KAWAUSO

カワウソ

Animation,

Japan

2023

Runtime, min

”kawauso” means Japanese river otter. One day, a girl meets a Japanese river otter. They try to communicate, but it doesn't go very well. This is because the Japanese river otter is already extinct, and it is not possible to actually interact with the girl. They existed in separate spaces. By depicting the Japanese river otter, which is said to have gone extinct in 2012, this short film presents an opportunity to reconsider what the modern society has sacrificed.

Director:

Akihito Izuhara

Selections and Awards:

Sapporo International Short Film Festival & Market sapporo November 25, 2023 japan Japan Premiere Award Berlin International Film Festival74 Berlin February 20, 2024 international premiere competition Hong Kong International Film Festival48 Hong Kong April 5, 2024 Asia competition Moscow International Film Festival Moscow April 21, 2024 Krakow International Film Festival64 Krakow May 28, 2024 Golden Dragon Annecy International Animation Film Festival Annecy June 10, 2024 Brittany International Film Festival Brittany Best International Animation Film Award Japanese Serbian Film Festival Best Japanese Short Film Award セルビア

REVIEWS:

Restrained, precise, and carrying real weight. Among the festival's most significant pieces Simple and exact.

Ito Emi

The separation that can't be bridged is the whole film, and the whole film is enough A real thing, clearly made by real people.

Julia Novak

Awesome! The river otter is already gone. The film knows exactly what that means and makes you know it too The kind of short film that justifies the format.

Henrik Larsen