Experiencing Interruptions?

Once There Was a Girl

Why do stories we read as children stay with us through our lives and become broken bits of dreams, jumbled images from fairy tales that are always in the back of our minds?

  • Deb Ethier
    Director
  • Deb Ethier
    Writer
  • Deb Ethier
    Producer
  • Deb Ethier
    Music
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Experimental
  • Genres:
    fantasy, music
  • Runtime:
    4 minutes 9 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    December 1, 2020
  • Production Budget:
    100 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    2D Digital Animation
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • AltFF
    Toronto
    Canada
    Semi-finalist, Winter 2020
  • Bridge Fest
    Vancouver
    Canada
    Winner, Best Animation, December 2020
  • Gold Star Movie Awards
    Newark, NJ
    United States
    Winner, Best Experimental Short, January 2021
  • Berlin Flash Film Festival
    Berlin
    Germany
    Winner, Best Super Short Animation, December 2020
  • VONLINEFILMFEST
    Online
    Official Selection
  • SHORTED
    Online
    Nominee
  • Cift Festival of Toronto
    Toronto
    Canada
    Selected
  • Cotswald International Film Festival

    United Kingdom
    Official Selection
  • DMOFF
    Online
    United States
    Official Selection
  • Changing Face International Film Festival
    Sydney
    Australia
    Semi-finalist
  • We Like 'Em Short
    Baker City, OR
    United States
    August 12, 2021
    Official Selection
  • Walthamstow International Film Festival
    Walthamstow, London
    United Kingdom
    July 10, 2021
    Official Selection
  • Hollywood's Monthly Film Festival
    Online
    United States
    Award Winner
  • Art Film Awards
    Skopje
    Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of
    Finalist
  • Soo Film Festival
    Sault Ste. Marie, MI
    United States
    September 15, 2021
    Official Selection
  • World Premiere Film Awards
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    Best Animated Short
  • Austin International Art Festival
    Austin, TX
    United States
    Nominee
  • KinoDrome International Motion Picture & Screenplay Festival
    Cleveland, OH
    United States
    September 25, 2021
    Official Selection
  • SENE Film Festival
    Cranston, RI
    United States
    October 12, 2021
    Best Animated Film
  • New York Flash Film Festival
    New York, NY
    United States
    Finalist
  • Detroit SheTown Women's Film Festival
    Detroit, MI
    United States
    October 2, 2021
    Official Selection
  • Dreamers of Dreams Film Festival
    London
    United Kingdom
    November 21, 2021
    Official Selection
  • Big Water Film Festival
    Ashland, WI
    United States
    Official Selection
  • 300 Seconds Film Festival
    Toronto, ON
    Canada
    November 5, 2021
    Best Writer Canada
  • Hell Chess Festival
    Madrid
    Spain
    October 31, 2021
    Best Film in Festival
  • Couch Film Festival
    Toronto, ON
    Canada
    December 29, 2021
    Best Animation, N. America (1-5 minutes)
  • Paris Women Festival of Ontario
    Paris, ON
    Canada
    January 20, 2022
    Semi-finalist
  • Ocean City Film Festival
    Ocean City, MD
    United States
    Official Selection
  • Aphrodite Film Awards
    New York City, NY
    United States
    January 16, 2022
    Semi-finalist
  • ANMTN!
    Online
    January 19, 2022
    Official Selection
  • Deptford Cinema Film Festival
    London
    United Kingdom
    March 3, 2022
    Official Selection
  • New York International Women Festival
    New York City, NY
    United States
    Semi-finalist
  • Canada Shorts

    Award of Distinction
  • Jersey Shore Film Festival
    Deal, NJ
    United States
    November 4, 2021
    Best Musical Score
  • Prague International Film Awards
    Prague
    Czech Republic
    Official Selection
  • Cinema Soup Film Festival
    Gatlingurg, TN
    United States
    August 14, 2022
    Official Selection
  • Lonely Wolf International Film Festival
    London
    United Kingdom
    Nominee - Best 2D Animated Film
Director Biography - Deb Ethier

I have at various times in my life been an artist, musician, writer, educator, history and vintage film buff, puppet maker and children's theatre director, finally tying them all together through animated films.

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Director Statement

"Once There Was a Girl" is a look back at vague but consistent memories of childhood stories, forging these disparate images into something that seeks to capture some of their wonder and power.