A young Filipino animator’s short film, “Tella,” has recently clinched awards in two competitions, Toronto Indie Shorts Festival and Reale Film Festival.
“Tella” by Zachary John Conlu narrates the story of a lost little girl and a twinkling star which fell from the sky. As the two embarked on a mission to reach the night sky, they discovered the power of genuine friendship.
A Bachelor of Arts in Animation alumnus from the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, Conlu has been working on the film since 2018. For the passion project, he enlisted the assistance of Pauline Jan Villanueva for the musical score and Anthony Tobias for sound design.
Villanueva was recognized as Best Composer at the Toronto Indie Shorts Festival, a Canada-based celebration of all genres worldwide.
The film likewise garnered Best Soundtrack during the Reale Film Festival, an event which aims to give space to independent short films each month.
The 12-minute short may be watched online (vimeo.com/584517679, password tella).