DUCKS

A still scene from my 3D/CGI animated short film 'DUCKS'. It shows two ducks swimming on a lake, with a series of Official Selection laurels suspended over the water. These include "Monstra 2026", "Ciné Court Animé Roanne", "Stuttgart Festival of Animated Film 2026", "British Animation Film Festival 2026" and "REGARD"

Five more official selections coming up!

Monstra in Lisbon, Portugal
Ciné Court in Roanne, France
ITFS in Stuttgart, Germany
BAFF in London, UK
REGARD in Saguenay, Canada

💚🦆💚🦆💚

#animation #shortfilm #ducks

THRILLED to learn that DUCKS won the People's Choice award at Big Teeth Small Shorts!
🦆🎉🦆🎉🦆🎉🦆

Drawing of a duck looking at a flier for curling lessons

duck pulling a curling stone

A duck pushing a curling broom

That same duck on a podium winning first prize with a medal and crown

A few months ago I got the story of a duck who aspires to curling greatness stuck in my brain and simply couldn't get it out until I did this

A duck with hair?

Why does this duck have hair?! 😭

A 3d/CGI still image of a park with a lake. There is a duck swimming in the water and a small gentleman walking on the footpath. There are large green trees in the background and a white laurel suspended in the air. The text reads "2026 OFFICIAL SELECTION CARDIFF ANIMATION FESTIVAL."

WALES! DUCKS will be screening at @cardiffanimfest.bsky.social in April! I will also (hopefully) be there too! :D

#animation #short #cardiff #ducks

Cardiff Animation Festival 2026 In-person & Online Early Bird Passes are now on sale! 🎉

There are a limited number of Early Bird Passes available so be quick! 💨

🎟️ Get your pass - bit.ly/CAF26-Passes
🍿Check out the programme - bit.ly/CAF26-News

#CAF26 #CardiffAnimation #CardiffAnimationFestival

Honoured to reveal that DUCKS will be one of 33 independant short films screening and the beautifully named @seasluganimation.bsky.social at the end of the month!

More info here : seasluganimation.com/2026-program

#seattle #seaslug #animation #independant #shortfilm

Thank you so much for the selection @kaboomfestival.bsky.social!

This will be the Dutch premiere of DUCKS 🦆 🦆 🦆 🦆 🦆

#animation #ducks #shortfilm #quaaaack

A still scene from my 3D/CGI animated short film 'DUCKS'. It shows two ducks swimming on a lake. There is a white 'BIG TEETH SMALL SHORTS FILM FESTIVAL Official Selection' laurel suspended above them and reflecting in the water's surface.

The wonderfully named 'Big Teeth Small Shorts' festival will be screening DUCKS in less than 3 weeks time. If you're in Chicago, and love short short films, get along!
www.bigteethsmallshorts.com/screenings

#animation #chicago #ducks #shortfilm #bigteethsmalshorts

A phot of an award, stating the DUCKS who Best Short Film for Children at KUKI 18 in Berlin. It’s filled with water loads of gold glitter/shapes!

Well this is WONDERFUL! Massive thanks to the young jury and team at KUK/Interfilm Berlin! 😍

Judge’s Honourable Mention – Ducks by A J Jefferies Nothing lame about these ducks. We love the colours and design, the story and the tension. Well done A J Jefferies.

Thank you for the Honourable Mention LIAF! 💚

Thank you! ❤️

"I HAVEN'T LAUGHED AT SOMETHING THAT MUCH IN AGES AND THE ANIMATION WAS AMAZING. GREAT WORK!"

"IT'S SO STUPID"

Even though it's the end of the year, there are more screenings to come in 2026 and then once it has run its course, I will finally release the film online and (eventually) shut up about it!
#ducks #shortfilm #animation #festivals #quaaaack

"320 KIDS SCREAMING LIKE THEY WERE ON A ROLLER-COASTER RIDE WHILE WATCHING YOUR FILM ... IT WAS TRULY SOMETHING TO BEHOLD!"

"SAW DUCKS LAST NIGHT AT SEAF AND JUST WANTED TO SAY IT WAS AMAZING. IT WAS A PACKED THEATER AND YOUR FILM BY FAR GOT THE BIGGEST REACTIONS. AMAZING WORK!"

DUCKS is an entirely self-initiated, self-funded film & my first time navigating the wild waters of the festival circuit. I've attended as many festivals as work, family commitments & my limited budget would allow, met some incredible people, laughed until I hurt & generally had a fantastic time.

"I SAW THIS AT THE SITGES FILM FESTIVAL. IT WAS AMAZING AND OUR FAVOURITE FILM OF THE SIX THAT WE SAW. I WISH THE CREATOR COULD HAVE SEEN THE MAGICAL REACTION FROM THE KIDS AND ADULTS IN THE AUDIENCE."

"YOU REALLY DID BRING THE HOUSE DOWN, SO MANY MOMENTS OF RAUCOUS LAUGHTER IN THE THEATER!"

Alongside this, I have also received some wonderful feedback. I had no clue if ANYONE would programme DUCKS into their line-up, so to not only get selected but also win awards (especially those voted by kids!) has been truly astonishing.

