Festival Corti a Ponte 2026 – Winners
WINNER OF PICCOLO FESTIVAL INTERNAZIONALE 2026
SENIOR JURY
SENIOR JURY AWARD – BY 3.7 COMPETITION
Once upon a time there was a piece of wood
(C’era una volta un pezzo di legno)
by Irene Tedeschi
2025 – Italy – 3:10 min.
Jury Motivation:
In this short film, simple, humble objects elicit children’s awe and creativity. This game-like approach is the spark that allows the creation of a homage to Carlo Collodi’s classic Pinocchio, but at the same time, one cannot help but think of Bruno Munari: The turning of scraps into new expressive forms and the animators’ funny, silly faces remind us of his quote, “A creative child is a happy child.”
SENIOR JURY AWARD – BY 8.10 COMPETITION
Lords of dust
(Gospodari prašine)
by Lira Bartolić
2025 – Croatia – 1:30 min.
Jury Motivation:
The Lords of dust’s frail and brief existence under a bed is depicted with lyrical sensitivity through the technique of claymation (stop-motion animation with playdough), which shows an already remarkable mastery of the low depth of field.
SPECIAL MENTION OF THE JURY – BY 11.13 COMPETITION
MetaWoof
(MetaWoof)
by Red Sled Films
2025 – Italy – 6:00 min.
Jury Motivation:
In the short “MetaWoof”, the live-action story is told of a child who, during play, suddenly begins to behave like a dog. At first, both children and adults show surprise and concern, but then they go back to interacting with their friend as normal, even in his new identity. The short film is a celebration of the authenticity of child play and highlights values such as friendship and respect and love towards all, presented with a tactful and effective narration.
SENIOR JURY AWARD – BY 11.13 COMPETITION
Chirp Talker
(Chirp Talker)
by Audrey He-Qing Cheng
2025 – Taiwan – 4:17 min.
Jury Motivation:
“Chirp Talker” showcases, with originality and authenticity, the young author’s bond with nature, and especially with birds, in her urban context. The stop-motion animation is based on the romantic idea of a device that is able to translate a bird’s chirping into human language, a desire that has always existed among men. The simple but careful drawn lines of the protagonists, the backgrounds’ harmonious colours, the musical choices and the effective narrative devices, alongside its ecological message, make the work strikingly pleasant and meaningful.
SENIOR JURY AWARD – BY 14.18 COMPETITION
Waves of Memory
(Onde di memoria)
by Elia Bolzonello
2025 – Italy – 8:21 min.
Jury’s Motivation:
Vaiont: the waves of our memories intertwine with those of Fate. An original documentary that elevates the ostentatiously individualistic flow characteristic of social media to an intimate and still universal survival story. Through his expert use of a desktop’s audiovisual versatility, Elia Bolzonello brings fragments to the surface of our collective and his familial memory that end up forming an alternate story and showing us previously-submerged wrecks which had been washed away by the unstoppable wave of a foreshadowed catastrophe.
CIAS JURY
CIAS AWARD – BY 3.7 COMPETITION
The wall
(Il muro)
by Maestra A. M. Bernardi
2024 – Italy – 2:40 min.
Jury’s Motivation:
For having addressed the complex theme of inclusion through a simple, ironic, and highly effective idea. The expressive craftsmanship of the animation and the naturalness of the well-delivered dialogue are particularly appreciated.
CIAS JURY SPECIAL MENTION – BY 8.10 COMPETITION
Fox it, I’m hungry!
(Verfuchst noch mal, ich hab Hunger!)
by Isabella and Luisa Stiletto
2025 – Germany – 4:28 min.
Jury’s Motivation:
For the quality of the soundtrack, the visual clarity, and the animation work with colored paper cut-outs, enriched by several interesting creative solutions.
CIAS AWARD – BY 8.10 COMPETITION
Room for Questions
(Lugar de perguntas)
by Anilupa
2025 – Portugal – 4:58 min.
Jury’s Motivation:
For the freshness and authenticity of the questions presented, at times surprising, performed through children’s voices and represented in a poetic way. The variety of techniques used to support the expressive context is particularly appreciated.
CIAS AWARD – BY 11.13 COMPETITION
Breathe In-Out
(Breathe In-Out)
2022 – Russia – 2:10 min.
