A Crab in the Pool
shortlisted for Oscar
Watch the award-winning animation short by Quebec filmmakers Alexandra Myotte and Jean-Sébastien Hamel
December 28, 2024
Travelling and Sémaphore Films are proud to announce that the independent short film A Crab in the Pool, directed by Quebec filmmakers Alexandra Myotte and Jean-Sébastien Hamel, has been shortlisted for an Oscar® in the category of Best Animated Short Film. The five nominees for this award will be revealed on January 17, 2025.
The 2D animated film tells the story of Zoé and her younger brother Théo, living in a disadvantaged suburban neighborhood. On the brink of adolescence, Zoé is a ball of raw, barely-contained anger, haunted by a deep-seated terror. Théo, still childlike, escapes into a fantastical imaginary world. Over a sweltering summer day, the two children must confront the issues in their relationship to avoid losing each other forever.
Produced by Sémaphore Films, the filmmakers’ own studio, and distributed by Travelling, A Crab in the Pool has had a remarkable festival run. After screening at Clermont-Ferrand, SXSW, and Palm Springs, the film has been selected in over 120 festivals and has won more than 30 awards, including the Audience Award at SXSW (USA), Best Animated Short at the Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia (Japan), and Best Film at Anim’est (Romania).
A Crab in the Pool was produced with the financial support of the Canada Council for the Arts, the Longueuil Arts Council, the Film and Television Tax Credit (managed by SODEC), and the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit.
About the filmmakers
Alexandra Myotte and Jean-Sébastien Hamel are a Montreal-based duo of screenwriters and directors whose animated short films have been featured in festivals worldwide. Their previous film, Pas de titre (2021), won several awards, including Best Canadian Short Film at EIFF 2021, and was nominated for the 2022 Iris Award for Best Animated Short Film.
Sémaphore Films is a production company born from the collaboration between filmmakers Jean-Sébastien Hamel and Alexandra Myotte. Over the years, the studio has established its unique and bold artistic vision through its animation projects. With films like Pas de titre and A Crab in the Pool, Sémaphore Films’ works have travelled the world through prestigious festivals and won numerous awards.
Since 2007, Travelling Distribution has been a pioneer in the distribution and marketing of short films, both in Quebec and internationally. Representing a catalogue of over 200 titles, including Brotherhood (Oscar-nominated), No Crying at the Dinner Table, Oasis, An Avocado Pit, and Piscine Pro, Travelling consistently garners hundreds of selections and awards at festivals worldwide, establishing itself as a key player in the industry. Travelling aims to be a hub for talent and emerging cinematic voices, an ally that allows filmmakers to focus on what they do best: making films.
A Crab in the Pool is available for free as a Vimeo Staff Pick Premiere. Watch now:
Feature image: courtesy of Sémaphore FilmsOther recent articles
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