SPERMACETI

A young deckhand aboard a whaling ship learns how sailors earn the markings on their skin.

SYNOPIS

Sailors kill time under a blistering sun, awaiting a sign of their prey. A young mind turns inwards as it traces the wood grain. After bloodshed, a strong arm offers a moment of shelter. A boy gets his first tattoo.

Spermaceti evokes the transitional space-time of a young man who finds himself on the threshold of an initiation. As we fluctuate between the underwater and the above, boundaries become slippery.

Written, Directed & Animated by Jacky De Groen
Produced by Sarah D’hanens
Associate Producer Barend Weyens
Original Music & Sound Design by Craig Sutherland
Re-recording Mixer & Additional Sound Design by Jef Aerts

FESTIVALS & AWARDS

• Official Selection Adelaide Film Festival 2018, Australia

• Official Selection TAF | Thessaloniki Animation Festival 2018, Greece

• Official Selection PÖFF Shorts 2018, Estonia

• Official Selection LIAF 2018, London

• Official Selection International Short Film Festival Leuven 2018, Belgium

• Official Selection FICA | Aguilar de Campoo International Short Film Festival 2018, Spain

• Official Selection Festival Premiers Plans D’Angers 2019, France

• Official Selection Moscow Shorts 2019, Russia

• Official Selection ANIMA 2019, Belgium

• Official Selection Athens Animfest 2019, Greece

• Official Selection Mecal Pro 2019, Spain

• Semi Finalist / Honorable Mention Columbus International Film & Animation Festival 2019, USA

• Official Selection FilmFest Dresden, International Short Film Festival 2019, Germany

• Official Selection Brussels Short Film Festival 2019, Belgium

• Official Selection Australian International Animation Festival 2019, Australia

• Official Selection ANIMAFEST Zagreb 2019, Croatia

• Official Selection Palm Springs International ShortFest 2019, USA

  Nominee Best Animated Short

• Official Selection MIAF 2019, Australia

• Official Selection Cartoon Club 2019, Italy

• Official Selection Insomnia International Open-Air Animation Film Festival 2019, Russia

• Official Selection Animation NOW! - NZIFF 2019, New Zealand

• Official Selection Lago Film Fest 2019, Italy

• Official Selection La Guarimba International Film Festival 2019, Italy

• Official Selection VQFF 2019, Canada

• Official Selection SHORT to the Point International Film Festival 2019, Romania

  Best Animated Short Monthly Award

• Official Selection Fantoche International Animation Film Festival 2019, Switzerland

• Official Selection ANNY, Animation Nights New York 2019, USA

  Winner Best of Fest 2021

• Official Selection International Animated Film Festival KROK 2019, Russia

• Official Selection Ars Independent Festival 2019, Poland

• Official Selection Dumbo Film Festival 2019, USA

  Best Animation Certificate of Excellence

• Official Selection European Animated Film Festival BALKANIMA 2019, Serbia

• Official Selection ANIM'EST International Animation Film Festival 2019, Romania

• Official Selection PRIME THE ANIMATION! New Talent International Festival 2019, Spain

  Special Mention Best Animated Short

• Official Selection TOFUZI International Animated Film Festival 2019, Georgia

  Best Experimental Film Nominee

• Official Selection Sound And Vision International Film & Technology Festival 2019, USA

• Official Selection Animatic 2019, Spain

• Official Selection Animateka International Animated Film Festival 2019, Slovenia

• Official Selection Palm Springs International Animation Festival & Expo 2019, USA

• Official Selection VOID International Animation Film Festival 2020, Denmark

  in consideration for selection in other festivals