Freedom Swimmer


Freedom Swimmer is a 2021 Australian animated short film directed by Olivia Martin McGuire. 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. Following its premiere at the Melbourne International Film Festival, the short has been featured in several film festivals including Slamdance Film Festival, Palm Springs International ShortsFest and the Calgary International Film Festival, where it was awarded for Best Documentary Short.

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:
YearFestivalsAward/CategoryStatus
2021Sydney Film FestivalBest Animated FilmWon
2021Kendal Mountain FestivalBest Creative FilmWon
2022Palm Springs International ShortsFestHP Bridging the Borders AwardWon
2022Manhattan Short Film FestivalBronze Medal
2022Aspen ShortsfestEllen Jury Award for Best AnimationWon
2022GLAS Animation FestivalGrand Prix
2022Calgary International Film FestivalBest Documentary ShortWon
2022Grierson British Documentary AwardsSpecial Mention for Best Documentary ShortWon
2022Santa Fe International Film FestivalBest Documentary ShortWon
2022AIDC AwardsBest Short-Form DocumentaryWon