One after another, an illustrator creates black-and-white drawings: first, a doe comes alive, then a little hare, and a bear. One day, she draws a wolf cub, who jumps right off the page. Splashing black ink everywhere with his snout, he turns her studio upside down. Yet, despite the apparent mischief, the wolf will partner with the illustrator to create a new world – one that embraces imperfections and stains.

This is a moving story about a friendship between an artist and her creations that allows for mistakes and imperfections. With this work, where black-and-white drawings contrast with bright watercolors, Czech author Kastner encourages viewers to see others just as they are. Kastner’s works have been screened at numerous festivals, including Annecy, Berlin, and Zlín, and his short film, Dede is Dead (2023), was also included in the RIGA IFF a couple of years ago.