Author

About the Author /

Obsessed with film, the internet and WordPress, Directors Notes is the place Rob gets to brings all his interests together and really geek out. When not writing for DN he can be found on Short of the Week or Vimeo.

Animation, Awards

Robin Shaw on the Pressure of Adapting Beloved ‘Mog’s Christmas’ for His BAFTA Nominated Animated Short

Robin Shaw discusses the art of creating family-friendly films, the challenge of staying true to source material and replicating the tactile intimacy of books.

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Film Festival

The 11 Short Films You Can’t Miss at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival

Evil messiahs, feeding tubes, and talented locksmiths - the 2025 Sundance short film lineup delivers yet another eclectic viewing experience.

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Animation

How Abandoning Filmmaking and Embracing Rural Life Inspired Pernille Kjær’s Short Film ‘Forår’ (Spring)

Filmmaker Pernille Kjær talks to us about playing with light and sound in her black & white animated exploration of place 'Forår' (Spring).

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Animation, Awards

How Nina Gantz Found the Perfect Balance Between Sadness and Humour in Award Winning Short ‘Wander to Wonder’

Nina Gantz takes DN inside the extraordinary craftsmanship of her stop motion short which offers a poignant exploration of loss for its diminutive stars.

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Awards, Live Action

Talking Practical FX and the Power of a Great Title With Eros V Director of BIFA Short ‘Meat Puppet’

Eros V reveals the lo-fi techniques used to bring a possessed puppet to life for his BIFA nominated short about a man-child who desperately need to grow up.

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Animation, Film Festival

Manchester Animation Festival 2024 Preview

Manchester Animation Festival returns for its 10th edition and we've selected 8 must-see short films from the programme that we're sure you'll love.

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Documentary

Hervé Demers Tackles Themes of Deindustrialisation and Community in Documentary Short ‘Once the Dust Has Settled’

Hervé Demers returns to DN to discuss his new doc short set in Asbestos, a former mining town in Quebec, which explores notions of community and identity.

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Animation, Premiere

How a Desire for Environmental Harmony Led Emily Halaka to Create Animated Fever-Dream Short ‘Organic Matter’

Emily Halaka joins DN to discuss how she used animation to promote harmony between humanity and the Earth in her delightfully surreal ecological short.

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Film Festival

The Best Short Films at SXSW 2024

A highlight of the annual festival circuit, we take a look at the 2024 line-up of SXSW and champion 10 short films you absolutely have to see.

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Animation, Music Video

How the Limitless Borders of Abstract Art Are Inspiring the Unmistakable Aesthetic of Tsz-Wing Ho

Animator Tsz-wing Ho joins us to discuss her recognisable approach to filmmaking and her collaboration with Max Cooper for 'Pulse at the Centre of Being'.

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Animation

A Horrifying Tour of Humanity Raises Questions of Free Will in Theo W Scott’s Animated Short Cuties

Theo W Scott talks to DN about his hope that its tale of "dumb characters butchering each other" throughout history will inspire questions of free will.

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Animation

The Worlds of Dreams and Reality Blend Together in KINEMUS’ Kaleidoscopic Vonfelt Animated Music Video ‘Je Pars’

Animators Michelle Brand & Toby Auberg return to DN with a music video that combines their individual 2D & 3D styles to create a distinct new look.

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