Starling (film)
{{Short description|2023 American animated short film}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Starling
| image = Starling_Film_Poster.jpg
| director = Mitra Shahidi
| writer = Mitra Shahidi
| producer = Jessica Heidt
| music =
| studio = Mona Productions
| distributor =
| released = {{Film date|2023}}
| runtime = 9 minutes
| country = United States
}}
Starling is a 2023 animated short film directed by Mitra Shahidi.{{Cite web |title=Exclusive: Director Mitra Shahidi Discusses Her Charming Tribeca Prize-Winning Short ‘Starling’|author=Ramin Zahed|url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/2023/06/exclusive-director-mitra-shahidi-discusses-her-charming-tribeca-prize-winning-short-starling/ |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=www.animationmagazine.net}} The film about grief and loss{{Cite web |last=Enicola |first=Paul Emmanuel |date=2023-06-14 |title=Tribeca 2023 Review - 'Starling' (2023) |url=https://www.themoviebuff.net/2023/06/tribeca-festival-2023-review-thoughtful-storytelling-and-craftsmanship-make-starling-a-delicate-short-about-grief-and-loss/ |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=The Movie Buff |language=en-US}} premiered at Tribeca,{{Cite web |title=Starling {{!}} 2023 Tribeca Festival |url=https://tribecafilm.com/films/starling-2023 |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=Tribeca}} where it won an award for Best Animated Short.{{Cite web |last=Zhan |first=Jennifer |date=2023-06-19 |title=Here Are All the Winners of the 2023 Tribeca Festival |url=https://www.vulture.com/2023/06/tribeca-festival-2023-winners-full-list.html |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=Vulture |language=en-us}} Starling has been selected in various international film festival including the HollyShorts Film Festival, the Pixelatl Festival and the Richmond International Film Festival.{{Cite web |title=Film |url=https://www.rvafilmfestival.com/film |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=Richmond International Film Festival |language=en-US}}
Plot
The spirit star of a little girl travels through the sky to celebrate her birthday with her family,{{Cite web |last=Skwigly |date=2023-07-27 |title=19th HollyShorts Film Festival unveils its animation line-up |url=https://www.skwigly.co.uk/19th-hollyshorts-animation-line-up/ |access-date=2023-11-02 |website=Skwigly Animation Magazine}} who is mourning her, but is blown off course and must travel through Istanbul to reach her home. Whilst exploring the sounds & smells of city, she realises that she is losing her life force, and must act quickly. Finally at her house, with very little force left, she is faced with an impossible decision.{{Cite web |last=French |first=Alan |date=2023-06-11 |title=SHORT - 'Starling' - An Emotional Powerhouse of Love and Grief |url=https://sunshinestatecineplex.com/2023/06/11/short-starling-an-emotional-powerhouse-of-love-and-grief/ |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=Sunshine State Cineplex |language=en-US}}
Production
Starling was made over the course of 4 years with a crew that spanned 14 countries, including Turkey, Spain, the United Kingdom, India, Brazil and France. It was produced through Pixar Animation's co-op program,{{Cite web |last=Dower |first=Glen |date=2023-06-17 |title=Tribeca 2023: A Review Of This Years' Animated Shorts |url=https://cinemascholars.com/tribeca-2023-a-review-of-this-years-animated-shorts/ |access-date=2023-11-02 |website=Cinema Scholars |language=en-US}} which allows employees to use company equipment for personal projects.{{Cite web |last=Lang |first=Jamie |date=2023-09-29 |title=2024 Oscars Short Film Contenders: 'Starling' Director Mitra Shahidi |url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/awards/2024-oscars-short-film-contenders-starling-director-mitra-shahidi-233192.html |access-date=2023-11-02 |website=Cartoon Brew |language=en-US}} Primarily animated using traditional 2D techniques, Starling also used Blender to create and animate specific 3D elements.
Reception
Since its release, the film has been selected in various festivals around the world:
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Festivals !Award/Category !Status |
| rowspan="7" |2023
|{{won}} |
| Holly Shorts Film Festival
|{{Nominated}} |
| Mill Valley Film Festival
|{{Nominated}} |
| Hamptons International Film Festival
|Best Short Film{{Cite web |title=Starling |url=https://filmguide.hamptonsfilmfest.org/events/starling/ |access-date=2023-09-18 |language=en-US}} |{{Nominated}} |
| rowspan="2" |Austin Film Festival
|{{Nominated}} |
| Best Animated Short (Audience Award){{Cite web |last=Broughton |first=Travis |date=2023-11-07 |title=AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2023 JURY AND AUDIENCE AWARD WINNERS |url=https://austinfilmfestival.com/blog/competitions/winners-competitions/austin-film-festival-announces-2023-jury-and-audience-award-winners/ |access-date=2023-12-16 |website=Austin Film Festival |language=en-US}}
|{{won}} |
| AFI Fest
|{{Nominated}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://vimeo.com/816359303 Official Trailer] on Vimeo.
- {{IMDb title|27617511}}
{{Pixar}}
Category:2023 animated short films
Category:American animated short films