{{Infobox film | name = Freedom Swimmer | image = Freedom Swimmer Film Poster.jpg | caption = Film poster | director = Olivia Martin McGuire | writer = Olivia Martin McGuire | producer = Ron Dyens, Brooke Tia Silcox | starring = | editing = | music = | distributor = | released = {{Film date|2021|08}} | runtime = 15mn | country = Australia }}
'''''Freedom Swimmer''''' is a 2021 Australian animated short film directed by Olivia Martin McGuire.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Morfoot |first=Addie |date=2022-09-27 |title=‘POV Shorts’ Unveils Doc Lineup for Fifth Season (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/pov-shorts-fifth-season-lineup-1235384909/ |access-date=2022-11-15 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> The short is a fifteen minute documentary telling the story of a man and his daughter who swam from China to Hong Kong during the Cultural Revolution.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-04-28 |title=Freedom Swimmer {{!}} Documentary Australia |url=https://documentaryaustralia.com.au/project/freedom-swimmer/ |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=documentaryaustralia.com.au |language=en-AU |archive-date=2022-11-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109044045/https://documentaryaustralia.com.au/project/freedom-swimmer/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Following its premiere at the Melbourne International Film Festival,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hughes |first=Lleyton |date=2021-08-05 |title=Olivia Martin-McGuire’s Swim for Freedom |url=https://www.filmink.com.au/olivia-martin-mcguires-swim-for-freedom/ |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=FilmInk |language=en-AU}}</ref> the short has been featured in several film festivals including Slamdance Film Festival,<ref>{{Cite web |last=華婷婷 |first=Vee Hua |date=2022-01-28 |title=Supreme Short Films at Slamdance 2022: Top Picks in Narrative, Animation, Documentary & Experimental |url=https://redefinemag.net/2022/slamdance-film-festival-2022-short-film-top-picks/ |access-date=2022-11-15 |website=REDEFINE magazine |language=en-US}}</ref> Palm Springs International ShortsFest<ref>{{Cite web |title=‘POV Shorts’ Announces Acquisition of Six New Films Following Premieres at 2022 Palm Springs International ShortFest and Tribeca Festival {{!}} American Documentary |url=https://www.amdoc.org/pressroom/pov-acquisition-of-six-new-films/ |access-date=2022-11-15 |website=www.amdoc.org |language=en}}</ref> and the Calgary International Film Festival, where it was awarded for Best Documentary Short.<ref name=":1" />
== Plot == A grandfather’s embarks on a courageous journey and a perilous swim from China to Hong Kong that parallels his granddaughter’s own quest for a new freedom.
== Reception == Since its launch, the film has been selected in various festivals and academies around the world: {| class="wikitable" !Year !Festivals !Award/Category !Status |- | rowspan="2" |2021 |Sydney Film Festival |Best Animated Film<ref>{{Cite web |last=Review |first=Arts |date=2021-11-15 |title=2021 Sydney Film Festival Award Winners Announced |url=https://artsreview.com.au/2021-sydney-film-festival-award-winners-announced/ |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=Australian Arts Review |language=en-AU}}</ref> |{{won}} |- |Kendal Mountain Festival |Best Creative Film<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bird |first=George |date=2021-11-22 |title=‘Torn,’ ‘The Alpinist,’ ‘They/Them’ Among Big Winners at Kendal Mountain Film Festival |url=https://variety.com/2021/film/festivals/torn-the-alpinist-they-them-kendal-festival-1235117590/ |access-date=2022-11-15 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> |{{won}} |- | rowspan="8" |2022 |Palm Springs International ShortsFest |HP Bridging the Borders Award<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-28 |title=Freedom Swimmer wins MOZAIK Bridging The Borders Award at 2022 ShortFest |url=https://www.cinemawithoutborders.com/freedom-swimmer-mozaik-bridging-borders-award-shortfest-2022/ |access-date=2022-11-15 |website=Cinema Without Borders |language=en}}</ref> |{{won}} |- |Manhattan Short Film Festival |Bronze Medal<ref>{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2022-09-08 |title=Manhattan Short Film Festival 2022 |url=https://hurleyvilleartscentre.org/manhattan-short-film-festival-2022/ |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=Hurleyville Arts Centre |language=en-US}}</ref> |{{Nominated}} |- |Aspen Shortsfest |Ellen Jury Award for Best Animation<ref>{{Cite web |title=‘Freedom Swimmer,’ ‘F^¢k ’€M R!ght B@¢k’ among Aspen Shortsfest winners |url=https://www.aspentimes.com/news/freedom-swimmer-f%c2%a2k-em-rght-b%c2%a2k-among-aspen-shortsfest-winners/ |access-date=2022-11-15 |website=www.aspentimes.com |language=en-US}}</ref> |{{won}} |- |GLAS Animation Festival |Grand Prix<ref>{{Cite web |title=GLAS Animation Festival Shares Signal Film and Program |url=https://www.awn.com/news/glas-animation-festival-shares-signal-film-and-program |access-date=2022-11-15 |website=Animation World Network |language=en}}</ref> |{{Nominated}} |- |Calgary International Film Festival |Best Documentary Short<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Calgary International Film Festival jury winners announced |url=https://calgaryherald.com/entertainment/movies/calgary-international-film-festival-jury-winners-announced |access-date=2022-10-25 |website=calgaryherald |language=en-CA}}</ref> |{{won}} |- |Grierson British Documentary Awards |Special Mention for Best Documentary Short<ref>{{Cite web |last=televisual.com |last2=Considine |first2=Pippa |date=2022-11-11 |title=Grierson British Documentary Awards: the winners |url=https://www.televisual.com/news/grierson-british-documentary-awards-the-winners/ |access-date=2022-11-15 |website=Televisual}}</ref> |{{won}} |- |Santa Fe International Film Festival |Best Documentary Short<ref>{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=2022-10-22 |title=Santa Fe International Film Festival 2022 Winners Include ‘Scarborough’, Julian Rubinstein Docu ‘The Holly’ |url=https://deadline.com/2022/10/santa-fe-international-film-festival-2022-winners-1235152678/ |access-date=2022-11-15 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> |{{won}} |- |AIDC Awards |Best Short-Form Documentary<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vann-Wall |first=Silvi |date=2022-03-10 |title=2022 AIDC awards announced |url=https://www.screenhub.com.au/news/news/aidc-awards-2022-1484726/ |access-date=2022-11-15 |website=ScreenHub Australia |language=en-AU}}</ref> |{{won}} |}
== References == <references />
Category:2021 films Category:2021 animated short films Category:Australian animated short films Category:2021 Australian films