Sing to the Wind is an award-winning short animated student film, produced by our small team at MTU, Ireland.
“Orphaned and displaced from their home in Gaza City, two brothers must find their way to a "safe zone" to survive. Forced to grow up much too fast, the boys confront pain and loss on their tragic path along the shoreline. "Sing to the Wind" is a short, 2D animated film that tells the story of perseverance through the eyes of a child, and the resilience of a people in the face of ceaseless brutality.”
TRAILER!
Director Statement
As a Canadian of Arab descent and daughter of two human rights activists, there was no question about the direction my first film would go. As Palestinian experiences continue to be ignored and worse, erased, I felt I had to contribute to telling a story that needed to be seen and heard. I also wanted to tell this story from the eyes of a child. The story shows how innocence and childhood are brutally stolen and lost forever. Finally, I also wanted to express the emotions related to the utter negligence we, as a global community, have shown especially towards Palestinian children. I hope this film contributes to the re-humanization of a People displaced, oppressed and in the process of being completely eliminated.
Credits
Writer/Director: Yaffa Aboudib Husseini
Art Director: Natalie Grace Steuart
Storyboard Artist: Natalie Grace Steuart
Layout Artist: Natalie Grace Steuart
Character Designers: Yaffa Aboudib Husseini & Ethan Wahoo Evans
Animators: Yaffa Aboudib Husseini & Ethan Wahoo Evans
Sound Designer and Mixer: Yaffa Aboudib Husseini
Compositing: Yaffa Aboudib Husseini, Natalie Grace Steuart & Ethan Wahoo Evans
Colour Grading: Natalie Grace Steuart & Ethan Wahoo Evans
Story Editor/Script Supervisor: Ferah Mahmoud
Film Score Composer (“Sing to the Wind” Palestinian folk song instrumental version): Benjamin Fraser
Soundtrack: Mum, Sing to the Wind - Palestinian Folk Song Performed by Nai Barghouti, Courtesy of Nai Barghouti / Empire
Achievements/Awards:
Winner, 25-29 - Ottawa Youth Film Festival 2025
Outstanding Production Design - PRODUCER’S PICK for Strange New Works 2025
Winner Best Animation - Open World Toronto Film Festival 2025
Winner Best Student Narrative - Animaze Montreal International Animation Festival 2025
Official Selection - Ottawa Film Festival 2025
Highly Commended - Graduate Design Awards 2025
Official Selection - Kerry International Film Festival 2025
Winner of Best Animation Short and Audience Choice! - Clones Film Festival 2025
Winner - Montreal Independent Film Festival 2025
Award of Distinction - Canada Shorts Film Festival 2025
Official Selection - Brussels Animation Film Festival 2026
Official Selection - Toronto Animation Arts Film Festival 2026
Official Selection - Sundar Prize Film Festival 2026