Private Project

Leonid in Space

Leonid in Space, inspired by true events, follows Leonid, a homeless dog who goes from living the streets to becoming the Soviet Union's first Canine Cosmonaut.

  • Kendra Williford
    Director
  • Sherrie H. Sinclair
    Instructors
    The Lion King, Pocahontas, Mulan, Tarzan
  • Diana Coco-Russell
    Instructors
    The Lion King, Mulan, Beauty and the Beast, Hercules
  • Michael Vickner
    Instructors
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    3 minutes 26 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 14, 2015
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes
  • Academy of Art Spring Show 2015
    San Francisco, CA
  • Best Shorts Competition
    Online
    Award of Merit
  • Los Angeles International Film Festival Awards
    Los Angeles, CA
    July 11, 2015
    Best Student Animation
  • Gwinnett Center International Film Festival
    Duluth, GA
    Georgia Premiere
    Nominated for Best Animation; Best Director
  • North Carolina Film Awards
    Online
    Director's Award
  • ITSA Shorts Film Festival
    Groveland, CA
    Official Selection
  • Accolade Global Film Competition
    La Jolla, CA
    Award of Merit
  • InterShort Online Film Awards
    Online
    Official Selection
  • Digitalmation Awards
    Online
    Best Student Film (Animation)
  • Epic ACG Fest
    Albany, CA
    Official Selection
  • Anime!Arte International Student Animation Festival of Brazil
    Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
    Official Selection
  • The Good Dog! International Film Festival
    Sydney Harbour, Australia
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Kendra Williford

Kendra Williford is a North Carolina native with a passion for animation. She has been drawing since she could hold a pencil. She attended Academy of Art University in the pursuit of an MFA degree in Traditional (2D) Animation.

She grew up loving Disney animated feature films, and decided that she wanted to become an animator. Her goal is to become an animator on feature films and eventually become an art director.

Kendra's passion for art, however, doesn't stop at animation. She is also interested in photography, fine art painting, sculpture, comic books, illustration, music and visual development.

In her free time she enjoys playing her trumpet and petting her dog Lucy.

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Director Statement

My goal for this film was to honor Laika, the first dog to be launched into space. I also hold traditional animation close to my heart, and wanted to complete a short film using the medium I have loved since childhood.