Forevergreen (film)

Forevergreen
Directed by
  • Nathan Engelhardt
  • Jeremy Spears
Produced by
  • Steph Gortz
  • Jennifer Gandrup Sackheim
Music by
Release date
  • 2025 (2025)
Running time
13 minutes
CountryUnited States

Forevergreen is a 2025 American independent[1] animated fantasy short film written and directed by Nathan Engelhardt & Jeremy Spears. The 13-minute animated short film[2] has been selected in various[3] international[4] film festivals,[5] including Annecy International Animation Film Festival and BFI London Film Festival.

Forevergreen was nominated at the 98th Academy Awards in the category of Best Animated Short Film.[6][7]

Plot

An abandoned bear cub, desperate for food in the winter, forms a bond with a nurturing forest tree that happily provides the cub with food and shelter. The tree helps raise the cub through the seasons, constructing a toy for the bear and teaching it to grow a new sapling.

One day, the bear discovers a crow eating from a bag of potato chips in a tree. Trying the snack for himself, the bear becomes intrigued and is desperate to find more. The tree tries to discourage and forbid the bear from traveling across the canyon to the campground, but the bear rebels, destroys the sapling, and leaves for the camp.

At the site, the bear explores the area and gorges on junk food and trash that has been left behind, accidentally setting a fire in the process. Fleeing the flames, the bear becomes trapped at the cliffside and is unable to escape. The tree uproots itself and falls across the canyon to create a bridge, saving the bear at the cost of its own life.

After the fire ends, the mournful bear travels down the canyon to the remains of the tree and discovers that the tree is holding the bear's old toy, from which a small sprout is growing. The bear plants and nurtures the sprout, which eventually grows into another tree that bonds with the bear and his descendants.

Accolades

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

Year Festivals Award/Category Status
2025 Indy Shorts International Film Festival[8] Animated Audience Choice Won
Palm Springs International Shorts Fest[9] Kid's Choice Award - Special Mention Won
LA Shorts International Film Festival[10] Best Animated Short Nominated
Annecy International Animation Film Festival[11] Canal+ Junior Jury Award Won
BFI London Film Festival[12] Best Animated Short Nominated
Animation Is Film Festival[13] Best Short Film Nominated
American Film Institute[14] Grand Jury Prize Won
2026 Academy Awards[15] Best Animated Short Film Nominated

See also

References

  1. ^ 'Forevergreen': How two Disney artists made a hand-crafted gem|FOX19
  2. ^ Mendoza, Leia (2025-09-17). "Animation Is Film Unveils 2025 Festival Lineup: 'Arco,' 'Scarlet,' 'Paranorman: The Thrifting' and More". Variety. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  3. ^ Gardner, Chris (2025-10-27). "'Majonezë' Wins AFI Fest's Short Film Grand Jury Prize". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
  4. ^ Mendoza, Leia (2025-09-17). "Animation Is Film Unveils 2025 Festival Lineup: 'Arco,' 'Scarlet,' 'Paranorman: The Thrifting' and More". Variety. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
  5. ^ Chapman, Wilson (2025-09-17). "'Scarlet' to Open Animation Is Film Festival in October". IndieWire. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
  6. ^ "98th Oscars Shortlists in 12 Award Categories Announced". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. December 16, 2025. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  7. ^ Hilary Lewis, Beatrice Verhoeven (December 16, 2025). "2026 Oscars Shortlists Revealed". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  8. ^ "Indy Shorts Film Festival 2025". tickets.indyshorts.org. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
  9. ^ "FOREVERGREEN | Palm Springs International Film Festival". www.psfilmfest.org. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
  10. ^ "FILM SCHEDULE". LA Shorts. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
  11. ^ "2025 Awards | Annecy Festival". www.annecyfestival.com. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
  12. ^ "Welcome to BFI Southbank online". LFF. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
  13. ^ "Shorts 1". Animation Is Film. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
  14. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (2025-10-27). "'Forevergreen' Wins Oscar-Qualifying Prize at AFI Fest". Animation Magazine. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
  15. ^ "The 98th Academy Awards | (2026)". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
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