the FURIOUS EDITION!!!!!!!



FEBRUARY 27–MARCH 1, 2026  ✷  SIFF CINEMA UPTOWN








2026 Program


The festival expanded to three days for the Furious Edition! We showcased 33 local and international short films including 17 Pacific Northwest premieres, alongside the Seattle premieres of Endless Cookie and Son of the White Mare (1981), plus a secret feature—Redline! Festival-goers and visiting filmmakers enjoyed an Artist Alley of local artists and mixers for audiences and animators to connect.

Opening Night:
Rita & Endless Cookie


February 27 | 7:00PM | 102 min.

Shorts I:
Emotional Support Buddies


February 28 | 12:00PM | 76 min.

Shorts II:
Big Bizarro


February 28 | 4:00PM | 74 min. 

Retrospective Spotlight:
Dédé (Ancestor) & Son of the White Mare


February 28 | 7:00PM | 93 min. 


Shorts III:
Animation Altar


March 1 | 12:00PM | 81 min.


Furious Finale:
No Room + ????


March 1 | 4:00PM | 109 min.

Awards

The 2025 Sea Slug Animation Festival was juried by animators Alex Barsky, Michael Granberry, and Clyde Petersen. Audience members also voted on their favorite short to win the Audience Award.





Awards



Grand Jury Prize
The Night Boots
When an artist of great skill dedicates themself to a medium of extreme difficulty, their efforts can—sometimes—result in pure magic. The winners of both the Grand Jury Prize and the Grand Jury Honorable Mention are films whose masterful storytelling is matched by jaw-dropping technical skill.

For its dreamlike tale of childhood fear transformed into empowerment through friendship and kindness, realized through the painstakingly arduous medium of pin-screen animation, the Grand Jury Prize goes to The Night Boots.


Grand Jury Prize, Honorable Mention
Weeds
For its electrifying use of oil-paint on glass animation to craft a timely, brutal, yet ultimately hopeful vision for the end of segregation, the Grand Jury Prize Honorable Mention goes to Weeds.


Best of the Pacific Northwest
The Epic of Enkidu

The shorts recognized in the category of Best of the Pacific Northwest are both wordless, 2D drawn animations that rely on incredible gesture and acting to convey their stories. These both harken back to the roots of Golden Age animated storytelling, squashing and stretching right into our hearts.

Mike A. Smith’s short film displays true mastery of the animated craft and impeccable comedic timing. The exaggerated blend of comedy and tragedy leaves the audience on the edge of our seats until the very end.

Best of the Pacific Northwest, Honorable Mention
The Princess Is Missing!
Kabir Kukathas is a college student bursting onto the animation scene with his impressive debut short. Imaginative, playful, and energetically expressed with a jazzy score, the honorable mention for Best of the Pacific Northwest goes to The Princess Is Missing!


Best Student Film
Stone of Destiny

From the start of Stone of Destiny, the setting sun and hillside shadows show us there is beauty in the details if you pause and observe. The animation is so calculated that at times it appears deceptively simple. Do not be fooled. The crashing of a wave upon a rock, the dissipation of a trail of smoke, a passing ray of light. The attention given to every scratch upon this page is intentional, gorgeous and talented.


Best Student Film, Honorable Mention
Foreign Bodies

Foreign Bodies was created with such care, embracing colorful textures, rippling paper and surprising forced perspectives. Each new shot brought us deeper into the story through unexpected camera angles that amplified the tension and urgency of this infestation.


Audience Award
The Night Boots
Sometimes, a film perfectly steals you away into its world. The Night Boots does just that and amazed our jury and audience in equal measure. Its friendly but anxious monster, caring and curious boy protagonist, and litany of nighttime forest creatures are only outdone by the magnificent use of pinscreen to conjure their adventures. This film is a true standout of the Furious Edition.


Audience Award, honorable mention
Hungry Hollow
Epitomizing the charm of silly little guys and handcrafted animation, Hungry Hollow stole our audience’s hearts. This hand-drawn, riso-printed, and collaged short somehow manages to mix vibey comedy with decomposition to pitch perfect effect. Its reflection on the circle of life makes the thought of slowly oozing into the earth feel like a warm hug. As one of the organizer’s dads exclaimed out loud during the screening, “This is some real art!”

Festival Events


Free and open to the public.


✷ KICK OFF Party ✷
February 27 9–11PM Solo Bar & Eatery
Kick off the Furious Edition with a casual celebration. 21+ only.

✷ Artist AlleY ✷
February 28 1:45–3:45PM SIFF Film Center
Shop prints, stickers, lil’ guys, and more from local animators and artists. All ages.

✷ Anim-Mixer ✷
March 1 1:45–3:45PM Queen Anne Beer Hall
Meet animators and animation fans over good tidings and doodling activities for introverts. All ages.




2026 Supporters










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