A student-made animated short film from Columbia College Chicago has been chosen for the 2026 New York International Children’s Film Festival. The film, titled “Frankie,” was developed as a capstone project by students in the School of Design. The festival, which runs from February 28 through March 15, is considered the largest event for young audiences in North America and qualifies selected films for Academy Award consideration in the Animated Short Film category.
“Frankie” is a seven-minute animation that tells the story of Emmy, her goldfish, and her father’s efforts to keep his daughter happy. The film was created during Animation Production Studio, a two-semester course led by associate professor Ron Fleischer. In this class, students simulate a professional studio environment by pitching ideas, voting on concepts, forming production teams, and working through each stage of animation production.
After selecting the concept for “Frankie,” director Madison Helland ’24 coordinated a team of 24 students over nine months. The group collaborated with peers from both the School of Film and Television and the School of Audio and Music to mirror industry practices where cross-disciplinary teamwork is common.
Students also learned about film distribution by researching festivals and preparing submissions. Being selected for the New York International Children’s Film Festival marks a significant milestone as it offers exposure to industry professionals and positions their work alongside international filmmakers.
“It’s important that the film has a life beyond its campus premiere,” said Fleischer. “Festival recognition validates the work and gives our graduates meaningful exposure as they enter the industry.”
For those involved in creating “Frankie,” participation in an Oscar-qualifying festival represents an early achievement in their careers.
The film has already appeared at nine other festivals prior to this selection.
