A Crab in the Pool

A Crab in the Pool

Directed by Alexandra Myotte, Jean-Sébastien Hamel

Genre Animation
Country Canada (Québec)
Year 2023
Length 11m11s
Formats DCP
Sound 5.1
Version English subtitles, French

Synopsis

In a run-down neighborhood, Zoe and her little brother Theo are left to fend for themselves. A young adolescent, Zoe is a ball of anger haunted by an intimate terror. Theo, still a child, flees reality into a fantastical world. During a scorching summer day, the two children will have to burst the abscess of their relationship so as not to lose each other.

Themes

family relationships, brother-sister relationships

Biography

Alexandra Myotte and Jean-Sébastien Hamel are a duo of writers-directors based in Montreal. Their award-winning animated short films and web series have been featured in numerous festivals around the globe. Their latest film No Title (2021) has won multiple awards, including Best Canadian Short Film at EIFF 2021, in addition to being nominated for Best Animated Short Film at the 2022 IRIS Awards.



Cast

Zoé, Théo, Maman, la bimbo :  Élisabeth Gauthier Pelletier 
Le bum : Jean-Sébastien Hamel

Team

Production

Jean-Sébastien Hamel, Alexandra Myotte  (Sémaphore Films)

Script

Alexandra Myotte, Jean-Sébastien Hamel

CINEMATOGRAPHY

Alexandra Myotte, Jean-Sébastien Hamel

PRODUCTION DESIGN

Alexandra Myotte

EDITING Jean-Sébastien Hamel
Sound François Lacasse
Music n/a

Awards

Winner of more than 30 Awards

Festival international du film francophone de Namur, Belgium | 2023 *Prix de la mise en scène
Anim’est, Romania | 2023 *Best Film of Anim’est Romania 2023
SXSW, USA | 2023 *Animated Short Audience Award
Bogoshorts, Colombia | 2023 *Santa Lucía for Best International Animated Short Film
Ottawa International Animation Film Festival, Canada | 2023 *Award for Best Canadian Animation Short Film
Gala Prends Ça Court!, Canada | 2023 *Prix Ottoblix-Unité centrale, Prix Les copains du son, Prix UNIS TV, Prix El Toro Studio, Prix AQCC
GIRAF Animation Film Festival, Canada | 2023 *Best Canadian Animation
Spark Animation Film Festival, Canada | 2023 *Best Canadian film
Cinemania, Canada | 2023 *Meilleur court métrage québécois
Tricky Women Animated Film Festival, Austria | 2024 *Audience award
Mecal International Short Film Festival, Spain | 2024 *Animation second prize *Animation Audience Award
Short Shorts Film Festival, Japan | 2024 *Animation Competition Best Short Award
Rendez-vous Québec Cinéma, Canada | 2024 *Meilleur court-métrage d'animation
Sommets du cinéma d’animation de Montréal, Canada | 2024 *Grand prix Guy L. Coté
Vues dans la tête…, Canada | 2024 *Grand prix du jury PARALOEIL
IndieJúnior - International Children’s and Young Film Festival, Portugal | 2024 *Special Mention to the Impact Award
Ciné court animé, France | 2024 *Grand prix international du jury
RiverRun Film Festival, USA | 2024 *Jury Honorable Mention
Galichnik Film Festival, Macedonia | 2024 *Best Animated Film
Snake Alley Festival of Film, USA | 2024 *Best Animation
Festival du film de Knowlton, Canada | 2024 *Premier Prix du Jury
Bolton International Film Festival, UK | 2024 * Best Animation
OFF-Courts de Trouville et Marché, France | 2024 *Prix Hugues Fléchard du meilleur scénario Casino Barrière
New Chitose Airport International Animation Festival, Japan | 2024 *Special Jury Award for Short Films
ASFF As Film Festival, Italy | 2024 * Animation Now Award
Ningbo Short Film Festival, China | 2024 *Best Animated Short Film
Animation is film, USA | 2024 *Special Jury Prize
SPASM, Canada | 2024 *Grand prix du jury


Festivals

Selected in more than 120 festivals

Festival international du film francophone de Namur, Belgium | 2023
SXSW, USA | 2023
AFI FEST, USA | 2023
Festival du court métrage de Clermont Ferrand, France | 2024
Vienna Short Film Festival, Austria | 2024
Anim’est, Romania | 2023
Bogoshorts, Colombia | 2023

