Animation Guild | We are 839 Digital Magazine
Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1541699
WINTER 2025 27 WINTER 2025 27 For almost a century, the Academy Awards has been For almost a century, the Academy Awards has been For almost a century, the Academy Awards has been honoring animated short films. Among this year's qualifying contenders are two thought-provoking films written and directed by TAG members. THE SHORT GAME THE SHORT GAME THE SHORT GAME THE SHORT GAME THE SHORT GAME THE SHORT GAME THE SHORT GAME THE SHORT GAME THE SHORT GAME THE SHORT GAME THE SHORT GAME THE SHORT GAME THE SHORT GAME THE SHORT GAME THE SHORT GAME POW! Written and directed by Joey Clift tinyurl.com/POWshortfilm An enrolled citizen of Washington State's Cowlitz Indian Tribe, An enrolled citizen of Washington State's Cowlitz Indian Tribe, Joey Clift based Pow! on his childhood, "being dragged by my Pow! on his childhood, "being dragged by my Pow! mom to powwows," he says. A Pop Culture Collaborative grant mom to powwows," he says. A Pop Culture Collaborative grant mom to powwows," he says. A Pop Culture Collaborative grant allowed Clift to put together a largely indigenous filmmaking team, and because the film is so specific to Native culture, he worried that general audiences wouldn't get what he was trying worried that general audiences wouldn't get what he was trying worried that general audiences wouldn't get what he was trying to achieve. But at screenings from New York to New Zealand, "the laughs and emotional hits are in all of the same places," he "the laughs and emotional hits are in all of the same places," he "the laughs and emotional hits are in all of the same places," he says. "Its appeal is pretty universal." Having his "extremely Native story" compete for major awards is validating, and he hopes it "will help show Native kids that they matter and that hopes it "will help show Native kids that they matter and that their perspective deserves to be celebrated, too." FOREVERGREEN Written and directed by Nathan Engelhardt and Jeremy Spears www.forevergreenfilm.com Drawing inspiration from the Biblical tale of the prodigal son and their own faith journeys, Nathan Engelhardt and Jeremy Spears worked with 200 volunteers for almost six years to produce ForeverGreen. It's the story of an orphaned bear cub living in the safety of an evergreen tree until his hunger for trash draws him toward danger. As first-time directors learning how to make a film from start to finish, they found new appreciation for the work their animation colleagues do at each stage of the process. The result is "a story of hope, redemption, and love for one's enemies in a world that often demands justice instead," say the filmmakers. "We wanted to tell a story that could resonate universally, set in the beauty of nature that's accessible to anyone, regardless of belief or background."