Only A Child is a visual poem created by over 20 animation directors under the artistic supervision of Simone Giampaolo. The award-winning animated short film gives shape and colour to the original words spoken by Severn Cullis-Suzuki at the UN Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The historic speech was a child’s desperate call to action for the future of our planet.
With this omnibus film, through eloquent images and powerful animated allegories, the young animators project their message through art. Each artist involved in the creation of this eclectic film used their own unique style and technique to bring a segment of Severn’s speech to life: stop-motion, CGI, traditional 2D, cut-outs, sand animation and paint on glass, and more. Only A Child debuts today at one of the leading short films distribution platforms KIS KIS – keep it short.
Only A Child has been selected by over 100 festivals worldwide, gaining recognition and winning many prestigious awards including Best in Show at SPARK Animation Festival, Nomination for 2020 Swiss Film Prize, Audience Choice Award at Siggraph 2021, Best Youth Film at Festival Regard, Best Film at 3D Wire Fest and the Special Mention at the 28th Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film where the jury noted:
“Only a Child collaborative project, celebrating the plethora of designs, styles, and techniques that a century of animation has brought to the World. By adding animation to an important voice from the past, Only a Child reminds us all, that only by believing in and acting as one responsible global community, there is a way forward for humanity on earth.”
The film was produced by Amka Films, Gabriella de Gara, and the prominent Swiss Producer Tiziana Soudani (1955-2020), in coproduction with RSI Radiotelevisione svizzera SRG SSR, with the support of the Federal Office of Culture (FOC), Republic and Canton Ticino, Fondo Filmplus della Svizzera italiana and Swiss Film.
