Works exploring resilience and reflection on the environment
Julia Pires made the animated short film ‘Seed of Hope’ as a project of the subject ‘Illustration and Animation’. The film tells the story of a little bird in a forest threatened by deforestation, and conveys a message of hope through the symbolism of a new seed. Julia explained the creative process: “In the beginning we had many ideas, which we gradually discarded, until we came up with the story of the birds. I did most of the animation myself, but my companions Isabella Panizzi, Matheus Faria and Ester Guenk helped me to complete and edit everything. It was a race against time, but in the end we managed to deliver a version that reflected what we wanted to communicate”.
Isabela Caramalac, on the other hand, presented the independently developed short film ‘Delusional’. The film addresses the environmental crisis from an existential perspective, questioning the social reality in the face of the destruction of the planet and inviting reflection on new lifestyles. Isabela said: “I decided to participate with one week to go. Even with the script and storyboard ready, it was complicated to realise what I had in mind due to set and equipment limitations. In the end, it went well, but I admit I would have liked to have had more time to perfect the editing.”
Impact and recognition at the international festival
The two students emphasised how important this recognition is for their education. Julia said: “It was really exciting to see an independent animation receive this kind of attention. Knowing that our project has come so far pushes us to continue creating.” Isabela also expressed her satisfaction: “I was surprised by the result, but very happy. It is a great motivation for me to invest in further projects and to invest even more in my education.”
Professor Gabriel Ferraciolli, Illustration and Animation lecturer, highlighted the importance of this achievement: ‘For the course, participating in competitions like this one is fundamental to consolidate the students’ creativity and increase their visibility on the market. International recognition is an added value in the training of future professionals’.
The DBGYFF received 1,287 entries from 110 countries, with the aim of stimulating young people to come up with creative solutions to global challenges. As part of the prize, the UCDB students will receive an award of one thousand euros.
