CHAIN, a visually stunning 3D animated short film written and directed by Ling Han, is now making its way through the 2025 festival circuit. The film, which has already garnered multiple awards–including Best Animated Film at the Paris Movie Awards 2024, Grand Prize Best Animated Short at Silicon Beach Film Festival® 2024, and Best Animation at City of Angels Women's Film Festival 2024–will be screening at Short. Sweet. Film Fest. on Friday, February 28, 2025. Inspired by the Chinese proverb "螳螂捕蟬, 黃雀在後" ("The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind"), the 5-minute animated short transforms this timeless wisdom into a visually sophisticated narrative with universal resonance. The film uses the natural world—particularly insects—to explore survival instincts and deeper philosophical themes. "We hope CHAIN sparks reflection on the complexities of survival, pursuit, and the unforeseen consequences of one's actions," shares Ling. "Through our story, we want audiences to question how their own ambitions shape their decisions and whether they, too, might be caught in a cycle they can't yet see." Ling, who previously worked as a 3D animator on Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Wish, brings extensive industry experience to this passion project. Unlike his work with major studios, CHAIN gave Ling complete creative freedom to explore his unique artistic vision. "This was my first time as a filmmaker and director, which made the process vastly different from my previous work.” explains Ling. “Instead of working within an established production pipeline, we had to figure things out step by step, learning and growing together throughout the journey." An Innovative Team The film’s team was brought together through... Read More