Grade: Grade 4

Blind Vaysha

Director Theodore Ushev
Year 2016
Run Time 8min
Genre Animation, Drama
This Oscar-nominated NFB animated short tells the story of Vaysha, a young girl born with one green eye and one brown eye. But colour isn’t the only thing that’s different about Vaysha’s gaze. While her left eye sees only the past; her right sees only the future. Like a terrible curse, Vaysha’s split vision prevents her from inhabiting the present. Blinded by what was and tormented by what will be, she remains trapped between two irreconcilable temporalities. “Blind Vaysha,” they called her. 

In this metaphoric tale of timeless wisdom and beauty based on the eponymous short story by Georgi Gospodinov, filmmaker Theodore Ushev reminds us of the importance of keeping our sights on the present moment.

Director

Theodore Ushev

Writers

Georgi Gospodinov, Theodore Ushev

Cast

Caroline Dhavernas

Producers

Marc Bertrand, Julie Roy

Genres

Animation, Drama

Interests

Arts and Culture, Global Experiences, Literary Adaptation

Original Languages

English, French

Ratings by Province

NR
 Alberta
NR
 British Columbia
NR
 Manitoba
NR
 New Brunswick
NR
 Newfoundland and Labrador
NR
 Nova Scotia
NR
 Northwest Territories
NR
 Nunavut
NR
 Ontario
NR
 Prince Edward Island
NR
 Québec
NR
 Saskatchewan
NR
 Yukon
Back to the Canadian Film Collection

Bone Mother

Directors Sylvie Trouvé, Dale Hayward
Year 2018
Run Time 8min
Genre Animation, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
A traveller wanders deep into the forest to visit Baba Yaga, a mysterious woman who is said to possess the powers of life and death.

Directors

Sylvie Trouvé, Dale Hayward

Writers

Lanan Adcock, Dale Hayward, Sylvie Trouvé

Cast

Rafael Petardi, Renee Madeline Le Guerrier

Producers

Michael Fukushima, Jelena Popovic

Genres

Animation, Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Interests

Arts and Culture, Female Filmmaker, Global Experiences

Original Language

English

Ratings by Province

NR
 Alberta
NR
 British Columbia
NR
 Manitoba
NR
 New Brunswick
NR
 Newfoundland and Labrador
NR
 Nova Scotia
NR
 Northwest Territories
NR
 Nunavut
NR
 Ontario
NR
 Prince Edward Island
NR
 Québec
NR
 Saskatchewan
NR
 Yukon
Back to the Canadian Film Collection

The Cat Came Back

Director Cordell Barker
Year 1988
Run Time 7min
Genre Animation, Comedy, Family
In this Oscar-nominated short, a humorous song tells the silly tale of a man who just can't get rid of an unwanted cat. 

Director

Cordell Barker

Writer

Cordell Barker

Cast

Richard Condie

Producers

Cordell Barker, Richard Condie

Genres

Animation, Comedy, Family

Interest

Classics

Original Languages

English, French

Ratings by Province

NR
 Alberta
NR
 British Columbia
NR
 Manitoba
NR
 New Brunswick
NR
 Newfoundland and Labrador
NR
 Nova Scotia
NR
 Northwest Territories
NR
 Nunavut
NR
 Ontario
NR
 Prince Edward Island
NR
 Québec
NR
 Saskatchewan
NR
 Yukon
Back to the Canadian Film Collection

Cosmic Zoom

Director Robert Verrall
Year 1968
Run Time 8min
Genre Animation, Documentary
A visually stunning exploration of the infinity of space and the ultimate minuteness of matter. 

Director

Robert Verrall

Producers

Robert Verrall, Joseph Koenig

Genres

Animation, Documentary

Interest

Classics

Original Language

No Dialogue

Ratings by Province

NR
 Alberta
NR
 British Columbia
NR
 Manitoba
NR
 New Brunswick
NR
 Newfoundland and Labrador
NR
 Nova Scotia
NR
 Northwest Territories
NR
 Nunavut
NR
 Ontario
NR
 Prince Edward Island
NR
 Québec
NR
 Saskatchewan
NR
 Yukon
Back to the Canadian Film Collection
Own Voice

Dancers of the Grass

Director Melanie Jackson (Métis/Saulteaux)
Year 2009
Run Time 2min
Genre Animation, Family
Spectacular stop-motion animation breathes life into a traditional dance.

Director

Melanie Jackson (Métis/Saulteaux)

Writer

Melanie Jackson (Métis/Saulteaux)

Producers

Dennis Jackson (Cree), Melanie Jackson (Métis/Saulteaux), Anand Ramayya

Genres

Animation, Family

Interests

Arts and Culture, BIPOC Stories, Female Filmmaker, Indigenous Filmmaker

Original Language

English

Ratings by Province

NR
 Alberta
NR
 British Columbia
NR
 Manitoba
NR
 New Brunswick
NR
 Newfoundland and Labrador
NR
 Nova Scotia
NR
 Northwest Territories
NR
 Nunavut
NR
 Ontario
NR
 Prince Edward Island
NR
 Québec
NR
 Saskatchewan
NR
 Yukon
Back to the Canadian Film Collection

Dinner for Two

Director Janet Perlman
Year 1996
Run Time 7min
Genre Comedy
When it comes to conflict, even chameleons won't change! Peace in the rain forest is disrupted when two chameleons literally get stuck in a conflict, with catastrophic results. Relationships are severed, opportunities are lost, innocent bystanders are harmed and violence seems imminent. Luckily for the lizards, a frog turns into exactly what they need - no, not a prince - a mediator. This animation tackles conflict in a lively, humorous and provocative way and was part of a series on conflict resolution that received support from UNICEF and Justice Canada.

