A Crab in the Pool
A film by
Alexandra Myotte, Jean-Sébastien Hamel
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Synopsis
In a run-down neighborhood, Zoe and her little brother Theo are left to fend for themselves. A young adolescent, Zoe is a ball of anger haunted by an intimate terror. Theo, still a child, flees reality into a fantastical world. During a scorching summer day, the two children will have to burst the abscess of their relationship so as not to lose each other.
Highlights
130+ festivals, 40 awards. Academy Awards® 2025, USA * Shortlist: Best Animation Short Film
Tags
2023
Drama
Animation
Genre
Drama
,
Country
Canada (Quebec)
Year
2023
Length
11'14"
Themes
Teen friendly
,
Mental Health
,
Growing pains
,
Production
Jean-Sébastien Hamel, Alexandra Myotte (Sémaphore Films)
Director
Alexandra Myotte, Jean-Sébastien Hamel
Screenplay
Alexandra Myotte, Jean-Sébastien Hamel
Artistic Direction
Alexandra Myotte
Animation
Alexandra Myotte
Editing
Jean-Sébastien Hamel
Sound
François Lacasse
Director's statement
A CRAB IN THE POOL is an exploration of grief. It's also about cancer, a disease that has touched us very closely.
Alexandra Myotte & Jean-Sébastien Hamel
Alexandra Myotte, Jean-Sébastien Hamel
Alexandra Myotte and Jean-Sébastien Hamel are a duo of writers-directors based in Montreal. Their award-winning animated short films and web series have been featured in numerous festivals around the globe. Their latest film NO TITLE (2021) has won multiple awards, including Best Canadian Short Film at EIFF 2021, in addition to being nominated for Best Animated Short Film at the 2022 IRIS Awards.
Filmography
Ce qu'on laisse derrière | Short Animation | 2025Un trou dans la poitrine | Short Animation | 2023Pas de titre | No title | Short Animation | 2021Mademoiselle Pigeon | Short Animation | 2019
Social media
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Festivals
Festival international du film francophone de Namur, Belgium | 2023 *Prix de la mise en scène
SXSW, USA | 2023 *Animated Short Audience Award
Anim’est, Romania | 2023 *Best Film of Anim’est Romania 2023
Bogoshorts, Colombia | 2023 *Santa Lucía for Best International Animated Short Film
Gala Prends Ça Court!, Canada | 2023 *Prix Ottoblix-Unité centrale, Prix Les copains du son, Prix UNIS TV, Prix El Toro Studio, Prix ACCQ
Ottawa International Animation Film Festival, Canada | 2023 *Award for Best Canadian Animation Short Film
GIRAF Animation Film Festival, Canada | 2023 *Best Canadian Animation
Spark Animation Film Festival, Canada | 2023 *Best Canadian film
Cinemania, Canada | 2023 *Meilleur court métrage québécois
Rendez-vous Québec Cinéma, Canada | 2024 *Meilleur court-métrage d'animation
Vues dans la tête…, Canada | 2024 *Grand prix du jury PARALOEIL
Sommets du cinéma d’animation de Montréal, Canada | 2024 *Grand prix Guy L. Coté
Festival du film de Knowlton, Canada | 2024 *Premier Prix du Jury
Mecal International Short Film Festival, Spain | 2024 *Animation second prize *Animation Audience Award
Tricky Women Animated Film Festival, Austria | 2024 *Audience award
Short Shorts Film Festival, Japan | 2024 *Animation Competition Best Short Award (Oscar-qualifying)
New Chitose Airport International Animation Festival, Japan | 2024 *Special Jury Award for Short Films
ASFF As Film Festival, Italy | 2024 *Animation Now Award
Ningbo Short Film Festival, China | 2024 *Best Animated Short Film
RiverRun Film Festival, USA | 2024 *Jury honorable mention
Snake Alley Festival of Film, USA | 2024 *Best Animation
SPASM, Canada | 2024 *Grand prix du jury
Gala Québec Cinéma - IRIS, Canada | 2024 *Meilleur court ou moyen métrage d'animation
Tricky Women Animated Film Festival, Austria | 2024 *Audience award
IndieJúnior - International Children’s and Young Film Festival, Portugal | 2024 *Special Mention to the Impact Award
Ciné court animé, France | 2024 *Grand prix international du jury
OFF-Courts de Trouville et Marché, France | 2024 *Prix Hugues Fléchard du meilleur scénario Casino Barrière
Galichnik Film Festival, North Macedonia | 2024 *Best Animated Film
Bolton International Film Festival, UK | 2024 *Best Animation
Animation is film, USA | 2024 *Special Jury Prize
SPASM, Canada | 2024 *Grand prix du jury
