We would like to thank all of 2020 Sponsors for helping us make the 23rd Annual Arpa International Film Festival powered by Seed&Spark possible. Your generous support continues to embrace gifted filmmakers who are trying to make a difference. Thank you!

USA PREMIERE / NOMINATED FOR THE BEST SHORT ANIMATED FILM AWARD

The film adopts the painting art forms of Chinese famous painters Zhu Da (pseudonym Ba Da Shan Ren) and Shi Tao in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. The film tells the story of two like-minded painting masters who have not met for a long time.

Director & Writer: Dmitry Geller / Producer: Zheng Liguo

View the pre-recorded event here.

The story of ECHO is about understanding and perception of wildlife,  and environmental abuse and its consequences on the human race.

Director, Writer & Producer: Barzan Rostami

NOMINATED FOR THE BEST SHORT ANIMATED FILM AWARD

Chinese ink painting style short animated film with no dialogue, reflecting the profound philosophy of nature.

Director: Lijun Sun / Writer: Fan Beilu / Producer: Huixin Li

NOMINATED FOR THE BEST SHORT ANIMATED FILM AWARD

Music was his passion... Love was his masterpiece.

Director & Writer: Farnoosh Abedi / Producer: Ali Gholami

NOMINATED FOR THE BEST SHORT ANIMATED FILM AWARD

A useless, damaged, forgotten block of marble, after years of neglect ends up becoming one of the most beloved works of art. 

Director & Writer: James C. Bourne

View the pre-recorded Q&A here.

LOS ANGELES PREMIERE / NOMINATED FOR THE BEST SHORT ANIMATED FILM AWARD

There will be a war between two nations, living on two sides of a mountain, in order to seize the sun. 

Director & Writer: Hazhir As' adi / Animator & Supervisor: Rashid Abedin

NOMINATED FOR THE BEST SHORT ANIMATED FILM AWARD

Walking in a snowy forest, a peasant sees an unusual deer and goes to follow it. The deer allures him and the peasant even wants to catch it.

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WORLD PREMIERE

Unframed is about painted characters who discover a world outside of their frame, who cross boundaries to which they were predisposed to originally.

Director: Sona Yeghiazaryan / Writers: Tatev Yeghiazaryan, Sona Yeghiazaryan / Producer: Tatev / Cast: Armen Azadian, Seda Sargsyan,  Lucy Yeghiazaryan, Tatev

NOMINATED FOR THE BEST SHORT ANIMATED FILM AWARD

Based upon a Japanese children's story, "Gon, the Little Fox" by Nankichi Niimi. Gon, a playful fox, finds Hyoju has lost his mother for his own earlier mischiefs and starts making amends by secretly bringing gifts to Hyojyu.

Director: Takeshi Yashiro / Writers: Takaaki Honda. Takeshi Yashiro / Stop-Motion Animation: Takeshi Yashiro, Keita Ueno, Nozomi Sakimura, Yoko Asano / Producers: Masaaki Oikawa, Takanori Toyokawa / Cast: Makoto Tanaka, Miyu Irino, Tatsuya Kohda

View the pre-recorded Q&A here.

Please Note: This film is available to view only in the US.