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Echoes of the Wild

Echoes of the Wild follows Jamie, a boy caught in the quiet chaos of home, where words go unsaid and emotions build like storms. When it becomes too much, he runs—into a forest that feels alive, pulsing with memory and imagination. But the deeper he goes, the more the shadows take shape: dark, creeping Echoes that mirror everything he’s tried to bury. Just when fear begins to swallow him whole, he meets the Mossmane—a towering, moss-covered creature that feels as if his childhood toy has come to life. What begins as survival becomes something stranger, softer, more profound. The forest bends to their connection as Jamie learns to move with strength, to stand without shrinking. In this blurred space between boy and becoming, Echoes of the Wild is a quiet, haunting journey through the inner wilderness we all carry—and the moment we finally face it.

  • Shaz Bell
    Director
  • Shaz Bell
    Writer
  • Lewis Candy
    Producer
  • Vanya Noloboff
    Key Cast
    "Jamie"
  • Allan Henry
    Key Cast
    "Mossmane Giant: Motion Performer"
    Godzilla vs. Kong, Cocaine Bear, Mortal Engines, Planet of the Apes, Avengers: Infinity War, Jumanji: The Next Level, Sweet Tooth
  • Angus Dunn
    Key Cast
    "Mossmane Giant: On-Set Body Double"
    Avatar: The Way of Water, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, Time Bandits
  • Ryan Holloway
    Cinematography
  • Shaz Bell
    Visual Effects
  • Billy Chang
    Visual Effects
  • Wujun Ren
    Visual Effects
  • Ryan Holloway
    Visual Effects
  • Lewis Candy
    Visual Effects
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Experimental, Short, Student
  • Genres:
    adventure, fantasy, childrens, drama
  • Runtime:
    7 minutes 32 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    February 19, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    1,000 NZD
  • Country of Origin:
    New Zealand
  • Country of Filming:
    New Zealand
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Blackmagic
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Victoria University of Wellington
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Expanding Cinema: Miramar Creative Centre Showcase
    Wellington
    New Zealand
    March 27, 2025
  • Student Cuts Film Festival
    Ljutomer
    Slovenia
    May 7, 2025
    European Premiere
    Non-Competition Short Film
  • Festival Internacional de Cortometraje UVAQ
    Morelia, Michoacán
    Mexico
    June 9, 2025
    South American Premiere
    Fiction Short Film Official Selection
  • Carrara Filmfest Sindelfingen
    Baden-Württemberg
    Germany
    July 18, 2025
    German Premiere
    Carrara Film Prize Nomination
  • ReFrame: 2025 Postgraduate Exhibition
    Wellington
    New Zealand
    August 8, 2025
  • Port-Said Film Festival
    Port Said
    Egypt
    September 18, 2025
    African Premiere
    Nomination
  • CineMaz
    Minas Gerais
    Brazil
    September 21, 2025
    Brazilian Premiere
    Award Winner: Best Art Direction (Categoria Internacional, Melhor Direção de Arte)
  • Show Me Shorts
    Wellington
    New Zealand
    October 11, 2025
    New Zealand Premiere
    Whanau Friendly Selection
  • TrikFilm
    Ostrava
    September 24, 2025
    Czech Premiere
    Official Selection
  • AnimArte - International Student Animation Festival of Brazil
    Rio de Janeiro
    Brazil
    October 20, 2025
    Official Selection
  • San Diego International Film Festival
    San Diego
    United States
    October 17, 2025
    North American Premiere
    Award Winner: Best Student Film
  • Bradford International Film Festival
    Bradford
    United Kingdom
    October 30, 2025
    United Kingdom Premiere
    Nominee: Best International Film
  • Girona Film Festival
    Girona
    Spain
  • First-Time Filmmaker Sessions (Lift-Off at Pinewood Studios)
    London
    United Kingdom
  • Port Said International Film Festival
    Port Said
    Egypt
  • Chiang Mai International Fantastic Film Festival
    Chiang Mai
    Thailand
    Asia Premiere
    Award: Best VFX (Audience)
  • TrikFilm International Animated Short Film Festival

    Czechia
  • 9º Festival de Cine Infantil Churumbela

    Mexico
  • DocuJam – A Youth Film Festival
    New York
    United States
  • NanoCon International Film Festival

    United States
  • Overlea ArtsFest / CCBC Film Festival

    United States
  • KINOdiseea International Children Film Festival

    Romania
  • BUESFF – British University Students Film Festival

    Egypt
  • Heron Bay Film Festival

    Canada
  • New Zealand Youth Film Festival
    Auckland
    New Zealand
    November 15, 2025
    Award Winner: Wētā FX Award Best Visual Effects
Distribution Information
  • Show Me Shorts
    Sales Agent
    Country: New Zealand
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Shaz Bell

Shaz completed their Master’s in Design Technology with Echoes of the Wild, a short film that draws on their background in multimedia design, photography, and 3D animation. Their recent leap into FX, with a focus on Character FX and simulations, has deepened their interest in crafting vivid, emotionally driven worlds. Passionate about film and storytelling, Shaz aims to push creative boundaries through thoughtful design and strong visual language. Their work on Echoes of the Wild has been recognised internationally, earning multiple awards including honors at the San Diego International Film Festival. As their most ambitious project to date, the film reflects Shaz’s growing vision as a filmmaker and their commitment to the craft of visual effects.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

At its heart, Echoes of the Wild is a tribute to childhood imagination—the kind that turns a simple toy into a guardian and makes emotions feel as real as the world around us. The film embraces fantasy not as an escape, but as a way to process what feels overwhelming, with the Mossmane serving as both a guide and a reflection of Jamie’s inner strength.