Falafel Cart


Falafel Cart is a 2019 animated short drama film produced by RoyalTales and directed by Abdullah Al-Wazzan with an original score by Dan Phillipson and sound design by Andrew Vernon. The short blends stop motion animation with traditional and some computer animation. In 2019, the film was submitted for the 2020 Academy Award for [Best Animated Short Film] making it Kuwait's first short film to ever be submitted to the Academy Awards. In 2020 The film earned an official selection at the Hiroshima International Animation Festival and received a special mention as "best of the world". In 2021 the film won best animated short at the Burbank International Film Festival. In 2019 the film won best international short film at the Los Angeles Animation Festival.
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Plot

During a stormy night, an immigrant falafel vendor who lives in his cart in the middle of nowhere stumbles upon a mysterious flower. The extraordinary encounter sparks something within him and eventually makes him relive scenes from his past life.

Production

The film was inspired by the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, highlighting the impact on people who are merely seeking a better life. The theme of the falafel, a typical food of the Levant, represents the notion of home and serves as a symbolic reminder that reconnects the main character with his far-away home. The project first came to life after Al-Wazzan started to experiment with a different form of animation that employed a combination of stop-motion, computer generated animation, claymation and traditional animation. The filmmaker single-handedly animated the entire film, built and painted hundreds of models, puppets and backgrounds in a span of three years in order to achieve a distinct world for the film.

Release

Falafel Cart first premiered theatrically in Los Angeles, California on September 13, 2019. In 2021 ShortsTV obtained non exclusive distribution rights to the film for release on its live channels and streaming platforms. On September 11, 2021 the film screened at AMC Theatres in Burbank as part of the Burbank International Film Festival.
Release dateCountryEventNotes
13 September 2019United StatesTheatrical releaseWorld Premier
8 December 2019United StatesLos Angeles Animation Festival
14 December 2019United StatesPalm Springs International Animation Festival
March 2020GreeceAthens Animfest
4 March 2020United StatesDC Independent Film Festival
30 July 2020United StatesSonoma International Film Festival
2 August 2020United KingdomThe Animator Showcase
13 August 2020United StatesHollyshorts
20 August 2020JapanHiroshima International Animation Festival
15 October 2020United KingdomSouthampton International Film Festival
23 October 2020MoroccoRabat International Author Film Festival
18 November 2020CanadaMontreal International Animation Film Festival
18 November 2020QatarAjyal Film Festival
3 July 2021FranceParis International Animation Film Festival
9 September 2021United StatesBurbank International Film Festival
7 April 2022KuwaitLimited theatrical release
21 December 2022SwedenLimited

In 2014, A different concept version of Falafel Cart participated at the 67th Cannes Film Festival, was officially selected at the 11th Dubai International Film Festival and was Nominated at the Sharjah International Children's Film Festival in the UAE. This early version was then totally re-worked as a new project to become the final 2019 animated film.

Awards & Accolades

The film received the following awards and nominations:
YearCountryEventCategoryRecipients and nomineesResult
2019
United States
Palm Springs International Animation FestivalIn Competition Best Animated ShortNomitated
2019
United States
Los Angeles Animation FestivalBest International Short FilmWon
2020
United States
DC Independent Film FestivalShort Animation FinalistNomitated
2020
United Kingdom
Southampton International Film FestivalBest Animated Short FilmNomitated
2020
United Kingdom
Southampton International Film FestivalBest Director of an Animated FilmNomitated
2020
Japan
Hiroshima International Animation FestivalBest of the WorldHonorable Mention
2020
Qatar
Ajyal Film FestivalHilal Short Film CompetitionNomitated
2021
France
Paris International Animation Film FestivalHorizons CompetitionNomitated
2021
United States
Burbank International Film FestivalBest Animated ShortWon