Private Project

The Apricot

Oscar-Qualifying Animated Short Film

"The Apricot" tells the story of a 10-year-old boy and his first summer working on the family's apricot farm. This project is based on real childhood memories that the director holds dear to his heart.

WINNER: Best Animated Short Film at NYICFF 2026
Best Animated Short for Kids at PFCAT 2025

Honorable Mention: Best Animated Short Film at CIFF 2026

  • Alex Z. Avila
    Director
  • Alex Z. Avila
    Writer
  • Carlo Padilla
    Producer
  • Rachel Meng
    Co-Director
  • Israel Vasquez
    Editor
    Mufasa: The Lion King, If Beale Street Could Talk, Underground Railroad
  • Pascal Horn
    Original Score
  • Cheng Guo
    Art Director
  • Sam Lewis
    Supervising Sound Editor
    Clean Slate, What We Do In The Shadows, Sweet Molly
  • ¡Viva Calavera!
    Animation Studio
    Rey Mysterio vs La Oscuridad
  • Latino Film Institute
    Executive Produced by
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Short
  • Genres:
    Family, Animation
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes 26 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 5, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    35,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Mexico, United States
  • Country of Filming:
    Mexico
  • Language:
    English, Spanish
  • Shooting Format:
    ToonBoom Harmony
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1.85
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • New York International Children's Film Festival
    New York
    United States
    March 8, 2026
    New York Premiere
    WINNER: Best Animated Short Film
  • Cleveland International Film Festival
    Cleveland
    United States
    Midwest Premiere
    Official Selection / Honorable Mention: Best Animated Short Film
  • Portland Festival of Cinema, Animation & Technology
    Portland
    United States
    August 9, 2025
    North American Premiere
    Winner: Best Animated Short for Kids
  • San Francisco International Film Festival
    San Francisco
    United States
    April 24, 2026
    San Francisco Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Aspen Shortsfest
    Aspen
    United States
    Colorado Premiere
    Official Selection
  • RiverRun International Film Festival
    Winston-Salem
    United States
    April 17, 2026
    North Carolina Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Athens International Film and Video Festival
    Athens
    United States
    April 13, 2026
    Athens Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Taiwan International Children's Film Festival

    Taiwan
    Taiwan Premiere
    Official Selection
  • KINEKO International Film Festival
    Tokyo
    Japan
    October 31, 2025
    Japan Premiere
    Official Selection
  • PIXELATL
    Guadalajara
    Mexico
    September 13, 2025
    Mexico Premiere
    Official Selection for Best International Short Film
  • LALIFF 2025
    Los Angeles
    United States
    May 29, 2025
    Special Screening
    LFI Spark Animation Fellowship Film
  • Independent Shorts Awards

    United States
    Silver Award Best Animated Short
  • Boston International Kids Film Festival
    Boston
    United States
    East Coast Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Seattle Latino Film Festival
    Seattle
    United States
    Washington
    Official Selection
  • Rome International Film Festival
    Rome
    United States
    Georgia
    Official Selection
  • Kunturñawi Ecuadorian Film Festival
    Riobamba
    Ecuador
    Ecuador Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Cine Del Mar 18
    Punta Del Este
    Uruguay
    July 6, 2025
    Official Selection: Best Animated Short Film Finalist
  • Malibu Film Festival (Online Edition)
    Los Angeles
    United States
    November 8, 2025
    Official Selection
  • San Diego Latino Film Festival
    San Diego
    United States
    San Diego Premiere
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Alex Z. Avila

Alex Z. Avila has eight years of experience in both live-action and animated television, he specializes in post-production and storyboarding. Alex served as a storyboard artist on Well Versed, a Nickelodeon short-form series that earned a Children and Family Emmy Award for Best Public Service Initiative. In 2024, Alex was awarded the Spark Animation Fellowship to produce his animated short film, The Apricot. Inspired by childhood memories of working on his late grandfather’s apricot farm, the film reflects his passion for personal, character-driven storytelling.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

As a first-generation Mexican-American, Alex's goal was to create a short that celebrates the legacy of this special family tradition of harvesting and cutting apricots in Hollister, CA. The short will also serve to honor his grandfather, who unexpectedly passed away in 2013.