“A brilliant approach to an otherwise sad story, that handles it with grace, wonder and raw imagination.”

A young girl suddenly finds herself in a beautiful imaginary world. As she explores this enchanting place, the long ribbon of her dress gets caught, holding her back. As she pulls on the ribbon to break free, a completely unexpected journey begins.

Polla Kozino beautifully crafts her animated fantasy film which embraces all the wonder and imagination that classic animated films are known for, but adds a deeper and more powerful twist to it that is powerful. This is a perfect example of how short animated films can explore deep and meaningful stories in ways other films can’t. It’s utterly stunning and we loved every moment of it.

The score from Jonathan Galland brings this story to life in ways only an experienced composer could achieve. It’s playful, fantastic and emotive all in one, making for a memorable piece that stands out. The story has many layers to it which deserve a score of certain depth to match, and Galland takes on this task with complete clarity and understanding of the source material. Unlike other films, the score for The Ribbon needed to stand out and take centre stage as that’s how the deeper messages and core of the story are delivered. It builds you up and takes you for a magical ride throughout the film which only becomes more poignant at the end.

The animation is spectacular and everyone involved should be incredibly proud. The 2D hand drawn animation style is great to see as opposed to a 3D approach. This style of animation makes for breathtaking backgrounds and characters that stand out in the short run time. The colours and anime style make for a distinct look we hope we get to see again in Kozino’ future work. It’s films like this that inspire the next generation of animators.

The stunning animation and powerful score in The Ribbon make this an incredible watch and will capture audiences attention regardless of their age. The film is a brilliant approach to an otherwise sad story, that handles it with grace, wonder and raw imagination…

— APEX Film Awards