These shorts show kids confronting their fears. The “monsters” in these films can be as ordinary as an iPhone, trying to stay awake in class, your own reflection, or as extraordinary as a malevolent spirit stalking the high-rise residences of Dubai. Get ready for some chills!

– – –

I’m Scared
(Pete Levin, US, animated, 2015, 5 min, in English) West coast premiere! 8-year-old insomniac Ralf describes to his little brother all of the dangers that lurk in the shadows. Watch the trailer>

Violet
(Maurice Joyce, UK, animated, 2015, 8 min, in English) Seattle premiere! A girl’s mirror reflection trades places with her when she can’t take any more insults.

All Your Favorite Shows!
(Danny Madden, US, animated, 2015, 5 min, in English) Seattle premiere! Anything you wanna watch in the palm of your hands… crazy convenient. Crazy.

Afternoon Class
(Oh Seoro, South Korea, animated, 2015, 4 min, no dialogue) One boy’s quest to stay awake after lunch. Watch the trailer>

Ogress of the Gravelbank
(Neil Christopher, Canada, animated, 2015, 2:29 min, in English) Seattle premiere! A wicked land spirit from Inuit oral history lures children to her lair and traps them, where they become animated spirits.

It’s All in Your Head
(Greg Jeffs, Canada, live action, 2016, 6 min, in English) Seattle premiere! Sarah Lynn knows the monster in the closet is real. Watch the trailer>

Ugly Pretty Heart
(Gregory Casares, Switzerland, animated, 2015, 12 min, no dialogue) West Coast premiere! Rosie has only ever wanted to be pretty. One day she meets a witch who makes her wish come true… Watch the trailer>

Fight the Fear
(Vishnu Venugopal, United Arab Emirates, 2016, 15 min, in English) North American premiere! Youth-made at the Children’s International Film Festival Dubai! Who believes in ghosts? One boy sees one stalking his apartment building in Dubai.

The Darkness Keeper
(Rodrigo Atiénzar Jiménez, Spain, live action, 2016, 18:41 min, in English) Seattle premiere! May is afraid of the dark and she has a plan to trap it. But she’s forgetting a small detail: when night falls, darkness is everywhere… Watch the trailer>

– – –

Notes to parents: True to theme, this program contains monsters, skeletons, and creepy imagery. “The Darkness Keeper” includes a few intensely scary scenes.