Short Films 1 Kplus

The Mole at the Sea

D: Anna Kadykova

Russian Federation 2012, 5 Min, no language, age recommendation: 4 years and up

Everyone’s off to the seaside – by car, truck and train. Not wanting to miss out, the mole starts digging. When he gets there it’s nice and quiet with just a few crabs and a sailing boat to keep him company. But then the hordes arrive. And no matter where he pops his head out of the sand, there’s no room for a mole any more. It’s not until night time, when the moon shines on all the leftover rubbish, that things quieten down again. A cheery, delicately drawn animation.

Hedgehogs and the City

D: Evalds Lacis

Latvia 2012, 10 Min, no language, age recommendation: 4 years and up

It isn't just things to eat that Hedgehog, Wild Boar and the other animals encounter in town. There are people there too and they all seem to have their troubles and woes. Somebody’s keys fall down the drain, a ball gets stuck in a tree, a child cries, or the bathroom is dirty. No problem for the animals. Hedgehog fetches the keys, Bird gets the ball and Racoon cleans the bath until it shines. But even woodland animals can’t do all that without payment. The only question is: what will an animal do with so much money?

The Fox Who Followed the Sound

D: Fatemeh Goudarzi

Iran 2012, 10 Min, no language, age recommendation: 4 years and up

A tree, flying birds, a mountainous landscape in brown and delicately drawn blades of grass. In their midst is a little yellow fox. A ping here and a dong there. Where are all the sounds coming from? The little fox sets off in search of an answer and discovers noises everywhere: the insects in the grass, the hedgehogs in the wood, and even the tree he is eavesdropping upon. Then he falls down a hole and finds something he can use to make his own sounds – and they are even prettier than everything he has heard so far.

Winter Has Come

D: Vassiliy Shlychkov

Russian Federation 2012, 6 min, no language, age recommendation: 4 years and up

A picture of finely woven lace reveals the bright autumn colours of a Russian forest. But then a proud vixen collects up the colourful threads to make herself a dress, even rolling the sunlight into her robe. A girl reading a book by a window is carried off into sleep by the fairy tale. All is hushed. Winter has arrived. Made from animated pieces of material, this poetic miniature portrait creates magical moments out of the changing seasons.

The Meatballs and Sorry Bullies

D: Johan Hagelbäck

Sweden 2012, 5 min, no language, age recommendation: 4 years and up

People can be really mean, but then so can meatballs. Three nasty meatballs hassle a little mincemeat girl in the playground and steal her colourful ribbon. But then one of the miscreants has a fit of conscience. A short, humorous animation about catharsis and absolution where foodstuff plays all the main roles - as is so often the case in director Johan Hagelbäck's films.

Hannah and the Moon

D: Kate Charter

United Kingdom, 6 Min. OV, age recommendation: 4 years and up

When she’s outside, Hannah plays with her friends, laughs and is cheerful. But at home she has nobody she can talk to because her mother is always busy washing up, ironing and cleaning. And so when it’s dark, Hannah talks to the moon. Until one day the moon doesn’t appear in the sky. Hannah has an idea and leaves the house in search of the moon. But it’s cold outside, and gloomy. A tenderly drawn, endearing animation in which words are turned into images.

The Blue Umbrella

D: Saschka Unseld

USA 2012, 7 Min, English

Rain, rain, rain. Umbrellas, umbrellas, umbrellas. An umbrella is only a creature after all, with eyes, a mouth and romantic feelings. And if a blue umbrella should find himself next to a red umbrella with long eyelashes and a coy, shy look and, if their eyes should meet by chance and they realise they belong to each other forever – such a thing can certainly throw an umbrella off balance. But how comforting it is when those who belong together find each other in the end. The animators at PIXAR are unsurpassed in their ability to bring objects to life and create an emotionally compelling story.

Admission: 4 €

Group concessions: groups from 5 persons and up for 2,50 per person with prior registration by phone under 030 252 927 66 (daily 11 - 17h).

Reserved tickets can be collected at the Berlinale Center, Eichhornstraße 3, Postdamer Platz (from February 6 daily 11 - 18h).