AFI FEST, USA | 2023
Festival du court métrage de Clermont Ferrand, France | 2024
Vienna Short Film Festival, Austria | 2024
Anima Bruxelles, Belgium | 2024
Women+Film Festival, USA | 2024
Palm Springs Shortfest and Market, USA | 2024
FEST - New Directors New Films Festival, Portugal | 2024
Stuttgart Festival of Animated Film Festival, Germany | 2024
Footcandle Film Festival, USA | 2024
Salute Your Shorts, USA | 2024
24fps International Short Film Festival, USA | 2024
New Hampshire Film Festival, USA | 2024
Arkansas Shorts, USA | 2024
Festival de Cinéma en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Canada | 2023
Festival International de Cinéma Francophone en Acadie, Canada | 2023
Yellowknife International Film Festival, Canada | 2023
Festival Court d'un Soir, Canada | 2024
Festival Regard, Canada | 2024
Carrousel du film de Rimouski, Canada | 2024
Festival du film de l'Outaouais, Canada | 2024
Tirana International Film Festival, Albania | 2024
Linoleum Contemporary Animation and Media Art Festival, Ukraine | 2024
Kyiv International Short Film Festival, Ukraine | 2024
Melbourne International Film Festival, Australia | 2024
Adelaide Film Festival, Australia | 2024
Dawson City International Short Film Festival, Canada | 2024
Animation Festival of Halifax, Canada | 2024
Halifax Independent Filmmakers Festival, Canada | 2024
Les Percéïdes, Canada | 2024
Festival du film de la ville de Québec, Canada | 2024
Gimli Film Festival, Canada | 2024
Ottawa Film Festival, Canada | 2024
Calgary International Film Festival, Canada | 2024
Fabulous Festival of Fringe Film, Canada | 2024
Cinanima International Animation Film Festival, Portugal | 2024
Indie Street Film Festival, Portugal | 2024
OFF-Odense International Film Festival, France | 2024
Fenêtres sur courts, France | 2024
Festival du film canadien de Dieppe, France | 2024
Festival Le Cri du Court, France | 2024
Fantoche - International Animation Film Festival, Switzerland | 2023
Animatou, Switzerland | 2023
Dok & Animation Leipzig, Germany | 2023
Mo & Friese Hamburg Short Film Festival, Germany | 2024
London International Animation Festival, UK | 2023
Flatpack Festival, UK | 2024
BitBang Festival, Argentina | 2023
Ensenada International Film Festival, Argentina | 2024
IndieCork, Ireland | 2023
Animac, Spain | 2024
Ficbueu, Festival International de Cinema de Bueu, Spain | 2024
Andaras Traveling Film Festival, Spain | 2024
AniFilm International Festival of Animated Films, Czech Republic | 2024
AnimaFest, Croatia | 2024
Guadalajara International Film Festival, Mexico | 2024
OFF-Odense International Film Festival, Denmark | 2024
Andaras Traveling Film Festival, Italy | 2024
Tout Court, Nuove Voci del cinema francofono, Italy | 2024
La Guarimba, Italy | 2024
Sedicicorto International Film Festival, Italy | 2024
Anca International Film Festival, Slovakia | 2024
Ravenheart International Film Festival, Norway | 2024
Animanima, Serbia | 2024
Ningen International Animation Film Open Air Festival, Serbia | 2024
Izmir International Short Film Festival, Turkey | 2024
Manchester Animation Festival, UK | 2024
Tirana International Film Festival, Albania | 2024
Festival Séquence Court-Métrage, France | 2024
Look & Roll International Short Film Festival, Switzerland | 2024
Festival Du grain à démoudre, France | 2024
Interfilm Berlin - KUKI Youth Film Festival, Germany | 2024
Cinanima International Animation Film Festival, Portugal | 2024
Sapporo International Short Film Festival and Market, Japan | 2024
TOHorror Fantastic Film Festival, Italy | 2024
Denver Film Festival, USA | 2024
Sweaty Eyeballs Animation Festival, USA | 2024
Weird Marker’s International Animation Short Films Festival, Spain | 2024
Animateka, Slovenia | 2024
Sulmona International Film Festival, Italy | 2024
Virginia Film Festival, USA | 2024
15 Short Film Festival, USA | 2024
Nara International Film Festival for Youth, Japan | 2024
Beirut Shorts International Film Festival, Lebanon | 2024
PLUM! International Animation Festival, Argentina | 2024
Cinémental, Canada | 2024
Cabane A Sang - Montreal Horror and Trash Film Festival, Canada | 2025
Festival Plein(s) Écran(s), Canada | 2025
News
✈️ Travelling is back at Clermont Ferrand!
