top of page
12.jpg

BLUE WILLOW

A hand-drawn animated short film.

Inspired by the famous "Willow" plate pattern, Blue Willow brings the blue lines
on a porcelain plate to life and weaves a haunting (and quirky) story of love and family betrayal.
​​
Written, Directed, Illustrated & Produced by
Veialu Aila-Unsworth

Screened at 30 film festivals in 13 countries including the 56th Berlin International Film Festival.

AWARDS

Winner - 'Audience Favorite' at Dawson City International Shorts Festival

Finalist - New Zealand Screen Awards, Best Short & Script

24.png

Starring the voice of Jing He as the female lead, Koong-se

Original Music & Musical Performance by Tim Beals,

Digital Direction by Mark D'Ath, Traditional Cell Animation by Tom Simpson,

Concept Artist and Storyboards by Dave Bat, Sound mixing by Phill Adams.

Running time:  13 mins

Country:  Aotearoa New Zealand

Language:  English

 

Made in Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand 

/ Ngāti Toa Rangatira & Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika land

8.jpg
10.jpg

"Bordering somewhere between dream, myth and critical reality, the films of artist Veialu Aila-Unsworth question ideas of culture, identity, time and space. Spurred by a deep personal search, Aila-Unsworth goes beyond the surface of mythology to tell stories that affirm and connect."

- Whitefungus magazine

7.jpg
9.jpg
Festivals

OFFICIAL SELECTION

EUROPE

Berlin International Film Festival - Kinderfilmfest/14plus (Germany)

Clermont-Ferrand - market screening (France)

IndieLisboa (Portugal)

Granada Film Festival (Spain)

Hamburg Short Film Festival (Germany)

Ale Kino! International Young Audience Film Festival (Poland)

Sexta em Curtas (Portugal)

With Ensemble Fleder Swedish vocal quartet in Sweden (2012) and Portugal (2013)

OCEANIA

New Zealand International Film Festival

Brisbane International Film Festival (Australia)

Wairoa Film Festival (New Zealand)

In The Bin Festival (Australia)

Show Me Shorts (Australia)

Coromandel Film Festival (New Zealand)

Out Of The Blue (New Zealand)

Magma Short Film Festival (New Zealand)

WIFT International Short Film Showcase (New Zealand)

Reel Asians - WIFT fundraising event (New Zealand)

Exhibited at City Gallery Wellington (New Zealand)

Auckland Lantern Festival (New Zealand)

ASIA

Goyang International Children's Festival (Korea)

Seoul International Family Film Festival (Korea)

With Ensemble Fleder Swedish vocal quartet in Hangzhou, Wenzhou, and Shanghai Conservatory of Music in China (2013)

AMERICA

Chicago International Film Festival

Milly Valley Film Festival

Cinema K Children's Festival

San Diego Women's Film Festival

GlamourFilmFest (Christina Ricci's 'pick of the week')

Alaska Native Film Festival

CANADA

ImagineNATIVE Film & Media Festival (Toronto)

Dawson City International Shorts Festival - Winner of Audience Favorite (Yukon)

Carousel International Film De Rimouski (Vancouver)

AFRICA

Lola Kenya Screen (Kenya)

AWARDS

Winner - Audience Favorite at Dawson City International Shorts Festival

Finalist - New Zealand Screen Awards, Best Short & Script

11.jpg

BLUE WILLOW SHORT FILM WAS MADE IN WELLINGTON, AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND

Blue Willow was created with the kind support of Creative NZ and the NZ Film Commission, Toi Whakaari NZ Drama School, and the Victoria University of Wellington Theatre Programme.

bottom of page