Boat People (2023 film)

Boat People
Directed by
Written by
  • Thao Lam
  • Kjell Boersma
Produced by
Narrated byThao Lam
Production
company
Release date
  • April 27, 2023 (2023-04-27)
Running time
9 minutes
Country
  • Canada
Language
  • English

Boat People is a 2023 Canadian animated short film written and directed by Thao Lam and Kjell Boersma.[1]

Adapted from Lam's 2020 book The Paper Boat, the nine-minute film centres on the experiences of Vietnamese refugees, called "boat people", who fled Vietnam through the sea at the end of the Vietnam War in 1975.[2]

Plot

As a child in Vietnam, Thao's mother would rescue ants from bowls of sugar water—a small act of compassion that later took on new meaning. Boat People is an animated documentary that uses this metaphor to explore one family's experience navigating the challenges of their historical journey.

Release

The film premiered in April 2023 at the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film.

In 2024 it was selected for broadcast on PBS's POV Shorts series in the United States,[3] and was selected as a Staff Pick on Vimeo.[4]

Awards

Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref(s)
New Orleans Film Festival 2023 Helen Hill Award for Animated Short Thao Lam, Kjell Boersma Won [3]
Audience Award for Animated Short Won
Chicago International Children's Film Festival 2023 Milos Stehlik Global Impact Award Won
Spark Animation Festival 2023 Diversity Award Won [5]
Calgary International Film Festival 2023 Grand Jury Prize – Animated Short Won [6]
Canadian Film Festival 2024 Best Animated Short Won [7]

References

  1. ^ Giraud, Kévin (November 7, 2024). "2025 Oscars Short Film Contenders: 'Boat People' Directors Thao Lam And Kjell Boersma". Cartoon Brew. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
  2. ^ Smith, Charlie (October 28, 2023). "National Film Board–produced "Boat People" takes a new approach in telling story of Vietnamese immigraton to Canada". Pancouver. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Mercedes Milligan, "Award-Winning NFB Animated Short ‘Boat People’ Coming to POV Shorts". Animation Magazine, October 9, 2024.
  4. ^ Mercedes Milligan, "NFB Animated Short ‘Boat People’ Now Available on Vimeo Worldwide". Animation Magazine, November 19, 2024.
  5. ^ "Spark Animation 2023 announces winners -". Animation Express. October 27, 2023. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
  6. ^ Aryn Toombs, "Winners of 2023 CIFF competitions unveiled". LiveWire Calgary, September 25, 2023.
  7. ^ Kelly Townsend, "Doubles leads 2024 Canadian Film Fest winners". Playback, March 25, 2024.
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