Director

Janet Perlman

Writer

Janet Perlman

Producer

Barrie McLean

Genre

Comedy

Interest

Female Filmmaker

Original Language

English

Ratings by Province

NR
 Alberta
NR
 British Columbia
NR
 Manitoba
NR
 New Brunswick
NR
 Newfoundland and Labrador
NR
 Nova Scotia
NR
 Northwest Territories
NR
 Nunavut
NR
 Ontario
NR
 Prince Edward Island
NR
 Québec
NR
 Saskatchewan
NR
 Yukon
Back to the Canadian Film Collection
Own Voice

Four Faces of the Moon

Director Amanda Strong (Michif)
Year 2016
Run Time 13min
Genre Action/Adventure, Animation, Documentary, Family
This intricate stop-motion animation interlaces Canada’s colonial past with writer-director Amanda Strong’s personal family history — and illuminates Cree, Métis, and Anishinaabe reclamation of culture, language, and Nationhood.

Director

Amanda Strong (Michif)

Writers

Amanda Strong (Michif), Bracken Hanuse Corlett (Wuikinuxv-Klahoose)

Cast

Gail Maurice (Cree/Métis)

Producer

Bracken Hanuse Corlett (Wuikinuxv-Klahoose)

Genres

Action/Adventure, Animation, Documentary, Family

Interests

BIPOC Stories, Discrimination, Family Relationships, Indigenous Filmmaker

Original Language

Other Language

Ratings by Province

NR
 Alberta
NR
 British Columbia
NR
 Manitoba
NR
 New Brunswick
NR
 Newfoundland and Labrador
NR
 Nova Scotia
NR
 Northwest Territories
NR
 Nunavut
NR
 Ontario
NR
 Prince Edward Island
NR
 Québec
NR
 Saskatchewan
NR
 Yukon
Back to the Canadian Film Collection

Le Gouffre (The Gulf)

Directors Carl Beauchemin, Thomas Chrétien, David Forest
Year 2015
Run Time 10min
Genre Animation, Drama
When two travelers undertake to build a gigantic bridge that will cross gulf blocking their way, their courage and determination inspire a nearby rural community. 

Directors

Carl Beauchemin, Thomas Chrétien, David Forest

Genres

Animation, Drama

Original Language

French

Ratings by Province

NR
 Alberta
NR
 British Columbia
NR
 Manitoba
NR
 New Brunswick
NR
 Newfoundland and Labrador
NR
 Nova Scotia
NR
 Northwest Territories
NR
 Nunavut
NR
 Ontario
NR
 Prince Edward Island
NR
 Québec
NR
 Saskatchewan
NR
 Yukon
Back to the Canadian Film Collection

Green Grass

Director Michael Greco
Year 2020
Run Time 8min
Genre Drama

A father and daughter seek refuge in a far away land, but what they find there may not be what they were expecting.

Director

Michael Greco

Writer

Michael Greco

Producer

Mariana Ospina-Arteaga

Genre

Drama

Interests

Global Experiences, Newcomer Stories

Original Language

English

Ratings by Province

NR
 Alberta
NR
 British Columbia
NR
 Manitoba
NR
 New Brunswick
NR
 Newfoundland and Labrador
NR
 Nova Scotia
NR
 Northwest Territories
NR
 Nunavut
NR
 Ontario
NR
 Prince Edward Island
NR
 Québec
NR
 Saskatchewan
NR
 Yukon
Back to the Canadian Film Collection
Own Voice

Grandfather on the Prairies

Director Andrew Genaille (Sto:lo & Ojibway)
Year 2018
Run Time 3min
Genre Animation, Experimental, Family

Jason meets his great-great-greatgrandfather and soon finds himself in a hilarious debate about what it means to be a hunter.

Director

Andrew Genaille (Sto:lo & Ojibway)

Writer

Andrew Genaille (Sto:lo & Ojibway)

Cast

Andrew Genaille (Sto:lo & Ojibway)

Producers

Andrew Genaille (Sto:lo & Ojibway), Lisa Genaille (Sto:lo & Ojibway), Robert Genaille (Sto:lo & Ojibway)

Genres

Animation, Experimental, Family

Interests

BIPOC Stories, Family Relationships, History, Indigenous Filmmaker

Original Language

English

Ratings by Province

NR
 Alberta
NR
 British Columbia
NR
 Manitoba
NR
 New Brunswick
NR
 Newfoundland and Labrador
NR
 Nova Scotia
NR
 Northwest Territories
NR
 Nunavut
NR
 Ontario
NR
 Prince Edward Island
NR
 Québec
NR
 Saskatchewan
NR
 Yukon
Back to the Canadian Film Collection
Accessibility by WAH