The Flying Sailor (Note: This Film is best played BIG and LOUD!)
In 1917 two ships collided in the Halifax Harbour, causing the largest accidental explosion in history. Among the tragic stories of the disaster is the remarkable account of a sailor who, blown skyward from the docks, flew a distance of 2 kilometres before landing uphill, naked and unharmed. The Flying Sailor is a contemplation of his journey.
Drawing on accounts of traumatic shock and near-death experiences, Tilby and Forbis consider the kind of cataclysmic moment that pulls us from our path, strips us bare, and utterly shifts our perspective. By suspending the Sailor in a state of near-death, the film contemplates the stuff of life that is at once fleeting, profound, and utterly insignificant.
Employing a wealth of techniques (3D, 2D, live action, and photographs) along with a bold mix of comedy, suspense, philosophy, and playful abstraction, The Flying Sailor is an exhilarating meditation on a few seconds of a life, and a celebration of the wonder and fragility of being.
Produced by The National Film Board of Canada
Music by Luigi Allemano
“Popeye has nothing on this guy.” – Peter Howell, Toronto Star
“The Flying Sailor is gripping in its ferocity, simplicity, lyricism, and humour, it’s a rush of emotions, woven together, dreamlike.” – Anne Brodie, What She Said
“With no dialogue, a blending of different forms of animation, and plenty abstract imagery, The Flying Sailor is an experience that’s as exhilarating as it is entertaining.” – The Film Stage
“The Flying Sailor is moving, beautifully scored and features a loving, compelling blend of animation styles. It takes you off guard then hits you with a surprising amount of emotion, creating a wonderfully unusual way to tell such a bizarre story. Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby bring everything you didn’t know you needed to life with this story, making something wholly original, entertaining and touching.” - Film Carnage
Oscar® Nominee, Best Short Animated Film, 2023
Annie Nominee, Best Short Subject, 2023
Sundance Festival, Short Film Jury Award, 2023
Los Angeles Animation Festival, winner of Best Experimental and Best Character-based Awards, 2022
New York City Short Film Festival, Best Animation, 2022
Canadian Film Institute Award for Best Canadian Film at Ottawa International Animation Festival, 2022
Calgary International Film Festival, Best Animated Short, 2022
Toronto International Film Festival, Canada’s Top Ten, 2022