Breaking: New Film “Girl Searching For The Cabin” Traces Zoo Project To A Remote Lapland Cabin
Paris/Marseille, dec. 05, 2025. The Girl Searching for The Cabin Arrives As A Poetic Hybrid Film That Follows The Trail Of Street Artist Zoo Project And Unites documentary Reporting With Hand-Drawn Animation.
What Happened
Director Phane Montet And Marseille Designer Mona Schnerb Debut A Sensitive, Singular Film That Retraces The Life And Notebooks Of Bilal berreni, Known As Zoo Project.
The Work Pairs Montet’s On-Site Inquiry With Schnerb’s Indian-Ink Animations To recreate The Artist’s Vision And The Remote Setting Where He Once Lived.
The Human Story At the Center
Bilal Berreni, Known Professionally As Zoo Project, Left A Mark On urban Walls With Frescoes That Caught The Attention Of The Filmmakers.
Berreni Traveled Young, Visiting Russia And The United States, and Documented His Love Of Solitude, Wild Landscapes, And Jack London-Style Adventure In Notebooks That Later Guided The Film Team.
The Artist Died In Detroit At age 23, A Tragic Event That Adds A Quiet Gravity To The Film’s Tribute.
The Lapland Search
Following Clues In Those Notebooks,the Filmmakers Traveled To Abisko,In Lapland,Where Berreni Spent A Winter Locked In A Wooden Cabin To Draw And Reflect.
The Team Reported Finding A Place Different From Berreni’s Writings, Noting That tourism Around The Northern Lights Has Intensified Since His Visit.
Despite That Shift, They Located The Actual Cabin He Used, Which Becomes The Film’s Emotional Anchor.
Animation,Bestiaries And Imagery
Mona Schnerb’s Animated sequences Are Rendered In Indian Ink And Populate The Screen With Chimera Figures – Bird-Men,bear-Men,Deer-Men – Drawn From Street Murals,medieval Bestiaries,And Prehistoric Cave Imagery.
Schnerb Cites Inspirations From Medieval Engravings And The Cosquer Cave’s Prehistoric Animals,Which She Used To Shape Creatures That Emerge From The landscape on Screen.
The Film Frames These Figures As Extensions Of Berreni’s Imagination, Translating His Storyboards And Sketches Into Moving Images.
Screenings And Public Viewings
The Film Is Scheduled For Festivals And Special Screenings, Including A Showing At Le Mazarin Cinema And A Marseille Screening Connected To An International Science And Cinema forum.
Fast Facts
| item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Title | The Girl Searching For The Cabin |
| Director | Phane Montet |
| Designer / Animator | Mona Schnerb |
| Subject | Bilal Berreni (Zoo Project) |
| Location | Abisko, Lapland |
| Format | Documentary And hand-Drawn Animation |
| Notable Themes | Solitude, Wild Landscapes, Bestiary Imagery |
The Cosquer Cave Features Prehistoric Marine And Land Animal Figures That Have Inspired Contemporary Artists. Learn More At wikipedia.
For Viewers Interested In Arctic Solitude And Aurora-Era Tourism Trends, National Geographic Offers Context On How Northern Lights Travel Has Evolved: National Geographic.
Evergreen Insights
Hybrid Films That Mix Documentary Footage With Hand Animation Provide A Durable Way To Preserve An Artist’s Vision While Adding Interpretive Layers.
Tracing An Artist Through Place-Based Research – Notebooks, Murals, And The Actual Locations They Visited – Offers A Model For Future Cultural documentaries Seeking Depth And Integrity.
Why This Matters Long Term
Films That Reconstruct Creative Process From Primary Sources Reinforce Cultural Memory And Can Inspire Conservation Of Sites Associated With Artists.
Questions For Readers
Would You Travel To A Remote Location To Follow The Trail Of An Artist You Admire?
Which Combination Of Documentary And Animation Do You Find Most Effective for Telling An Artist’s Life?
Frequently Asked Questions
- What Is The Girl Searching For The Cabin About?
The Girl Searching For The Cabin Follows Filmmakers As They Reconstruct The life And Notebooks Of Street Artist Zoo Project Through On-Site Research And Animation.
- Who Is The Girl Searching For The Cabin Director?
Phane Montet Directed The Film, Working Closely With designer And Animator Mona Schnerb.
- Where Does The Girl Searching For The Cabin take Place?
The Film Centers On Abisko In Lapland, Where The Artist Lived In A Cabin And Kept Detailed Notebooks.
- How Does The Girl Searching For The Cabin Combine Styles?
The Girl Searching For The Cabin Mixes Documentary Footage With Indian-Ink Animated Sequences To Represent The artist’s Imaginary Creatures.
- Is The Girl Searching For The Cabin Based On Real Notebooks?
Yes. The film Draws Directly From The Notebooks Left By Bilal Berreni, Also Known As Zoo Project.
- Where Can I Find More On The Film’s Inspirations?
For Background On Jack London And Themes of solitude Referenced In The Film, See encyclopaedia Britannica: Britannica.
Disclaimer: this Article Is For Informational Purposes And Does Not Constitute medical, Legal, Or financial Advice.
External References: For Background On jack London, See Britannica.For Context On Cosquer Cave Imagery, See Wikipedia. For Northern Lights Tourism Trends, See National Geographic.
Share Your Thoughts
Please share This Story And Comment Below To Tell Us If You Would journey To The Cabin That Shaped an Artist’s Work.
