National Film Board of Canada Showcases 15 Films at OIAF 2025
Montreal, September 3, 2025 – The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) will take center stage at the upcoming Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF) with a dynamic selection of 15 films, four of which are featured in competition. Blending the voices of established creators with an emerging generation of animators, this year’s lineup underscores the NFB’s ongoing role in shaping Canadian animation on the world stage.
Stop-Motion in Competition
Among the highlights are The Girl Who Cried Pearls by Oscar-nominated stop-motion duo Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski (Madame Tutli-Putli). Narrated by Colm Feore with a score by Patrick Watson, the short fable is an exploration of sorrow, love, and greed that has already secured a slot in the Official Competition at TIFF. The film joins the competition slate alongside:
- Bread Will Walk by Alex Boya, a surrealist satire voiced entirely by Jay Baruchel.
- Paradaïz by Matea Radic, an imaginative return to war-torn Sarajevo told through absurdist imagery.
- Get a Grip by Abbey Collings, a one-minute gem produced through the NFB’s Hothouse mentorship program.
Special Screenings and Tributes
OIAF audiences will also be treated to a comprehensive Clyde Henry retrospective, celebrating the stop-motion and illustrative worlds of Lavis and Szczerbowski. The tribute includes screenings of their NFB classics such as Madame Tutli-Putli, Higglety Pigglety Pop!, and their VR work Gymnasia.
Festivalgoers can also look forward to Donald McWilliams’ feature documentary A Return to Memory, a moving exploration of the women who helped build Canadian cinema during World War II. The screening will be accompanied by a showcase of short films from Alma Duncan, Evelyn Lambart, and Gretta Ekman.
Canadian Panorama and Beyond
Other NFB selections featured in Canadian Panorama include:
- Hypersensitive by Martine Frossard, fresh from its Cannes Official Competition berth.
- Imprint by Duncan Major, reflecting on the bonds forged by chance encounters.
- Panoptic by Katie Finn, a machine-eye view of a disconnected digital age.
Classic and award-winning NFB works will also resurface at OIAF, such as Ryo Orikasa’s Miserable Miracle (Grand Prize winner at OIAF 2023) and Jacques Drouin’s landmark Mindscape (1976).
Industry Connection
Beyond the screen, the NFB will engage the professional community at Industry Connect: Animation Community Roundtable (September 26), joining other organizations in a networking session focused on inclusive collaboration and community growth.
A Legacy at North America’s Premier Animation Festival
Since 1976, OIAF has stood as North America’s largest festival dedicated solely to animation. Running September 24–28 this year, the event offers screenings, workshops, and community engagement for artists and fans alike. With its rich lineup of premieres, retrospectives, and industry events, the NFB continues to cement its legacy as a cornerstone of Canadian and global animation.
For more details on screening times and press kits, visit NFB.ca.
