It's Such a Beautiful Day
Screens with Don Hertzfeldt's short films Paper Trail (2026, 14 min), and World of Tomorrow (2015, 16 min).
About It's Such a Beautiful Day
Originally released as three short films over the course of six years, the picture was captured entirely in-camera on a 35mm rostrum animation stand. Built in the 1940s and used by Hertzfeldt on all of his animated films since 1999, it was one of the last surviving cameras of its kind still operating in the world, indispensable in creating the story’s unique images and visual effects. It’s Such a Beautiful Day painstakingly blended traditional hand-drawn animation and experimental optical effects with new digital hybrids, printed out one frame at time and placed under the camera. The film’s signature “split screen” effects were achieved by photographing the animation through small holes that were positioned just beneath the camera lens.
About Paper Trail:
Don Hertzfeldt’s new animated short film, Paper Trail, is a 14-minute high-speed study of someone's life, seen only through pieces of paper. New animation techniques were developed to create the film's unique look and pace. Paper Trail had its world premiere at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, where it received the Special Jury Prize for Creative Vision. The film's original music was composed by Naomi Alligator.