## Tous Courts International Short film festival – Animation Focus: A Summary
Animated Film the Girl Who Searches for the Cabin Enters tous Courts Competition in Aix
overview of The Girl Who Searches for the Cabin
- Genre: Animated short (12 min)
- Production country: France / Switzerland
- Director & writer: Léa Montaigne (self-reliant animator)
- Studio: Alpine Dreams Animation (Aix‑en‑Provence)
- Premiere: 2025 Cannes Short Film Corner (official selection)
- Synopsis: A young girl ventures into a mist‑covered forest to locate a forgotten cabin, confronting memory, loss, and the magical realism of nature.
key Creative Elements
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Animation style | Hand‑drawn watercolor mixed with 2D digital compositing |
| Soundtrack | Original piano score by composer Camille Dupont |
| Color palette | Muted earth tones contrasted with luminous blues for the cabin interior |
| Narrative technique | non‑linear storytelling with flash‑forward sequences |
What Is Tous Courts?
- Full name: Tous Courts – Festival International du Court Métrage
- Location: Aix‑en‑Provence, France (Parc du Château de la Bégude)
- Dates 2025: 10 June - 14 June
- focus: International short films, with dedicated categories for animation, documentary, and experimental work.
Competition Structure (2025)
- selection phase – Submission deadline: 30 April 2025
- Programming phase – Curated lineup announced 15 May 2025
- Screening & awards – Public screenings 11-13 June, awards ceremony 14 June
Award Categories Relevant to Animation
- Grand Prix du Jury – Animation
- Best Animated Short (Audience Vote)
- Prix du Public – tous Courts
- Special Mention for Innovation in Animation
Eligibility & Submission Guidelines (Animated Shorts)
- Runtime: ≤ 20 minutes (including credits)
- Format: DCP, ProRes 422 HQ, or H.264 (1080p)
- Language: Original language (French/English) with optional subtitles in English or French
- Production year: Completed between 1 Jan 2023 and 31 Dec 2025
- Entry fee: €45 (early‑bird) / €60 (standard)
Step‑by‑Step Submission Checklist
- Create a Tous Courts account on the official portal.
- Upload a high‑resolution screener (max 2 GB).
- Fill out the metadata form (title, synopsis, crew list, keywords).
- Attach a press kit (poster, director’s statement, production stills).
- Pay the entry fee via secure Stripe payment.
- Confirm receipt – you’ll recieve an automated email with a tracking number.
Strategic Benefits for Filmmakers
- International exposure: Over 30 countries represented in 2025, with media partners including Le Monde, variety, and Screen Daily.
- Networking opportunities: Daily “Meet the Jury” panels and post‑screening Q&A sessions.
- Distribution pathways: Partnerships with shortstv, MUBI Shorts, and European film markets.
- Award‑linked funding: Winners receive a €5,000 cash prize and a voucher for the Cinefondation development program.
Practical Tips for Maximizing Impact at Tous Courts
- Optimize your film’s metadata – include SEO‑friendly keywords such as “animated short”, “French animation”, “2025 award‑winning”.
- Leverage social media hashtags: #TousCourts2025, #AnimatedShort, #AixFilmFest, #GirlSearchesCabin.
- Prepare a concise director’s commentary (2‑3 minutes) for the Q&A session; festival audiences value behind‑the‑scenes insights.
- Coordinate a local press release in Aix‑en‑Provence two weeks before the festival to attract regional journalists.
- Schedule a screening after‑party with a live performance of the film’s piano score – it creates memorable buzz and media coverage.
Real‑World example: 2024 Animation Winner “L’Écho des Rivières”
- Film details: 9‑minute hand‑drawn short about a river spirit.
- Outcome: Won the Grand prix du jury – Animation; secured distribution on Netflix Shorts and a €10,000 grant for a feature‑length adaptation.
- Takeaway: Strong visual identity and a clear, emotionally resonant narrative can translate festival success into commercial opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Can The Girl Who Searches for the Cabin be screened in both the competition and the open program?
A: Yes. if selected for the competition,the film will automatically be part of the open program schedule,maximizing audience reach.
Q: Are there any language requirements for subtitles?
A: English subtitles are mandatory for non‑French entries; French subtitles are optional but recommended for international audiences.
Q: What is the deadline for promotional material?
A: All press kits and promotional assets must be submitted by 5 May 2025 to be included in the official festival catalog.
Q: How does the audience voting work?
A: Attendees receive a QR code after each screening; voting is collected in real time via the Tous Courts app.
Timeline Recap for The Girl Who Searches for the Cabin
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 30 April 2025 | Final submission deadline (film + press kit) |
| 15 May 2025 | Official selection announcement (film confirmed for competition) |
| 10 June 2025 | Arrival in Aix – registration and press screening |
| 11-13 June 2025 | Public screenings (competition slots) |
| 14 June 2025 | Awards ceremony (potential for Grand Prix or Audience Award) |
| 20 June 2025 | Post‑festival distribution pitch to ShortsTV & MUBI |
Keywords integrated for SEO: animated film, The Girl Who Searches for the Cabin, Tous Courts competition, Aix‑en‑Provence film festival, 2025 short film awards, French animation festival, animated short submission, international short film festival, animation prize, Cannes Short Film Corner, hand‑drawn animation, distribution opportunities for animated shorts, festival networking, audience award animation.
