Award-Winning Stop-Motion Animation Short Film | HEATWAVE

In the midst of a searing heatwave, two little children find a way to cool everyone down.

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HEATWAVE
Directed by Fokion Xenos

"When I first saw Heatwave over a year ago, I never thought that such a fun-filled short would one day bring tears to my eyes. But with the last specks of hope for a summer beach holiday being cruelly washed away by an altogether different kind of wave, it has very nearly done just that. Created by Fokion Xenos, while studying at the National Film & Television School, this seven-minute award-winning (it won the prestigious Mclaren Award for Best New Animation at the Edinburgh International Film Festival and a Royal Television Society award for Best Student Animation) stop-motion offers an irresistible package of humour, charm and technical wizardry and warms the heart by bringing its audience a ray of sunshine, at a time when we need it most.

Using oven-baked clay puppets, the short captures a snapshot of a day on a beautiful Greek island during a heatwave. From sizzling flesh to scorching sand, melting ice creams and collapsing sandcastles, the comedic opportunities are countless and Xenos has taken full advantage and delivered first class visual humour. Every scene and every frame in Heatwave has been crafted with flair and care, and the result is a cheeky tribute that delights children and adults alike.

“Heatwave is essentially an ode to the Greek summer of my childhood and every summer since”, the director explains as he reminisces on the inspiration behind his short. “I find there is a tendency to make dark and pessimistic films these days, especially if you are a student. Heatwave however, is a film about being grateful and brave. Starting the project I knew I wanted to pay homage to the summer of my childhood and the playfulness that I still find lingering in this season”.

The fact that this was a project close to Xenos’ heart is obvious, and it’s ultimately what makes Heatwave such a crowd-pleaser. It’s the kind of personal connection to your work, which allows you to poke fun at it, but always with love, respect and a pinch of nostalgia. Having spent many hot summers on the beach when I was growing up, Heatwave brought some long-forgotten memories flooding back – the unsightly flesh on display, the screaming children, the sand that sticks to your bits and the self-inflicted torture that is sunbathing – and has given me renewed appreciation for those blissful days and a deep longing to experience them again.

“A beach can be the microcosmos of a society I guess, and it is easier to observe how similarly we behave when we are all exposed under the sun in our swimsuits. I find something humane and funny about that” – Xenos summed it up perfectly.

After a summer spent mainly indoors, with autumn rearing its miserable head and the possibility of a second lockdown on the horizon, Heatwave delivers exactly what we need – a scrumptious slice of pure happiness and warmth, to help us through the upcoming months." - S/W Curator Serafima Serafimova

Animated and Directed by
Fokion Xenos

Written by
Fokion Xenos & Stella Heath Keir

Edited by
Stella Heath Keir

Cinematography by
Brenden Freedman

Produced by
Priya K. Dosanjh

Music by
Andreas Gutuen Aaser

Sound Design by
Kevin Langhamer

Production Design by
Antonio Niculae

Model Making by
Thanos Katzavelos

Character Design and Additional Animation
Alexandros Apostolakis

Reproduced on this channel with the permission of the filmmakers.

[caroxoxo]

if there's one thing that i've been missing during this quarantine, it's definitely the chance to let loose and enjoy the world as it was.

[PrashantSinghScottshak]

Wow this is beautiful. Heatwave's like an allusion to bad times. The children just take the leap. Here they broke the mundane monotony by being themselves. They even linger at dusk to feel the cold touch of the water wash their feet to really know the difference and truly appreciate all cycles of life.

Very underrated. I hope you get all the love. 👌

[jessymoore]

Awwww I love being flashed by stop motion animated men 🙂

[pineapple]

Sometimes you gotta take the plunge to break your self free of the monotonous loops of the day to day and to really embrace and savour life

[tiadoran]

I liked the unique puppet designs and the squeaky sounds they made when they moved. I also liked how the water was animated and the beautiful sunrise and sunset scenes.

[robmunday]

Love this film - it's like a 7-min Greek holiday

[Rachelofarc]

This was so cute! I can’t even imagine how long this took to create.

[jayerlinger]

I want to say "BRAVO BRAVO BRAVO" The work on setting up the hill mountain and all the scenery is fantastic. To move all the lil characters well, it is simply outstanding. I noticed the title stated its a film and animation school. All I know as a 68 year old crafter and artist is just hands down amazing work. If graded A+ A+ A+. Great animation film not to mention the wonderful plot!

[danitho]

Heat makes people crazy. Doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result is the definition of insanity.

[mcbluematter]

Great short film ! Full of nostalgia and very authentic ❤️

[mosacanite]

Everybody was on loop for some reason!😂😂😂🤷🏾‍♂️

[robynmarsh]

Totally hysterically funny, the guy trying to get his "thong?" on, thats when i totally cracked up...

[robinwns]

This was amazing I've never seen that !! The story is sooo original ❤

[stampylover]

I came here looking for dnf heat waves animations but I ain’t complaining

[deleted]

Good animation. This is very similar to what I experienced last time at the beach in Europe. Why people don't swim?

[Khushal_Pawar]

i love stopmotion videos for watching and making

[thirupathisanthosh]

Wow i enjoyed a great work done on mass people...takes a lot of effort to move everybody on the beach....your work will be definitely recognised❤️

[shotspurfect]

My teacher should us this lovely animation which had included an inappropriate part lol

[TeresaRose-pn]

There’s a lot of cut and paste overlay in this. Love it! 😊

[Khushal_Pawar]

please upload behind the sence of these video