Veins of Anxiety
How anxiety holds people back from doing things, taking actions and living a boundless, fulfilling life.
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Fatemeh ZareDirector
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Project Type:Animation, Music Video, Short, Student
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Genres:drama
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Runtime:1 minute
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Completion Date:January 31, 2024
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Country of Origin:Netherlands
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:Yes
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Student Project:Yes - Avans
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16th INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION FILM FESTIVAL GOLDEN KUKER - SOFIASofia
Bulgaria
May 8, 2025
Official Selection |SUPER SHORT ANIMATED FILM (ABOUT 1 MIN) -
Kyiv International Short Film Festival (KISFF) (14th Edition)Kyiv
Ukraine
September 4, 2025
Official Selection -
Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente de ParachoMichoacán de Ocampo
Mexico
July 25, 2025
Official Selection -
CARIBETOONS Festival Internacional de animaciónMagdalena
Colombia
August 14, 2025
Official Selection -
The Independent Film Festival Vilne KinoKyiv
Ukraine
July 19, 2025
Official Selection | Mini Films -
Els CineminutsTerrassa
Spain
October 18, 2025
Official Selection -
AZYL SHORTS – International Short Film FestivalBratislava
Slovakia
October 16, 2025
Finalist -
Mokkho International Film FestivalPondicherry
India
September 8, 2025
Award Winner (Best Micro Short Film) -
UK Seasonal Short Film FestivalLondon
United Kingdom
Special Mention -
Mister VorkyRuma
Serbia
September 25, 2025
Official Selection -
Proxy Act FestivalBerlin
Germany
October 1, 2025
Official Selection -
FLICKER FestivalCalifornia
United States
October 16, 2025
Official Selection -
Luleå International Film FestivalLuleå
Sweden
September 27, 2025
Semi-Finalist | Best 1 Minute Film -
Kodaikanal International Film FestivalKodaikanal
India
October 19, 2025
Official Selection -
The Anarchy and Face Film Festival ( Elevate Young Minds)Manchester
United Kingdom
November 13, 2025
Official Selection -
Festival Internacional Cinema ImaginariosQuerétaro
Mexico
November 26, 2025
Official Selection -
Afromeric Award of Excellence and Film FestivalMaryland
United States
November 14, 2025
Nominee -
London Director Talents Movie AwardsLondon
United Kingdom
February 21, 2026
Nominee | Microfilm (up to 120 seconds) -
13th Showreel: Effat International Student Film FestivalMecca
Saudi Arabia
April 7, 2026
Official Selection | Best International Student Music Video -
Latino & Native American Film Festival (LANAFF)New Haven
United States
April 17, 2026
Official Selection -
SCA® Global Festival Network!Los Angeles
United States
June 30, 2026
Award Winner | Best 1-Minute Short Film -
Pune Short Film FestivalPune
India
June 7, 2026
Official Selection
I started my artistic journey as an illustrator, constantly sketching the wild ideas that filled my mind. But I soon realized that some stories couldn't be confined to a single frame, they needed motion, energy, and life. That realization led me to animation, where my imagination could finally break free and take shape in ways I never thought possible.
To bring my visions to life, I pursued a Master of Animation at Avans University in the Netherlands, where I’ve been exploring how to transform my imagination into motion. My current film is university film project, but more than that, it’s a deeply personal journey.
Anxiety is often an unseen force, one that holds people back from taking action, making choices, and embracing life’s possibilities. In my one-minute animation, I sought to capture the internal battle between the desire to move forward and the overwhelming weight of fear and doubt.
Through visual metaphors and dynamic movement, I aimed to illustrate how anxiety confines individuals within self-imposed barriers, distorting their perception of reality and limiting their potential. The character’s struggle represents the universal experience of hesitation and self-doubt, how even the simplest actions can feel insurmountable when fear takes hold.
This piece is deeply personal but also universally relatable. I want viewers to recognize that anxiety, though powerful, does not have to be permanent. By acknowledging it, understanding it, and finding ways to push beyond it, we can reclaim the boundless life that fear tries to take away.
With this animation, I hope to spark reflection, empathy, and ultimately, a sense of hope. Because even in the midst of anxiety, there is always a way forward.