Falafel Cart | |
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Directed by | Abdullah Al-Wazzan |
Written by | Abdullah Al-Wazzan |
Music by | Dan Phillipson |
Animation by | Abdullah Al-Wazzan |
Color process | Color |
Production company | RoyalTales |
Distributed by | RoyalTales |
Release date |
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Running time | 14 minutes |
Country | Kuwait |
Language | English |
Falafel Cart is a 2019 animated family short drama film produced by RoyalTales and directed by Abdullah Al-Wazzan with an original score by Dan Phillipson and sound design by Andrew Vernon. The short blends stop motion animation with traditional and some computer animation. [1] In 2019, the film was submitted for the 2020 Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film [2] [3] [4] [5] making it Kuwait's first short film to ever be submitted to the Academy Awards. [6] In 2020 The film earned an official selection at the Hiroshima International Animation Festival in the best of the world program. [7] [8] [9] [5] In 2021 the film won best animated short at the Burbank International Film Festival. [10] In 2019 the film won best international short film at the Los Angeles Animation Festival. [11]
During a stormy night, an immigrant falafel vendor who lives in his cart in the middle of nowhere stumbles upon a mysterious flower. The extraordinary encounter sparks something within him and eventually makes him relive scenes from his past life. [12]
The film was inspired by the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, highlighting the impact on people who are merely seeking a better life. [5] The project first came to life after Al-Wazzan started to experiment with a different form of animation that employed a combination of stop-motion, computer generated animation, claymation and traditional animation. [13] The filmmaker single-handedly animated the entire film, built and painted hundreds of models, puppets and backgrounds in a span of three years in order to achieve a distinct world for the film. [1]
Falafel Cart first premiered theatrically in Los Angeles, California on September 13, 2019. [14] The film then began its festival run at the Los Angeles Animation Festival on December 8, 2019 where it won Best International Short Film. [11] In 2021 ShortTV obtained non exclusive distribution rights to the film for release on its live channels and streaming platforms. [15] On September 11, 2021 the film screened at AMC Theatres in Burbank as part of the Burbank International Film Festival. [15]
Release date | Country | Event | Notes |
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13 September 2019 | United States | Theatrical release [14] | World Premier |
8 December 2019 | United States | Los Angeles Animation Festival [11] | |
14 December 2019 | United States | Palm Springs International Animation Festival [16] | |
March 2020 | Greece | Athens Animfest [17] | |
4 March 2020 | United States | DC Independent Film Festival [18] | |
30 July 2020 | United States | Sonoma International Film Festival [19] | |
2 August 2020 | United Kingdom | The Animator Showcase [9] | |
13 August 2020 | United States | Hollyshorts [20] | |
20 August 2020 | Japan | Hiroshima International Animation Festival [7] | |
15 October 2020 | United Kingdom | Southampton International Film Festival [21] | |
23 October 2020 | Morocco | Rabat International Author Film Festival [22] | |
18 November 2020 | Canada | Montreal International Animation Film Festival [23] | |
18 November 2020 | Qatar | Ajyal Film Festival [24] | |
3 July 2021 | France | Paris International Animation Film Festival [25] | |
9 September 2021 | United States | Burbank International Film Festival [26] | |
7 April 2022 | Kuwait | Limited theatrical release | |
21 December 2022 | Sweden | Limited [27] |
The film received the following awards and nominations:
Year | Country | Event | Category | Recipients and nominees | Result |
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2019 | United States
|
Palm Springs International Animation Festival [16] | In Competition Best Animated Short | Nominated | |
Los Angeles Animation Festival [11] | Best International Short Film | Won | |||
2020 | DC Independent Film Festival [18] | Short Animation Finalist | Nominated | ||
2020 | United Kingdom
|
Southampton International Film Festival [21] | Best Animated Short Film | Nominated | |
Best Director of an Animated Film | Nominated | ||||
2020 | Qatar
|
Ajyal Film Festival [24] | Hilal Short Film Competition | Nominated | |
2021 | France
|
Paris International Animation Film Festival [28] | Horizons Competition | Nominated | |
2021 | United States
|
Burbank International Film Festival [10] | Best Animated Short | Won |