A cropped poster for my film DUCKS featuring 22 official selection laurels, 1 honourable mention and three awards

As 2025 draws to a close, I wanted to say how incredibly grateful I am that 'DUCKS' has had the chance to be screened all over the globe. From it's world premiere at @pictoplasma.bsky.social in May, it has gone on to have a further 21 official selections, 1 honourable mention & even won 3 awards!

A still scene from my 3D/CGI animated short film 'DUCKS'. It shows two ducks swimming on a lake. There is a white 'ANIMA Official Selection Brussels 2026' laurel suspended above them and reflecting in the water's surface.

Delighted to reveal that 'DUCKS' will be screening at the 45th edition of the Oscar and BAFTA qualifying ANIMA festival, in Brussels!

animafestival.be/en/edition/o...

#ducks #shortfilm #animation #3d #cgi #quaaaack

The Dream of Finishing One’s To-Do List | “Retirement Plan” | The New Yorker YouTube video by The New Yorker

Hey, did you know you can watch John Kelly's *incredible*, Oscar qualifying animated short film 'Retirement Plan', right now!?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Mqa...

I will be attending the Foyle Film Festival on the 28th/29th of November. Cannot wait!

A poster featuring a beautiful illustration of a chicken and multicoloured balls flying from the top and from popcorn cartons. There is a laurel graphic on the chicken's chest which reads "Award Winner KUKU .18 Young Short Film Festival Berlin 2025"

A poster featuring a still frame from 'DUCKS' and multicoloured balls flying from the top and from popcorn cartons. There is a white laurel graphic over the top which reads "Award Winner KUKU .18 Young Short Film Festival Berlin 2025" The text on the poster reads "BEST SHORT FILM FOR CHILDREN" "DUCKS by AJ Jefferies"

I received this AMAZING message from the KUKI team!

"Thanks so much for entering your wonderful and crazy film to KUKI this year! Sorry that you missed the screenings with 320 kids screaming like they were on a roller-coaster ride while watching your film, hahaha it was truly something to behold!"

A still from DUCKS, showing a small child in a pushchair

Heading back from a whistle stop 24 hours at @mcranimation.bsky.social

Had a wonderful time with fantastic people!

While it wasn't in competition, DUCKS won the audience vote at the MAFter dark screening, which was a lovely surprise!

A still from my 3D/CGI short filmDUCKS. It shows a male and female mallard swimming on a lake

Heading to @mcranimation.bsky.social today!

A photo of the awards ceremony at KUKI Berlin. The text reads “Der Award für den besten Kurzfilm für Kinder geht an DUCKS von AJ Jefferies”

DUCKS just won the award for best children’s short film at KUKI Berlin!! 🥹

Whoop! (I apologise in advance!)

On the plus side it’s in a mix of some absolutely stonking shorts, so fingers crossed if you don’t like it, you’ll soon forget due to your eyeballs being crammed with awesomeness!

A still from 'DUCKS'. It's a scene where a small, old gentleman is walking from right to left along a footpath, while a duck swims, left to right, along the water of a lake. There are large green trees in the background

THEN it's off to Manchester Animation Festival, where it will be screening as part of the MAFter Dark lineup on Tuesday 11th (I will be there! Hopefully!)
#animation #ducks #shortfilm #quaaaack #pictoplasma #maf2025 #BIF

A still from my 3D/CGI animated short film ‘DUCKS’. It features a small child, peering around the side of a stroller, looking at the camera with a curious expression.

It's a BUSY few days for DUCKS!

The film will be screening as part of @pictoplasma.bsky.social's London event tomorrow (I will be there!). Then as part of the Norwich Film Festival on the 8th (I will be there!). Then a second Pictoplasma outing, this time in Brighton as part of BIF, on the 9th.

A photo of a cinema screen, showing the title card for 'FREDRIKSTAD ANIMATION FESTIVAL 23-26 October 2025'

A photo of the programme, showing 'DUCKS' in the screenings

The title card before 'DUCKS' screened

A photo of myself (screen right)and the festival director, Anders Narverud Moen (screen left), on stage during a Q&A about 'DUCKS'

Had an AMAZING time at Fredrikstad Animation Festival last week. A really superb festival and a wonderful group of people, both in and around it. Honoured to have had my film DUCKS play a small part of a fantastic line-up!

#animation #festivals #fredrikstad #norway #ducks #quaaaack #shortfilm

A 3d cg render from my short film ‘DUCKS’. It shows a duck, in the water flapping its wings. Above it are the laurels for GIRAF 2025

DUCKS winging its way to Alberta next month!

#ducks #animation #giraf #shortfilm #quaaaack

Also.

A screenshot of an instragram comments by @aliciagtheile. The text reads: “Hey! We saw your short film at the @sitgesfestival, and it was by far the best one! The laughter from both kids and adults, and the applause at the end, were absolutely epic. Thanks for bringing it to festivals, and congrats!”

Another WONDERFUL comment/review from the family screening at Sitges 🥹