Anima Bruxelles, Belgium| 2024
Women+Film Festival, USA | 2024
Palm Springs Shortfest and Market, USA | 2024
FEST - New Directors New Films Festival, Portugal | 2024
Stuttgart Festival of Animated Film Festival, Germany | 2024
RiverRun Film Festival, USA | 2024
Footcandle Film Festival, USA | 2024
Snake Alley Festival of Film, USA | 2024
Salute Your Shorts, USA | 2024
24fps International Short Film Festival, USA | 2024
New Hampshire Film Festival, USA | 2024
Arkansas Shorts, USA | 2024
Gala Prends Ça Court!, Canada | 2023
Ottawa International Animation Film Festival, Canada | 2023
GIRAF Animation Film Festival, Canada | 2023
Spark Animation Film Festival, Canada | 2023
Cinemania, Canada | 2023
Festival de Cinéma en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Canada | 2023
Festival International de Cinéma Francophone en Acadie, Canada | 2023
Yellowknife International Film Festival, Canada | 2023
Rendez-vous Québec Cinéma, Canada | 2024
Vues dans la tête…, Canada | 2024
Sommets du cinéma d’animation de Montréal, Canada | 2024
Festival Court d'un Soir, Canada | 2024
Festival Regard, Canada | 2024
Carrousel du film de Rimouski, Canada | 2024
Festival du film de l'Outaouais, Canada | 2024
Tirana International Film Festival, Albania | 2024
Linoleum Contemporary Animation and Media Art Festival, Ukraine | 2024
Kyiv International Short Film Festival, Ukraine | 2024
Melbourne International Film Festival, Australia | 2024
Adelaide Film Festival, Australia | 2024
Dawson City International Short Film Festival, Canada | 2024
Animation Festival of Halifax, Canada | 2024
Halifax Independent Filmmakers Festival, Canada | 2024
Les Percéïdes, Canada | 2024
Festival du film de la ville de Québec, Canada | 2024
Festival du film de Knowlton, Canada | 2024
Gimli Film Festival, Canada | 2024
Ottawa Film Festival, Canada | 2024
Calgary International Film Festival, Canada | 2024
Fabulous Festival of Fringe Film, Canada | 2024
IndieJúnior - International Children’s and Young Film Festival, Portugal | 2024
Cinanima International Animation Film Festival, Portugal | 2024
Indie Street Film Festival, Portugal | 2024
Ciné court animé, France | 2024
OFF-Odense International Film Festival, France | 2024
OFF-Courts de Trouville et Marché, France | 2024
Fenêtres sur courts, France | 2024
Festival du film canadien de Dieppe, France | 2024
Festival Le Cri du Court, France | 2024
Fantoche - International Animation Film Festival, Switzerland | 2023
Animatou, Switzerland | 2023
Dok & Animation Leipzig, Germany | 2023
Mo & Friese Hamburg Short Film Festival, Germany | 2024
London International Animation Festival, UK | 2023
Flatpack Festival, UK | 2024
BitBang Festival, Argentina | 2023
Ensenada International Film Festival, Argentina | 2024
IndieCork, Irland | 2023
Animac, Spain | 2024
Ficbueu, Festival International de Cinema de Bueu, Spain | 2024
Mecal International Short Film Festival, Spain | 2024
Andaras Traveling Film Festival, Spain | 2024
Tricky Women Animated Film Festival, Austria | 2024
Short Shorts Film Festival, Japan | 2024
New Chitose Airport International Animation Festival, Japan | 2024
AniFilm International Festival of Animated Films, Czech Republic | 2024
AnimaFest, Croatia | 2024
Guadalajara International Film Festival, Mexico | 2024
OFF-Odense International Film Festival, Denmark | 2024
Andaras Traveling Film Festival, Italy | 2024
Tout Court, Nuove Voci del cinema francofono, Italy | 2024
La Guarimba, Italy | 2024
Sedicicorto International Film Festival, Italy | 2024
Anca International Film Festival, Slovakia | 2024
Galichnik Film Festival, Macedonia | 2024
Bolton International Film Festival, UK | 2024
Ravenheart International Film Festival, Norway | 2024
Animanima, Serbia | 2024
Ningen International Animation Film Open Air Festival, Serbia | 2024
Izmir International Short Film Festival, Turkey | 2024
Manchester Animation Festival, UK | 2024
Tirana International Film Festival, Albania | 2024
Festival Séquence Court-Métrage, France | 2024
Look & Roll International Short Film Festival, Switzerland | 2024
Festival Du grain à démoudre, France | 2024
Interfilm Berlin - KUKI Youth Film Festival, Germany | 2024
Cinanima International Animation Film Festival, Portugal | 2024
Sapporo International Short Film Festival and Market, Japan | 2024
TOHorror Fantastic Film Festival, Italy | 2024
Denver Film Festival, USA | 2024
Sweaty Eyeballs Animation Festival, USA | 2024
Weird Marker’s International Animation Short Films Festival, Spain | 2024
ASFF As Film Festival, Italy | 2024
Ningbo Short Film Festival, China | 2024
Philadelphia Film Festival, USA | 2024
Animateka, Slovenia | 2024
Sulmona International Film Festival, Italy | 2024
Virginia Film Festival, USA | 2024
15 Short Film Festival, USA | 2024
SpookFest, USA | 2024
Nara International Film Festival for Youth, Japan | 2024
Animation is film, USA | 2024
Beirut Shorts International Film Festival, Lebanon | 2024
PLUM! International Animation Festival, Argentine | 2024
SPASM, Canada | 2024
Cinémental, Canada | 2024