Animation Magazine — November 14, 2024
‘Maybe Elephants’ Producers from NFB & Mikrofilm Discuss the Partnership Behind Torill Kove’s Oscar-Qualified Short

***This article was written for the December 2024 issue of Animation Magazine (No. 345)***

In the world of independent animation, few partnerships are as enduring — and as fruitful — as the one between Norway’s Mikrofilm AS, the National Film Board of Canada and acclaimed independent animator Torill Kove, who has earned three Academy Award nominations and won the Oscar for The Danish Poet in 2007. Over the past 18 years, this powerhouse team has co-produced four remarkable short films, including their latest, Maybe Elephants, a deeply personal story exploring family dynamics and the gap between memory and reality.

Rooted in a shared commitment to nurturing independent voices and telling stories that transcend borders, Maybe Elephants is the product of a truly international collaboration. With 36 team members from Mikrofilm and 46 from the NFB, including Kove herself, the film’s production spanned two continents. Preproduction began in January 2022, and the final picture was delivered in October. Despite some unforeseen setbacks, the film was completed in exactly two years, including postproduction.

This cross-border partnership, which blends creative strengths and shared values, has been a cornerstone of Mikrofilm and the NFB’s long-standing relationship — the longest-running co-production partnership the NFB has had with any studio. “Even if Mikrofilm and the NFB are very different in terms of size and type of organization, we share the same values and attitude,” says Mikrofilm producer Lise Fearnley. (Read full story…)