, live action, and documentary gems. Let kids’ imaginations run wild as heroes of every kind boldly forge their own path in these outrageously fun and inspiring tales.

We’ve rounded up the French films screened in the various festival selections.

Free To Be Me (Ages 9+)

It can sometimes be scary to be unapologetically yourself! These bold, inspiring shorts explore moments in which brave characters dazzle the world by showing their true colors. Kids’ passions, talents, and diverse backgrounds shine through in these international gems that celebrate individuality.

“A Tiny Voyage” by Emily Worms (Folimage)

Jonno sees an extraordinary sight: Titi his parakeet opening the door to own his cage, all by himself! Yet, the bird doesn’t fly away. So Jonno decides to help Titi overcome his fears, as the pair set out on a tiny voyage.

Genre: Animated film
7 min 44 seconds

“Head in the Clouds” by Rémi Durin (Les Films du Nord)

Alfonso, a young squirrel, always has his head in the clouds. He loves watching them and sometimes takes snapshots of them. His parents and friends find it hard to take his hobby seriously. But cloud-gazing is not always easy – Alfonso sometimes has to be as brave as some of the great explorers of our times.

Genre: Animated film
11 min

What a Wonderful World (Ages 3—5)

From creating something by hand to gazing at the stars, these sweet and silly shorts celebrate all the wonder and curiosity our world holds. Featuring aliens, robots, and a very awkward cactus, these imaginative films from all around the world inspire kids to go out and find adventure every day.

“Starforger” by Maëlle Horellou, Clémentine Lejeune (Atelier de Sèvres)

The StarForger, a rigid, lone character, is very attached to his habits. Every night he travels the Earth, crushing rocks in his hands to fill the sky with stars. But one day, when he looks up, he sees a big hole in his sky: a star is missing! That’s when he notices a star, comfortably lodged in the folds of his clothes. Perfectionist, the Starforger wants to put it back in its place, but the star disagrees.

Genre: Animated film
5 min

Magical Friendships (Ages 6—8)

Join the adventure as characters find friendship, have fun, and learn about each other! From the depths of outer space to the mysterious colorful world of an ocean tide pool, these fabulous, far-fetched shorts remind us that sometimes friends can be found where you least expect them.

“As the sun goes down” by Laurine Bocquet, Ilona Caucal, Inès Fechner, Jahnice Laurent, Sarah Robert, Emma Roussel and Kevin Vandenbeuck (ESMA 3D)

Lost in the night, a little rabbit who is afraid of the dark must face up to his fears to get his special light back.

Genre: Animated film
5 min 56 seconds

“Starcatcher” by Christian Ishimwe, Daniel Rodriguez Aguileta, Iara Patino Dias, Petr-Daniel Rechtacek, Yeon Sang Yun and Yuan Zhen Tsai (ESMA 3D)

Legna and her cat Mira land on a planet in a small rocket with only have one goal in mind : to catch a Star ! However, gravity makes their mission almost impossible…

Genre: Animated film
3 min 54 seconds

“Shellfish” by Justine Aubert, Cassandra Bouton, Grégoire Callies, Maud Chesneau, Anna Danton, Loic Girault, Gatien Peyrude and Justine Raux (ESMA 3D)

In a French rocky inlet, Bernard, a small and selfish hermit crab loses his shell. He will has to face the dangers of the beach to find another one. In the company of a weird little crab which helps protecting him, both will live multiples adventures that will befriend them.

Genre: Animated film
5 min 57 seconds

“Go Away, Alfred!” by Célia Tisserant, Arnaud Demuynck (Les Films du Nord)

Alfred had to flee his country because of the war. Without housing, he wanders, from rejection to rejection. One day he meets Sonia, who offers him a coffee.

Genre: Animated film
11 min

All Together Now! (Ages 6—8)

From some very jazzy cats to a little girl and her favorite stuffy, friendship comes in all shapes and sizes! These lighthearted short films celebrate the special bonds we make with others and prove that together we can accomplish just about anything we set our minds to.

“Bouquet” by Cécile Robineau (Tant Mieux Prod)

Sometimes friendship is born from a bouquet of flowers, and from the encounter between childhood and old age.

Genre: Animated film
3 min

“Shelter” by Julie Daravan Chea (Tant Mieux Prod)

Two kids find comfort in shadow puppetry on a camping trip.

Genre: Animated film
3 min

“Ouléou?” by Alice Juan (Atelier de Sèvres)

Little Ethel is moving, everything is ready, except that someone is missing. Ouléou, her stuffy, cannot be found. Leave without him? Never! Ethel is determined to find him.

Genre: Animated film
4 min 43 seconds

“To Be Sisters” by Anne-Sophie Gousset, Clément Céard (Folimage)

To be sisters is about sharing a special bond and laughing together. To be sisters is to be propelled by love. But these particular sisters share an extra something a bit different, and that’s absolutely fine.

Genre: Animated film
7 min 15 seconds

Adventurous Creatures (Ages 6—8)

These warm and fuzzy short films follow friends who prove that with determination and passion they can do just about anything. Kids connect with characters as they stand up for themselves, make music, and even blast off into space!

“Feeling the Flow” by Cloé Coutel (Les Films du Nord)

While her dad has an afternoon snooze, a little girl slips out to go and play in the sand dunes. Feeling bored all alone, she watches a hermit crab as it passes by. Imitating its strange sideways steps, she starts to dance and finds the joy of her movements liberating.

Genre: Animated film
6 min 32 seconds

“Swing to the Moon” by Marie Bordessoule, Chloé Lauzu, Adriana Bouissié, Vincent Levrero, Nadine De Boer, Solenne Moreau and Elisa Drique (ESMA 3D)

Living in the forest, little spider Temi dreams of catching the Moon. For that, she will do anything.

Genre: Animated film
6 min 30 seconds

See the full lineup.