Travelling Distribution will be at Clermont-Ferrand from Saturday, January 31 (evening) to Friday January 6 (morning).
We're bringing 6 films with us - and a lot of cool merch, so leave room in your suitcase!
Three shorts in competition : BOA, WHAT WE LEAVE BEHIND, AIR HORSE ONE + three shorts at the market : TBA. Teams in attendance.
Book a meeting with us from Jan 1 to Jan 5 :
Buyers : Laurence Blais, admin@travellingdistribution.com
Programmers : Tam Dan Vu, coordo@travellingdistribution.com
Directors, producers : Louise Morel, louise@travellingdistribution.com
C'EST MA SOEUR | Berlinale Generation
C’EST MA SOEUR (THAT’S MY SISTER) directed by Zoé Pelchat, written by Léalie Ferland Tanguay, produced by Papillon Films, will have its World Premiere at Berlinale Generation 14plus. Team in attendance.
Distribution Inquiries : info@travellingdistribution.com
Press Inquiries : caroline@pixellex.ca
Learn more ↗
3 films | SXSW
1-2-3 films at SXSW (March 12–18, 2026)! Teams in attendance.
A WOLF IN THE SUBURBS
*World Premiere
dir. Amélie Hardy, prod. Metafilms
2026 | documentary | 19’
AIR HORSE ONE
*North American Premiere
dir. Lasse Linder, prod. Dynamic Frame, Black Boat and White Boat
2025 | documentary | 21’
WHAT WE LEAVE BEHIND
*US Premiere
dir. Jean-Sébastien Hamel & Alexandra Myotte
2025 | animation, genre | 11’
Distribution Inquiries : info@travellingdistribution.com
Press Inquiries : caroline@pixellex.ca
Learn more ↗
BEAU TEMPS, MAUVAIS TEMPS | Slamdance
Florence Lafond’s BEAU TEMPS, MAUVAIS TEMPS (NO MATTER THE WEATHER) will be in competition at Slamdance (Feb 19 - 25, 2026) in the Documentary Shorts Competition.
Inquiries : info@travellingdistribution.com
Learn more ↗
Jazz Infernal at Sundance
After TIFF and TIFF Canada's Top Ten, Will Niava’s JAZZ INFERNAL (prod. Telescope, Disamare, Scara-b) will have its international premiere at Sundance Film Festival (Jan. 16 - 26, 2026). Team in attendance.
Distribution Inquiries : info@travellingdistribution.com
Press Inquiries : caroline@pixellex.ca
Info + Screening Times ↗
WE WERE THE SCENERY | 98th Oscars® Shortlist
WE WERE THE SCENERY (dir. Christopher Radcliff, prod. Cathy Linh Che, Jess X Snow) is shortlisted at the 98th Academy Awards® for Best Documentary Short Film!
Distribution Inquiries : info@travellingdistribution.com
Watch now (US, Canada, UK) ↗