Jury’s Motivation:
For the originality of the subject and the quality of the graphics. The fast-paced editing and soundtrack are particularly appreciated for their ability to effectively convey the theme of emotions through a powerful audiovisual synthesis.
CIAS AWARD – BY 14.18 COMPETITION
Crumpled
(Crumpled)
by Mohammad Yaghoubi
2025 – Iran – 2:34 min.
Jury’s Motivation:
For the choice of the narrative device and the immediacy of the idea brought to life. The work is particularly appreciated for how, while seemingly born from an exercise, it becomes a true story by playfully shifting the scale from paper to reality, in a way that only animation can achieve.
UNICEF JURY
CERTIFICATES OF MERIT FOR EDUCATION IN HUMAN RIGHTS
UNICEF JURY AWARD – BY 3.7 COMPETITION
The wall
(Il muro)
by Maestra A. M. Bernardi
2024 – Italy – 2:40 min.
Jury’s Motivation:
For the coherence, originality, and creativity in addressing the theme;
for the excellent use of images, including children’s drawings and simple objects such as colored buttons;
for the clear and profound communicative and expressive language.
“WALLS ARE USELESS TO EVERYONE” is a clear, simple, and powerful message that the students were able to convey to all institutions: their needs and their rights, as stated in the:
CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD
- Art. 2 – The right to non-discrimination
- Art. 3 – Respect for the best interests of the child
- Art. 6 – The right to life, survival, and proper development
- Art. 8 – IDENTITY; paragraph 2: Where a child is illegally deprived of some or all of the elements of his or her identity, States Parties shall provide appropriate assistance and protection, with a view to re-establishing the child’s identity as rapidly as possible.
- Art. 31 – PARTICIPATION in social life as PROTAGONISTS; paragraph 2: States Parties shall respect and promote the right of the child to participate fully in cultural and artistic life and shall encourage the provision, on equal terms, of appropriate opportunities for recreational, artistic, and cultural activities.
AGENDA 2030
GOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities … Ensure access for all urban populations to adequate housing, efficient public transport, and green spaces.
GOAL 16: PEACE AND JUSTICE … End all forms of violence, trafficking, and exploitation of children, and guarantee every child birth registration and access to basic social services.
UNICEF JURY AWARD – BY 8.10 COMPETITION
The Washing Machine
(La lavatrice)
by Solenn Le Marchand
2025 – Italy – 4:19 min.
Jury’s Motivation:
This video, simple in its narration, offers an important reflection on today’s world, particularly on the danger of marginalization, using spots as a metaphor for diversity.
At the end of the video, Article 2 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is explicitly referenced:
“Principle of non-discrimination. Your rights must be respected without distinction of any kind, irrespective of origin, gender, language, religion, political opinion, disability, economic situation, or any other condition concerning you or your family.”
In addition, the children created and performed “The Song of the Two Spots” (Mek and Mak), which tells the story of children’s rights.
The work therefore represents a highly meaningful reflection developed by the teachers together with the classes on the central theme of children’s and adolescents’ rights within today’s social context.
UNICEF JURY AWARD – BY 11.13 COMPETITION
The girl who turned pain into power
(The girl who turned pain into power)
by Maria Julia Gonsalves Crecencio
2025 – Brazil – 3:04 min.
Jury’s Motivation:
The video is fully appropriate to the context; it demonstrates coherence, originality, and creativity in relation to the theme, makes excellent use of imagery, and employs a communicative and expressive language that is both immediate and powerful.
“I transformed REJECTION into CREATION”
“FEAR into fire”
“LONELINESS into LEADERSHIP”
These three key elements of the film recall the following Articles of the CRC-UNICEF:
- GENDER IDENTITY: CRC Articles 2 and 8
- RIGHT TO EXPRESS ONE’S OPINION AND TO BE HEARD: Article 12
- FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION: Article 14
- RIGHT TO ALL FORMS OF ARTISTIC EXPRESSION, INFORMATION, AND CULTURE: Article 30
As an added value, the work also reflects the goals of the 2030 AGENDA:
- GOAL 5 – GENDER EQUALITY
- GOAL 10 – REDUCING INEQUALITIES
UNICEF JURY AWARD – BY 14.18 COMPETITION
Chantin
(Chantin)
by Muhammad Isaac Tejeira
2025 – Panama – 10:00 min.
