Zoo / حديقة الحيوان
Tariq Rimawi (Robert Bosch Stiftung, Studio Nice)
2022, Germany, Jordan, 8’12’min
Wandering through the Worst Zoo in the World, a young boy Sami is looking for his football. The loner finds more than that when he encounters the little tiger Laziz, who follows him on his quest to find a safe place to play. Against all odds, they become friends. But the remnants of war harbor danger.
The visual style is inspired by famed Palestinian cartoonist Naji al-Ali’s artwork. He was known for his political criticism and has been described as one of the greatest cartoonist in the world.
Language: None
Recommended for children under 14 years of age: YES
Technique: 3D CGI
Team:
Written and directed by Tariq Rimawi
Producers: Aminah Abdat, Moritz Mayerhofer
Music: Peter Thomas Gromer
Sound Design & Audio Editor: Mohammad Shafagoj
Sound Mixing: Martin Schutze
Art Director: Aminah Abdat
Concept Art & Layout: Aminah Abdat, Salsabeel Abuobaid
Character Design: Farah Varoqua
Background Design: Mai Kilani, Salsabeel Abuobaid
Animation: Salsabeel Abuobaid, Aminah Abdat
3D artist: Tulip Swedat
Rotoscope: Mai Kilani
Storyboard: Aminah Abdat, Salsabeel Abuobaid
Compositing & Editing: Tariq Rimawi
DCP Mastering: Martin Backhaus
Inking: Salsabeel Abuobaid, Aminah Abdat, Mai Kilani, Roa’a Alshatal, Ahmad Attili, Dina Jamal
Voice Actor: Nikolai Neumetzler
ADR-Recording: Steve Patuta
Interns: Roa’a Alshatal, Karen Muller, Ahmad Attili, Dina Jamal, Ibtehal Assaf, Sarah Hleissi
Supported by: Jordan Film Fund, The Royal Film Commission Jordan
Festivals – Awards:
– Best Arab Animation, Animatex Animation Festival, Egypt (2025)
– Best International Film Award, 17th Bangladesh International Short and Independent Film Festival, Bangladesh (2024)
– Best Short Film Award, Storia in Corto Film Festival, Italy (2024)
– Best Audience Award, Storia in Corto Film Festival, Italy (2024)
– Best Director Award, Galdar International Film Festival, Spain (2024)
– Special Jury Award, International Amity Short Film Festival, Turkey (2024)
– Special Mention Award, Mario Puzo Film Festival, Italy (2024)
– Best Film Popular Jury, International Short Film Festival CortoLovere, Italy (2024)
– Special Mention Award, Baghdad Film Festival, Iraq (2024)
– Special Jury Mention Award, Cortoeacapo Mario Puzo Film Festival, Italy (2024)
– Best Animation Award, Andaras Traveling Film Festival, Italy (2024)
– Mention Award, MOMPEO International Short Film Festival, Italy (2024)
– Best Sound Design Award, Malta Short Film Festival, Malta (2024)
– Best Short Film (Audience Award), Palestine Film Festival, Kuwait (2024)
– Best Animation Award, Adriatic Film Festival, Italy (2024)
– Special Mention Award, Babylon Animation Festival, Iraq (2024)
– Best Animation Award, Dieciminuti Film Festival, Italy (2024)
– Best Short Film, XXVIII Valsusa FilmFest , Italy (2024)
– Best Technical Realization, Settimo Short Film Festival, Italy (2024)
– Special Jury Mention, IFF Integrazione Film Festival, Italy (2024)
– Best Animation Award (Children’s Juries over 13 years old), Olympia International Film Festival for Children and Young People, Greece (2023)
– Best Animation Award, Bahrain Film Festival, Bahrain (2023)
– Best Animation Award, Tangier Film Festival, Morocco (2023)
– Best Animation Award, Beirut Short Film Festival, Lebanon (2023)
– Giuseppe Maestri Prize” for Best Animation, International Festival “Corti da Sogni Antonio Ricci”, Italy (2023)
– Best Animation Award, International Short Film Festival in Tripoli, Lebanon (2023)
– Best Animation Award, Festival Internacional de Cortometrajes Shorty Week, Spain (2023)
Festivals – Screenings:
– Kaboom Animation Festival, Netherland (2025)
– Beirut Animation Nights, Lebanon (2025)
– ANIMATIBA – Festival Internacional de Animação de Curitiba, Brazil (2025)
– Ferrara Film Corto Festival, Italy (2024)
– 62nd Golden Knight Malta Film Festival , Malta (2024)
– Amarcort Film Festival Rimini, Italy (2024)
– Festival del Cinema dei Diritti Umani di Napoli, Italy (2024)
– Salsa Film Festival, Germany (2024)
– Visioni Corte Film Festival, Italy (2024)
– 12th Canlandiranlar Film Festival, Turkey (2024)
– ANIMATICA small festival of animated shorts, Italy (2024)
– Free Palestine International Film Festival, UK (2024)
– Periferia dell’impero International Short Film Festival, Italy (2024)
– 11° Festival Internazionale dei Corti, Italy (2024)
– Marateale International Award, Italy (2024)
– Festival Corto Ma Non Troppo, Italy (2024)
– Vertigo Film Fest, Italy (2024)
– Mediterraneo Festival Corto, Italy (2024)
– Officine Social Film Festival, Italy (2024)
– SAFAR Film Festival, UK (2024)
– Bardolino Film Festival, Italy (2024)
– Falastin Film Festival, Scotland (2024)
– 18th Addis International Film Festival, Ethiopia (2024)
– Bangladesh International Short and Independent Film Festival, Bangladesh (2024)
– Solidando Film Festival, Italy (2024)
– Exploring Dissenting Voices Human Rights Short Film Exhibition, Taiwan (2024)
– 12th Asturias Social and Human Rights Film Festival, Spain (2024)
– CINEMARE International Ocean Film Festival KIEL, Germany (2024)
– Palestine Film Festival, Australia (2024)
– ACT Human Rights Film Festival, USA (2024)
– Florence Short Film Festival, Italy (2024)
– PATOIS International Film Festival, USA (2024)
– Houston Palestine Film Festival, USA (2024)
– ALFILM, Arab Film Festival Berlin, Germany (2024)
– Ajyal Film Festival / Club, Qatar (2023)
– Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth, UAE (2023)
– 36th International Amateur Film Festival of Kelibia, Tunisia (2023)
– 24th Ismailia International Film Festival, Egypt (2023)
– Toronto Palestine Film Festival, Canada (2023)
– 2º Festival Internacional de Cinema Ambiental de Garopaba, Brazil (2023)
– Karama Yemen Human Rights Film Festival, Yemen (2023)
– Festival du film d’animation pour la jeunesse de Bourg en Bresse, France (2023)
– Cannes Short Film Corner, France (2023)
– ITFS Stuttgart OPEN AIR Screening, Germany (2023)
– Palestine en Vue – Lyon (Special Screening), France (2023)
– 10th Tyre International Short Film Festival, Lebanon (2023)
– Weird Market & WFest – International Animation Short Films Market & Festival, Spain (2023)
– Lady Filmmakers Festival, USA (2023)
– 2º Festival Internacional de Cinema Ambiental de Garopaba, Brazil (2023)
– Festival Internacional de Cortometrajes Shorty Week, Spain (2023)
– Weird Fest, International Animation Short Films Market & WFest, Spain (2023)
– SOUQ Film Festival, Italy (2023)
Stills:
