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MANNEQUIN

👷💼 A hard-working crash test dummy invests all of his earnings for his son to have a better life, break the pattern of the world they live in and become a store display mannequin.
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Mannequin is proving to be a festival favourite, with 21 selections 🌿 from Canada, Romania, Luxembourg, Poland, Italy, Brazil and Iran and 5 awards 🏆:
"Mannequin takes an unconventional yet deeply moving approach to portraying a father-son relationship and their defiance of societal expectations. The film’s distinctive visual style adds emotional depth and complexity to the story. Its universal message, thoughtfully conveyed, resonates strongly with audiences, including younger viewers. All in all, Mannequin is a bold and commendable work."
"Jury Special Mention" winner at ABIFF#5

  • George ve Ganaeaard
    Writer
    DISMISSED, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TEETH! , AMERICA
  • Horia Cucuta
    Writer
    DISMISSED, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TEETH! , AMERICA
  • Babak Shahidi
    Writer
  • George ve Ganaeaard
    Director
    DISMISSED, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TEETH! , AMERICA
  • Horia Cucuta
    Director
    DISMISSED, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TEETH! , AMERICA
  • Ayrton P. Bryan
    Producer
    DISMISSED, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TEETH! , AMERICA
  • Horia Cucuta
    Producer
    DISMISSED, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TEETH! , AMERICA
  • Horia Manolache
    Producer
  • Emilian Oprea
    Key Cast
    "TUDOR LAZĂR"
    DISMISSED (2024), VLAD (2019), DOGS (2016), DE CE EU? (2015)
  • Patrick Andrei Mihai
    Key Cast
    "IOSIF LAZĂR"
    HOTII DE SUBIECTE (2025)
  • Daniel Popa
    Key Cast
    "CORNEL STOICA"
    DISMISSED (2024), WER (2013), CLOSER TO THE MOON (2013)
  • Dana Marineci
    Key Cast
    "MARIA"
    DISMISSED (2024), COBAIN (2018), TONI ERDMANN (2016)
  • Ionut Grama
    Key Cast
    "ANNOUNCER"
    DISMISSED (2024), BOSS (2023), HAI HUI ÎN TIMP (2022)
  • Andrei Câmpan
    Animation Director
  • Andrei Câmpan
    Character Design
  • Oana Vasile
    Character Design
  • Oana Vasile
    Visual Development
  • Ionuț Anghel
    Visual Development
  • Andrei Câmpan
    Animation
  • Horia Manolache
    Animation
  • Adèle Coulloudon
    Animation
  • Ionuț Anghel
    Animation
  • Oana Vasile
    Animation
  • Horia Manolache
    3D
  • Ionut Anghel
    3D
  • Adèle Coulloudon
    Compositing
  • Horia Manolache
    Compositing
  • Alin Zăbrauteanu
    Sound design and original music
  • mc² film
    Production Company
  • Vana Animation Studio
    Co-Production
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Short
  • Genres:
    Animation, Drama, Thriller
  • Runtime:
    12 minutes 56 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 20, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    108,000 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Romania
  • Country of Filming:
    Romania
  • Language:
    Romanian
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • International Auto Film Festa
    Tokyo
    Japan
    April 25, 2026
    PRONEWS Award
  • BRIFF Shorts – Bistrița România International Film Festival
    Bistrița
    Romania
    August 17, 2025
    Best Animation
  • 5th ȘI festival
    2 Mai, Constanța
    Romania
    July 26, 2025
    Best Animated Film
  • Films That Move
    Kingston
    Jamaica
    December 7, 2025
    Honorable Mention
  • 5th Animation Bucharest International Film Festival (ABIFF 2025)
    Bucharest
    Romania
    June 1, 2025
    Jury Special Mention
  • One World One Flower International Buddhist Film
    Seoul
    South Korea
    September 11, 2026
  • Our Time Film Festival

    United States
    May 3, 2026
  • Succes de Public
    Bucharest
    Romania
    March 19, 2026
  • 5th Tanzanite International Animation Festival
    Dar es Salam
    Tanzania
    November 29, 2025
  • Toronto Global Film Festival
    Toronto
    Canada
    December 21, 2025
  • 7th Siding Festival of Film
    Creston, British Columbia
    Canada
    November 22, 2025
  • 17th KINOdiseea International Children Film Festival
    Bucharest
    Romania
    November 15, 2025
  • International Student Animated Film Festival Animafantasia
    Iași
    Romania
    November 13, 2025
  • 18th CinEast - Central and Eastern European Film Festival
    Luxembourg
    Luxembourg
    October 26, 2025
  • Science & Technology Film Festival
    Krakow
    Poland
    October 25, 2025
  • Secondigliano Film Festival
    Melito di Napoli
    Italy
    October 23, 2025
  • 2nd New England Animation Festival
    Jaffrey, New Hampshire
    United States
    October 18, 2025
    Quarter-Finalist
  • 20th Animest International Animation Film Festival
    Bucharest
    Romania
    October 12, 2025
  • Festival Internacional de Animação de Itaiópolis
    Itaiópolis, Santa Catarina
    Brazil
    September 28, 2025
  • Darmiyaneh ASIFA Iran
    Tehran
    August 28, 2025
  • 9th Câmpulung Film Fest
    Câmpulung
    Romania
    August 17, 2025
  • 10th Full Moon Film Festival
    Biertan
    Romania
    August 16, 2025
  • 16th Serile Filmului Romanesc
    Iași
    Romania
    August 7, 2025
  • 13th Short Film Breaks
    Bucharest
    Romania
    June 3, 2025
  • Screenplay awarded at 1st Animation Bucharest International Film Festival (ABIFF 2021)
    Bucharest
    Romania
    September 25, 2021
    Screenplay competition
    Best Screenplay Award
Distribution Information
  • MC PATRAT FILM
    Distributor
    Country: Worldwide
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - George ve Ganaeaard, Horia Cucuta

🌿 George and Horia have directed seven short films, with 135+ festival selections around the world and 24 awards in the United States, Spain, Romania, Greece, Colombia, Iran and Poland.

🏆 They have directed their debut feature film in 2024, DISMISSED, which won the Best Feature Film in Romanian Days at the 23rd Transilvania International Film Festival.

🎥 At the moment, they have just started their festival run with their second feature film, THE SAMCA FILE, and their second animated short film, MANNEQUIN, and are in production with their third animated short film, SISYPHISH.

🔗 George ve Gänæaard: www.imdb.com/name/nm5568925
🔗 Horia Cucută: www.imdb.com/name/nm8364557

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

When Babak brought us the story that would become MANNEQUIN, we were immediately captivated by its depth and originality. The narrative resonated deeply with us, and we felt compelled to rewrite and reshape it into an animated film that could reach a broader audience.

MANNEQUIN explores themes of resilience, familial bonds, and the challenges of fairness and opportunity in a competitive world. By placing these human experiences in the symbolic realm of mannequins, we sought to craft a story that feels both universal and unique.

Our goal with MANNEQUIN is to inspire audiences to reflect on the sacrifices made in the name of love and ambition, as well as to remind them of the importance of empathy and perseverance in the face of adversity.

We hope MANNEQUIN leaves viewers with a renewed appreciation for the strength of relationships and the power of standing up for what’s right.