Experiencing Interruptions?

The Clock that Said No

A philosophical animated short (7:30) about grief, forgiveness, and living in the present. In a timeless village, an old clock stops forever after a loss. A curious boy and a brave girl venture into an enchanted forest, facing shadows of regret, until they learn that time isn’t hours — it’s the courage to feel. When they return, the clock ticks once… and the village learns to live by heartbeats, not hands.
Created entirely with AI from the imagination of Egyptian literary writer Manal Khalil, this film is a visual chapter from her upcoming novels — for children who fear growing up and adults who forgot how to live.

  • Manal Khalil
    Writer
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Short
  • Genres:
    philosophical, Family, philosophical animation, short animation, time and loss, existential animation, coming of age, childhood trauma, first love, magical realism, surreal animation, emotional animation, arabic animation, egyptian filmmaker, female director, independent animation, forest tale, broken heart, time stops, clock stops, metaphor for grief, healing journey, poetic animation, hand-drawn style, 2D animation, auteur animation, festival animation, award-worthy short, deep meaning, life lessons, human emotions, nostalgia, innocence lost, nature and time
  • Runtime:
    7 minutes 28 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    November 24, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Egypt
  • Country of Filming:
    Egypt
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Mississippi
    United States
    November 15, 2025
    Mississippi
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Director