Work with black, unreliable outlines and the whitest of spaces. The straight black line transforms into a humanised image and a cube. Now, the two test each other. “Attempts at destroying the obstacle turn into acceptance, when the character recognises the obstacle as part of itself,” is how the director describes the film’s plot laconically.

Ilze Ance Kazaka’s work as an illustrator and animator focuses on challenging recognisable objects, familiar shapes and visual rhythms — all of which are destined to be reborn ironically. This short film, which is her diploma film, together with her others, is characterised by a black and white colour scheme, concise messages, technical precision and a style that cannot be mistaken for any other. Kazaka’s film Nerves on Nerves (2018) won the Riga International Short Film Festival 2ANNAS award for Best Baltic Short.

Jury statement: In this deceptively simple animated film, the director uses only black and white outlines and empty spaces in a way that transcends conventional logic in order to bring us closer to ourselves and allow us to accept our own imperfections and shortcomings.