Private Project

Yendor - The Journey of a Junior Adventurer

Longing to be an adventurer like his father, young Yendor sets off into the wild country, alone. Little does the small boy with big dreams know, that his chosen path is a perilous one! Waiting for him around every corner is a fantastical beast - a Grumposaur, a Killwing and the nastiest of them all, the Marauding Scrawnies! Will his skill and wit be enough to get him home again?

  • Rodney Matthews
    Director
  • Sarah Matthews
    Director
  • Rodney Matthews
    Producer
  • Sarah Matthews
    Producer
  • Rodney Matthews
    Writer
  • Sarah Matthews
    Writer
  • Sarah Matthews
    Narrator
  • Matthew Henry
    Animator
  • Jon Rashid
    Animation Consultant
  • Oliver Wakeman
    Music
  • Matthew Henry
    Post-Production
  • Rodney Matthews
    Based on the Illustrated Book By
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Short
  • Genres:
    Fantasy, Adventure
  • Runtime:
    17 minutes 28 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    February 10, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    8,000 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Accolade Global Film Competition - May, 2021
    Online
    Winner: Award of Excellence - Children/Family Programming; and Winner: Award of Merit Special Mention - Animation
  • Älvsbyn Film Festival - 2021
    Älvsbyn, Norrbotten
    Sweden
    Official Selection
  • Anatolia International Film Festival - Fourth Season, 2021
    Istanbul
    Turkey
    Official Selection
  • Austin International Art Festival - April, 2021
    Austin, Texas
    United States
    Finalist
  • BollywoodINDIES Fest - Spring Season, 2021
    Online
    Finalist: Best Animation Short
  • Bristol International Short Film Festival - April, 2021
    Bristol
    United Kingdom
    Winner: Best Score/Soundtrack
  • CKF International Film Festival - April, 2021
    Swindon, England
    United Kingdom
    Winner: Best Animation Film of the Month
  • Dumbo Film Festival - April-May, 2021
    New York, New York
    United States
    Semi-Finalist: Best Animation
  • Europe Film Festival - April, 2021
    Online
    Winner: Short - Best Soundtrack
  • Feel the Reel International Film Festival - April, 2021
    Glasgow, Scotland
    United Kingdom
    Nominee: Best Animation
  • Florida Family Film Festival - 2021
    Orlando, Florida
    United States
    Official Selection
  • Golden Bridge Istanbul Short Film Festival - Spring Season, 2021
    Istanbul
    Turkey
    Official Selection
  • Golden Sparrow International Film Festival - April, 2021
    Sirkali, Tamil Nadu
    India
    Winner: Best Animated Short Film
  • Gona Film Awards - April, 2021
    Karaikkudi, Tamil Nadu
    India
    Winner: Best Animated Short Film
  • Halicarnassus Film Festival - Eighth Session, 2021
    Bodrum
    Turkey
    Winner: Best Short Animation Film
  • Iconic Images Film Festival - April, 2021
    Vilnius
    Lithuania
    Official Selection
  • Indie Filmmaker Awards, 2021
    South Pasadena, California
    United States
    Honorable Mention: Best Animated Short Film
  • Indo French International Film Festival - March, 2021
    White Town, Pondicherry
    India
    Winner: Best Children's Short Film
  • Infinity Film Festival - April, 2021
    Online
    Official Selection
  • KIDS FIRST! Film Festival - April, 2021
    Santa Fe, New Mexico
    United States
    Official Selection
  • London Independent Film Festival - 2021
    London, England
    United Kingdom
    Winner: Animated Short
  • Mokkho International Film Festival - April, 2021
    Lawspet, Pondicherry
    India
    Winner: Best Animated Short Film; Winner: Critics Choice Award - Best Children Short Film; and Winner: Special Mention - Best Female Director
  • New York Istanbul Short Film Festival - 2021
    New York City, New York
    United States
    Official Selection
  • TMFF - The Monthly Film Festival - April, 2021
    Glasgow, Scotland
    United Kingdom
    Winner: Animation of the Month; and Winner: Original Score of the Month
  • Top Shorts - April, 2021
    Online
    Winner: Best Animation
  • Toronto Independent Film Festival of CIFT - March, 2021
    Toronto, Ontario
    Canada
    Official Selection
  • SHORT to the Point - April, 2021
    Bucharest
    Romania
    Official Selection
  • Vegas Movie Awards - June, 2021
    Las Vegas, Nevada
    United States
    Finalist: Best Animation; and Finalist: Best Voice Over
Director Biography - Rodney Matthews, Sarah Matthews

Rodney Matthews is an English illustrator and conceptual designer, who first achieved international acclaim in the 1970s with his fantasy poster art. His unmistakable style can be seen in fantasy and sci-fi books, on the covers of rock albums and in video games. His passion for animation is long-standing, first realised in the 1990s when, alongside Gerry Anderson, his conception ‘Lavender Castle’ was successfully released worldwide as a children’s stop-motion animation. 'Yendor - The Journey of a Junior Adventurer' is his directorial debut.

Sarah Matthews achieved a joint honours degree in Language & Linguistics and Philosophy and a masters degree in Philosophy at the University of Aberdeen before taking on the role of agent for her husband, Rodney. She is now Studio Manager of their company Rodney Matthews Studios. In addition to being her directorial debut 'Yendor - The Journey of a Junior Adventurer' is also her debut as a narrator, performed in her native Scottish accent.

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Director Statement

“We have stepped back in time to a fantastical epoch, where all things are possible when you believe, and brought back a feel-good tale of adventure, a tale that has already brought wonder to several generations” - Rodney Matthews

“Making a film for young minds comes with great responsibility. You have to get it right and that is what we worked hard to achieve. To see children championing Yendor and involving themselves in his world is a real honour for us. We are delighted to have provided a catalyst for their imaginations” - Sarah Matthews