This is Animation Scoop’s second look at the 2025 Tribeca Festival, with reviews and exclusive filmmaker statements for the Animated Shorts Curated by Whoopi G presentation, which just screened in NYC. For Tribeca 2025 tickets to attend future showings, visit TribecaFilm.com. (Some statements were edited for length and clarity.)

Francisco de Goya is painting. The residence he’s in is narrating. The Quinta’s Ghost shows how the past haunts him and how spirits are consuming him. Multiple variations of animation styles are used well. “Being able to premiere at the Tribeca film festival makes me incredibly emotional. Not only is a testament to our film and all the hard work that our team has put into it, but it also shines a light to the festivals commitment to showcase and support independant and daring films. I premiered my first film; Madrid Noir, at Tribeca in 2021 so, in many ways, having The Quinta’s Ghost premiering there makes me feel like I am going home, to the people that welcomed me before. We are incredibly excited about the platform that Tribeca offers us to showcase our film to an audience hungry for powerful stories; since the beginning, we have been adamant that The Quinta’s Ghost needed to be seen by genre fans, after all, the subjects and themes of our film are a celebration of gothic ghosts stories and the life and work of one of the most enigmatic artists. I can’t wait to be there in person to witness the premiere with everyone else.” — Director James A. Castillo

Petra and the Sun is about a 71-year-old woman in the mountains, with a gun and a dog. She’s a little lonely. What happens next is wild, and you’re glued right to the end. “To have been selected to show our short film at Tribeca is an honor. We are touched by the sensitive reading that has been made of our story and our character. Petra and the Sun is an unconventional story about loneliness and old age, but also about care and affection in everyday life, in small gestures. The weather changes, the landscape changes and so do our characters. We are thrilled that the short film – and the work of each member of our team – will reach other territories and diverse audiences. We are excited to find out how it will be received.” — Directors Malu Furche and Stefania Malacchini

How A River Is Born presents scenic hand-drawn animation as a woman explores nature, and herself, in poetic ways. “It is a great joy and a true honor to have our North American premiere at Tribeca’s Animated Shorts, curated by Whoopi Goldberg. How A River Is Born embraces a non-verbal narrative with an experimental, fantastical and dreamlike approach. This film stems from the desire to celebrate love between women, following the path of Ayla, a young woman embracing her desires and discovering herself. Bringing such a personal and sensitive story to a global platform like Tribeca is deeply meaningful for my career — as it is the first film I have written and directed — and also for our small team, which is predominantly composed of Brazilian women and LGBTQ+ individuals.” — Director Luma Flôres

Ovary-Acting is a bold and memorable stop-motion comedy about a woman who attends her sister’s baby shower and feels the pressure of starting a family of her own. “After years of hard work and dedication, I am beyond proud to share my film, Ovary-Acting, with the world. This story about a woman’s choice for her future felt important when we started development 4 years ago, and it has, in many ways, become even more relevant and needed since then. I made this film alongside 4 incredibly talented women, Michelle Brøndum, Laura Jayne Tunbridge, Lesley Posso and Kjersti Greger. Our goal was always to bring light to this sometimes heavy topic in an honest, fun, and entertaining way, and I think our incredible team has achieved just that. We will have our world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival and our European premiere at the Annecy International Film Festival. Premiering at these prestigious festivals is a testament to the work that has been put into bringing this film to life. It’s also been great to see that these festivals recognize the need for this kind of storytelling.” — Director Ida Melum

And from producer Greger: “Having our world premiere for Ovary-Acting at Tribeca is the most fantastic kickoff for the film’s international festival tour. We have poured an enormous amount of time, energy, and love into this film, and want the world to see a colorful, humorous yet serious and strong female perspective on reproduction and women’s right to make decisions about their own body.”

It’s a pivotal car ride for a mother and daughter in the emotional Still Moving, which reflects on life’s ups and downs; the past, present and future. “It is quite an amazing feeling for Still Moving to be a part of Tribeca Festival: I am honored that my team and I will get to share the film with a large and diverse audience at this prestigious film festival! In mixed media animation, this film’s story is a personal one about the avoidance of difficult conversations between a mother and a daughter, entirely set in a single space: the driving cab of a moving truck. I am excited to attend and to meet the audience. I am thrilled that there is a growing place for independent animation at Tribeca, and I am looking forward to meeting and connecting with other filmmakers and film lovers alike!” — Director Rui Ting Ji

Animals on a bus trip stop for a break. A Night at the Rest Area is a warm examination of observations and sounds — and what it means to interact with strangers. “I am very honored to be selected for the Tribeca Animated Short Film Competition curated by Whoopi Goldberg!!! This film is based on my childhood experiences. When I was a child, my parents used to take me on road trips and I have many happy memories of the rest areas. We sometimes left home early in the morning when it was still dark outside. As a child, the experience of traveling by car at night was very exciting, and combined with the slightly lonely atmosphere of the city, it remains strongly in my memory as a special time. So, I wanted to create those memories as an animation. I hope you enjoy my film!” — Director Saki Muramoto

And in the sweet The Piano, a girl waits for her father to come home from work. When he begins playing the title instrument, she joins him, and we’re taken on a glowing journey of memories and those to come. “The Piano was inspired by a special memory from my childhood— sneaking out of bed to listen to dad play the piano. That bond over the piano became the heart of this film. I was lucky to work with people like composer Ryan O’Neal (Sleeping At Last), co-producer Pietro Schito, and Tony Bancroft as a mentor. They’re all fathers, and they connected with the story not just as artists, but as dads who know what it’s like to be up late working hard for their family. That understanding made the film feel more real. We also had an incredible international team behind this short, and their perspectives helped shape the film in ways I couldn’t have done alone. And in a time when AI is being used to automate so much of the creative process, we wanted to make something fully hand-drawn, to celebrate the craft and human touch of traditional animation.” — Director Avery Kroll