Du Iz Tak?

As a tiny sprout unfurls, two damselflies peer at it in wonder. "Du iz tak?" one asks the other, in the private and mysterious language of the insects. This film imagines the dramatic possibilities to be found in even the humblest backyard, and offers a microcosmic view of the unstoppable cycle of life.

Du Iz Tak? is based on the book by Carson Ellis. The film was adapted, directed, and animated by Galen Fott. The musical score was composed and produced by Sarah Hart. The film is produced by Linda Lee, Paul R. Gagne, and Melissa R. Ellard at Weston Woods Studios. Running time is 11:05.

TO VIEW/PURCHASE:

VOICE CAST:

Eli D'Amico — Beetle 3

Sebastian D'Amico — Beetle 1

Burton Fott — Millipede

Galen Fott — First Caterpillar/Icky/Bluefly/Stickbug

Laura Fott — Gnat/Ooky/Hatbug

Sarah Hart — Damselfly 2

Bella Higginbotham — Beetle 2/Hat Caterpillar/Cricket

Evelyn Hipp — Flying Bug

Brian Hull — Damselfly 1/Lizard/End Caterpillar

AWARDS AND SCREENINGS:

• WorldFest Houston — Special Jury Remi Award for Animated Short

• Corto & Fieno Rural Film Festival (Italy) - Best Animated Short Film

• Plein la Bobine (France) - Professional Jury Award, Pico Competition

• American Library Association - Odyssey Honor (audiobook version)

• Milwaukee Film Festival - Kids Jury Honorable Mention

• Nashville Film Festival

• KLIK Amsterdam Animation Festival

• Carrousel international du film de Rimouski, Quebec

• Boston International Kids Film Festival

• Children's Film Festival Seattle

• Brooklyn Academy of Music BAMkids Film Festival

• Chicago International Children's Film Festival

• KUKI International Short Film Festival for Children and Youth Berlin

• Bay Area International Children's Film Festival

• Festival Ciné Junior, France

• Belmont Family Film Festival (MA)

• Bellingham Children's Film Festival (WA)

• Festival de Cine Creat Rivas, Madrid

• PLAY – Festival Internacional de Cinema Infantil & Juvenil de Lisbon

• Filmfest Dresden

• Cinemagic International Film and Festival for Young People, Belfast

• Environmental Youth Forum, San Rafael CA

• Zlín Film Festival, Czech Republic

• EarthCare Expo, Urbana IL

• REDCAT International Children's Film Festival, Los Angeles CA

• Melbourne International Animation Festival

• Australian International Animation Festival

• ANDkids World Film Festival, Notre Dame IN

• Almagro International Film Festival, Spain

• Holland Animation Film Festival

• Kaboom Animation Festival, Netherlands

• Festival International du Film de La Roche-sur-Yon, France

• Lesofantenfest, Vienna

• Valdivia International Film Festival, Chile

• Nikozi International Animation Festival, Georgia

• International Film Festival for Children and Youth, Iran

• Dell-International Kids Film Festival

• La Pellicule Ensorcelée, France

• Spatzenkino, Germany

• DOK Leipzig

• Reggio Film Festival, Italy

• Taiwan International Children's Film Festival

• International Kids Film Festival Dubai

• Los Angeles International Children's Film Festival

• Cinema Insuflável, Portugal

• New Zealand International Film Festival

• Film Festival della Lessinia, Italy

• Kurzfilmfestival Köln, Germany

• Brest European Short Film Festival, France

• FIN Atlantic International Film Festival, Nova Scotia

• Environmental Film Festival Australia

• Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, New Zealand

Concorto Film Festival, Italy

Kids Kino International Film Festival, Poland

REVIEWS AND PRAISE:

"The tale is imaginatively animated as a hilarious assortment of bugs walk, climb, and slide...Animator/director Galen Fott has deftly adapted Carson Ellis's Caldecott Honor picture book, infusing it with meaning and conveying the joy of discovery...This multilayered and beautifully and thoughtfully designed adaptation encourages inference, creativity, and teamwork and will delight audiences of all ages." — Lonna Pierce, School Library Journal

"This lovely and poignant short about nature, community, and regrowth is highly recommended." — J. Williams-Wood, Video Librarian