Jury’s Motivation:
The video presents the difficult social and economic situation currently affecting Panama, particularly in the province of Colón, where housing conditions are especially critical for the entire population. The film also offers a historical overview of the country, with particular reference to the years 1935, 1977, 1980, and 1989.
It highlights how, even today, children are denied fundamental rights recognized by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, especially the right to life, survival, and development (Art. 6), the right to health (Art. 24), the right to education (Art. 28), and the rights that allow them to live and grow in the best possible conditions.
Therefore, both the strong contextual framework and the coherence between the theme and the images related to childhood and adolescence make this short film a particularly meaningful and significant work.
JUNIOR JURY – BY 14.18 COMPETITION
JUNIOR JURY AWARD BY 14.18 – TRUTTERO PRIZE
Above the sun
(Karalius Saulė)
by Soraja Bložytė
2025 – Lithuania – 7:38 min.
Jury’s Motivation:
The theme addressed — namely the emotional isolation in relationships caused by egocentrism and obsessive perfectionism — is rarely explored.
The visual aspect has been carefully crafted; the cinematography, with its colors, overexposures, and refined framing choices, acts as a connecting thread between the storyline and the creative direction, offering strong elements for reflection.
The protagonist’s clothing, meticulously detailed, captures the viewer’s attention and faithfully conveys the character’s traits, such as obsessiveness, eccentricity, and egocentrism.
It is precisely this connection between the visual and aesthetic dimension, the narrative, the interactions among the characters, and the slow-paced yet evocative rhythm of the storytelling that highlights the value of the short film.
Choosing such a distinctive theme and expressing it in such an original and artistic way makes the work particularly deserving of recognition.
“Above the Sun” is a short film to be discovered: at first glance it may appear unusual and difficult to understand, but the true challenge lies in going beyond appearances and embracing it as a source of reflection.
THE BOX JURY
THE BOX JURY AWARD – BY 11.13 COMPETITION
The Lost film
(La pellicule perdue)
by Pablo Tréhin-Marçot
2025 – France – 10:00 min.
Jury’s Motivation:
For its highly engaging storyline, high production value, and excellently executed cinematography. For its work in revisiting the history of cinema through references to various classic films. For the outstanding performances of the actors and for a story that is genuinely entertaining.
THE BOX JURY HONORARY MENTION – BY 11.13 COMPETITION
Chocolate
(Chocolate)
by Sadra Hakimi nia
2025 – Iran – 3:51 min.
Jury’s Motivation:
Because the short film was the most enjoyable and entertaining to watch; despite its limited budget, the story is effectively told and works very well. It made us laugh and reminded us of situations that many of us experience at home with siblings and cousins. We also appreciated the performances of the actors, who made us laugh, and the highly catchy soundtrack.
THE BOX JURY AWARD – BY 14.18 COMPETITION
The final stair
(The final stair)
by Shameer Ali
2025 – India – 6:09 min.
Jury’s Motivation:
For its exceptionally high-quality animation and for addressing the theme of climate change.
For the idea of using the image of a family and revealing the metaphor only at the end, thereby amplifying its emotional impact.
THE BOX JURY SPECIAL MENTION – BY 14.18 COMPETITION
A romantic alien dinner with murder
(Una romantica cena aliena con delitto)
2025 – Italy – 9:00 min.
Jury’s Motivation:
For its imagination, originality, and lightness.
AUDIENCE AWARD
AUDIENCE AWARD – BY 3.7 COMPETITION
Freehand rulers
(Regoli a mano libera)
by Irene Tedeschi
2025 – Italy – 6:04 min.
AUDIENCE AWARD – BY 8.10 COMPETITION
Siege
(Assedio)
by Irene Tedeschi
2025 – Italy – 3:05 min.
AUDIENCE AWARD – BY 11.13 COMPETITION
The Lost film
(La pellicule perdue)
by Pablo Tréhin-Marçot
2025 – France – 10:00 min.
AUDIENCE AWARD – BY 14.18 COMPETITION
The final stair
(The final stair)
by Shameer Ali
2025 – India – 6:09 min.