C02 Kensuke's Kingdom
(2024, directed by Neil Boyle, Kirk Hendry)

Teenager Michael's family embarks on a sailing ship to sail around the world after his parents lose their jobs. Michael isn't thrilled with the decision and misses his beloved dog Stella. However, he hides her in the hold, and while trying to save her during a storm, the two fall into the Atlantic and land on a remote island home to Kensuke, a former Japanese soldier who chose not to return after the war. Between the two solitudes, a friendship develops that transcends languages, ages, and cultures. Meanwhile, the question arises as to whether the island is real or a dream. Based on the novel by Michael Morpurgo, Neil Boyle and Kirk Hendry's animated film is an ecological fable about encountering others and growing up while learning to look beyond one's own horizons.