Animated on location at a beach, in snow, and underwater, this stop-motion short details a transoceanic conversation between two characters via objects in a bottle.

Kirsten Lepore uses stop motion to create a believably bittersweet fantasy within this story of two unlikely penpals; one a mound of sand, the other a pile of snow. Each are endowed with sentience and mobility and come to know each other by trading details of their lives through a floating bottle. The result is visually inventive, yet also emotionally affecting. Bottle is a film which showcases Lepore’s rapport with current culture, but also her precocious handle on timeless and masterful storytelling.

AWARDS
AFI Film Festival – Official Shorts Two Program Selection
Annie Awards – Student Annie Award
Vimeo Audience Award – Best Animation
Rockport Film Festival – Best Animation & People’s Choice Award
Stop-Motion Film Festival – Best in Academic Category
Animex Film Festival – Best Stop-Motion/Animation
Arizona Film Festival – Best Animation
LES Film Festival – Prix D’Or/Best of Fest
Slamdance Film Festival – Grand Jury Prize for Best Animation
Linoleum Festival – Special Jury Prize
Stuttgart International Animation Festival – Best Student Animation
GIRAF6 Animation Festival – Best of Fest
Florida Film Festival – Best Animation
Vimeo Awards Finalist & Community Choice Award
Anim’est – Best Student Film
BAFTA LA Student Film Awards – 2nd Place