Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 18, 2026

Maybe Elephants

Maybe Elephants is a 2024 Canadian-Norwegian animated short film written and directed by Academy Award winner Torill Kove. The 16-minutes animated film about family and memories has been selected in various international film festivals, including Annecy International Animation Film Festival and Spark Animation Film Festival where the film won the Canadian Film Prize. The film is listed as part of the qualified shorts under consideration in the 2025 Academy Award Best Animated Short Film Category.

Last revised
Jul 18, 2026
Read time
≈ 3 min
Length
594 w
Citations
16
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Maybe Elephants
NorwegianKanskje det var elefanter
Directed byTorill Kove
Written byTorill Kove
Produced by
Narrated byTorill Kove
Production
companies
Release date
  • 2024 (2024)
Running time
16 minutes
Countries
Languages

Maybe Elephants (Norwegian: Kanskje det var elefanter) is a 2024 Canadian-Norwegian animated short film written and directed by Academy Award winner1 Torill Kove.2 The 16-minutes animated film about family and memories has been selected in various international film festivals,3 including Annecy International Animation Film Festival4 and Spark Animation Film Festival where the film won the Canadian Film Prize. The film is listed as part of the qualified shorts under consideration in the 2025 Academy Award Best Animated Short Film Category.5

The film was named to TIFF's annual Canada's Top Ten list for 2024.6

Plot

Three teenage sisters find themselves uprooted from their small town in Norway when their mother decides to move to Nairobi, Kenya, in an attempt to escape the dark cloud that has been following her. The film is inspired by Kove's own experiences,7 in the same fashion as her previous short Me and My Moulton.

Release

Since its release, the film has been selected in various festivals around the world:

Award Date Category Recipient Status ref
Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2024 Cristal for Best Short Film Torill Kove Nominated 8
Spark Animation Film Festival Canadian Film Prize Won 9
Animation Is Film Festival Short Film Grand Prize Nominated 10
American Film Institute Festival Shorts Program : Family Friendly Nominated 11
London International Animation Festival Figures in Focus Nominated 12
Bucheon International Animation Festival Audience Prize Won 13
Vila do Conde International Short Film Festival International Competition Nominated 14
Canadian Screen Awards 2025 Best Animated Short Torill Kove, Lise Fearnley, Maral Mohammadian, Tonje Skar Reiersen Won 15
Quebec Cinema Awards 2025 Best Animated Short Film Won 16
References

References

  1. Amidi, Amid (2015-01-15). "Torill Kove Celebrates 'Me and My Moulton' Oscar Nomination with An Animated Film". Cartoon Brew. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
  2. Wolfe, Jennifer (2024-06-12). "Exploring the Gap Between Reality and Memory: Torill Kove's 'Maybe Elephants' (Extended Interview)". Retrieved 2024-10-29.
  3. "US festival premiere of Torill Kove's Mikrofilm/NFB animated short Maybe Elephants. SoCal audiences get three chances in October to see Oscar winner's latest". WebWire. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
  4. Robinson, Chris (2024-06-04). "10 Shorts You Won't Want To Miss At Annecy 2024". Cartoon Brew. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
  5. Magazine, Animation (2024-10-25). "Oscar Watch: The Long List of the 2024 Animated Short Award Contenders". Retrieved 2024-12-11. Maybe Elephants - Norway, Canada - Directed by: Torill Kove - Qualified by exhibition
  6. Carlos Diaz, "Canada’s Top Ten: TIFF Celebrates the Best in Cinema for 2024". That Shelf, January 8, 2025.
  7. Bobrowska, Olga (2024-07-17). "Mood Bathing. A Conversation with Torill Kove". Zippy Frames. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
  8. "AWN Exclusive: Torill Kove's 'Maybe Elephants' Trailer". Animation World Network. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
  9. Skwigly (2024-10-10). "Award winners announced for 2024 SPARK ANIMATION Festival". Skwigly Animation Magazine. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
  10. Patta, Gig (2024-10-24). "Maybe Elephants | Torill Kove on Animated Short Film of Family Life in Nairobi - Animation Is Film 2024". LRMonline. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
  11. "AFI Announces Full Lineup – Here, Juror #2, Maria and More". Awardsdaily. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
  12. "LIAF 2024: Figures in Focus: Wanderlust (15) + Screentalk". London International Animation Festival. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
  13. "BIAF 2025. 10.24 ~ 10.28 BUCHEON INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION FESTIVAL 1". www.biaf.or.kr. Retrieved 2024-12-06.
  14. "Maybe Elephants". www.festival.curtas.pt. Retrieved 2024-12-06.
  15. Jamie Casemore, "CSAs ‘25: Universal Language takes five at Cinematic Arts Awards". Playback, May 31, 2025.
  16. Manon Dumais, "À quoi s’attendre du Gala Québec Cinéma". La Presse, December 4, 2025.
External links